ScarlettAutumn faded into winter, and Sweet Escape continued to flourish despite my lingering fears. Each morning, I’d pause before unlocking the café doors, half-expecting to see Finn’s silhouette through the glass, but he kept his word. He didn’t return.Life returned to its usual routine – the hustle of morning commuters in need of their coffee, the calm of afternoon regulars working on their laptops, and the contentment of tallying up the day’s profits.Sometimes, I could almost convince myself that his visit had been nothing more than a dream, if not for the way Ray still stirred restlessly on quiet evenings, searching for a scent that was no longer there.“You know,” Alisha said one morning as we prepped for opening, her hands expertly weaving through the morning pastry routine we’d perfected over the years, “I was worried you’d want to run again after he showed up. But staying? That was the right call.”“Running once was survival. Staying is something else entirely.”“Somethin
Scarlett“Alpha Dickson isn’t someone who gives up easily,” Alisha said, her fingers nervously tapping against her coffee mug.I lifted my gaze to meet hers. “What exactly are you trying to say?”“The letter, Scarlett.” Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “You know what he’s capable of.”“So what would you have me do?” Heat crept into my voice. “Crawl back to that hell? Let him treat me like his property again?”“God, no!” Alisha’s eyes widened in horror. “That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just worried he might track you down here.”I straightened my shoulders, feeling the new strength that coursed through my veins. “Let him try. I’m not the same weak wolf he knew. Peter’s training has made sure of that.” The letter from Dickson still burned in my memory, though I couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to have it delivered. One thing was certain – I’d rather die than return to his pack, to the nightmare I’d escaped.“My life belongs to me now,” I declared. “No one else gets to de
ScarlettMy blood turned to ice in my veins. Dickson’s grip tightened around my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh like claws.“Did you really think you could hide from me forever?” he asked, his voice a silky whisper that carried more menace than any shout. “That you could just walk away from what’s mine?”I tried to yank my arm free, but his grip was like iron. “I’m not yours,” I spat, summoning every ounce of contempt I could muster. “I was never yours.”His laugh was cold, devoid of any warmth. “Look at you, playing human in this pathetic little town. Running a coffee shop, training with that broken excuse for a warrior.” His eyes glinted dangerously. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out about him?”My heart skipped a beat. Peter. How long had Dickson been watching me?“You’ve been busy, Luna,” he continued, stepping closer until I could feel his breath on my face. “Making friends, building a life, pretending you’re free.” His free hand came up to brush my cheek, and I jerked aw
ScarlettI tried to move, but my limbs felt heavy, weighted down. Memories crashed over me in waves – Dickson, the confrontation, Alisha, the sudden attack from behind. My wolf stirred restlessly within me, a caged animal sensing danger.“She’s waking up,” a voice muttered nearby. Not Dickson’s. Not Alisha’s.I forced my eyes open, blinking against the harsh fluorescent light. I was in a room – no, a cell. White walls. A single metal door. No windows. The kind of place designed to hold someone against their will.My training with Peter kicked in. Stay calm. Assess. Survive.I looked around and finally located the source of the voice. A woman stood in the corner, staring at me with something that looked like pity.“Who are you?” My voice came out weak, unfamiliar. Something was wrong – I was never this powerless. My head throbbed with each heartbeat.“You don’t need to know who I am,” she replied softly. “Luna.”“Luna.” The name rolled off my tongue like poison – that cursed title. “I’
Scarlett“Ray,” I called, trying to connect with my wolf, but she only stirred.I didn’t know how long I lay there, my mind drifting in and out of consciousness as the wolfsbane poisoned my system. Hours? Days? Time lost all meaning in this windowless cell. The fluorescent lights never dimmed, creating an endless, artificial day that made it impossible to track time.Every so often, the elderly woman would return with another dose. She never spoke anymore, just administered the injection with trembling hands and sorrowful eyes. I’d stopped fighting - not because I’d given up, but because I needed to conserve what little strength remained.My wolf was still present but distant, like a faint radio signal struggling to break through static. The separation was more agonizing than the physical pain. We had always been inseparable, my wolf and I united in everything. Now, I felt empty, like a part of me was missing.Alisha’s betrayal burned worse than the wolfsbane. Five years ago, she’d be
DicksonFive Years AgoThe cell reeked of victory – her victory. I inhaled deeply, letting the rage build in my chest as I stared at the broken chains. Gone. She was gone. My fingers traced the metal bars she’d somehow managed to break, despite her weakening body.“Alpha,” Henry, my beta, approached with the caution of a man who’d seen my rage before. “We found evidence that—”“That one of my own servants helped her escape?” I turned slowly, enjoying how he flinched. “Yes, I’m aware. It must be that little maid – Alisha, the one I assigned to her.”“Should we hunt them down? We could—”“No.” I smoothed down my jacket, regaining my composure. Control was everything. “Let them run. Let them think they’ve won.”“But sir, after what she did to Vanessa…”My hand shot out, gripping his throat. “Don’t say her name.” I released him, watching him gasp for air. “My mistress’s death will be avenged, but not yet. Sometimes, Henry, the best revenge requires patience.”I walked to the window, looki
