Dear readers,This is the latest chapter of the book, but I recommend waiting for the updated versions of previous chapters before continuing. I understand that many of you have paid to read those chapters, and it's important that the content reflects the story correctly. I’ve already revised the chapters, specifically from 61 to 70, and they are now under review by my editor. Once approved, the original content will be updated.I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and I appreciate your understanding and patience during this process ———"Come, let's eat something first," Aiden said, his voice calm yet carrying that unmistakable edge of authority. His gaze lingered on my neck, where the bite mark—his mark—was hidden beneath my hair. There was an intensity in his eyes that made my heart flutter.I nodded quietly, trying to appear composed. My hand moved instinctively to my hair, wanting to flick it back to cover the mark, to hide the evidence of his claim
I had never felt this much authority in my entire life. Every step I took, I could feel the eyes of the servants following me, but not in the way I had experienced before. This was different. Their gazes dropped to the ground in unison, as if they dared not make eye contact with me. Respect... or was it fear? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that something had shifted, something irreversible.I stiffened at Aiden’s side, trying to make sense of it all, but the weight of their stares made my skin prickle. I could practically feel the intensity in the air as we passed through the corridor, the quiet shuffle of the servants moving aside as we approached. My instincts screamed at me to retreat, to slip into the shadows as I had always done, but Aiden’s hand slid down my waist, his grip tightening in an unspoken gesture of reassurance.His touch was firm, grounding me as if to say, *This is where you belong now.*The tension in my shoulders lessened ever so slightly at his touch, though my mi
As I sat there, Aiden's words echoed in my mind, sending a shiver down my spine. His possessive tone, the dominance in his voice, left me speechless. I wasn't sure how to respond, or if I even could. It wasn’t just the words he spoke, it was the he had said this, the undeniable pull that seemed to bind us closer with each passing moment. My heart pounded against my ribs as I picked at the food on my plate, my appetite long gone.The way his hand never left my waist during the meal, the way his fingers occasionally tightened as if reminding me of his presence, made my body react in ways I couldn’t understand. My mind warred between resistance and submission, between the desire to push him away and the need to stay close. Aiden had marked me. I was his now. And despite the fear that still simmered beneath the surface, a part of me had begun to accept that.I hated that part of myself.“Eat,” Aiden’s voice rumbled from beside me, pulling me from my thoughts. His tone was firm, but not ha
The moment the maids entered the dining hall, the atmosphere shifted. The quiet clinking of glasses and the soft shuffle of feet as they cleaned the table and arranged the wine glasses for everyone made the tension palpable. I watched them move around the room with precision, their eyes never daring to meet mine, but I could feel their lingering glances on the mark at my neck, as if it were some kind of unspoken signal that everything had changed. I sat there, my hands clasped in my lap, unsure of what to do or say. The weight of what was happening pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. I knew what was coming next, and it terrified me. Aiden’s packmates were waiting outside, waiting to meet me, to acknowledge me as their Luna. And then, after that… after that, the news would spread to the other packs, including Darius. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I wasn’t ready for this. Everything was happening too soon, and I needed time to adjust to this new life, where power
Aiden’s hand tightened slightly on the back of my chair, a silent gesture of support. He didn’t say anything, but his presence alone was enough to remind me that I wasn’t alone in this. That, as much as I might feel out of place, I was still *his*.Once they all had offered their greetings, Marcus spoke again. “We will spread the news to the other packs, as you requested, Alpha,” he said, addressing Aiden directly now. “They will know that the bond has been completed.”Aiden nodded, his expression unreadable. “Good,” he said simply, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority. “Let them know that Isabella is my Luna. And that any challenge to her is a challenge to me.”His words sent a chill down my spine. There was a darkness in his tone, a warning that made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate any threats to me or my position. It was both comforting and terrifying at the same time.They nodded in agreement, their postures stiffening slightly at the unspoken threat in Aiden’s words.
