I woke up this morning and felt the flutters again; I went to bed and felt them, as if the baby was saying good morning and goodnight to me. I know this is normal, and I know this is supposed to happen but no one mentioned how attached Iād feel.āAre you still having morning sickness, Mia?ā My attention snaps to Dr. Lilah as she looks at the clipboard in her hand. āWhat about the dizzy spells and brain fog?āI shake my head. āTheyāve all eased up in the last two weeks or so, but I do feel more tired than usual.āShe nods. āAll normal. Have you felt movement at all?āSighing, I look down at my belly and the baby does another flutter before I answer. āIt started a day ago; light flutters.āDr. Lilah perks up and claps her hands together. āOh, fantastic! Thatās the best news Iāve heard all month!ā she gushes, writing down something else on her clipboard. After this, she refills my vitamin prescription and I go on my way. My weekly check-ups have been stretched to monthly, so I donāt see
This woman drives me fucking crazy. I went on my knees for her yesterday as if she were my queen, called her my Luna, and vowed to protect her. Now sheās parading around in a fucking swimsuit right below my office window while my warriors make her laugh. How can one movement change me like this? The second I felt my child move, every single part of me snapped to attention. My beast growled deep within me, and that little link I felt to Mia now pulled tautly. Iāve been trying to push this feeling down, but the more I do, the more I fucking realizeā¦Sheās mine, and I donāt want her to leave.When did this become so fucking complicated? Knox looks at me with a grin and I nearly want to punch his fucking smug face. I know when it became complicated; when I sampled her during her heat. Now I want more of her. I want her close to me; I want to feel her skin on mine, I want to hear her say my name without the fucking title like she did yesterday./āWhy donāt you just make your feelings kn
The warm shower washes away the embarrassment of being rejected. One minute Alpha Nikolaos acts like he wants me, the next he looks at me as if Iām the most disgusting thing heās ever seen.It happened the second I touched his skin. In my stupid haze of pleasure, I forgot about the one thing heās dead set against. How could I allow myself to do something like that? This man, he muddles up my head so I donāt think clearly when Iām around him.But why is it only his bare chest? What happened to him?/āHeā¦has a past filled with pain. It would be a pity to see you add to it.ā/Is this what Maxim meant? Is this why he hates being touched and yet he can touch me? With a sigh and my mind made up, I get out of the shower, put on my PJs and go to his bedroom. This needs to stop now; either he tells me what he wants from me or I give this ring back.I open my bedroom door and see Josef sitting in his usual spot, playing with his knife and not looking up at me. āIs the Alpha here?ā I ask.He loo
A blood-red dress with a neckline that shows off a modest cleavage, a thigh-high slit, flats, and my hair curled in an updo. I never thought I would ever look this elegant, I donāt even recognize the woman looking back at me.We traveled to my fatherās territory a day ago, with Nikolaos keeping to his promise. I havenāt seen him at all this entire week, but I know he was around the pack house. His scent was all over, but I never saw him. It was the most frustrating week of my life because I really wanted to speak with him after the way we left things. Heās even got us sleeping in different hotel rooms so we donāt run into one another.Weāre supposed to appear happy and in love tonight; how will we pull that off if weāre both trying not to let the other in? Iām not that good of a liar, no matter what he thinks.Thereās a knock on my door and Josef pops his head in. āThe Alpha is waiting outside for you, Miss Mia,ā he says.I nod and grab my handbag while ignoring how gorgeous this eng
Iāve kept my eyes on the fucker the entire evening. After Giovanni announced the engagement, there wasn't any surprise or anything coming from him. He actually lifted his glass in a toast when our engagement and Miaās pregnancy were announced. Something is up, and I need to get Mia out of here./āIāll be up on the helipad in the next ten minutes,ā/ I say over the mind link and get confirmation that theyāre about to start the helicopter, then I lean in to a frightened Mia. āWeāre leaving,ā I whisper and drag her out of the side door. āSomething isnāt right, Mikhail didnāt even look surprised at all.ā She nods. āHe was smirking the entire evening, it unnerved me to no end,ā she says as we reach the elevator. I see Josef running towards us with his weapon and dagger out, nodding to give us the all-clear before he joins us.āNo one was following us, I checked all your blind spots as well as the stairways leading here,ā Josef says and I slap his shoulder in approval. āThank you, Josef.
