“Drinking that much is not good for your health, you know. If you’re trying to commit suicide by alcohol poisoning, please don’t do it in my presence. And try not to make it too obvious—it’s embarrassing, especially for you,” Alpha Jake said bluntly, glaring at me as usual.I scoffed. “Why would I commit suicide? I’d rather just kill the source of all my depression instead. And drinking a couple of glasses of wine never killed anyone.”He rolled his eyes, and I almost laughed at the sight. It was actually adorable. “You might be the first,” he muttered.“That’s ridiculous, and you know it,” I replied, feeling my annoyance growing.“What’s ridiculous is your stubbornness,” he shot back.I widened my eyes and carefully placed my glass of wine on the table in front of us. “I am not stubborn—you just think you know it all. What are you, a doctor or something? You can’t tell me what to do. And I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ll drink as much as I want,” I whisper-yelled at him,
I went outside and found a dark corner where I could cry without anyone seeing me in my miserable state. I never imagined I would cry like this, but I couldn’t help myself. It felt like I was a magnet for bad luck, with everything collapsing around me. I sat on what I thought was a large rock—it was too dark to be sure—but it didn’t matter. Nothing did at that moment.Minutes passed, but I couldn’t bring myself to go back into the hall. My mind was swirling with emotions, too chaotic to even think clearly. The fresh air was doing little to calm me down, and every time I thought about going back inside, I felt a new wave of tears threatening to spill. So, I stayed out, hoping the darkness would somehow swallow me whole.But then I felt a presence. I wasn’t afraid—I knew instinctively who it was. My mate. I sighed, clenching my fists. I was angry, no, furious, and I didn’t have the energy for another one of his games.“What do you want?” I snapped, not even bothering to look at him. “I
Rebecca's POVI watched them from a distance, hidden in the shadows like a ghost. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat filled with rage, pain, and betrayal. I saw him as he stood there, telling her he never "fucked" me last night. The words cut through me like a knife. We didn’t do anything last night because he rejected me again. Ever since she arrived, he has been pushing me away, time and time again. Every rejection stings deeper than the last.I always believed that whenever we were together, it was more than just sex. I thought it was love. How could he stand there, so casually dismissing everything we had shared, calling it nothing but "fucking"? My heart twisted with a cruel combination of pain, betrayal, and humiliation.How could he do this to me?Pain. Betrayal. Rejection. Humiliation. And finally… Anger.That overwhelming anger simmered in the pit of my stomach, threatening to consume me whole. He had promised me. He said she was nothing. Nothing! He hadn’t been lyi
PRISCAThe drive back home was quiet, but not in an awkward way. It was a comfortable silence, the kind that wraps around you like a warm blanket. My mind, however, wasn’t quiet at all. I couldn’t stop replaying our kiss from earlier—the way Jake’s lips moved against mine, the heat that surged between us. It was as if the moment had imprinted itself on me, and I replayed it over and over like some lovestruck fool. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize we had arrived.Jake got out of the car first, and like a true gentleman, he came around to my side, opening the door of his sleek black Range Rover Evoque. His hand gently held my waist as he helped me out of the car, and I blushed, feeling the warmth of his touch spread through me. For a fleeting moment, I wished he could stay like this forever—kind, attentive, and close. But I didn’t let myself get too carried away. Knowing Jake, this sweetness wouldn’t last long. He’d probably go back to being cold and distant by mornin
I lay beside her on my back, staring up at the ceiling, lost in a storm of emotions I couldn’t quite understand. I wasn’t surprised that my wolf had taken over, marking our mate. Deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before something like this happened. But what angered me was that I had allowed it, that I couldn’t stop myself from wanting her. And even more terrifying than that, I had enjoyed every second of it. The pleasure I felt when I touched her, kissed her, was dangerously addicting. I wanted more. That thought alone sent a chill down my spine.With a deep sigh, I shifted onto my side, my eyes taking in every curve of her body. She was beautiful—an hourglass figure, soft skin, and thick, silky black hair that spread out across the pillow. I reached out, brushing a lock of it from her face before gently pulling the blanket over her to keep her warm. I couldn't help but feel protective of her. Ever since she arrived, I hadn’t only been losing control of my wolf—I’d been
JAKE'S POV:I woke up still sprawled across the couch, my muscles stiff from the uncomfortable position. I must have passed out here last night. My head throbbed slightly, and I rubbed my temples, trying to gather myself. Exhaustion clung to me like a heavy blanket, but I knew I had important duties to attend to. Being an Alpha was no easy task—it was relentless and draining, but the love I had for my pack kept me going.After a quick shower, I checked the time. It was only 5 a.m. Still wrapped in a towel, I heard my name being screamed from down the hallway, and not in the way that usually excites me. "Shit," I muttered under my breath."You!" Prisca’s voice echoed through the halls, and before I could react, she stormed into my bedroom. She was furious. Dressed in nothing but an oversized black band T-shirt, her legs bare and flushed with rage, she looked ready to kill me. Clearly, she hadn’t bothered putting on pants in her hurry to confront me about last night.I leaned against t
