ScarlettThe room fell silent after I spoke, and Finn stayed still on his knees, his expression filled with devastation. I watched as understanding dawned in his eyes – the true weight of what he’d done, the irreparable damage his rejection had caused.“Your child?” he finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “How? How is it possible for me to do that?”“It is," I said with a smirk. “All you need to do is go to the underworld to bring back my child.”The medical equipment beside my bed beeped steadily, marking the painful seconds that stretched between us. Through our cursed mate bond, I could feel his anguish building like a tsunami.“I—”“If you can’t do that,” I spoke, cutting him off. “Then you should have it in mind that it won’t be possible between us. After all, you made it very clear that day – I was nothing but my father’s daughter to you. A reminder of everything you’d lost.”Finn’s shoulders began to shake. For the first time since I’d known him, I watched as tear
ScarlettAfter Finn’s tearful departure, I sat alone in the hospital room, my mind reeling. The revelation of our lost child had shaken me to my core, tearing open wounds I’d long thought had scarred over.Even now, I could still feel the phantom flutter of that tiny life, the dream of a future I had dared to imagine. Finn’s devastation had been visceral, undeniable. The man who had once rejected me without a second glance was now brought low, his pride and control utterly shattered.A part of me, the part that still craved his love and acceptance, wanted to reach out, to ease his suffering. But the stronger, colder part of me - the part that had endured five years of torment and loss - recoiled at the very thought.How dare he, I thought bitterly. How dare he come here, torn apart by guilt, and demand my forgiveness? As if any amount of remorse could undo the pain he had caused me.Yet, even as I tried to harden my heart against him, I couldn’t ignore the ache in my own chest. The ma
FinnI closed Scarlett’s door behind me, my hands trembling with the effort it took not to punch through the nearest wall. Her words echoed in my mind: “I will never show my face in front of you again.”“MATE!” Storm howled inside me, the sound so anguished it made my chest physically ache. My wolf had been in constant torment since Scarlett’s return, torn between joy at having her near and agony at her rejection.I barely made it to my office before my control slipped. With a roar, I swept everything off my desk, watching as papers scattered and my laptop crashed to the floor. The sound wasn’t nearly satisfying enough to drown out the pain.“Alpha?” My Beta, David, appeared in the doorway, concern etched on his features.“Out,” I growled, my eyes blazing red. When he didn’t immediately move, I snarled, “Now!”The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with my thoughts and Storm’s increasingly frantic pacing. I could still smell her on my skin from being in her room - a blend of lavender
Third pov David watched the council members as they entered the meeting room, their expressions a blend of worry and interest. He could tell they were aware of their Alpha’s unease, which permeated the pack bonds like a pre-storm charge. As the Beta, he felt it more intensely than others, the sharp pang of his Alpha’s suffering pulsing beneath his surface. The northern border dispute should have been a straightforward matter. The Stone Ridge Pack had been encroaching on their hunting grounds for months, testing boundaries, looking for weaknesses. At any other time, Finn would have handled it with the calculated precision that had made him one of the youngest and most respected Alphas in the region. But now... David studied Finn as he entered the room with a confident stride. While Finn may have seemed like a strong leader to the council members, David noticed the subtle signs of inner turmoil. The trembling hands and tense posture. It was clear that Finn was struggling to maintain h
ScarlettI hurried out of David’s office, my heart racing in my chest. The mate bond pulsed with intensity, sensing Finn’s presence in the council chamber. My wolf, Ray, whimpered and clawed at my insides, desperate to turn around, to go back.“Mate,” she pleaded. “We need him.”“We need nothing,” I snarled internally, though my hand betrayed me by clutching at my chest where the bond pulsed strongest.I hadn’t come to discuss hospital bills. I’d come because I’d overheard the maids discussing the meeting, and I had asked one to take me there since I didn’t know anything about his pack. I was curious— curious about how he led his pack, how he spoke during important meetings. I had let my curiosity get the better of me.But seeing Finn had scattered my thoughts. Five years hadn’t prepared me for how he would look sitting at the head of that table, power and authority radiating from him in waves. Finn... this Finn wore his power like a second skin as I watched him speak.“You’re impress
ScarlettI stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, fingers tracing the scar that ran from my collarbone to my shoulder. Five years of carrying these marks, of letting them define me. My wolf, Ray, pressed close to my consciousness, offering silent comfort.“You need to eat,” she reminded me gently, even though she was still angry with me.I’d been avoiding the pack dining hall, taking all my meals in my room. But the doctor had been clear - if I wanted to regain my strength, I needed proper nutrition. Not just the scraps I’d force down when the maids brought trays.“We could go early,” Ray suggested. “Before the others.”Before Finn.Just thinking his name made the mate bond pulse. I pressed my hand to my chest, a gesture that had become a habit. Sometimes I wondered if I touched the bond enough, it would finally break.“It never will,” Ray said softly. “You know that.”“It should have broken when he chose revenge over us.” The words came out bitter, rehearsed. I’d said them s
ScarlettMy heart raced as David led me to Finn’s office, beating faster with each step closer. How could I face him? What if he rejected me again? All these thoughts flooded my mind as we approached his office.Ray stirred restlessly within me, equal parts trepidation and hope.“Are you sure about this?” she asked softly.I took a steadying breath. “No. But I have to try.”When we reached the front of his office, David paused outside a heavy wooden door, his expression both anxious and elated. “He’s inside. Just... take your time, okay? He’ll be happy to see you.”I nodded, swallowing down the lump in my throat. Happy might be an overstatement. Finn had learned to conceal his emotions, but I could still feel the echo of his pain through the mate bond.Slowly, I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The office was different from my father’s— all dark wood and towering bookshelves, Finn’s scent lingering in the air. And there, behind the large desk, sat Finn.He looked up as I enter
