I can only imagine Jack's pain when he learned about Nina's betrayal.
Jack“Where is she?” my sister leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. “Is she from the Crescent Pack?”I frowned. I knew exactly who she was, and how she’d found her way to our pack.My stomach churned at the thought of telling my parents that the woman destined to be my mate had been sold by her own family to serve as Lucas’s mistress.Father’s brow furrowed as he studied my face. “Something troubling you, son?”I forced my lips into what I hoped was a reassuring smile. They needed to know. The Moon Goddess had chosen her for me, and that truth couldn’t be hidden forever.“You... actually know her,” I began, choosing my words carefully.Mother’s face lit up. “Really?” my mother asked, beaming with happiness. “Is she from this pack?”“No, Mum,” I muttered.“Well, don’t keep us in suspense,” she urged, practically vibrating with anticipation.I drew in a deep breath and met their eager gazes. The silence stretched between us for a heartbeat, then two, before I finally spoke.“She
Jack“How can that be?” The words escaped me in a whisper. “She can’t do that.”“She can’t do what?” Mother leaned forward, concern etching her features. “Tell me, speak up, son.”I forced a smile, though my eyes caught my father’s furious gaze. “Nothing, Mother.” Then, turning to Dad, I added, “I can’t remember anything.” The lie tasted bitter. I refused to believe my mate could do something vile like that.She wasn’t capable of such things. There had to be another explanation – perhaps the maids in that wretched pack had manipulated her, handed her poison while claiming it was medicine for my wounds.I could feel my father’s heated gaze on me as it burned into my skin. I knew he saw through my deception. I knew he didn’t trust a single word I spoke. But it didn’t matter. For Nina, I would endure anything.“I understand,” he finally said, his voice heavy with judgment. “Sooner or later, you will get to know the real her.” Without another word, he strode out of the room.Mother’s gent
JackI quickly left, leaving Alex alone with him. My heart pounded as I searched the grounds until my gaze landed on Scar, and the sight knocked the breath from my lungs. The woman before me was unrecognizable, a ghost of her former glory.The designer clothes she once wore with such pride now hung in tatters from her skeletal frame, like flags surrendered to decay. Her hair, which used to cascade in glossy waves, had become a matted mess the color of dead leaves.But it was her eyes that haunted me the most. Those eyes that once flashed with wit and confidence were now hollow caves ringed by exhaustion’s purple bruises.Her skin, sallow and lined, told stories of endless nights spent running from demons I had helped create.“Scar,” I called softly, taking a hesitant step forward. Her gaze fell on me.The raw emotion in her gaze hit me hard. Hurt, hatred, and revulsion churning together in a toxic brew.I understood every ounce of her contempt, but I prayed she might find it in her he
JackMy breath came in short, sharp gasps.“She’s Jack’s Mate? Unbelievable…”The words echoed in my head over and over, like a cruel joke the universe had played on me. My mate. Nina.How could this be? How on earth could it be?Was the moon goddess playing a cruel joke on me?My stomach twisted violently. My hands trembled as I clutched the letter, crumpling the edges, but I couldn’t loosen my grip. My lungs burned like I was drowning, yet no matter how hard I gasped for air, I couldn’t breathe.This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.But the truth stared back at me from the inked words on the page, clear and undeniable.I felt Alex’s eyes boring into me, his shock a tangible thing between us. He wasn’t the only one. Lucas stood frozen, his face locked in a mask of unreadable emotion.The silence was unbearable.Then Alex scoffed, a sharp, disbelieving laugh that made my skin prickle. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”I wanted to agree with him. I wanted to tear this letter apart
Diana The moment those words left my husband’s lips, my world shattered all over again. Lucy. My sweet, brave Lucy. The truth of her death hit me so hard that, suddenly, I was transported back in time to when we were young, and the world seemed full of possibility despite its cruelties. I was just a low-pack member until I met her. I remember the first time I saw her as if it were yesterday. I was sixteen, the awkward daughter of a low-ranking pack member, always an easy target for the others. That day, a group of girls had cornered me behind the pack school, their taunts cutting deeper than I had imagined. They weren’t just bullies – they were architects of misery, experts at finding the hairline cracks in someone’s confidence and splitting them wide open. Their wickedness went beyond simple meanness. “Look at her! Can’t even shift properly yet. What kind of wolf are you?” “My grandmother shifts faster than you, and she’s practically dead!” Their laughter rang in my ears as
DianaThe walk to the main hall felt like an eternity, each step bringing us closer to the moment I’d been waiting for.Jack walked beside me, his presence steady and strong, while my husband followed close behind.The whispers of servants and guards echoed through the corridors, spreading news of Nina’s arrival like wildfire through the pack.The alpha had already announced before her arrival that everyone should make her life a living hell for attempting to kill their beta, but they were strictly forbidden from taking her life.When we entered the main hall, I saw her standing there; her posture straight and proud despite being surrounded by our guards.For a split second, I caught the flash of shock in her eyes when she saw Jack, alive and well, before she quickly masked it.My wolf snarled beneath my skin. She thought she could fool us again, playing the role of the innocent mate. I watched as she made herself appear smaller, more fragile, her eyes wide with pretended concern.“Ja