PRISCA'S POVPure embarrassment! How did I let that happen? What just happened? Never in my life have I ever let a man touch me like that. I’ve never done anything like that. How was I ever going to face him again? The pleasure, the sparks, and his touch were the most beautiful, addicting feelings in the world. How did it all come to this in such a short amount of time? It only feels like yesterday when we hated each other's guts, but now we’re all over each other. Is that how the mate bond works, or am I the bipolar one now?I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before stepping into the shower. I touched my neck and winced at the sharp, stinging pain. My whole body was still sensitive to his touch, and it was so weird...in a good way. I recalled Catherine’s little speech about how Alphas were so dominant and quick with the whole mating process. Was I ready to lose my virginity to that bipolar jerk? What if we do it and he starts acting up? It’s pretty clear he doesn’t love me. It’s
Jake had told me to wait for him upstairs while he attended to something urgent, but I wasn’t about to sit there idly, waiting for him to come and punish me or whatever. I knew whatever they were discussing downstairs had something to do with the thing I saw earlier, and I was determined to find out what was going on. My curiosity got the better of me, and as quietly as I could, I followed his scent.As his mate, tracking his scent was effortless—it was like second nature, and honestly, he smelled incredible. After what seemed like ages climbing the stairs, his scent led me to two large oak doors, painted a reddish-brown color. I quickly ducked behind a nearby corner and focused on sharpening my hearing like Bryan had taught me. It was part of my werewolf training, though I hadn’t yet started learning how to control my magic. Some woman named Jenner was supposed to teach me, but she still hadn’t shown up.Inside, the conversation was tense, and the first voice I recognized was Bryan’s
The moment I stepped into our bedroom, I knew something was wrong. Prisca sat on the edge of the bed, her back to me, staring out the window. The moonlight cast a soft glow on her, making her seem almost ethereal, but the tension in her shoulders gave her away. She was deep in thought, troubled. Lately, she'd been distant. At first, I chalked it up to the pregnancy—mood swings, exhaustion, the usual things that came with carrying a child. But this was different. There was something *heavier* weighing on her, something she wasn’t telling me. I had given her space, thinking maybe she just needed time to process things on her own, but time had only made it worse. I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Prisca, what's going on?" She flinched. *Flinched.* I immediately withdrew my hand, my stomach twisting. My mate had never reacted to me like that before. She turned to face me, her expression unreadable. “Nothing, Jake. I’m just t
I spent the entire morning with Althea, flipping through ancient grimoires, searching desperately for a spell that could summon Esther. My hands trembled as I traced the inked symbols in an old book, my mind racing with the possibilities of what we might discover. We had been through this before, and every attempt had failed. But this time, it felt different. This time, we needed answers. The room was dimly lit, the scent of burning sage and lavender thick in the air. The candles flickered unnaturally, as if something unseen was already lurking, waiting for us to call upon it. I swallowed hard and looked at my sister. “Are you sure about this?” Althea asked, her voice steady but filled with caution. “Summoning a spirit isn’t like calling on just any entity. Esther is powerful, and she’s—” “Unpredictable?” I finished for her. Althea nodded. “To say the least.” I clenched my fists, my determination outweighing my fear. “I don’t have a choice, Althea. I need to know how to save
I woke up feeling… strange. It wasn’t the usual exhaustion from pregnancy or the occasional morning sickness. This was different. It was as if something unseen crackled in the air around me, a tingling sensation running up and down my spine. My dreams had been odd, but that wasn’t new—I had been plagued with visions ever since we returned to the pack. Shaking off the unease, I sat up and stretched. The room was quiet, sunlight filtering in through the curtains, but something felt off. I glanced around, half expecting something to be lurking in the shadows. Nothing. Just my mind playing tricks on me. "Okay, Prisca. Breathe," I muttered to myself before sliding out of bed. As I padded to the bathroom, the floorboards creaked louder than usual. The second I stepped onto the tile, the faucet turned on by itself, water gushing out forcefully as if someone had yanked it open. I froze. My pulse quickened. I hadn't touched it. Swallowing hard, I reached for the knob and twisted it
