HERO POVThe hug finally loosened, and I stepped back, my vision still a little blurry from the tears that wanted to spill. Kira and Alvira, their faces streaked with dampness, looked at me like I was a ghost they'd conjured."Hero," Kira breathed, her voice thick with emotion. She reached out, her fingers tracing the line of my jaw. "I... I never thought we'd see you again. Never.""Goodness," she added, a soft smile playing on her lips. "You look more and more like Dad every day. It's... it's uncanny.”I swallowed, my throat tight. "And you," I said, my gaze shifting towards her direction, "you look just like Mom too. I... I'm so sorry.""Sorry?" Kira echoed, her brow furrowing."Yeah," I mumbled, my hands fidgeting. "I... I thought you were dead. I still remember. I saw... I thought I saw you in the pool, all that blood but turns out it was someone else... and Alvira, I thought you'd just left, joined another pack after I told you... after I told you it couldn't work." I looked dow
HERO POV"Zara and I..." I started, my voice trailing off. Alvira had asked a direct question, but the words felt stuck in my throat. I wanted to explain, to tell her everything without making Zara uncomfortable, but it was like trying to untangle a knot I had no right to untangle.Before I could find the right words, Zara stepped in. "Hero hasn't been himself," she said softly, her gaze meeting Alvira's. "Not since he learned you both were alive. It's…it's wonderful to finally meet you. And if you'd like more time with him, I'm happy to give you space.”"No," Kira said, her hand tightening on Zara's. "You're going to be family. I want to know you. Alvira and I have been living here, and there's plenty of room. I can talk to Mascold, get him to build you two a house right next to ours. We can be together.""You want us to stay in the pack?" Zara asked, turning to me. "And you... you're staying at the mountain?”"Of course," Kira replied, her eyes widening in surprise. "And Hero's stayi
ZARA POV"Oh my goodness... oh my goodness..." I whispered, my breath hitching in my throat. It felt like my rib cage was tightened tightly, and my heart was a frantic bird trying to escape it cage. My hands shook so violently, I could barely clench them. Panic attack. Here we go. A full-blown, rip-roaring, terror-inducing panic attack.I’d bolted from that conference room like a startled rabbit. I didn’t even think, I just ran. I had to get away, put as much distance as humanly possible between myself and... everything that had just happened in there. Every step was a desperate attempt to outrun the feeling of being trapped, suffocated.My lungs burned, my legs ached, but I didn't dare stop. Finally, when I felt like I was about to collapse, I did. And that’s when I realized someone was behind me.I spun around, chest heaving, to see Kristina. She stopped a few feet away, her brow furrowed. Meanwhile, I was gasping like a fish out of water, practically ready to drop to my knees. And
ZARA POVMy breath hitched, a ragged, uneven sound. I felt like my lungs were shrinking, like I couldn't pull in enough air. Kristina’s hand, warm and steady, patted my hair. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like the only thing keeping me grounded."Zara, honey, breathe," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Just... in and out. Slow. You're going to make yourself pass out."I tried, I really did. But my heart was hammering, a thumping beat against my ribs. "I... I can't," I gasped, my words coming out in shaky bursts. "I need to tell you… I need to tell you this right now.”Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise, then softened with concern. "Okay, okay, are you sure you can speak right now?.... we can deal with that later. We will. Just breathe first. What else is going on with you? You're hyperventilating, Zara. You're clearly terrified and you need to stop because you are pregnant.""It's... it's about Hero," I said, my voice trembling. "And... and my father.""Your father? What
ZARA POVMy breath hitched as his hand, rough and calloused, finally left my arm. It felt like a brand, a mark I couldn't scrub away. He just stood there, staring at me, a weird, triumphant glint in his eyes. Like he'd just hit the jackpot, won some impossible prize. My own hands, meanwhile, were shaking so badly I could barely keep them still."I knew that little bitch, Sonja, was useless and dumb," he said, his voice thick with a nasty kind of satisfaction. "And you, princess, you couldn't hide forever, could you?”My head was spinning. Everything was blurry, like I was looking through a dirty window. He was here. He was really here. And I was completely, utterly trapped. He started pulling me, dragging me out of the jeep, and I stumbled, my legs feeling like they were made of jelly.I tried to focus, to make him disappear, but he just kept pulling, his grip like iron. "This must be a dream... you can't be here, you are not real. I must be hallucinating." I breathed out.He snorted,
HERO POV"Mascold was kind to us, sure," Kira began, her voice gentle, a small smile touching her lips. "But honestly, our housemates? They were the ones who really made a difference. You have to meet Mitchell and Dennis."She paused, a flicker of something like embarrassment crossing her face. "See, when we first got here, we were... Well, we were scared. We didn't know who to trust. We couldn't give them our real names, and we couldn't even come up with fake ones we felt safe with. So, they just started calling us Scarlet and Mona. I think they still think Alvira and I are sisters, you know, blood sisters.”Kira's smile faded slightly. "Hero, I just... I need you to know, I never forgot about you. About any of you. Being here, surviving... it doesn't mean I pushed you out of my mind.""Kira," I interrupted, my voice a little rough. "You don't need to explain. Not one bit. You don't have to apologize for surviving. I'm just... I'm just glad you did." I took a deep breath. "I would li
