ScarlettThe quiet hum of the night settled over the packhouse, but sleep was far from my grasp. Alisha’s words churned in my mind, relentless as waves crashing against a stubborn shore.“She doesn’t see what’s right in front of her!”I pressed my hand against the cool window glass, gazing into the darkness where our pack’s territory stretched endlessly. Tonight, the vast expanse felt suffocating. Within me, my wolf stirred uneasily, sharing my disquiet.Nina’s tear-streaked face flickered in my mind, so vivid it could have been real. The bruises that marred her pale skin, the tremble in her voice when she begged for sanctuary—how could all of it be a lie?And yet…My wolf’s disapproval rumbled through me. Trust your instincts, Scarlett. You’ve always known what she is.My fists tightened, muscles coiled with tension as instincts whispered caution. They had betrayed me before, but something felt different this time. Nina’s apology wasn’t just words; it carried genuine remorse. Her tra
ScarlettThe packhouse dissolved into controlled chaos, medical staff rushing in, their footsteps echoing urgently through the hallways.Nina’s trembling body consumed my entire focus, her fragile form seeming to collapse inward, overwhelmed by whatever Jack had begun to reveal.“Out,” I commanded Jack, my voice a low growl that brooked no argument. “Now.”Jack retreated, his expression a mixture of something unreadable - guilt, perhaps? Calculation? I couldn’t quite place it. Alisha followed close behind him, casting a quick, inscrutable glance over her shoulder.The doctor, a middle-aged wolf with graying temples and kind eyes, approached Nina. His hands were gentle but professional as he began examining her. Her breathing remained ragged, shallow gasps that seemed more emotional than physical.“Luna,” he said softly, “perhaps we should move her to a more private space.”I nodded and gently picked up Nina, who felt light and fragile. A stark contrast of the sister I remembered from
ScarlettThe sun had barely risen when I felt Nina stir beside me. I hadn’t left her side all night, keeping vigil in the medical wing as she drifted between fitful sleep and silent tears. The morning light filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the sterile room.“You didn’t have to stay,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.“I wanted to.” I squeezed her hand gently. “And I’m not going anywhere.”A ghost of a smile crossed her face, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Those remained distant, haunted by memories I couldn’t erase. The urge to hunt down Lucas and his father burned in my chest, my wolf pacing restlessly beneath my skin.A soft knock interrupted my dark thoughts. Dr. Josh entered, his presence calming and professional.“Luna,” he nodded to me, then turned to Nina. “How are you feeling this morning?”Nina’s fingers tightened around mine. “I... I don’t know.”“That’s perfectly normal,” he assured her. “Your body has been through significant stress. I’d like to star
ScarlettThe silence after Alisha’s departure was deafening, her words pressing heavily on my chest. Alone in the dimly lit office, I allowed the storm inside me to brew. Doubt clawed at the edges of my resolve, but I shoved it away.I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself. Not now.A low growl escaped my lips as I turned to the map hanging on the wall, my eyes tracing the borders of my territory. My pack was my family, my responsibility. No one - Alpha Patrick, Lucas, or their damned spies - would threaten what I held dear.A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. This one was softer, less urgent.“Come in,” I called, my voice steady.Alisha reentered, her expression softer, but her tone still carried a note of warning. “Sister, I didn’t mean to challenge you earlier. I just…” She hesitated, then sighed. “You’re the strongest person I know, but even you can’t face this alone.”I folded my arms, my wolf bristling at the implication. “And what would you have me do? Sit idly by whi
Nina I waited until Scarlett’s footsteps faded before letting the trembling in my hands cease. The frightened, traumatized sister’s act dropped away like a discarded cloak, replaced by a smile that would have shocked my dear, protective sister to her core. Jack’s familiar scent reached me before he slipped through the medical wing’s window, moving with the silent grace that had made him such a valuable ally. “Ever the convincing actress,” he murmured, pulling me into his arms. I laughed softly against his chest. “You should have seen her face when I clutched her dress, begging her to believe me about the mate bond.” My fingers traced patterns on his shirt. “Our mighty Luna, so eager to protect her broken little sister.” “The same sister who watched her suffer years ago?” Jack’s voice held dark amusement. “Scarlett’s always been ruled by her heart. It makes her powerful, but oh so foolish.” “She actually stayed by my bedside all night.” I pulled back to meet his gaze, shaking my he
ScarlettThe argument echoing from the hallway was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me. I paced my quarters, my wolf restless and uneasy. Something felt off, but I couldn’t quite place it.Nina’s bruises, her trembling voice as she recounted Lucas’s cruelty—they had been enough to ignite a fire of fury and protectiveness within me.I had promised to keep her safe, no matter the cost. Yet, a nagging doubt lingered, a shadow in the back of my mind I couldn’t shake.David’s words replayed in my head: “We need to be cautious, Luna. This feels... staged.” His concern had infuriated me at the time, but now, alone in the quiet, it clung to me like a second skin.I stared out the window into the dark woods beyond, my mind racing. Nina’s safety had to come first. But as Luna, I couldn’t afford to let personal emotions cloud my judgment—no matter how much it hurt. If I was wrong, if David was right... the consequences could shatter everything.The next morning came too soon. Nina had