The morning air was crisp as I stepped outside, the cool breeze brushing against my skin. The world felt heavy, the weight of my vision pressing down on my shoulders like an iron yoke. I had barely slept the night before, my mind looping through the same horrible question—who do I sacrifice? Jake or our child? I couldn’t make that choice. I wouldn’t. Which meant I had only one option: to find a way to break this fate before it broke me. I needed my sister. Althea was in the greenhouse again, her hands covered in soil as she carefully tended to a row of herbs. The scent of rosemary and lavender filled the air, a calming contrast to the storm inside me. She glanced up as I approached, instantly recognizing the distress on my face. “You look like hell.” I let out a humorless chuckle. “You told me that yesterday.” “Well, it’s still true.” She dusted off her hands and crossed her arms. “Talk to me.” I hesitated for a moment before finally blurting out, “I need your help. I
The day started with sunlight streaming through the window, a rare reprieve from the gloom that seemed to have hung over the pack for weeks. I stretched carefully, my hand instinctively going to my stomach. It was still hard to believe that a life was growing inside me. Every little flutter, every kick, was a reminder of the impossible decision I was grappling with. Jake was still asleep beside me, his arm draped over my waist, his steady breathing a source of comfort. For a moment, I let myself forget everything—the visions, the chaos, the impending doom. In that quiet moment, it was just us. But peace doesn’t last, not in our world. I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and headed downstairs. Sophie was already in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared breakfast. “Morning,” she said cheerfully. “You’re up early.” I forced a smile, grabbing a glass of water. “Couldn’t sleep.” She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. Sophie was perceptive, but she knew when to
It started with rain. Not the gentle kind that taps on the window and lulls you into a false sense of peace. No, this was the unrelenting, bone-soaking kind that turned the ground to sludge and drowned any hope of a good day.I woke up to the sound of it hammering against the roof, a relentless drumming that refused to be ignored. Groaning, I rolled over and pulled the blankets tighter around me. Jake’s side of the bed was already cold, his absence a reminder of his early morning patrols.“Rain,” I muttered to myself. “Of course it’s raining.”The baby kicked lightly, as if agreeing with my discontent. I sighed, rubbing my belly. “You don’t like it either, huh?”There was no point in staying in bed, no matter how much I wanted to. The pack house didn’t run itself, and Jake certainly couldn’t handle everything alone.By the time I made it to the kitchen, I was already regretting getting up. Sophie was there, perched on the counter with a mug of coffee, her hair in a chaotic bun and her
The winds felt heavier today, thick with unspoken tension as if the earth itself knew something was amiss. Even the birds seemed quieter, their usual melodies replaced by uneasy chirps. I couldn’t shake the sense that this was the beginning of something dark. Esther’s cryptic words about chaos and fate clawed at the back of my mind, resurfacing with every step I took. I rested a hand on my still-flat stomach, a gesture of reassurance as much for me as it was for the baby. “It’s okay,” I murmured, though I wasn’t sure if I was convincing myself or the little life growing inside me. The day started normally enough. Jake had left early to oversee patrols after reports of rogue sightings near the border. I stayed behind, trying to keep myself busy in the garden. The vibrant blooms offered a semblance of peace, their colors a stark contrast to the unease brewing in my chest. But even this small sanctuary felt off. As I reached to pluck a weed, my fingers froze. The leaves of the rose
**Chapter: Cravings and Suspicions** *(Priscilla’s Perspective)* The day began with an overwhelming craving for waffles. Not just any waffles—crispy, golden waffles piled high with whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate syrup, and... bacon. Yes, bacon. Jake, the ever-supportive mate, was already in the kitchen when I stumbled in, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes. He looked up from the stove and grinned. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Waffles, right?” I froze, staring at him. “How did you know?” “Because it’s been waffles every morning this week,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “I’m starting to think you’ve developed a full-blown obsession.” “It’s not an obsession,” I muttered, sliding into a chair. “It’s... a craving.” Jake chuckled, setting a plate in front of me. “Whatever you say, love. Do you want syrup on the bacon again?” “Yes,” I said, completely serious. Jake didn’t even blink as he handed me the syrup bottle, but I could tell he was biting back a laugh. I dr
The morning started with a craving so bizarre it left me staring at the contents of my fridge in utter confusion. Pickles, peanut butter, and... raw steak? I blinked at the combination in my hands, shaking my head as if that would fix my brain. "What is wrong with me?" I muttered, setting the steak back and eyeing the peanut butter jar suspiciously. My stomach growled defiantly, and before I could stop myself, I was dipping a pickle into the peanut butter and taking a big bite. It wasn’t bad. Okay, it was disgusting, but my body apparently didn’t care because I went back for a second bite. Jake walked in just as I was mid-bite, the jar of peanut butter balanced precariously on the edge of the counter. He froze in the doorway, his eyes darting between the pickle in my hand and the jar. “Is that... what I think it is?” he asked, his tone a mix of horror and amusement. I swallowed quickly, my cheeks heating. “Don’t judge me.” Jake raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “I’m