Thereās nothing but darkness ahead of me. I canāt see anything behind me, nor can I hear or smell a thing. But something tells me to move forward, towards the red light glowing in front of me.Flashes of memory allude to something bad happening to me, but I canāt remember what it could be. Right now I feel no pain, no worries or stress, or any obligation to anyone. Itās warm and comfortable; I donāt want to leave here, I just want to close my eyes and float.āBut you have to leave, Mira,ā my eyes snap open when I hear a voice echoing all around me. Thereās still darkness everywhere, not oppressing but refreshing, but I am being pushed forward toward the glowing red light.āThatās it, Mira, follow my voiceā¦āWhy does this voice sound so familiar? Who is it? I try to call out to it, but when I open my mouth, nothing comes out.I have to move forward, I need to get to them and see who that person is. My heart clenches and I feel tears slipping down my cheeks the more I try to get to that
As soon as the doctor gave me the all-clear, I moved Mia back to my territory. Josef and the missing warriors are nowhere to be seen, but I know heās already at Mikhailās side. His father claimed not to know why he became a traitor, while Maxim thinks Mikhail fed on Josefās insecurities. How the fuck would he have done that, though? How long has he been placed here as a spy? Giovanni begged to see her, to see both of us but I declined; itās his fucking fault sheās in this position. I warned him that it wouldnāt be wise to antagonize Mikhail, but did he listen? This has now escalated the war in my territory and I know the only way to end it would be by killing Mikhail. However, as much as I want to put all the blame on Giovanni, I know this is more my fault than his. I placed Josef with her, I trusted him to protect her, and Iām the one who made sure he was constantly at her side. Iām the one who made her trust him. /āHe hid it all well, old friend. Donāt blame yourself,ā/ Knox say
I donāt know what to make of what Nikolaos has just said; all I know is that my heart clenched so tightly that I nearly burst into tears.āLetās get you back into this dress so we can talk; your body is distracting,ā he says as he picks up my discarded dress. āNikolaos-āāWhen youāre dressed,ā he urges and slips the dress over my head. Another protest is about to slip past my lips when I see how tightly he has his jaw clenchedā¦ So I allow him to help me into the stupid garment before he takes my hand and leads me back into the bedroom.He sits down on the bed and I go to sit next to him, but he pulls me onto his lap and kisses the side of my head. āI need you close to me while I tell you this; hopefully you wonāt be disgusted with me afterward,ā he says with a crack to his voice, and my heart breaks along with him.I take his hand in mine and draw it to my lips to place a kiss, just like heās done to me so many times before. āIām not going anywhere,ā I assure him without any fancy w
Epilogue Armata / Levi Six months have passed since Calista and I tied the knot, and now itās time to take her home to my pack. I can sense her nervousness as we drive toward the estate, her hands fidgeting slightly. I reach over, taking her hand in mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. āDonāt worry, Princess,ā I say, trying to ease her anxiety. āYouāre going to fit right in. Theyāre going to love you.ā She gives me a small, nervous smile. āI hope so, Levi. I just want to make a good impression.ā āWhereās that kick-ass attitude from when I met you, hmm?ā I tease her with a wink, and she hits my shoulder lightly. āDonāt make fun of me! This is all new to me, okay!ā she says, biting her bottom lip. I sigh. āI know, baby, Iām just trying to make you smile.ā As we approach the estate gates, I feel a familiar sense of homecoming. I squeeze Calistaās hand again as we drive through, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. When the car pulls up to the main pack house, my heart swells
CalistaAs Levi and I drive towards the hotel for our mini honeymoon, my mind races with a mix of emotions. Iām excited, of course, but also undeniably nervous. The idea of whatās to come, this new chapter with Levi, is both exhilarating and intimidating. Levi, with his rough edges and protective nature, has opened up a part of me I didnāt even know existed. Heās shown me that beneath the faƧade of the spoilt heiress, thereās a tenderness, a vulnerability that Iāve never exposed to anyone else.As we pull up to the hotel, itās like stepping into a dream. The hotel is elegant and understated, its ambiance a perfect reflection of our relationship.Walking into the hotel room, I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. The room is beautiful, a perfect blend of luxury and comfort. The soft lighting and the plush bed seem to beckon us, promising a night of intimacy and connection.Levi pulls me close, his front to my back as his lips brushing against my ear. āAre you okay, Princess?ā he wh
Armata / LeviThe day of our marriage officiation is a mix of nerves and understated excitement. Calista didnāt want anything big, which initially struck me as odd. She just wanted it to be a simple affair, something intimate and personal. In a way, it suits us ā no grand gestures, just a true union of hearts and souls.Standing in the small, elegantly decorated room, a sense of anticipation courses through me. Today, Calista and I are taking a significant step forward, embarking on a journey fraught with challenges but one weāre both fiercely committed to.The door swings open, and Alpha Nikolaos strides in, his presence as commanding as ever. But itās the man following him that stops me in my tracks ā Liam; my brother, not by blood, but in every way that counts. We havenāt seen each other in months, and his appearance here, now, is both a shock and a profound relief.āLiam!ā I exclaim, my voice a mix of disbelief and joy.āFuck, Levi!ā Liam responds, his voice echoing my own warmth.
