Olivia’s POVThe whiskey burned as it slid down my throat, but it wasn’t enough to dull the ache in my chest. I set the glass down harder than intended, the sharp clink of glass on wood drawing the bartender’s wary eyes. I didn’t care. Let them stare. Let them whisper. Let them judge. What was left of my dignity had already crumbled under the weight of tonight. And yeah with the presence of my two mates watching at me from behind I guess I have no dignity at all. The low hum of the club’s music throbbed in the background, but it did little to drown out my thoughts. My father’s words, his cold dismissal, echoed louder than any baseline. I had nowhere to go, no one to turn to or maybe I still had one last person to turn to—Ben. Ben’s number was still pulled up on my phone, but I hadn’t really pressed call again. What would I even say? Is it for him to hurry and come over to save me from the show of you owns me between these two Alphas behind me? Cause I can already smell the rift. The
Olivia’s POVThe morning sunlight streamed through the blinds, slashing across the dark walls of Damon’s apartment. I sat on the edge of the bed, my head resting in my hands as I tried to untangle the chaos in my mind. The events of the night before replayed like a broken record: the rain, the bar, Damon and Lucien fighting, and, of course, my father’s cold, cruel words. No matter how I looked at it, one thing was clear—I wasn’t wanted. Not by my father, not by the people of New Orleans, and maybe not even by the two men who called themselves my mates. A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I said, my voice hoarse.The door creaked open, and Damon stepped inside, holding a tray with a plate of eggs, toast, and a mug of coffee. It was such an unexpected sight that I almost laughed. Almost. “Didn’t take you for the breakfast-in-bed type,” I said, forcing my voice to sound lighter than I felt. He set the tray down on the small table near the window, his expr
Olivia’s POVIt had started raining on my way back—funny how I preferred to walk in the rain instead of summoning my wolf form to phase through the rain. The rain soaked through my clothes, the cold biting against my skin as I pushed open the door to Damon’s apartment. My hair clung to my face, droplets trickling down my neck . The familiar scent of pinewood and cedar hit me first, followed by something darker—tension. It hung heavy in the air like a storm waiting to break.I stepped inside, shaking off the rain, and froze.They were both there. Lucien leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his usually warm hazel eyes dark with unease. His shirt was torn at the sleeve, exposing fresh scratches on his forearm. Damon sat on the couch, casual as ever, one leg draped lazily over the other. His expression was unreadable, though the sharp glint in his silver eyes betrayed his amusement. “How cute,” Damon drawled, his gaze flickering between Lucien and me. “Your knight in shining armor act
Olivia’s POVThe faint light of dawn streamed through the window, brushing against my face. The soft chirping of birds was the only sound in the otherwise silent room. I stirred, stretching under the covers, but a weight in the room made my eyes snap open. Lucien stood at the edge of the bed, his hazel eyes locked on me with an intensity that sent a jolt of fear down my spine. His presence filled the room like a shadow, and for a brief, terrifying moment, memories of his wolf’s rage came rushing back—the growls, the snapping teeth, the way he’d lost control. I sat up quickly, the blanket clutched tightly in my fists. My heart pounded in my chest as I searched his face for a sign of danger. “Lucien,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “What are you doing here again?”His eyes softened, and he took a step back, his hands raised in a gesture of surrender. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said quietly, his voice rough like gravel.“Then why were you standing there?” I demanded, unable to
Damon’s POVThe storm outside mirrored my thoughts. Rain lashed against the glass of the penthouse, a relentless rhythm I couldn’t escape. I leaned against the wide window, staring at the city lights flickering like nervous fireflies. The silence between me and Daiki stretched, comfortable yet intrusive. He stood a few feet away, meticulously polishing a silver tea tray, though neither of us intended to drink.“You seem quieter than usual,” Daiki said, his voice calm, measured. “More brooding, if that’s even possible.”I didn’t reply, not immediately. Instead, I let the storm fill the space between us, drowning the thought I wasn’t ready to confront.“I take it this has something to do with her,” he added, his tone light but knowing.Her. Olivia. The bond. My chest tightened at the mention of it.“You’re wrong,” I muttered. My voice sounded distant, even to me. “The mate bond means nothing. I didn’t ask for it besides she’s with her ex-husband turned mate.” Daiki chuckled softly, the
Lucien’s POVThe air in my bedroom was suffocating, heavy with a tension I couldn’t shake. Every breath I took felt shallow, my chest constricting as though the walls themselves were closing in on me. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, clawing at the edges of my sanity.“She’s here,” it whispered, dark and demanding. “So close. Let me see her.”I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, digging my claws into my palms to keep them from fully extending. I had promised myself I’d control this for Olivia’s sake. But every second she was near, my resolve frayed a little more.I couldn’t stay here. Not like this.Before I realized it, I was moving, my body acting on autopilot. The bathroom was my sanctuary—a small space where I could breathe, where I could drown the beast’s voice in the sound of running water. My footsteps were heavy as I crossed the room and pushed the door open, not bothering to flip on the light. The bathroom was dimly lit by a silver of moonlight filtering thro
