I paced outside Violet's hospital room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. How could I have let this happen? I should have protected her better. These thoughts were relentless, ramming through my mind. I don't know how long I paced anxiously around the door when a slow creak caused my whole body to jerk. I first saw the white coat, and then Dr. Stanley's full figure emerged through the narrow opening.He had a small smile on his face, one I suspected would grow into a chuckle, as he said, "You can go in now, Mr. Wolfe. But make sure you don't disturb her; she's still recovering.""Thanks," I said, and with a small nod, I was left with the sound of his shoes echoing down the hall and the slightly opened door in front of me.Wiping my clammy hands against my trousers, I gently pushed the door open and was relieved to find her sleeping peacefully. Violet lay motionless, her hair fanned out on the pillow, her porcelain skin illuminated by the soft glow of the hospital lights.Takin
Adrian's POV"It's okay, Adrian, I need to discuss with my family." The term "family" was enough to make me angry, to the point of wanting to punch that guy, Xavier, in the face. What did she mean by "family" anyway?"We were once her family too, remember?" I heard Ares growl in my head. Impulsively, my hands clenched into fists, a deep green vein appearing in the center of my forehead."It's that son of a bitch she's with that I'm bothered about," I huffed, fully aware that I sounded like a jealous preschooler and not caring one bit."I think a good beating would wipe off that possessive look on his face. I'd like to hold his neck so tight that he'd beg me to let go," Ares' tone was now higher, getting excited. I could feel it as my palms tingled."She kicked us out of her room because of him. Who the fuck is he anyway?" Ares retorted, his voice filled with mockery. He, too, wasn't a fan of Xavier."I don't know... yet," I said with finality and shut the link. Leaning my head against
Adrian's POVPacing back and forth, hands dipped into my pockets, I restlessly circled around my living room, my mind racing with thoughts of Violet like a whirlwind. It had been a week since she'd vanished, leaving me with nothing but unanswered questions and a gnawing sense of desperation. Where was she? Why did she leave without a word? I'd gone to the hospital the next day only to find out she'd left...Nothing was making sense anymore. That prick, Xavier, was the one running the company now. He was rather proud, I had to admit. I'd met him several times to make inquiries about Violet, but little Mr. CEO was always either "about to head out for a meeting" or "in the middle of preparing for something important"—the exact words he'd used on me on five different occasions. I'd met Claire too, and she seemed to not know where her boss was; even her house was empty...To top it all, he always managed to keep a smug expression on his face, and each time he spoke, he sounded more amused
It has been three weeks since I left the hospital, and my arm is fully healed. As I stare out at the open field of green grass before me, I take a deep breath, the earthy scent of freshly mowed grass reminding me of Adrian.“Adrian,” I whisper into the air, my hands wrapping around my waist as I hug myself. I left him without saying goodbye—not after a fight, but after a passionate night. Boy, is he going to be pissed! I bite my lip guiltily.The memory of that night is still etched into a precious corner of my mind. It was like discovering a new side of Adrian.“Before you start getting silly ideas into your head, let me remind you that old habits die hard,” Aria says, her voice stern and slightly annoyed.“It wouldn’t hurt to take a trip down memory lane, would it?” I roll my eyes, indignant at whatever sermon she’s about to launch into.“When it involves you and Adrian Wolfe acting silly on your hospital bed, then yes, it would.” She chuckles, her humor resurfacing, and I allow mys
Adrian's POV"Open up, Violet," I whisper, my hands on my waist as I pace impatiently. Tapping my feet restlessly, I begin to scratch my scalp, my eyes never leaving the door. I haven't seen her for over two weeks, and I'm anxious to see her face, even if it's just for a minute.Reynold has been quiet the whole time, but I can see the excitement on his face, his gaze fixed on the door handle.The handle moves down slowly, the door swings open, and our eyes meet. Violet is dressed in a light blue dress that flows down to her ankles, a white sweater covering her arms and shoulders, her hair flowing freely down her back. She isn’t hurt.A big wave of relief washes over me, and I let out a sigh. She's safe and alive after all."Thank goodness you're okay," I say, but the moment the words leave my mouth, a cold look sweeps over her features. Her back straightens, her eyes go expressionless, and she folds her arms across her chest, leaning against the doorframe.Right. My thoughts shift in
Violet's POV"You can come back to the pack. You still have your place there," Adrian mutters. I stop sobbing immediately, fixing him with a long, hard stare. "He has the nerve!" Aria hisses in my mind. Realizing he'd probably blurted out something stupid, he bites his lip and looks away, but I continue to look. To think I could trust him… Of course, Red Moon Park was my safe haven, a place where I could live peacefully without watching my back every minute. But then again, it wasn't that easy. Bending my head down, I let out a bitter laugh that comes out low and croaky. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems. "And what about Emily? What happens to her?" I question, my gaze dropping as he chews on his lower lip. "Aren't the two of you still married?" My voice is louder this time. My eyes drift to Reynold, who gives me a sorry look. I don't ask these questions because I want answers—hell, I know the answers. I only want him to see how impossible his request is. "And when I'm back, what wo