CalistaClutching onto Levi as we sit in my fatherās office, I feel a whirlwind of emotions raging inside me. My heart is still racing from the shock and relief of seeing him return, and the realization of how much Iāve missed him hits me like a tidal wave. I refuse to let go of his hand, needing his grounding presence as we face my father together.āCalista, Levi,ā my father begins, his tone serious, āyou both seem to have reached a decision.āI tighten my grip on Levi, my voice steady despite the tears that had just subsided. āYes, we have. We accept the proposal.āMy fatherās gaze shifts to Levi, his expression scrutinizing. āLevi, you do understand that this means Calista will be leaving with you to join Alpha Nikolaosā pack?āLevi meets my gaze for a brief moment, his eyes searching mine for any doubt. Turning back to my father, he replies with a firm resolve, āYes, sir. Weāre aware of what this entails, and weāre prepared for it.āMy father leans back in his chair, his eyes neve
Armata / LiamRiding back towards the mansion, the steady roar of the bike beneath me is the only thing keeping my racing thoughts at bay. These past two weeks without Calista have been a relentless hell. Every day felt longer than the last, each moment stretching into an agonizing eternity. Being away from her didnāt just bring clarity; it fucking intensified everything I felt for her ā every longing, every goddamn unspoken word.I replay our moments together in my head, over and over. Every laugh, every intense stare, every godforsaken time she looked at me and didnāt even realize how much she affected me. Being away from her wasnāt just about missing her physically ā though I ached for that too ā it was the profound, gut-wrenching yearning for the connection we have. The way she challenges me, pushes me, fucking complements everything I am..Every night away was a goddamn battle against the urge to just say āfuck itā and come back to her. Lying awake in the cabin, Iād think about
CalistaThe following morning, I wake up with a sense of purpose, my mind clear and my decision made. I know what I want, and it involves Levi. Despite everything surrounding us, my heart is certain. I want to be with him, not because of any arrangement or obligation, but because of how I truly feel.As I get ready for the day, I canāt help but feel a flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing Levi, of telling him my decision. I wonder how heāll react, whether heāll share my feelings, whether this could be the start of something beautiful and real between us.Heading down to breakfast, I expect to see Levi waiting for me, as has become our routine. But instead, I find Marcus, one of Leviās men, standing by the door.āGood morning, Marcus. Whereās Levi?ā I ask, trying to hide my disappointment.Marcus seems a bit uncomfortable, shifting on his feet. āGood morning, Miss Calista. Iām not sure where Levi is. He asked us to accompany you for the day.āMy heart sinks a little. āHeās no
Armata / LeviAs Calista dresses and heads back towards the mansion, a sense of foreboding settles over me. Watching her walk away, a part of me wants to follow, to keep her close. But I know she needs this space, this time to think and decide for herself.I stand there for a moment longer, lost in thought. The simplicity and honesty of our interaction in our wolf forms, itās a stark contrast to the complexities of our human lives. Out here, in the wild, things are clear, primal. But back there, in the world of duties and expectations, everything is muddled.Turning away from the path she took, I take a deep breath, trying to clear my head. I need to think, to plan. Whatever Calista decides about us, about her fatherās proposal, it will change things. And I need to be ready for that.I take out my phone, contemplating calling Liam again. Heās been a grounding presence in the chaos of my emotions. But I decide against it. This is something I need to work through on my own.As I walk ba
CalistaTwo days have passed since that conversation with my father and Levi, and the weight of their words still presses heavily on my heart. In need of clarity and space to think, I find myself drawn to the edge of the forest, where the natural world always seems to offer solace.I stop at a secluded spot, away from prying eyes. The transformation is something that always brings me a sense of power and freedom. I close my eyes, feeling the familiar tingling sensation as my body begins to change. My bones shift and reform, my senses heighten, and my skin gives way to a thick, white fur. The transformation is swift, a fluid transition from human to wolf.As my white wolf form takes over, I feel a release from the human complexities that have been burdening me. I take a deep breath, the scents of the forest filling my nostrils, and I begin to run.The ground feels different under my paws, more alive, as I dart through the trees. The wind rushes past me, and I relish in the freedom and
Armata / LeviI watch Calista walk away, her figure retreating into the distance of the house. The conversation we just had with her father lingers in my mind, a storm of emotions and possibilities. Needing a moment to myself, I head outside to patrol, a routine that offers a semblance of normalcy amid the chaos.Standing under the open sky, I pull out my phone, my thumb hovering over a contact I havenāt reached out to in a long time.The one person who might understand the turmoil Iām feeling. I hesitate, my mind racing with doubts. We havenāt spoken much since... everything happened. I know I shouldnāt bother him, but right now, heās the only one who might understand.Finally, I dial his number, the familiar ringing echoing in the silent night. When he answers, his voice is laced with surprise. āLevi?āI take a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. āHey, Liam. Yeah, itās... itās been a while, I know.āHe laughs, a sound that eases some of the tension in my chest. āYou could say t