As I sat across from Aiden, trying to make sense of what he’d just asked, his words echoed in my mind, filling me with a confusing swirl of emotions."Do you want to go and meet your mother?"I hadn’t expected him to ask that, especially after everything that had happened between us. My initial reaction was one of caution. Was he testing me? The thought that this could somehow be a trap to see if I’d still try to leave gnawed at me. Taking a steadying breath, I responded carefully.“No,” I said, my voice softer than I intended. But even as I spoke the word, I felt a heaviness settle over my heart because it wasn’t true. Deep down, the desire to see my mother—to reassure her, to know I’m okay—was overwhelming. But I’d rather deny it than risk Aiden’s trust again.He chuckled softly, the sound sending a heat wave throughout my body. I watched as he leaned back, his gaze never leaving mine. There was a strange warmth in his eyes, something unreadable that made my stomach tighten.“Why wo
I felt a mixture of emotions, each one battling for dominance. I wanted to push him away, to keep him at a safe distance. But there was also a pull, a strange, undeniable attraction that made it impossible to deny him. “I don’t have to prove anything,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel my resolve slipping. He smirked, leaning in closer until I could feel his breath against my skin. “Then why are you still here?” he murmured, his eyes flicking down to my lips. “If you truly didn’t want this, you would have walked away by now.” The truth of his words stung, and I hated that he was right. I wanted to deny it, to claim that this was all a game, a twisted power play that meant nothing to me. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t true. I cared. I cared more than I wanted to admit. My mind raced, battling against the swirling emotions he’d stirred up within me, heart pounding, breath catching, caught between the desire to push him away and an undeniable pull that h
I was still catching my breath, my mind reeling from the intensity of the moment. His words echoed in my ears, filling the silence around us, sinking in deep."This is what it means to be mine."His voice was rough, each word threaded with possession, and it left me both shaken and intrigued. I wanted to say something, anything that would cut through the tension filling the room, but the words died in my throat. Instead, I stared at him, searching his gaze for something beyond that fierce intensity. For a brief second, I thought I saw a flicker of vulnerability, something raw, almost hesitant—but then it was gone, replaced by that same confident, unreadable mask."Isabella," he murmured, his hand brushing lightly against my cheek, grounding me. "Are you afraid?"The question caught me off guard, and I forced myself to look him in the eye, unsure of how to answer. *Was I afraid?* Afraid of him? Or of what I felt when I was with him? The truth was, it was both. But I couldn’t bring myse
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart. I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring. My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.” As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. “Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.” He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he r
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the orphanage in hues of orange and pink, my mother stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of hesitancy and determination. “Will you both stay for dinner?” she asked, her voice carrying a hopeful note that tugged at my heart.I glanced at Aiden, expecting resistance. He was a man of particular habits, unaccustomed to impromptu changes or the chaotic warmth of my past life. But to my surprise, he nodded. “We’d love to,” he said, his voice calm and reassuring.My mother’s smile lit up her face, and something inside me unfurled—a tension I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Wonderful,” she said. “I’ll set up the dining hall.”As she turned to make preparations, I felt Aiden’s hand squeeze mine briefly. “Are you happy?” he whispered, his eyes searching mine for any sign of distress.“Yes,” I replied, more to convince myself than him. “It’ll be good to catch up with everyone.”He nodded, his gaze lingering on me a moment longer before he releas
Aiden’s hand was firm around mine, grounding me when my legs threatened to buckle under the weight of anticipation. The creak of the iron gates of the orphanage echoed through my chest, rattling my nerves. Each step felt like walking through molasses, my body betraying me despite my mind’s desperate commands to move forward.“Relax, Isabella, or you’re going to scare them,” Aiden said softly, his voice like a warm breeze cutting through the storm inside me. His lips curved into a slight smile, though I could see the undercurrent of concern in his gaze.I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded, clutching his arm as if letting go would pull me back into the void of uncertainty. Aiden took the first step inside, and I followed, my breath hitching with every inch closer to the truth.The orphanage hadn’t changed much, at least not from what I remembered in fragments—peeling paint on the walls, the faint scent of lavender detergent that lingered in the air, and the distant sound of chi