HERO POV“She's gone," I muttered, the words thick with disbelief. "Just... gone?"Kristina was already moving, her eyes scanning the room, then the surroundings of the entire room. "Maybe she shifted? Trying to find a hidden spot to crumble in, right?"I watched her, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. Zara wouldn't just leave, would she? Not without a word. Not after everything.Kristina returned, her brow furrowed, but she held something out to me. A folded piece of paper. "She left this," Kristina said softly. "For you.”My hands trembled as I took it. It felt light, almost weightless, yet it carried the weight of everything I feared. I unfolded the paper, my eyes scanning the delicate handwriting."What does it say?" Kristina asked, her voice gentle.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, and read aloud.(To HERO)*I know I've caused you nothing but pain, and for that, I'm truly sorry. If you're reading this, it means you found my note. And Kristina probably told yo
HERO POVWe'd been tracking Zara for what felt like forever. My wolf inside me was going nuts, like a caged animal. I could feel his panic growing with every step. Then, I smelled it. Smoke. Thick, choking smoke. I knew right then, something was seriously wrong.We rounded a bend, and I saw it. A crowd of wolves, all looking grim. They were working hard, but the air was heavy with tension. And then I saw the fire. A truck, smashed into a tree, burning like a giant torch.Jeremy barely stopped the car before I was out. My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it would burst. The truck... It was a wreck."Is that your truck?" a wolf yelled at me, his face red with anger when he noticed the similarity with our truck and the burning one. "What the hell happened? You could have burned the whole mountain down!"A woman nearby, I could tell she was a witch, was using her magic to blast water onto the flames. She was trying to stop it from spreading.I couldn't even focus on the angry wolf. M
ALPHA KING GRANTThe big wooden doors of the pack house creaked as I pushed them open. Another trip, another empty feeling. I sighed, a long, heavy sound that seemed to fill the quiet hallway. Since I was fifteen, I've been searching. Fifteen! That's a long, long time. I'm the Alpha King, which means I'm in charge of all the werewolf packs. I got this job really young, and now, well, I'm almost a hundred years old. And still, no mate.Everyone around me has found their special someone. My friends, my warriors, even the cooks in the kitchen! They all have their mates, and it makes me feel... lonely. Really lonely. When I turned fifteen, I took a whole year off. A year! I traveled all over the world, visiting every pack I could find. I was so excited. I imagined finding her, my mate. I wanted to give her everything, make her happy, love her with all my heart. I wanted to spend time with her, not just work all the time.But I didn't find her. Not that year. I told myself, "Maybe she's to
ADRIANA POVThe heavy oak door groaned, resisting the frantic assault of Harold’s shoulder. Finally, it splintered inward, a testament to his desperate strength. He stumbled into the room, the air thick with the stench of metallic blood. His gaze, wild and searching, fell upon his brother, sprawled lifeless on the blood-soaked rug.A strangled cry escaped Harold’s lips. He staggered towards the body, his knees buckling beneath him. "No... no!" he choked, his voice raw with grief. "Henry,"Trisha, her face pale and drawn, followed close behind. She gasped, her eyes widening at the gruesome scene. "Oh Goodness," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What… what happened?"Harold, his hands trembling violently, reached out to touch his brother's cold, lifeless cheek. "Henry," he moaned, the word a guttural sob. "Who did this?”He slowly looked up at me, his eyes blazed with fury. The world seemed to tilt. Then, a burning pain exploded across my cheek when he slapped me. I recoiled, dizzy a
This is the story of Alpha prince Grant and how he found his mate. THE ALPHA'S REJECTED MUTE MATECHAPTER 1ADRIANA POVAfter making breakfast for the Luna of the Diamond Pack this morning, I headed back to my room. A big smile spread across my face as I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall of the room given to me at the pack house. Each ticked-off day on the April calendar brought me closer to my special day. Today was finally the 28th of April, my eighteenth birthday! I couldn't contain my excitement.Turning eighteen for most wolves is a big deal. It's when we usually shift into our wolf forms for the first time and meet our inner wolves. I'm even more excited than most, because I've been Mute since I was born. I had been like this since I was a baby, wrapped in the arms of my dead mother. She had been killed by a pack of lone wolves. Lone wolf...A lone wolf is a wolf that lives and hunts alone, outside of a pack, they don't belong to any Pack. This can happen for various