NinaThe cold stone walls of my cell seem to close in with each passing hour. How long have I been here? Days? Weeks?Time bleeds together in this darkness, broken only by the dim light filtering through the tiny window near the ceiling.My hands trace the rough surface of the wall, fingers catching on jagged edges, a sensation that’s become almost comforting in its familiarity.Jack. His name burns in my mind like acid. He should be dead. He should be rotting in the ground by now, not walking around, breathing, living. I did everything perfectly.The poison was untraceable, so much so that even the most thorough autopsy wouldn’t have detected it.I watched him drink it, watched the bottle empty as he swallowed every last drop. I remember fighting to keep my expression neutral, to stop the satisfaction from showing on my face as he thanked me for “taking care of him.”A bitter laugh escapes my throat, echoing off the walls. Taking care of him, oh, I took care of him alright. Or at lea
NinaWeeks crawled by in silence, each day without a word from Jack leaving me weaker. The guards’ sporadic meals – mere scraps twice a week – barely kept me alive. My body had become a hollow shell of what it once was.I huddled in the corner, gnawing absently at my fingertips when footsteps echoed down the corridor. I didn’t bother looking up, expecting another cold-faced guard.But then his scent hit me – that familiar, intoxicating aroma that made my mouth water. I raised my head to find Jack looming over me, his face twisted with contempt.I scrambled to my feet, my heart surging with a desperate joy. Something stirred deep within me, electric and primal, awakening every dormant cell in my body. The wolf inside me howled in recognition. I felt alive.“Jack,” I breathed. “Is it really you?”“Does seeing me make you this happy?” His voice was ice.“Yes,” I whispered, drawing closer. “I’ve missed you so much, honey.”His eyes blazed with such fury that I staggered back. This wasn’t
Scarlett“My queen,” he spoke, his eyes glittering with cold amusement that sent shivers racing down my spine.I watched, paralyzed, as he slowly licked the corner of his lips. “You’re so sweet.”“What!” I gasped, my eyes flying open in shock.Before I could even draw another breath, he moved closer—too close—and snatched my hand in his. The touch of his skin against mine burned like fire.In one fluid motion, he wrapped his arm around my waist, crushing me against him as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. My body went rigid with revulsion and fear.“Hmm,” he sniffed deeply, inhaling my scent as though savoring a delicacy. “You smell so good.”His voice was a husky whisper that raised goosebumps on my body.“Let go of me,” I snapped.Instead of releasing me, he dragged his tongue slowly across my skin.“If I were you, my queen,” he said, his fingers digging into my waist with possessiveness, “I would try to stay on my best behavior.”He raised his head, his piercing eyes capt
ScarlettI turned to leave, but before I could make it to the door, a weak voice called out to me, stopping me in my tracks.“Scarlett…”The sound of my name from his lips sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, my hand hovering over the doorknob, unable to move forward or turn back.“Who… who are you leaving him for?” he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper, broken and raw with emotion.The world seemed to freeze in that moment. Time stood still as his question weighed heavily on my chest, making it difficult to breathe.Despite everything I had done; the violence, the threats against his mate; David still couldn’t accept my betrayal.His loyalty to Finn ran so deep that even now, bloodied and beaten, he clung to the belief that I couldn’t truly abandon my mate.I looked at David, at the man who had always stood by Finn’s side through every hardship, and something inside me cracked. This was the moment when my bridges would truly burn, when I would have to leave them both behind.I
Scarlett“Sister, are you sure you are going to kill him?”It was her. It was a familiar and beloved voice that I could never forget, not in a thousand lifetimes.The sound froze me in my tracks, sending chills down my spine.I turned slowly, my heart hammering against my ribs, knowing exactly who stood behind me even before my eyes confirmed it.It was my sister, the one person who could see through my lies.“Alisha,” I whispered her name, the sound barely escaping my trembling lips. “Why are you here?”Her eyes, so like my own, searched my face, confusion and hurt swimming in their depths. “You want to kill my mate, sister?” she asked, stepping toward me with outstretched hands. I stumbled backward, my legs quivering beneath me, but I forced myself to stand firm.“Why?" Her voice trembled, on the verge of tears, cracking with emotion. The sound cut through me, adding to the pain in my already broken heart.Every fiber of my being screamed to reach for her, to pull her into my arms a
