AlaricThe night air carried a bitter chill as our small group moved through the shadows of the Crescent Pack territory. Nina’s excitement was palpable beside me, her breath coming in quick, eager bursts as we approached the grounds Dave had scouted. Elena had stayed behind, coordinating with the warriors we’d gathered for this desperate plan.I tried to ignore the voice in my head screaming that this was wrong. That we were about to commit an act that would have consequences far beyond what we could imagine. But the weight of my pack’s future and Nina’s safety pressed down on me, silencing those doubts.Dave led us through a seemingly unguarded section of the territory. Too easy, I thought, but pushed the concern aside. We had to succeed. We had no choice.The massive pack house loomed before us, dark and imposing. According to Dave’s intelligence, Scarlett’s quarters were on the second floor, facing east. The windows were open to the cool night air – another stroke of luck that made
AlaricElena’s scream still echoed in my ears as we entered our pack house. The dawn light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across her tear-stained face. But there was something else in her eyes now – a desperate, calculating look that I had seen too many times before.“We need to call Patrick,” she said, her voice hoarse but determined. “Now.”“Elena...” I started, exhaustion weighing heavy in my bones. “It’s over. We lost.”“No!” She slammed her fist against the wall, making Nina jump. “I won’t accept this. I won’t live as a common wolf. I won’t watch everything we built crumble because of that worthless girl!”“That ‘worthless girl’ is now one of the most powerful Lunas in the territory,” I reminded her bitterly. “And her mate is going to strip us of everything by midday.”Elena’s laugh was hollow, brittle. “Not if Patrick helps us. He has the strongest pack in the territory. Even Damon would think twice about challenging him directly.”“And why would he help us?”
AlaricA week had passed since Nina left for Patrick’s pack, but her absence felt like an open wound in our household. Elena hadn’t left our chambers since watching our daughter disappear into Patrick’s car, her proud shoulders finally bowing under the weight of what she’d done.I stood in the doorway, watching my mate stare blankly out the window. She’d barely eaten, barely slept. The strong, calculating woman who had orchestrated so many schemes was gone, replaced by a hollow shell that couldn’t stop whispering our daughter’s name.“The pack meeting is in an hour,” I said softly. “They need to see their Luna.”Elena didn’t turn. “Their Luna?” Her laugh was brittle, sharp enough to cut. “Is that what I am? A Luna who sold her own daughter?”“We did what we had to do to survive.”“Did we?” She finally faced me, and I almost stepped back at the wild look in her eyes. “Tell me, Alaric, what exactly did we survive for? To rule over a pack that whispers behind our backs? To live knowing o
NinaI stare at my reflection in the cracked mirror of my tiny room in the packhouse’s servant wing. The dark circles under my eyes tell the story of another sleepless night, another night spent warming Lucas’s bed, only to be dismissed before dawn like a used tissue.I wasn’t supposed to live like this. As the daughter of the Alpha couple of Moonstone Pack, I had been raised in luxury, groomed to potentially become the future Alpha. But my parents had other plans – plans that involved securing their position by offering me as a mistress to Lucas, Alpha Patrick’s son, despite him being openly devoted to having many women.The memory of that day still burns like acid in my throat. “It’s for the good of our family,” my mother had said, not meeting my eyes. My father had simply nodded, his face a mask of political calculation. They had traded their own daughter’s future for a guarantee of keeping their Alpha and Luna positions.Now, two months later, my life is a shadow of what it once w