Lucien’s POVHer lips were fire, igniting parts of me I had long buried beneath layers of guilt and restraint. The world around us ceased to exist as her warmth consumed me. I deepened the kiss, unable to resist the pull, my hand tightening on her waist, the other sliding into her damp hair.Every inch of me wanted her. Needed her.My wolf stirred, no longer raging but humming in satisfaction, urging me closer to her, to claim her fully. The rational part of my mind—the one that kept me tethered to control—was slipping away. “Claim her,” my wolf whispered, almost tenderly now. “She’s ours again. Stop denying it.”But the whisper became a snarl as I pulled away, breaking the kiss abruptly, gasping for air. I placed a shaky hand on her shoulder to steady myself, though I knew it was more to create a barrier between us. “Lucien,” she breathed, her voice laced with confusion and longing.I stepped back, the distance feeling like a knife to my chest. Her eyes searched mine, pleading, que
Lucien’s POVThe voice cracked through my dream like a whip, yanking me out of the warmth and throwing me into the cold, cruel grip of reality. My eyes flew open, my breath heavy and erratic, my body aching with frustration and longing. I sat up with a start, only to find Nana standing at the edge of my bed, her brow furrowed and arms crossed. That was all a dream. No!!! Why would Nana walk in and destroy such a beautiful moment.“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.I blinked, still caught between the dream and reality. “What do you mean, what am I doing?” I growled, running a hand through my sweat-dampened hair. “You were moaning,” she said bluntly, her tone making it clear she wasn’t going to let it slide. “Loudly. In your sleep. That’s… not something I’ve ever heard from you before.”I froze, her words slicing through me like a dagger. My jaw clenched as I tried to piece together what had just happened. The dream. Her. Olivia. My wolf stirred restlessly,
LUCIEN’S POV The water was still, the air thick with the scent of chlorine. I leaned against the edge of the pool, my head tilted back, eyes closed, letting the silence wrap around me.It had been this way since dawn.I had woken up feeling… heavy. The weight of three days ago, of him pressing against my chest like a stone.My younger brother.I had seen him.For years, I had buried that part of my life, convinced myself that whatever had been left of my human past had long withered away. But that image of three days ago in the woods had proven that fate had once again ripped open my broken heart again like an unhealed wound. Did my parents ever see me in his eyes? Did they ever look at him and wonder if I was still out there, alive, breathing? Or had they given up? Had they accepted that I was lost to them forever?A bitter exhale left my lips, my fingers gripping the pool’s edge. I had wanted to go back, to find them, to let them know I was alive. But for years. I couldn’t.Fir
OLIVIA’S POVThe morning sun streamed through the windows, casting golden light across the bedroom. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at my packed bag, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.I had to leave. Not for good though. The weekend was over. My time in Damon’s house had come to an end.And yet, my body still burned with the memory of last night.I cursed under my breath, rubbing my hands over my face. But I can’t resist you. I need you, Damon. I had said that. Out loud. To him.I had lost control, let myself slip, let myself be vulnerable. And for what? A moment of weakness? A moment of undeniable, addicting desire? Goddess, I was so stupid.So stupid that I left his room last night in shame. How did hell did I get so addicted to him that I became so shameless? My hands curled into fists on my lap.I had betrayed Lucien—again. Not just physically, but emotionally. It wasn’t just about sex at this point. It was about the way Damon consumed me, the way he made me fo
DAMON’S POV The world was drenched in blood. I stood frozen, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I stared at the body before me. Olivia. Her lifeless eyes stared at the sky, her throat slashed open, her body limp on the cold, stone ground. Blood pooled around her, dark and endless, the scent of it thick in the air.My hands trembled. My knees buckled.“No… no, no, no—” A slow, mocking chuckle echoed around me. I forced myself to look up. Alaric stood there, his hands stained red, his golden eyes glinting with satisfaction. He smirked as he tilted his head, admiring his work. “Isn’t this what you deserve, big brother?” His voice was smooth, almost amused. He stepped over Olivia’s body like she was nothing but discarded trash. I couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, my lungs burning with the effort to breathe. “You took everything from me,” Alaric continued, circling me like a predator playing with its prey. “Did you really think you’d get to keep something for yourself?” H