DicksonThe sound of Scarlett’s rebellion echoed in my mind as I walked down the corridor. My footsteps measured and precise. Her words – “I fucking hate you” – brought a smile to my face. Such spirit, even now. Breaking her would be even more satisfying than I’d imagined.“Alpha,” Henry approached, bowing his head. “The preparations are complete.”“And our guest?”“The warrior’s body has been... brought and displayed, as you ordered. When she’s moved to the viewing room, she won’t be able to miss it.”Perfect. I adjusted my cufflinks, imagining her reaction when she saw what remained of her precious trainer. “And Alisha?”“In the conditioning chamber, sir. She’s... resistant. Her body and brain are trying to fight off your manipulation.”I paused, turning to face him. “Resistant?” Henry wasn’t lying. The way she behaved in front of Scarlett made me realize there were still feelings.I thought she could be cold as ice when she confronted her, like I wanted. I thought she could say some
ScarlettThe guards came for me when the wolfsbane was at its peak in my system. Every movement sent fire through my veins as they dragged me from my cell, my feet barely able to support my weight. I tried to focus, to memorize the route they were taking, but the corridors blurred together in an endless maze of sterile white walls.We stopped at a large metal door. One of the guards punched in a code – my dulled senses couldn’t catch the numbers – and pushed me inside.The viewing room. My heart stopped.Peter.Or what was left of him.They’d positioned him like a grotesque artwork, suspended against the far wall. His missing hand. His gouged eye. The cavity in his chest where his heart should have been. The message was clear: this is what happens to those who dare to help you.“Beautiful, isn’t it?”Alisha’s voice. But wrong. Cold. Empty. I turned to face her, and the person I saw wasn’t the sister I’d known for five years. Her eyes were different – harder, filled with a hatred that
NinaThe guards’ iron grips left bruises on my arms as they dragged me across the cold stone floor. Their claws dug into my skin – not enough to draw blood, but enough to remind me of my newfound powerlessness.The Alpha’s command still rang in my ears.I was being thrown into the pack’s holding cells like yesterday’s garbage. The Alpha hadn’t even looked me in the eye when he gave the order. His face remained impassive, carved from stone.My legs scraped against the rough ground, my once-elegant dress now torn and dirty. The indignity of it burned hotter than any physical pain. How dare he? How dare Damon treat me like some common criminal?This wasn’t what I dreamt of. I was supposed to be the queen. The queen of this pack. Yet he threw me here without blinking his eyes.A bitter laugh escaped my throat, drawing warning growls from the guards.It has been a week. One miserable week since they brought me to this place, yet my worthless sister hasn’t bothered to appear. Just like all
Finn“Alpha!” The guard’s panicked voice echoed through the hall. “It’s Jack, sir. He’s not well. Something’s terribly wrong!”My chest tightened. If anything happened to Jack while in my custody, it would mean war with Stone Ridge Pack. “Show me,” I commanded, already striding toward the door. Lucas fell into step beside me, his face carved with worry.The prison air hit us first, thick with the metallic scent of blood and something else, something wrong. Jack’s agonized groans guided us to his cell, where we found him writhing on the floor, his body contorted in pain.“Jack!” Lucas rushed forward the moment the guard unlocked the cell. He dropped to his knees beside his Beta, hands hovering uncertainly over Jack’s trembling form. “What happened? What’s wrong?”Jack’s only response was another gut-wrenching groan. His eyes rolled back, sweat beading on his forehead. Whatever this was, it wasn’t natural.Lucas’s hands moved swiftly, pulling a small bottle from his pocket. The liquid i
ScarlettThe cold stone walls of the “other wing” seemed to press in on me, suffocating me with their silence.The maids had left quickly, their heads bowed in shame or fear, I couldn’t tell which.My body trembled, but it wasn’t the chill of the room that sent shivers down my spine.It was him. My mate. The man I once thought I could trust. The man I foolishly believed might stand by me.I hugged my arms to myself, replaying his words. “Don’t forgive me.” His voice had cracked, raw with pain, yet laced with a cruel finality that left me shattered.How could he? How could he be so blind, so consumed by his anger that he would cast me aside?Nina’s cries echoed in my mind. She was innocent, at least of the betrayal Finn accused her of.I had seen the desperation in her eyes, the trembling of her voice. She wasn’t lying.But Finn didn’t believe her.And now I was paying the price for daring to stand up for my sister.I paced the small room, my heart warring with itself. Part of me wante