As spring began to thaw the chill of winter, the team found a temporary respite from their relentless battle against the Black Sun. The fortress in the Pyrenees had been dismantled, and the immediate threat of The Ascendancy had been averted. However, the remnants of the dark network remained a persistent threat, and the team’s mission was far from complete. In their base, the atmosphere was a mix of cautious optimism and ongoing vigilance. The team had succeeded in disrupting the Black Sun’s most recent plans, but their influence was still widespread. The remnants continued to operate in the shadows, their intentions shrouded in secrecy. Isabella, Clyde, Elise, Alessandro, and Marta gathered in the war room, reviewing their latest intelligence. The walls were covered with maps, photographs, and documents detailing the Black Sun’s remaining operatives and activities. Elise, looking over a set of decrypted messages, spoke with concern. “We’ve uncovered several new locations tied to
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back. The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness. Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm. I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in
“Isabella,” he said, his tone low and firm, “you make the rules here. You break them. No one is superior to you—not Marcus, not me, not anyone in this pack.” The weight of his words settled over me, heavy and unfamiliar. “But… the rules exist for a reason,” I argued weakly, my voice wavering. “And sometimes,” he said, glancing at me briefly, “those rules don’t account for the unique situations we face. That’s why you’re the Luna. To lead. To make the hard calls. The pack looks to you for guidance, not to follow every rule blindly.” I shook my head, my chest tight. “I don’t feel like a Luna,” I admitted. “I don’t feel like someone they should look up to.” Aiden’s hand tightened slightly on my thigh, his warmth seeping through the fabric of my jeans. “That’s because you keep doubting yourself,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re still thinking like an outsider. But you’re not anymore. You’re one of us, Isabella. More than that, you’re the luna, my mate. It’s time you start actin
The drive to the orphanage was quiet. The mood we had woken up with had been ruined, leaving a tension thick enough to slice through. I could see Aiden’s jaw tightening every few seconds, a telltale sign of his internal struggle. He was controlling himself—for me, I knew that much. It was his way. Always measured, always holding back.The world outside the window blurred past, a mix of early autumn trees and gray skies, but I couldn’t focus on any of it. My chest felt heavy, guilt coiling tight around my ribs. After fifteen minutes of silence, the tension became unbearable. I glanced over at him and then back at the passing scenery, forcing myself to speak.“I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice barely breaking the stillness.Aiden’s eyes flicked toward me, his expression unreadable. His gaze returned to the road almost instantly. “For what?” he asked, his tone polite but distant, as though he were forcing himself to remain calm.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “For putting you in a ti
Just as we were about to leave the table, Marcus entered the room. The first thing his eyes caught was our intertwined fingers. I instinctively tried to pull my hand back, but Aiden tightened his grip, his fingers pressing firmly against mine as though silently daring me to let go.Marcus raised a brow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk as he cleared his throat. “Someone is clearly in a good mood after whipping everyone’s ass,” he drawled.Aiden rolled his eyes, the action subtle but unmistakable. “Oh, please,” he muttered, his tone dripping with irritation.We both knew what Marcus was referring to. Aiden had spent the better part of past two weeks commanding everyone on how to deal with Darius. The tension between him and Darius was palpable, almost suffocating at times. I had told him countless times to forget about the man, to let it go, but Aiden had been resolute. I could still remember the dangerous glint in his eyes as he’d said, “I would never forgive anyone for touching
“Do you remember what day it is today?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, but I could feel the weight of my words lingering in the quietness.Aiden’s response was slow, deliberate. He raised one brow in that way he did, and just that one look made my heart skip a beat. If it was a sin to look this handsome first thing in the morning, then he was, without a doubt, the greatest sinner of them all. I found myself stuttering, nerves dancing through me as I tried to find the courage to bring up the topic I’d been holding onto.“You said you’d take me to the orphanage,” I said, my voice hesitant, unsure if this was the right time. Would he remember? Would he care as much as I did?For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Silence crept in, and with it, a growing sense of unease. My mind spiraled, convinced I’d messed everything up. Just as the words started to rise in my throat, desperate to cover up the silence, Aiden leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek. His arms wrapp