Scarlett’s POV
His husky voice made me tremble. “What is your name?”
“Scarlett,” I replied softly, and to my surprise, a smile crept across my face. A sudden surge of warmth coursed through me, surprising in its intensity, as if I were reconnecting with a forgotten part of myself.
“Finn,” he said, a matching smile lighting up his eyes. “Call me Finn.”
“Finn,” I repeated, savoring the sound, letting it roll off my tongue as if it were a name I was meant to say.
He stared at me, his deep blue eyes piercing through the walls I had built. They weren’t just beautiful; they were magnetic, drawing me in, making it impossible to look away. I felt my heart flutter, my breath catching as I tried to memorize every detail of his face. It was like he was trying to see beyond my brokenness, searching for the person I could be.
“You look beautiful,” he whispered.
I blushed. “Thank you. You look handsome as well.”
Without saying a word, he reached for my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. His touch felt like a lifeline in a stormy sea as he led me away from the crowded ballroom, away from judgmental eyes. We didn’t need words. The connection between us was undeniable, an unspoken understanding. I wanted to believe this was fate—that Finn truly saw me beyond the broken girl my stepmother had tried to bury.
The cool night air kissed my skin, but Finn’s hand was warm, igniting a fire within me. We slipped into the shadows, our breaths mingling. His hands cupped my face, and for a moment, the world fell away. All the pain vanished. There was only him and the wild rhythm of my heart.
“Scarlett…” His voice was a whisper, his lips brushing against mine. “I’ve waited for this.”
Our kiss was a slow dance, the kind that made time stand still. Finn was gentle, patient, as if he knew how fragile I felt. I melted into him, my body reacting to the heat of his desire.
I was lost in him—in the taste of his lips, the pressure of his body against mine. Every touch ignited a fire within, a thrilling intensity that made my pulse race.
He pulled away, and we were both breathless.
“Come,” he said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s take this somewhere else.”
I followed him, feeling safe. Finn guided me to a room behind the ballroom, a private space with elegant curtains and soft lighting. He pushed the door open, and we slipped inside, the door clicking shut behind us. He didn’t speak, and neither did I. We didn’t need to.
His breath warmed my skin as he kissed his way down my neck, fingers slipping beneath the delicate fabric of my gown. A gasp escaped me, my heart racing with hope and desire.
As our bodies pressed together, his hands roamed over me, each touch sending sparks of pleasure through me. When he lowered me onto the soft bed, his body covered mine.
“Are you sure?” he asked, voice husky, searching my eyes for any sign of doubt. “I don’t want to rush you.”
I felt my cheeks flush, but I nodded, swallowing hard. “I… I want this,” I whispered, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.
Finn’s gaze softened, and he kissed me again, slower this time, savoring every moment. He undressed me with a gentleness that made me feel truly seen. Each touch and kiss reassured me that I wasn’t just a secret to be hidden.
“Tell me if it’s too much,” he murmured, his fingers trailing softly down my entrance. I shivered at the sensation, nodding in response.
My body arched when he gently slipped his finger inside me. A moan escaped as he started pleasuring me, sucking and caressing.
“Ah,” I moaned, my body burning with pleasure. I felt something building as he picked up the pace, his fingers moving faster inside me. I was on the brink of release when he suddenly pulled away.
“Why?” My voice came out low, filled with confusion.
“Easy, love,” he said, gently kissing my forehead. “I want to pleasure you beyond your imagination.”
I saw it in his eyes—something raw and intense, a hunger that mirrored my own. My wolf growled in recognition.
“Mate.”
He kissed me tenderly before undressing himself. My eyes widened with desire as I took in his body. It was perfect. This perfect man in front of me was my mate. I couldn’t wait to see the look on my stepmother’s face when I introduced him. I couldn’t wait to leave that hell I called home and start a new life with him—someone who could love and cherish me for the rest of my days.
I gasped at his length, so long and hard it seemed to threaten to tear me in two.
“Ha,” I gasped, fear creeping into my voice.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, noticing me tremble.
“Th… That,” I stammered. “Is that yours?”
He looked down and smiled. “You mean this?” he asked, holding his erection.
“Yes. Is that yours alone?”
“Haha.” He let out a chuckle. “It’s mine, and now, it’s yours.”