ZARA POVGrant finished his meal, a happy little mess of baby food smeared around his mouth. Hero, with a gentle smile, lifted him into his arms. "Okay, little man," Hero said, his voice soft, "tell Daddy all about your day."Grant, in response, let out a series of excited baby noises, a mix of gurgles and happy babbling. He waved his tiny hands, as if trying to tell a grand story that only he understood. Hero chuckled, bouncing him lightly up and down. Grant's laughter filled the room, a sweet, pure sound that made my heart melt.I couldn't help but smile. It was like watching magic happen. Before, Hero had been so unsure, so worried about being a father. But now, seeing them together, it was clear he was a natural. Grant absolutely adored him. His eyes lit up whenever Hero was near, and Hero, in return, spent every free moment with his son.Every time I saw them together, Hero had this big, open smile. It was like he'd found something he never knew he was missing. It was a smile tha
ZARA POVONE YEAR LATERThe bright summer sun streamed through the window, making the dust motes dance in the air. A warm breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass, and the sound of birds chirping filled the garden. Inside, the living room was a cheerful chaos of baby toys and soft blankets.Kristina was sitting on the plush sofa, her eyes wide and sparkling as she cradled Grant in her arms. He was almost a year old now, a chubby little bundle of joy with big, curious eyes. He gurgled happily, reaching out tiny hands to tug at Kristina's bright pink shirt."Oh, he's just the sweetest thing!" Kristina sighed, her voice full of pure adoration. "Look at those eyes! And his little hands! He's absolutely perfect."I smiled, leaning against the doorway. "He is, isn't he? He gets those eyes from Hero.""And that hair! Just like Hero's too," Kristina added, gently stroking Grant's soft, dark curls. "He's a mini-Hero. You're so lucky, Zara. I swear, if I wasn't your best friend right now,
HERO POV"Hero..." Zara's voice, usually so strong, trembled. She clutched her stomach, her face paling. "Hero, I... I think my water broke."My breath hitched. "What? Are you sure?"Her eyes, wide and filled with a raw, primal fear, locked onto mine. "Yes! I'm sure! Oh, it hurts, Hero. It hurts so much!"She swayed, her legs buckling beneath her. I reacted instantly, leaping forward and catching her before she could fall. "Zara! Hold on, hold on.”"Oh, it's coming, Hero. It's really coming!" she gasped, her voice thick with pain. "It's… it’s like a fire inside.""Jeremy! Guys! We need help!" I yelled, my voice cracking with urgency. "Now!"Instead of the swift, coordinated response I expected, they walked towards us. A wave of cheers erupted, and my eyes widened in disbelief. Jeremy and the others stood there, beaming, holding bottles of sparkling wine and brightly colored balloons. "Congratulations, Hero! Congratulations, Zara!”They started clapping, oblivious to the chaos unfoldin
HERO POVMy hands were shaking. I mean, really shaking. I tried to smooth down my shirt, but it didn't help. I was standing right in front of the place. We had put up lights, flowers, everything. It was supposed to look like a dream, the kind of place you see in movies. I had spent all day, every single minute, trying to make it perfect. I wanted it to be just right for Zara.I took a deep breath. It didn't do much. My heart was pounding like a drum. I kept thinking, "What if she doesn't like it? What if it's not good enough?" I looked around again. We had hung little lights everywhere. They twinkled, even though it wasn't dark yet. We had put up her favorite flowers, the bright yellow ones. I had even gotten some special candles that smelled like vanilla, her favorite."Man, you look like you're about to jump out of your skin," Jeremy said. He was standing next to me, trying to look cool. He always looked cool. I wished I could be that calm."I'm nervous," I admitted. "Really nervous
ZARA POVI felt so much better. My body was strong again. Hero had taken care of everything. He made Paul and Alvira tell everyone what they did. The whole squad saw it, even Kira. They told the truth about trying to hurt me. Because of this, my father was going to lose his position as Alpha. He was in big trouble.But we had a big problem. We couldn't tell everyone about the mountain. It had too much magic. If other packs found out, they could use it for bad things. So, we all agreed to keep the mountain a secret.I knew Mascold wasn't happy about us leaving the mountain because they were torn between the fear of letting their secret out. Paxton and his mate tried to talk to us then and we had refused. I felt glad I had turn them down because right now, I was walking back into my old house to confront my father finally. It should have been my home, but it never really felt like it. I walked tall and proud. No one dared to touch me.I wondered why. Maybe they knew Hero was my mate, an
HERO POV"Are you alright?" I asked again, my voice low. I looked at her wrists, at the marks left by the cuffs, and at the rough collar around her neck. A wave of anger washed over me, a hot, burning feeling. Even though Weston was gone, I wanted to hurt him again, just for touching her like this. How could anyone do this to her?She blinked slowly, her eyes looking tired. "Yeah," she whispered, "I'm... I'm okay." She paused, her eyes fluttering. "But... I think I'm going to faint.”And then, just like that, she went limp in my arms. I felt a surge of panic. "Zara!" I called, but she didn't respond. I held her close, carefully lifting her into my arms. She was so light.I walked out of the cabin, the wooden floor creaking under my boots. The night air was cool, and the moon was bright, casting long shadows. I held Zara tightly, my heart pounding.Suddenly, I heard a soft rustling sound from the trees nearby. It was a subtle sound, like leaves moving, but my senses were sharp. I stopp