NinaEvery breath felt like fire in my chest. I lay curled on the cold wooden floor of my room, each inhale a reminder of last night’s torture.The morning light filtering through the window seemed to mock me with its cheerfulness, while my body screamed with pain that refused to subside. My fingers traced the bruises blooming across my ribs – purple and blue landscapes of my humiliation.They’d left me here to suffer, probably hoping I’d break. The tears that leaked from my eyes weren’t just from physical agony anymore; they were tears of pure rage.Scar. Her name alone made my jaw clench, sending a fresh spike of pain through my already battered face. How could Lucas stand by and watch while she—? No. I couldn’t let myself relive it. Not yet. The memory was too raw, too fresh, like an open wound that hadn’t even begun to scab over.I tried to push myself up to a sitting position, using the wall for support. My arms trembled with the effort, muscles protesting every movement.A whimp
Nina“My lord,” the guard announced, snapping to attention at the door. “She has arrived.”“Come in.”He dragged me inside and shoved me aside.“Lucas,” I whispered, voice trembling. “The guard—”“Playing disobedient again, I see,” Lucas cut in, rising from the bed. His casual dismissal of the guard’s brutality felt like a knife through my heart.“I’m not... He...” The words died in my throat as I caught Lucas’s stare. Where I’d once seen lust, now only disgust remained as his eyes raked over my bloodied form.“Did you not know why you were brought here?” His howl made the windows shake. “How dare you show yourself to me like this!”The irony was a knife in my chest. Here I stood, having orchestrated Scarlett’s downfall, only to find myself reduced to the very thing I’d despised.“I... I am sorry, Lucas.”“Lucas!” he repeated. “What did you just call me?”My heart skipped a beat. “Master.”“Good.” He turned around and faced the guard. “Good job. You can go.”I was hurt, both my body a
NinaThe room was deathly quiet, with only the steady ticking of a clock on the far wall breaking the silence. Time seemed to slow down as I knelt before Lucas, feeling the chill of the marble floor beneath me. The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily on us, like a looming storm ready to unleash its fury.He hadn’t spoken since Scar had been dragged away. His stillness was a different kind of torment, his silence a sharpened blade hanging over my neck. I kept my gaze fixed downward, the shadows of the room creeping toward me, threatening to consume what little strength I had left.Finally, he moved. His boots clicked against the floor as he crossed the space between us. I flinched as they came to a halt directly in front of me.“Stand,” he commanded, his voice devoid of emotion.My legs were numb and trembling as I forced them to comply. Every muscle screamed in protest, but I managed to rise, keeping my head bowed under the weight of his gaze, which bore into me like a brand.“You’v
ScarlettThe warmth of Crescent Pack surrounded me like a sanctuary, a place I never thought I’d find after all I had been through. Finn, my mate, was more than just a protector; he was my salvation, my hope, my everything.I smiled as I looked out from the window of the room Finn had given me, listening to the lively sounds of the pack outside. I had never felt such a strong sense of belonging. Finn’s people had embraced me warmly, showing me kindness and acceptance beyond my expectations. With Finn by my side, I felt safe and protected.I sat with Finn in the packhouse; the fire crackling softly in the background. There was a certain atmosphere that day, something I couldn’t quite pinpoint. Perhaps it was just the lingering remnants of my old trauma, still clinging to me like the persistent chill in my bones.“Finn," I began, my voice wavering. I had been grappling with this question for days, unsure of how to broach the subject. “What happened to the people from Dickson Pack who...