“Mine,” I repeated.
“Yes. Yours. Touch it.” He grabbed my hand. “It’s harmless.”
“Won’t it kill me?” I asked innocently.
“What the heck is going on in that head of yours, mate? It won’t kill you, but give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. Here, feel it.” He guided my hand to touch it. It was warm and soft, harmless despite its intimidating size. I began to explore it, running my fingers over its length.
He moaned, “Scarlett,” my name escaping his lips like a prayer. “Ah.” I became engrossed, touching and playing with his balls.
“I’m about to cum,” he groaned. I was still exploring when he spilled his seed onto my face.
“Ah. I love it, Scarlett.”
“What is that?” I asked, wide-eyed.
“You mean… Wait…” He stared at me in disbelief. “Have you never seen this before?” he asked, gesturing to himself.
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then no one’s ever… done this to you?” he asked, squeezing my breasts gently.
“Yes,” I replied truthfully.
“Ha, I struck gold,” Finn said, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I promise to treat you well, mate.”
The assurance in his voice—it was the first time I’d ever heard such words.
He gently laid me on the bed, positioning himself in front of me. “I’m going in.”
When he finally entered me, it wasn’t like the stories I had imagined. It was raw and real, a mix of pain and pleasure that left me breathless.
And then, slowly, he became my first, and it was everything and nothing like I’d imagined. His movements were gentle, careful not to overwhelm me, yet there was a rawness to it. A need that I could feel in the way he kissed me, in the way he held me so close as if he never wanted to let go. I clung to him, my body responding to his in ways I had never known possible, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe that this—this passion, this connection—was real.
Scarlett’s POVThe morning sun pierced through my closed eyelids, awakening me with a pleasant ache in my muscles from last night’s passion. A smile crept onto my lips as I reached for his warmth on the silk sheets. I curled closer to him, feeling my heart race in the peaceful afterglow, his alpha presence making my omega instincts purr. The memory of his touch still lingered on my skin. The places he kissed and the fiery trails his touch left across every inch of me still made my wolf purr.It was real. I had finally found my mate. Someone who could love, cherish, and stand beside me. Someone who could save me from my agony and straighten my omega wolf. I had found that person.He was mine. My fated mate.The memory of meeting him last night was still vivid. The way he gazed at me across the ballroom, the instant connection that sparked between us. We didn’t even need formal introductions before our wolves recognized each other. Mate. The attraction was undeniable.His scent lingered
Scarlett’s povI felt overwhelming fear as I approached my father’s pack. I knew no one would miss me if I disappeared or died. I was unwanted and hated by everyone, even the man I called my father.I greeted a few people with a “Good morning” as I walked to the pack house, but they responded with a dead glare. I waved it off as I walked inside the pack house.I carefully opened the door, peeking inside to check if my stepmother was around. I prayed I wouldn’t run into her—if I did, I’d surely be punished. I had to hurry to my room, change, and clean the house before she realized I hadn’t been home last night.A small smile crept onto my face when I saw the place was empty. I tiptoed inside, making my way to the hellhole I was given as a room—a place with no bed, no pillow, nowhere to truly rest my head.Yes, I smiled. Just a little bit more, and I could enter my room. But my hope was shattered when I heard her voice—the voice that made my knees go weak. Cold sweat broke out on my for
ScarlettI used to think moonlight was beautiful. Stupid, really, how many nights I spent bathing in its glow, whispering prayers like some lovesick fool. Now, I can’t even look at it. I’ve draped black sheets over my windows, but still, that silver light finds ways to creep in, mocking me with its presence.I had spent so many nights gazing up at that same moon, praying to her. Praying for love. For a mate who would cherish me, who would finally make me feel whole. And yet, what had she given me? Rejection. Pain. Loneliness. The universe seemed to mock me, sending me more suffering when I had thought happiness was finally within reach.I was naïve to believe it could be different. I had wanted to trust her, the moon goddess. All those stories about her watching over us, guiding us toward our destined mates—lies. She hadn’t been watching over me. If she had, she would have seen the heartbreak I endured. The betrayal. She would have known how much I longed for acceptance and love.Inst
