The realization settles like a weight in my stomach. Every moment, every step, every glance — Braden is scrutinizing it all, piecing together a narrative in which I'm the unwilling protagonist. I feel trapped, the walls closing in with each passing second, his warning echoing in my mind.I force myself to breathe, steady and quiet, even though my heart thunders against my ribs. My eyes dart to the window, my one remaining escape route, but the prospect of fleeing feels as dangerous as staying. I clench my hands into fists beneath the blanket, grounding myself, staving off the rising panic.Think, Claudia. You can’t let him see you’re afraid.After a moment, I push back the covers and swing my legs over the edge of the bed, the cold floor grounding me. I rise slowly, moving to the closet to dress, my mind racing through possibilities, forming and discarding plans as quickly as they come.I tug on a sweater, the soft fabric feeling like a fragile shield. The unease twists tighter as I r
I shiver as the cold breeze cuts through me, my eyes fixed on Braden. His gaze lingers on me, sharp and probing, and it takes every ounce of willpower to steady my breathing, to keep my hammering heartbeat from betraying me. The words echo in my mind like a drumbeat: He knows. He knows what I found in his study.Braden takes my hand, threading his fingers through mine with practiced ease. The press of his lips against the back of my hand sends a chill skittering down my spine. His soft smile feels out of place, disarming me completely. My nerves are frayed, the events of the past few days clawing at the edges of my sanity. And now this—the charming façade he wears like armor—is unraveling me further.“It’s time for bed,” he murmurs, pulling me close. His warmth, once comforting, now feels suffocating. I force myself to lean into him, to pretend I still belong in his embrace. But my mind races. I need answers. Does Braden have a mate? And what do my hospital records reveal?I just have
Hours later, Braden’s steady snores fill the room, a sound that grates against my already raw nerves. I lie motionless beside him, my thoughts swirling. Mates are supposed to feel each other’s emotions. If he still had a mate, wouldn’t she sense his betrayal? That must mean he rejected her. But why, then, is the mark on his skin changing? Marks aren’t supposed to grow.Who is she? What did he say to her? What does she think of me?The thought of her burns in my mind. She must know. She must have seen it all—the pack functions where I stood by his side, the public kisses, the announcements of my pregnancy. The very thought makes me sick. How could she bear it? How could I?The bed dips as Braden shifts, his body pressing closer. He hooks a leg over mine, anchoring me to him, and I feel the weight of his control. Everything he does is deliberate, calculated. I can feel it now, see the cracks in the illusion. But what is his endgame? Why me?I was only seventeen when I met him, with no m
I keep walking, forcing each step to carry me closer to the orphanage. Braden would question why I’m so jumpy, so I force myself to appear calm, even though my insides are a storm. My palms are slick with sweat, my breathing too quick. Every noise feels sharper, every shadow deeper, my senses on high alert. Even my wolf stirs uneasily, her presence pressing against the edges of my mind.I keep my gaze forward but subtly scan my periphery. The snap of another twig stops me cold. My heart stutters, but a moment later, a fox scurries across the path in front of me, its bright orange fur catching the faint sunlight filtering through the trees. It pauses, looking at me with wide, curious eyes, before darting back into the woods.A small smile tugs at my lips. I’m being paranoid. Clearly my acting skills are far better than I reaslised or perhaps Braden doesn't know what I found in his office and so has no reason to suspect me. The smile fades as I approach the library nestled on the outsk
My nose wrinkles as I turn the page, the paper so thin it’s nearly translucent, the faint imprint of the text on the opposite side teasing my eyes. The first hundred pages discuss the purpose of a mate—a union of equals, meant to strengthen and empower. Each quality, each gift, designed to make a couple an unstoppable force.I think of Braden and how his promises of love were nothing more than chains, binding me to his will. Every whispered word, every tender touch, was a calculated effort to control me, mold me into something he could use. As I read, the truth sharpens with every line: Braden isn’t my mate. I had been so content for him to be just my husband and with mates being so rare ... I never suspected he might have one. The book explains that discovering a mate isn’t a sudden, magical lightning bolt—at least not for the woman. For high-ranking males, like Alphas, the bond manifests immediately, usually at a pivotal moment in their lives. For some, it’s when they first assume
That can’t be right. I’m not marked, and yet Braden and I conceived. We were going to have a baby. The issue wasn’t that we weren’t marked—it was because of those supplements he gave me. My heart races, the weight of Asher’s words pressing down on me. “You’re an alpha wolf.”If I’m an alpha, then how could I have possibly conceived without going into heat? That defies everything I’m reading. The squeak of the trolley wheels echoes faintly as I lean back in the chair, my fingers gripping the armrests. The quiet of the library feels heavy, almost oppressive, as if the walls themselves are holding their breath.I glance back at the book and notice a footnote: Chosen mates. Unlike fated mates, it says, the bond of a chosen mate isn’t unbreakable or eternal. It explains how, under certain conditions, she-wolves in chosen bonds can go into heat and conceive—but only if specific rituals are followed.I scoff quietly. Braden and I never did any of this.The book lists the methods in cold, cli