Adrian's POVViolet raises an eyebrow, her smirk widening into a grin, and then she starts laughing. The sound is mocking, but instead of getting annoyed, I find myself turning away, embarrassed. I knew how she felt, but I didn't intend for it to come out that way. Maybe it was the wrong timing. Her words cut through the laughter, sharp as knives. Each one reminds me just how impossible it's going to be to convince her otherwise.“Sorry things had to turn out this way. It’s not what it looks like.” Damn it! I’ve messed up again. This wasn't how I pictured it to come out. I care about her, and I'm not comfortable with the fact that she was hiding in some only God knows basement when she can securely be safe at the pack house. I knew I needed to leave even without arguing. I wouldn't was to piss her more.Even on the drive back to the city, my mind is still on her. Reynold’s driving, but all I can think about is how I’ve let her down again. I should never have mentioned the pack. Now
Adrian's POV“Where are those darn keys?” I mutter to no one in particular, tossing a pile of sheets aside. I pat the space under them, but nothing. I’ve already checked the pockets of my sweats, and the key rack is empty…“Are we really doing this now?” Ares growls in his usual impatient tone. Instantly, I remember: my bedside stool.Slipping into a pair of sneakers, I’m soon strapping my seatbelt across my chest, my car speeding towards the hideout. My only prayer is that no cops pull me over.“Get a grip on yourself before you get us killed,” Ares says gently, but I don’t pay him any heed. With my heart beating like a bass drum echoing in the woods, it’s either I reach Violet as fast as I can, or I don’t reach her at all.It’s a miracle my hands aren’t shaky. In fact, if Reynold were around, I would’ve let him drive. I don’t trust myself. Sawn’s call informed me that the tracker had gone off. That was wrong. It was supposed to remain on; it only goes off if she’s in danger.You cou
Violet POV I wake up feeling sore but utterly satisfied. My body aches with the remnants of last night, Adrian's touch still lingering on my skin. A soft smile tugs at my lips as I stretch, expecting to feel his warmth beside me. But when I turn, the bed is empty.Frowning, I sit up, wrapping the sheets around me. Where did he go?Before I can call out for him, the door creaks open.Adrian steps in, dressed in only sweatpants, his toned chest bare, his dark hair still damp from a shower. But what catches my attention is the small velvet box in his hands.My breath hitches.He walks toward me with that confident stride, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. My heart starts hammering in my chest."Adrian?" My voice is barely above a whisper.He stops in front of me, and without a second's hesitation, he sinks down to one knee.I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth."Violet," he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "From the moment you came into my life, you've been my greatest
Violet's POVI barely have a moment to catch my breath before Adrian lifts me into his arms, his grip strong and possessive. My body is still trembling, my mind hazy from the pleasure he just wrung out of me, but the hunger in his eyes tells me he's far from done."We're not finished," he growls, his voice thick with desire.I shudder at the dark promise in his tone.Adrian strides out of the pool, his muscles flexing with each determined step. Water drips from his body, soaking me in the process, but I don't care. My fingers tangle in his damp hair, my lips pressing against the curve of his jaw, his neck. I can't get enough of him.His grip tightens around me as he carries me through the pack house, ignoring the startled glances from a few passing pack members. My cheeks burn, but Adrian doesn't slow down. His focus is solely on me-on us.By the time we reach his room, my arousal is pulsing all over again. He kicks the door shut behind him, then pins me against it.His lips crash aga
ADRIAN POV I pulled my finger out from her already wet dripping pussy, and she squirms.My cock aches, hard and pulsing, but I hold back, watching her beneath me. Violet is trembling, her breath coming out in soft, desperate gasps as she squirms against the wall."You enjoy teasing me, don't you?" I murmur, dragging my lips down her throat, my teeth grazing her pulse. Her body shudders, her nails digging into my shoulders."Adrian..." she breathes, her voice laced with frustration.I chuckle darkly. "No, sweetheart. You don't get to say my name like that-not after the hell you put me through."She glares at me, her stubbornness flashing in those beautiful eyes, but the desperation in them is unmistakable. She wants this. She needs this.I press my knee between her thighs, spreading her legs wider, feeling the heat radiating from her core. My fingers glide down her stomach, teasing the waistband of her shorts."I can smell you, Violet," I whisper, my fingers just barely ghosting over