FinnScarlett’s voice wavered with uncertainty. “I don’t know about that, Nina. How did Jack become your guard? Did you know he is the Beta of Stone Ridge Pack?”Nina’s response trembled with desperation. “No, sister, I didn’t know. He was the only one who showed me kindness. When everyone else ignored me, he became my friend. He fed me when no one else would. Please believe me, I had no idea he was their Beta.”The next words shattered the tension. “I believe you, Nina,” Scarlett whispered, her voice soft with conviction. “I know you are innocent.”My scoff cut through the moment like a blade. “Since you believe her so well,” I sneered, masking my inner pain behind a cruel smile.In one swift motion, I threw Nina to the floor. Her horrific scream echoed through the room.Scarlett lunged forward, but David’s iron grip held her back. He kept her firmly in place, preventing any intervention.“Guards,” I commanded.Instantly, they materialized at my side, heads bowed in immediate submiss
FinnThe room crackled with violent tension. “Who’s here?” Scarlett demanded, her grip on Nina loosening.“Luna,” David called, drawing Scarlett’s attention to him. “The Stone Ridge Pack is here, and they’re here for their Beta.” He paused, shifting his gaze to Nina, who was still on the floor. “Jack.” I exploded. “What the heck is going on?” I roared, my anger boiling. I knew Nina was bad news. Having her here was a disaster waiting to happen. I glared at her.The amusement lingered on her lips, but she quickly composed herself when our gazes met. No matter how fast she tried to hide it, I could see right through her. This fucking bitch. “Damon,” my Luna called, her voice shaking. “I—”“You don’t have to talk,” I growled, making her shiver. Immediately, I knew I’d made a mistake. Why did I let my emotions get the better of me? I exhaled sharply, composing myself as I stepped closer to her. “I need answers from your sister, and I don’t want you to interrupt, Luna,” I added, my to
Finn“Good morning,” I said, watching my mate stir in my arms. “Time to wake up, beautiful.”A blush colored her cheeks as her eyes fluttered open.“Morning, my love,” Scarlett murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.The gesture drew a low rumble of contentment from my chest. Even after all this time, she still had this effect on me.“Sleep well?” I asked, returning her kiss.“Perfectly.”We lingered in bed, savoring each other’s warmth until I finally spoke. “I need to get ready. I have to see Jack today.”Scarlett tensed beside me. “Jack?”I nodded. “Yes, Jack.”“Why?” Her voice had grown wary.“To interrogate him again. The last time I went to see him, I wasn’t satisfied with what he told me. So...” I studied my mate’s face, watching for her reaction.Scarlett had insisted Jack was innocent, but as Alpha, the final judgment rested with me. I hadn’t mentioned my previous visit to her - I couldn’t bear having her think I doubted her judgment.“You went behind my back?” Her voice
In the darkest corner, he stood motionless, his fingers tracing the edge of a recent photograph of them.The image captured Scarlett with her beautiful hair catching the sunlight, and Damon with his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.His breath hitched, a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob. Hatred burned in his chest like acid, eating away at whatever humanity remained.How dare they be happy? How dare they build their perfect little life while his lay in ruins around him?“Look at you both,” he whispered, his voice rough from disuse. “So perfect. So innocent.” His fingers dug into the photograph, creating deep creases across the smiling faces.His dark eyes narrowed as he studied their features. “If only they could see what I see; the destroyers, the thieves, the architects of my destruction.”Memories flooded back: how he had spent a lot of money to acquire her, yet she was stolen from him.He gritted his teeth together, hatred oozing off him as he gazed at the picture
NinaI slammed the door behind me, fury coursing through my veins as the image of them together burned in my mind.My sister’s soft moans, his hands on her body, their passionate kisses. It was torture. Pure, unadulterated torture.“Damn you, Damon,” I whispered, my nails digging into my palms until they nearly drew blood.The way he’d looked at me, with such contempt, such dismissal... it made my blood boil.And yet, beneath that anger lay something else, something I refused to acknowledge: desire.I hadn’t meant to fall for him. He was my sister’s mate, for Moon’s sake. But from the moment I first saw him, something inside me had shifted.The raw power that emanated from him, the dangerous glint in his eyes, the way he carried himself. Everything about him called to my wolf in ways I couldn’t explain.And now he was flaunting their relationship in front of me, deliberately torturing me with their intimacy. He knew. Of course, he knew.Alphas could sense these things, could they not?
NinaI lifted my head, an apology forming on my lips, but the words died in my throat.The man before me commanded attention without effort, tall and striking, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to hold depths I couldn’t fathom.He carried himself with the natural authority of someone who didn’t need to demand respect; it was freely given.Idiot. That is Alpha Damon. My wolf’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.I was completely captivated by his presence. He seemed perfect in every way. It felt like fate that we were meant to be together.Of course, only he deserved me. How could anyone else compare?I struggled to keep my emotions in check, but a gentle purr slipped out, revealing the intensity of my feelings even as I tried to stay composed.“I’m sorry, Alpha Damon,” I managed, struggling to keep my voice steady under his gaze. I had meant to sound confident, but his presence made it impossible.“What brings you here?" His tone was cool and controlled, but there was a hint