I slam the book shut, the echo loud in the stillness of the library. Dust blooms in front of me, making my nose wrinkle as I sneeze. My chest tightens as I stare at the worn cover, my mind churning. There’s only one way to know the truth—whether I’m an omega or an alpha wolf. I have to shift.The thought sends a ripple of unease through me. When was the last time I shifted? The memory is so distant it feels like it belongs to someone else. My fingers tremble as I strain to shove the heavy book back onto the shelf. The wood creaks under its weight, the sound breaking the oppressive silence.The trolley wheels squeak as they roll past again, and I glance over my shoulder. The librarian glides by, her face impassive, her eyes fixed straight ahead. She seems to float, her movements eerily smooth, her presence more ghostly than human. A shiver crawls up my spine. Creepy.I give her a quick smile, but she doesn’t acknowledge me. Shaking off the unease, I hurry toward the spiral staircase, t
The bushes rustle, and my breath catches. A guard emerges, his uniform stark against the backdrop of trees. His sharp eyes rake over me, and I force myself to remain calm, even as my pulse hammers in my ears.“Is everything alright, Miss Scott?” he asks, his tone sincere but curious. He’s new—thankfully—which might mean he’s unaware of how closely I’m usually watched. Still, his timing couldn’t be worse. He must have seen me rushing from the library, walking too quickly, too purposefully.I plaster on a bright smile, hoping it hides the turmoil inside. “Yes, thank you. I’m well.”His skeptical gaze lingers a beat too long, and my stomach knots. Before he can mind-link anyone, I quickly add, “The library felt a bit stuffy, so I came out for some fresh air. I was just going to take a moment before heading home.”He hesitates, clearly uncertain. I can see the doubt in his expression, but I keep my smile steady. Finally, he nods, though his eyes remain watchful.“I’ll wait with you,” he of
Just as I step out of my office, a deafening siren slices through the air, signaling danger. The pack walls have been infiltrated.I sprint forward, my legs burning as I push myself faster. Over the hills of the pack grounds, swarms of warriors descend from all directions like a flood of shadows under the sun. Shit."Reid, make sure there's a team to get to Claudia!" I command through the mindlink, my voice edged with urgency. I don't need him to respond I need him to find her. Then, I shift, bones snapping and reforming as I surge into my wolf form. The moment my paws hit the ground, I charge toward the trees. The scent of rogue wolves fills my nostrils—wild, unhinged, bloodthirsty. Their snarls vibrate in the air, a chaotic symphony of hunger and rage.Two colossal gray wolves lunge at me, one veering left, the other right. A distraction. A trap. I keep my eyes sharp, scanning for a weakness. But I don’t wait for them to make the first move—I strike.I launch at the one in front of
I wake with a jolt, a sharp twist in my gut telling me something isn’t right. The weight of the room presses down on me as I blink against the dim light filtering through the curtains. A few breaths pass before I realize—I’m still in the lounge. Memories from last night surface, fragmented and raw, but I shove them aside as an unsettling void tugs at my consciousness. Something is missing.Claudia.Panic doesn’t grip me immediately—her clothes are still here. For all I know, she could have just gone back to the room to shower. But then, my gaze snags on a note resting atop one of her shoes, and an icy dread coils around my spine.I knew something was off in the way she looked at me last night, but the moment her lips wrapped around my cock, nothing else mattered. Now, as I stare at the note in her elegant scrawl, I wish I had listened to my instincts.I crush the paper in my palm and hurl it into the dying embers of the fireplace, watching as the flames lick at it hungrily, turning he
The ground vibrates beneath me as the rhythmic stomp of boots closes in. The troops march one by one toward my pack, their movements a relentless drumbeat of impending doom. If I make it out of this, Leo is going to kill me—for real this time—for going off on my own.Lying here in my cell, my body throbs with the pain of my own recklessness. What I thought was an act of bravery now feels like pure stupidity. I should have challenged Braden for the pack the second I was thrown into his tent. That was the plan. But it all went wrong. Horribly wrong.Barking orders ring out from the guards outside, their voices sharp and grating. I try to force through the haze of pain of the heat to reach Leo through the mind link, but it’s useless. I’m too weak. My breath catches as the flap of the tent rustles, signaling someone’s return. My heart pounds harder, slamming against my ribs. I want out of this cage, but I also don’t. The idea of someone finding me like this—vulnerable, helpless—is terrify