OLIVIA’S POVThe ride home from Blackbeard Pack was painfully silent. Damon drove, his hands firm on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched as if lost in thought. I sat beside him, staring out the window, letting the passing trees blur together. My mind was still stuck on everything that had happened back there—the tension, the revelations, the way Lucien had barely even looked at me before storming off. I hated that look in his eyes.Disappointment. Anger. Possession. He hadn’t even given me the chance to explain, but then again, what was there to explain? He knew what happened. He saw the mark, the change in my tattoo. There was no justifying what had already been done. And worst of all, I couldn’t even bring myself to regret it. That was the worst part—the part that made me feel like the lowest kind of person. I wasn’t supposed to crave Damon. I wasn’t supposed to have wanted him the way I did. But last night, every rational thought had melted away the moment he touched me.N
LUCIEN’S POVThe drive home was a blur. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white, and my jaw was clenched hard enough to crack my teeth. The streetlights flickered past, but I barely noticed them. All I could see—all I could think about—was Olivia.And him. Damon.I exhaled sharply, forcing my breathing to stay even. It didn’t work. The rage coiled inside me like a living thing, twisting and tightening in my chest, threatening to suffocate me.She had been mine. She was mine. For three years, she had been my wife. Three years of shared nights, of whispered secrets, of tangled sheets, soft gasps in the dark and loud moans in the kitchen. And now, after just four months apart, another man had touched her. Another man had claimed her. I shook my head, trying to push the thought away. It didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. But Zephyr, my lycan, had other ideas. “You’re a fool if you think you can forget.” I gritted my teeth. I don’t want to talk
DAMON’S POVThe evening air was thick with tension, the weight of everything that had transpired pressing down on me like a boulder. I could still hear Olivia’s soft cries in the distance, muffled but persistent, curling through the air like a ghost refusing to leave. But I didn’t turn around. Not yet. I made my way toward Daiki, his expression neutral, but I could tell by the way his arms were crossed and the way his jaw tightened that he had questions. And I knew exactly what they were. The moment I stepped beside him, he wasted no time.“How did you know?” he asked, his voice low but firm.I let out a slow breath, glancing around to ensure no one was too close before answering. “Because I know Alaric.”Daiki narrowed his eyes. “And that means?” I turned my gaze to him, watching the way his brows furrowed, the way his stance shifted slightly—he was skeptical, and I didn’t blame him. “Alaric doesn’t like his operations to be messy,” I said, tucking my hands into my pockets. “He d
OLIVIA’S POVLucien was leaving. He was really leaving me behind to be here with Damon. My breath hitched as I watched him walk away, his broad shoulders tense, his strides full of purpose—full of pain. I could feel it, radiating off him like a storm waiting to break. My heart pounded in my chest, my legs trembling as I took a step forward, instinctively reaching out for him. I had to stop him.I had to explain to him that whatever he thinks happened between Damon and me last night was caused by loneliness. I surged forward, but before I could take another step, a strong hand wrapped around my arm, yanking me back with force.“Let me go!” I hissed, twisting against the grip, my voice filled with desperation.Damon. He held me effortlessly, his fingers firm yet unbothered, as if my struggle meant nothing to him. His golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable, something sharp that sliced into me like a dagger. “There’s no need to run after him,” he said, his voice infuriatingly
LUCIEN’S POVThe noon air was sharp against my skin, biting, relentless. But I welcomed the sting. Anything to distract me from the fury clawing its way through my chest.I gripped the stone railing of the balcony, my knuckles whitening as I stared out into the vast stretch of land beyond Blackbeard Pack. The sky was dull, heavy with thick clouds that threatened a storm. Fitting. Because inside me, a storm was already raging. Zephyr, my Lycan, was restless. It paced in my mind, snarling, barely contained beneath my skin. The beast had been pushing against the edges of my control since I stepped into this cursed castle, and after what had just happened with Damien, it was closer to breaking free than ever.I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.Damien knew something. He always did. He was too calm, too composed. And now, after all that talk of Olivia being in danger, he was suddenly claiming she was safe? What did he mean by that? Did he know who was going to attack?It didn’t s
DAMON’S POVThe grand hall was filled with a heavy silence after Olivia’s question, her wide eyes darting between us, searching for answers we weren’t willing to give. She wanted to know why she was here, why I had taken her, why no one would explain anything.Too bad for her.I leaned back against the edge of the table, watching her with an impassive stare, arms crossed over my chest. The truth she wanted so desperately would never pass my lips. I wasn’t about to expose my brother’s existence, not when I had spent years ensuring the world believed he was dead.Daiki shifted beside me, shooting me a questioning glance, as if asking if I was really going to ignore her completely. I was, but I didn’t have to. Because the moment Olivia opened her mouth to demand answers again, a voice shattered through the hall.“Olivia!”The raw desperation in that voice made my jaw twitch.Lucien.The sound of his boots pounding against the floor echoed through the castle as he ran toward the room, hi