Scarlett“Get off me,” he growled, kicking me away with a force that sent me sprawling.I couldn’t stop the tears. I didn’t cry from the pain of the fall—I had long since become numb to that—but from the unbearable weight of it all. “Please, just kill me,” I whispered, choking on the words. “I don’t belong here. None of you need me.”Nina’s voice interrupted my despair, sounding deceptively sweet. “What are you saying?” She approached me with a concerned expression on her face. “Why would Dad want to harm you?” Her words seemed insincere, the kindness in her tone concealing a hidden malice. She extended her hand as if to offer me assistance.I hesitated, glancing at her hand.“Let me help you, sister.”“Ah!” I cried as I lost my balance, falling back hard against the cold floor.Nina looked down at me, her face now twisted in annoyance. “What are you doing, sis?” she demanded. “Did you intentionally fall to spill your blood on my new dress?” Her gaze swept over the stained fabric as s
ScarlettI stared at the small stick in my trembling hands, my breath caught in my throat. Two lines.Two pink lines. That’s all it takes to shatter my world for the second time in as many months. I stared at the pregnancy test until my vision blurred, willing the lines to fade, to reveal this as just another cruel joke. But they remained, blunt and undeniable against the white plastic.My legs gave out, and I slid down the bathroom wall to the cold tile floor. His child. Our child. The thought sent a wave of nausea through me that had nothing to do with morning sickness. My hands instinctively moved to my still-flat stomach, and I was struck by the strange duality of the moment—how something so small could feel so impossibly heavy. There was life inside me. A piece of him, a piece of the one who had discarded me like trash.“What am I going to do?” I whispered to the empty bathroom. The words echoed off the tiles, coming back to me with no more answers than when they left my lips. A
ScarlettThe nausea had persisted for days. As I stood in front of Father’s study doors. My stomach churned—not just from the pregnancy. I struggled to control the sickness and steady my breathing. My hand trembled as I mustered the last of my courage to knock.“Enter.”With a final shaky breath, I pushed open the door. There he was, seated behind his desk, engrossed in the documents before him, not bothering to glance up.“Well?” he said, not lifting his gaze. “I assume you have something important to tell me, given how you’ve been skulking about the house these past weeks.”His words struck me. It was as if he knew why I was here. I struggled to speak. “Alpha... I...” The words trembled on my lips as I broke the news. “I’m pregnant.”The scratching of his pen stopped abruptly. He carefully placed it down and fixed his gaze on me. Instead of the expected anger or disappointment, a calculating gleam shone in his steel-gray eyes.“So, it’s true,” he said, his voice cold and trimmed. Th
Scarlett“Scarlett.” My stepmother’s voice echoed. I struggled to stand on my feet. My conversation with my father last night hadn’t gone smoothly; it didn’t favor me. So he’d made sure to assign guards to monitor me all night to prevent me from running.“Scarlett.” The voice came again. This time, I was already on my feet. I opened the door.“Good morning, Luna,” I managed to greet her.“What the heck are you doing?” she asked with a scornful expression.“Nothing,” I replied weakly. “Do you need something?”“Yes,” she said, brushing past me without waiting for an invitation. She settled into the chair by the window, her movements graceful, every part of her natural appearance screaming authority. My stepmother was the Beta’s daughter from the neighboring pack—a detail she reminded me of daily.“Do you know what today means?”I shook my head. “No, Luna.”She smiled sweetly, making my skin crawl. Even when she tried to smile genuinely, it screamed “fake.” Everything about her was fake.
Scarlett.The morning light slowly filled my bedroom, casting a golden glow on the floor. I lay still for a moment, thinking about my life. Another morning, another day in this luxurious but confining place. It had been five months since I arrived, but it felt like an eternity.The gentle breeze rustled the silk curtains, bringing the sweet fragrance of blooming roses from the garden below. Such beauty in this place felt like a cruel joke. I stretched carefully, one hand instinctively moving to protect my growing belly as I sat up against the plush headboard.“You’re awake, Luna,” the maid said as soon as she walked into my room. She smiled sweetly, making me remember Amber. Alisha was the only one here who looked at me with kindness rather than contempt. “Good morning, my lady.”“Good morning, Alisha.” I managed a genuine smile for her—the only real one I’d give all day. She moved through the room with practiced grace, drawing back curtains and gathering what I’d need for the day.“H