"What did you just do?" I ask, my body igniting in seconds, heat flooding every vein. My vision blurs as sweat drips down my back. Braden sways in front of me, something small and glinting in his hand. My body wobbles as he lets me go, and I claw at my hair, fingers fumbling for the vial of liquid silver. My hands shake too much to grip it. I just can't reach it. "Heat serum. If you're going to act like a whore, then I'll treat you like one," he groans, voice thick with amusement.A smolder ignites between my legs, molten and all-consuming. Fuck. I don’t know how much he gave me, but my body betrays me instantly, my movements sluggish, my mind drowning in the haze of unbearable heat pulsing through my core.My fingers slip from my hair, every thought narrowing down to a single need—I have to get out of these leathers and this jacket. Too hot. Too tight. Every beat of my heart pumps more of the serum through my bloodstream, and my panties are already soaked. The thick scent of my arou
I'm thrown onto an old wool rug, the rough fibers scraping against my bare hands. I sneer, because even in the midst of battle, Braden refuses to go without his creature comforts. Though a small part of me is grateful—at least I'm not being smushed into the dirt again.Several pairs of black boots surround me before two gleaming black brogues step into my line of vision. "Baby, is that really you?" His voice carries an almost genuine concern, but I know better. I adjust my position, craning my neck to look up at him.Those dark blue eyes are as cold as ever. But everything else is different. He’s massive, his muscles stretched tight over his frame as if he’s been pumping himself full of steroids. He could crush me like a bug."Braden... thank the goddess," I breathe, forcing bile down as I summon a few well-placed tears to trickle down my cheek. He's the one man that has haunted my dreams for months, I never wanted to see him again. I try to stop my body from shaking from fear grippin
I make it to the top of the cliffside, my heart pounding like a war drum as the sun scorches my back. The air hangs heavy, thick with the kind of stillness that only comes before battle—that electric pause before chaos erupts. Even the birds have fallen silent.I tread carefully along the ridge, peering over the other side where their camp sprawls below. From here, I'm just far enough beyond our borders that no guards should detect me. I suppress my aura, unwilling to risk Braden sensing my presence. Lowering myself into a crouch, I inch forward until I can lie flat behind a boulder, my breath shallow, controlled.The camp is a storm of movement, warriors swarming in organized precision. Hundreds, maybe even thousands. It’s as if the entire New Moon Pack has assembled for this. My stomach tightens as I spot Uncle Leon moving through the front line, barking orders. So this is how the rogues are involved. Disappointment stabs through me. One of my father’s most trusted allies, now worki
I wake up tangled in a mess of limbs on the floor, the fire now reduced to glowing embers, and a pleasant ache thrumming between my thighs. Leo lies beside me, his soft snores blending with the distant chirping of birds, signaling the break of dawn. Carefully, I peel myself away from where our bodies are molded together. I can’t wake him. Every movement is slow, calculated, as I inch my way free.Once I’m loose, I jump up, the dim morning light seeping through the curtains now that the candles have long since melted into pools of wax on the floor. My fingers fumble for a pen, hastily scrawling a note explaining where I’m going and why. He’ll be furious—I know it—but he’s my mate, and I will protect him no matter what. This way, at least, he’ll be mad but not worried. Or at least, I hope not.I sprint down the hallway, my bare feet slapping against the cold wooden floor. The scent of burnt-out wax lingers in the air, mingling with the remnants of last night. Clothes and forgotten items
Her lips curl into a smirk that could make the devil himself drop to his knees, and I growl low in my throat, the sound rumbling through my chest like a predator stalking its prey. She’s mine— mine—and I’ll be damned if I don’t claim every fucking inch of her tonight. My fingers work at the clasp of her finery with a fury, tearing the fabric away like it’s an insult to her divine body. The sound of it ripping echoes in the dimly lit room, and her breath hitches, those jewel-blue eyes of hers flashing with a hunger that matches my own.Her curves are a fucking masterpiece, and as her attire falls to the floor, I take her in like a starving man at a feast. Her tits are perfect—full and heavy, the nipples already pebbled and begging for my mouth. I can’t help but reach out, my rough palms grazing over her soft skin, and she shivers under my touch. “Leo don’t tease me,” she begs but she will be begging far more before she gets what she wants. Her hips sway as she steps closer, her pussy s
I pull back, giving Leo another slow, lingering smile. The fire crackles beside us, its flickering glow casting shadows over his sharp features, but worry still lingers in his eyes. I don’t want that. I refuse to let him carry it tonight.Biting my lip, I feel the undeniable pull between us, the electric charge humming in the space where our bodies almost touch. Leaning in, I brush featherlight kisses along his cheek, trailing down to his jaw. A low groan rumbles from his chest, his breath hitching as I shift, straddling his thighs. His hands find my chin, his grip firm yet reverent as he tilts my face to meet his.Then his lips crash into mine.The kiss is searing—possessive, commanding—like he’s trying to reclaim control, to remind me exactly who he is. I let him. My fingers thread through his thick, tousled hair, loving the way it feels against my skin, soft yet untamed. His tongue tangles with mine, the heat between us rising with every breath, every press of our bodies molding in