ADRIAN POV The Rogue Alpha had stopped screaming a while ago. Now, he only groaned, barely clinging to consciousness as his severed fingers lay discarded on the cold floor. Blood pooled beneath him, I barely noticed.I crouched in front of him, gripping his chin and forcing his head up. His swollen, bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on me."I told you," I murmured, my voice eerily calm. "You were going to die a slow, painful death."His lips curled into a weak, mocking smirk. "Just kill me already,?" His breath hitched, his body convulsing from the pain.I narrowed my eyes, my grip tightening painfully. "You're already dead. It's just a matter of when."He let out a hoarse chuckle, but I was done listening. My fist connected with his jaw, the crack of bone satisfying as his body slumped forward.Without another glance, I turned and walked out of the dungeon, slamming the door behind me.The cool evening breeze was exactly what I needed to cool the heat Of battle still pulsing through
VIOLET POV The moment I open my eyes, my first thought goes to Adrian-the mate mark on my neck burning like a reminder.His voice reaches me, low and desperate, as he sits beside my bed, repeating over and over again, "Sit up. Don't die on me."It aches... watching him suffer, knowing his mate, the one he stood beside, waiting so patiently to wake up, didn't even recognize him.The Shadow Alpha... I'm glad he's beaten down. But why am I doing this? Honestly, I don't even know. The plan I made was half-baked, driven by instinct more than logic.But Mason? He's sharp enough to see right through me. He knows I'm just pranking him."You enjoy needling him, don't you?" Mason asks the moment Adrian storms out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hallway.I turn to look at him, the laughter I'd been holding back finally breaking free. "Did you see his face?" I chuckle, shaking my head. "He looked like he was ready to rip your throat out."Mason grins, lounging back against the
Adrian POV Three days.Three fucking days.But it doesn't feel like just three days of agony. It feels like a lifetime. Like I'm drowning in slow motion, gasping for air while the world watches and does nothing.Harry's been calling me Daddy like he's afraid I'll disappear if he stops. He's been jumping around, tugging at my hand, showing me drawings he made in the hospital's playroom. He even drew one of Violet, him, and me. A perfect little family, all smiles and holding hands.But that's a fucking lie.Because Violet had to pretend.After the doctors explained everything-her memory loss, the gaps in her mind that swallowed me whole-she agreed to go along with the truth for Harry's sake. Not mine. Just Harry's."Daddy, look! I made another one!" Harry beams, holding up a messy drawing of us with stick arms and lopsided smiles. "This is you, Mommy, and me! We're fighting bad guys together!"I force a smile. It feels fake. Stiff."That's awesome, buddy," I say, ruffling his dark hair
ADRIAN POV "Violet, I love you. And I promise to make everything right. Just give me this chance and come back... please." My bears frantically as I say these words. Ares is clawing right at me. It's another day of saying the same words, over and over again.I've battled demons that won't let me sleep. Nightmares. Guilt. Regret. But I refuse to break."I won't give up. No, I can't give up," I mutter, gripping her cold, lifeless hand like it's the only thing keeping me grounded.My body tingles from the contact, the familiar warmth of her skin, even in its fragile state. I miss her, we missed her. Ares and I. Her smiles... How her eyes sparkles... How she looks when she's angry and wants to deliver a warning. The soft looks of her eyes. I fucking miss all of it and more."Sweetheart, please," I whisper, brushing a loose strand of hair from her pale face. "Harry misses you so much. He won't stop talking about everything you taught him-the nasty tricks, too. Like how you'd seize his
Adrian POV It's been two days, and I haven't moved an inch away from where Violet lay. She was all I fucking had.I almost lost her. She almost died. I felt her die."Alpha, you need to rest," Reynold's voice cuts through the silence that was existing I'm the room. I turn my head slowly, blinking at him.Rest? That's an understatement. I don't want to move. I want to sit here, watch her breathe, and make sure her chest rises and falls every goddamn second.The doctor says she's in a coma and will need a few days to recover. I want to be the first person she sees when her eyes flutter open. The first person she calls. The first person to watch her smile again, bright and alive.No. I can't. I won't move from here."What about Alpha Valenwood?" I ask, voice hoarse from hours of silence. He'd checked up on her and had been staying in my pack house ever since."He's still there, bonding with Harry," Reynold reports, his gaze softening. "Speaking of Harry... he hasn't touched a bite of fo
Adrian POV Ares growls inside me, restless and furious. We're holding our mate in our arms, but she's lifeless. Whatever the fucker injected into that syringe had done its job, and now Violet's life is slipping through my fingers. He won't die easily. Not after this."Reynold," I mind-link, voice sharp as steel. "Capture that bastard. I want him rotting in the pack dungeon. No one touches him but me.""Understood, Alpha," Reynold replies, his tone matching my rage.By the time I storm into my pack's hospital, Violet's body cradled against my chest, everyone freezes. Gasps echo through the hallway, but I don't care. My only prayer is that Harry's still indoors, far from witnessing this nightmare."Alpha!" Dr. Lee rushes toward me, eyes wide."Get to fucking work! She's losing breath. She's dying, Lee! Do something!" My voice cracks as I lay her on the bed, the same damn bed I once bled out on.Dr. Lee doesn't waste a second. He mutters commands, nurses scrambling around like clockwork