FinnHolding Scarlett was a gift I didn’t know if I deserved.My hands ran over her shoulders, her back, as if confirming she was real; that she was here, in my arms, and not some vision craved by my guilt. She felt softer now, her presence gentler yet stronger. The years apart had changed us both, but while she had transformed, I felt emptier, as if my heart had withered in her absence.Every whispered confession she made, every hesitant touch, broke through me like waves on a shore, relentless and purifying. I wanted to speak, to tell her how much I’d missed her, how every sleepless night had felt like a punishment I couldn’t escape, but the words lodged in my throat. What did I have to offer her beyond my own tattered soul?Her gentle fingers brushed my face, tracing the lines that time and regret had carved there. Her touch was so familiar yet so heartbreakingly new, and I leaned into it, desperate to remember the feeling of her warmth.“Finn," she whispered, her voice soft and fil
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 Finn 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
Finn“You’re back, Damon.” My mate’s voice trembled with relief as she spotted me. She rushed forward, wrapping her arms around my waist and pressing her face against my chest. The familiar scent of her hair washed over me.“Yes," I muttered, feeling Nina’s intense gaze on us from across the room. Her anger was palpable in her tense stance and clenched fists.I didn’t fucking care.Pulling Scarlett closer, I leaned in and kissed her deeply. She melted against me with a soft moan, her hands clutching my shirt as if grounding herself.Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Nina’s bitter glare slicing through the air like a dagger. Her venom only made me hold Scarlett tighter.Nina’s loud cough shattered the moment, drawing my mate’s attention. Scarlett pulled back from our kiss with gentle reluctance, and though irritation flared in my chest, I forced myself to stay calm.The last thing I wanted was to damage what Scarlett and I had, especially over Nina’s petty interruption.“Sister.” N
FinnAs David left my office, the evening shadows grew longer. I stood by the window, observing the wolves in the pack grounds below, lost in my troubled thoughts. Somewhere out there, Nina was plotting, and Scarlett remained blind to the danger.“We need to be careful,” Storm cautioned in our mind. “One wrong move, and we could lose Scarlett’s trust entirely.”I growled softly, frustration building. My wolf had a point, but the urge to act, to eliminate the threat immediately, was almost overwhelming.The memory of Nina’s calculated seduction attempt made my skin crawl, but it was the darkness I’d glimpsed in her thoughts that truly concerned me.A knock at the door interrupted my brooding. “Enter,” I called, turning to find Gabriel, our training master, standing in the doorway.“Alpha,” he greeted me with a respectful nod. “I have the detailed training reports you requested.”“Good. Tell me about our newest warriors.” I gestured for him to sit, grateful for the distraction from my d
Finn“Two injured, none fatal. But the rogues are growing bolder.” David passed me a detailed report. “They seem more organized than usual. Pack formation patterns have been observed.”This was concerning. Rogues typically operated alone or in pairs. Pack formation suggested leadership - and that meant trouble.“Continue,” I instructed, scanning the document.“The trade agreement with the Southern Pack needs renewal,” David continued. “Alpha Marcus has been particularly insistent about discussing new terms. He’s mentioned something about expanding the timber rights in the shared forest.”I fought back a sigh. Marcus had always been ambitious, and my absence had likely emboldened him.“Schedule a meeting, but not immediately. Let’s give him time to stew.”‘And give us time to strengthen our position,’ Storm added approvingly.“The training program for young wolves has shown impressive results,” David moved on, his tone lightening slightly. “Gabriel has proven to be an excellent instruc
Finn“I’m so sorry, Alpha Damon!” The feminine voice carried a note of feigned distress that immediately set me on edge.Looking down, I found myself face-to-face with Nina, Scarlett’s sister.Her cheeks were flushed as she gazed up at me, her wide eyes sparkling with an innocence that didn’t quite reach their depths.This was only the second time I’d seen her, but being this close, I could sense something was off.“Alpha,” she purred, her tone dripping with an unwelcome sweetness. The way she looked at me disgusted me. I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. My anger simmered just beneath the surface. What the heck was she trying to pull? “You’re back.”Storm growled low in my mind. ‘There’s darkness in her. Can’t you feel it?’I could. The pure connection I shared with Scarlett had heightened my ability to read others, and what I sensed in Nina troubled me deeply. Behind her carefully constructed facade lay something cold, calculated.“What are you doing here?” I asked, keeping m
FinnI lay in bed with my mate, savoring her warmth against me, when David’s voice echoed in my mind.‘What is it, David?’ I responded through our pack link.‘Alpha, I apologize for disturbing you. When I couldn’t find you in the office...’ His concern rippled through the mental connection.‘I’ll be there shortly,’ I assured him. ‘I needed time with my mate.’‘Understood, sir.’ With those words, David severed the mind-link, leaving me alone with my thoughts. In my arms, Scarlett shifted slightly, her breathing soft and steady.I gazed down at her peaceful face, drinking in every feature of my mate - the woman I’d ached for through all these long, empty months.Storm’s howl resonated through my mind, his joy echoing my own. My wolf couldn’t contain his elation at having her so close, her warmth pressed against us.We’d both yearned for this - man and beast united in our relief at finally having our mate in our embrace.“That happy, huh?” I asked, amused by Storm’s unrestrained joy, his