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
ScarlettThe battlefield smelled of burnt flesh and blood; an intoxicating mixture of death and destruction.I stood in the center of it all, my hands still tingling with the lingering heat of my flames.The scent of the rogues’ burned remains filled my senses, but instead of loathing, I felt something else entirely.Satisfaction.I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. My power, the thing that had been locked away for so long, now coursed through me like an untamed storm, crackling under my skin.When I opened my eyes again, I saw Finn watching me.His ocean-blue gaze was filled with something I couldn’t quite place, something between awe and… fear. The thought sent a strange thrill through me.I understood why he was behaving like this. He thought my power might have controlled me, consumed my soul, and that I might kill his people after dealing with all these rogues.But he was wrong. I am the sole owner of this power. I can easily control it now.“Fin—”“Watch out!” he screamed as he l
FinnI was burning with rage as I followed my Beta to my office. Why? Why did it have to be now when I was finally with my mate? It had been weeks since I had held her in my arms.Kissing her and feeling her warmth had been pure bliss—until Beta David decided to shatter our moment.“You’re here, sir,” Gamma said, rising to his feet as soon as he spotted me.“Why are you still here?” I asked, unable to mask my shock. “I remember you leaving after me.”“Yes, we have an urgent matter, Alpha,” he said, making a path for me. I strode to my chair and sank into it, my jaw clenched tight.“What is so important? What is so urgent that it demands my attention?” I scoffed. All I needed was to escape this room and return to my mate’s bed.“We noticed some changes at the pack border,” David responded, his voice tense. “And we needed to treat it with urgency, sir.”“What?” I slammed my fist on the table, making both men flinch. “Is that why I was dragged here? Don’t tell me you can’t handle a bunch
Scarlett“Here you are, Alpha,” someone said, breaking the spell and making me push him away.“Ha,” David breathed out, his eyes darting around nervously. He looked at me before focusing on Finn, his gaze held both apology and discomfort.I was red; red with embarrassment that burned through my entire body. I nearly wanted to dig a hole and hide inside, mortification making my skin tingle.“Why are you here, Beta?” Finn asked through gritted teeth. He was burning with rage, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles working beneath his skin. “What you needed to say must be important for you to come here at this point… at this time.”“I’m sorry,” David pleaded, his voice strained with genuine regret. “I didn’t know that…” He trailed off, sneaking a peep at me. I blushed harder, trying to hide my face behind a shroud of hair. “You were in the middle of something important, Alpha.”A loud roar vibrated in Finn’s chest as he spoke. “Go straight to the point, Beta.”“Alpha, we have
ScarlettDarkness.That was all I had known.I had screamed, I had clawed, I had begged, but the monster inside me had laughed. It had worn my body like a second skin, moved my limbs as if they were its own, twisted my voice into something sinister and cruel.I had watched helplessly as it used me to hurt the people I cared about. Watched as Finn stood before me, unwavering, even as I burned him. Even as I tried to hurt and break him.But he never fought back.He had spoken to me - not to the monster, not to the entity that had taken over, but to me. The part of me that was drowning, slipping away. His voice had been a lifeline, and I had grasped it with everything I had left.And now…I was back.I barely registered the trembling of my limbs as Finn held me against his chest. My body felt like it had been through a war, every muscle aching, my skin raw from the flames I had wielded.The scent of scorched earth lingered in the air, but I could feel something else now—warmth, solid and
FinnScarlett wasn’t Scarlett anymore.The thing standing before me wore her face, her body, but it wasn’t her. Not entirely.The flickering flames licking at her fingertips, the eerie glow in her eyes; one a burning crimson, the other a blue so unnatural it sent chills through me, told me everything I needed to know.Something else had taken her. Something old. Something dangerous. Something that needed to stay far away from my mate.And I had no idea how to stop it.I forced my feet to stay grounded despite the overwhelming urge to rush to her, to shake her until she snapped out of it. But the pain of the earlier attack still lingered.The crack of my bones breaking under her blows echoed in my mind. My wolf, Storm, whined, pacing restlessly inside me, torn between the instinct to fight and the desperate need to protect our mate.But this wasn’t a fight I could win with claws and teeth. Not against her. Not against this demon in my mate form.“Scarlett,” I called her name, voice ste
ScarlettDarkness. Thick, endless, suffocating. I was drifting in it, weightless, lost. The last thing I remembered was the burning agony in my chest, my wolf’s anguished howl echoing inside me, the feeling of my body unraveling at the seams.Then nothing.But now, the darkness was shifting. Light seeped through the cracks, and with it came sensation. The warmth of a hand wrapped around mine. A soft whisper threading through the silence.“...love you, you know that? More than anything.”The voice was familiar, deep and soothing, wrapping around me like a lifeline. I fought my way toward it, through the fog clouding my mind, through the unfamiliar pulse of power thrumming beneath my skin.I gasped as my senses rushed back and my eyes flew open.Bright light assaulted my vision, and I winced, groaning as a dull ache spread through my skull. My body felt different - heavier and lighter all at once, as if I were made of both fire and air.“Scarlett.”Finn’s voice. My gaze flickered to the