ScarlettFive days. Five agonizing days since the Alpha King’s proposal had shattered my world.The pressure of his ultimatum pressed against my chest like a stone, making each breath a struggle.How could I possibly tell my people? The words stuck in my throat whenever I tried to form them. And Finn; my sweet, loyal Finn, how would he look at me if he knew the terrible price I had to pay for his life?The thought consumed me, crawling through my veins, stealing sleep from my nights and peace from my days. My beloved mate was dying, his strength fading with each passing hour. And I alone held the power to save him—at a cost that tore my heart in two.I paced the bedroom floor until my feet ached, the floorboards creaking beneath my restless steps. The Alpha King’s face haunted my thoughts—his cold smile, those piercing eyes that made my skin crawl.He wasn’t someone I could challenge or defy. The mere thought of confronting him made my hands tremble.Even if I mustered all my courage
DicksonThere isn’t a single soul here. Not one. A place that was once bustling with rogues and outcasts has fallen deathly silent, mutated into a graveyard of memories and broken ambitions.The emptiness mocks me as I stand amid the ruins of my former glory. The bitter taste of regret floods my mouth as my thoughts drift to Scarlett—that woman who had seemed so insignificant, so easily controlled.If I had known she would become someone like this; this force of nature, this omen of destruction - I would have crushed her rebellion before it could take root.I would have held her down, broken her will, forced her to submit to my every command.By now, I would have been crowned Alpha King, with packs bowing before me instead of lying here, surrounded by the ashes of my mate and my dreams.“Who are you?” someone suddenly asked.My head snaps up, instincts instantly alert. I hadn’t detected anyone approaching—not a scent, not a sound, not even the subtle shift in air that usually betrays
Dickson.“How DARE you!” Scar’s voice shattered the silence, her amber eyes flashing with such venomous rage. She spat her words, each one aiming directly at my heart.Her beautiful face contorted with disgust, transforming the woman I loved into someone I barely recognized. “If I had known you were such a pathetic, spineless FAILURE, do you honestly believe I would have bound myself to you? You worthless bastard.”“Scar, please, just listen—” My desperate plea withered under her furious glare.“SHUT UP!” she snarled. “I thought you were something special- something magnificent. A true Alpha with the strength to crush that goddamn pack beneath your heel.”Her lips curled back, revealing her canines. “But I was catastrophically wrong. You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind excuses.”She paused, drawing a ragged breath, the contempt rolling off her in waves. “I lie awake at night wondering how moon goddess could have made such a grievous error in allowing you to become an Alpha.” Her
Leonardo“But...” A howl vibrated from deep within my chest, loud, raw and dangerous, making her freeze in place, fear flickering across her eyes.“Out!” I thundered, watching with savage satisfaction as they all scattered like terrified mice.I exhaled slowly, tension draining from my shoulders. These ants, always underfoot, always intruding.As she scurried away, I turned back to the mirror, straightening my cuffs.Now, it was time to meet my guest. The one I’d been waiting for.I walked as fast as my legs could carry me, finally reaching the throne room.“Here comes the king,” the guards announced. As they swung the doors open, my breath caught in my throat. I was awestruck by her beauty.Her aura pulsed with power, different and extraordinary in a way I’d never encountered. A possessive thought blazed through my mind: This woman must be mine.I forced myself to walk past her, even as my senses heightened to catch her scent, noting how she bowed her head in submission and respect.
LeonardoThe clash of bodies and the sharp scent of blood reached my ears before the dust settled. From the high balcony of my palace, I watched as the woman tore through my guards like they were nothing but paper dolls.Interesting.The Crescent Pack’s Luna, Scarlett. I had heard much about her; an ordinary omega turned Alpha’s mate, a woman marked by both suffering and defiance.And now, here she was, standing amidst the fallen, her chest rising and falling with steady breaths, her hands bloodied but unwavering.She was not what I expected.I had anticipated someone broken by rejection, tamed by the harsh hand of fate. Instead, what I saw was fire. A warrior. A queen in her own right, even if she did not bear the title.Beside me, my Beta Giovanni shifted uncomfortably. “Should I intervene, my king?”I held up a hand, stopping him. “No. Let’s see what she does next.”Below, Scarlett stepped forward, her boots crunching against the dirt as she towered over the wounded guards. A slow
Scarlett“Ray,” Seraiah muttered. “I believe she is Seraphina’s weaker version.”“What did you just say?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet as I struggled to process her words.My mind refused to accept what I was hearing, scrambling for any other explanation.“Are they joking? This can’t be real.” My thoughts raced frantically. “My Ray can never become something sinister like this.”Ray’s memories cascaded through me like a warm, familiar tide—her gentle presence when I needed comfort, her unwavering loyalty when everyone else had abandoned me.I remembered how she had nuzzled against me during those endless nights when darkness threatened to consume me. How her soft whimpers had somehow formed words of courage when I was drowning in despair. She had stayed beside me when no one else would even look my way.So how... how is it possible for her to be this wolf?“I guess you don’t understand what I’m saying,” Seraphina said. Her smug, superior