ScarlettThe silence that followed David’s words was suffocating. Nina’s sobs caught in her throat, transforming into a desperate, keening wail that seemed to vibrate through the very walls of the palace.“Jack killed Sarah?” I repeated, the words foreign and impossible on my tongue. “He killed her?”David’s expression remained impassive, a mask of professional detachment. “The wound suggests a wolf attack - specifically, a wolf claw mark. Sarah was killed last night.”Nina’s body shook violently. “No,” she whispered, then louder, “No! Jack would never—”“Silence,” I commanded, my wolf rising to the surface. The authority in my voice was absolute, cutting through Nina’s hysterics like a knife. She froze, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears.I turned to David. “Describe the wound.”His voice was clinical. “Deep, jagged marks consistent with wolf claws. Precise. Powerful. The kind of wound that speaks of intention, not random violence.”Nina’s face drained of color. “Last nig
Scarlett“Enough!”“Open the door,” Beta David demanded, his voice cutting through my previous instruction with cold authority. He disregarded my command entirely, his tone brooking no argument.The guards snapped to attention, swiftly opening the door. In an instant, he was inside the cell with Jack. A low, menacing growl erupted from his throat as his fists began to fall.The violence erupted swiftly, a flurry of motion that left me gasping. I stood in shock as David relentlessly struck Jack, each blow more vicious than the previous.David’s eyes blazed with uncontrolled fury, his fists striking with a savage, unrelenting rhythm. Rage consumed him completely, stripping away any semblance of self-control.Each violent blow was a raw expression of pent-up anger. Months of suppressed emotion exploded in a single, brutal moment. His movements were primal, beyond reason, driven by a fury that had been building beneath the surface, now finally unleashed without mercy.Terror gripped me, f
FinnSince my wolf couldn’t help, I didn’t hesitate. I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her trembling form.The moment our skin touched, a shock of energy jolted through me, but I held on.“Scarlett,” I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers. “Come back to me, darling.”Her body convulsed once, twice, then she went completely still.The glow in her eyes flickered.Then, she collapsed.I caught her just in time.Her body was limp, her breathing shallow. I could feel her heart pounding too fast beneath my palm.Panic gripped me. She is dying.“Shit,” I muttered, scooping her into my arms. I ignored the pain in my ribs as I sprinted toward the pack healer’s house.“Luke!” I barked the moment I burst through the doors. “Help her!”Luke, the Crescent Pack’s head healer, rushed forward immediately. He took one look at Scarlett, and his eyes darkened.“Lay her down, Alpha,” he said.I did, placing her on the cot as Luke began working immediately. His hands hovered over her, his brows
FinnThe early morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as I stood in the training grounds, watching my mate.Scarlett.She had come so far.When we first started training, she could barely hold her own against me. But now, she was a force to be reckoned with.Each strike she threw was sharper, her footwork more correct. She was pushing herself past exhaustion, beyond every limit her body screamed at her to stop at.And damn, if that didn’t make me proud.I watched her, my mate, the woman I loved, pour every ounce of herself into this fight.Her beautiful eyes shone with determination, and the sweat glistening on her skin only made her look fiercer.Oh my goddess, she is freaking hot right now.“Again,” I commanded, and she lunged at me.I sidestepped easily, my instincts kicking in before I even had to think. She was fast, but not fast enough. Not yet.“Faster, Scarlett.”She gritted her teeth, frustration clear in every fiber of her being. I could feel her an
ScarlettThe wind howled across the training grounds, carrying the scent of damp earth and sweat.My muscles screamed in protest, my breaths coming in desperate, ragged gasps, but I refused, refused, to stop.I had always been weak in the past, trapped, humiliated, cast aside. But not anymore. Never again.Finn’s voice filled the air as he shouted, “Again.”I swallowed down my exhaustion and lunged forward, aiming at him.He dodged with infuriating grace, but those deep blue eyes gleamed with something I craved more than air—approval.“Faster,” he commanded. “Faster.”I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. I threw another punch, pouring my rage and pain into it, but he easily caught my hand in his.In the blink of an eye, Finn flipped me, landing a crushing blow to my belly before throwing me to the merciless ground.A scream tore from my throat, raw and primal, as I clutched my middle.“Are you okay, love?” he asked as he hurried to my side. “Honey.”I clenched my teeth so hard I thou
ScarPain flared in my throat as I swallowed, every breath a reminder of his grip around my neck. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to keep eating.If I stopped now, he would see it as rebellion, and I wasn’t in the mood to suffer more of his wrath.Dickson watched me like a predator, his golden eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction.Pathetic.Bile rose in my throat, and I set the bowl down, my stomach twisting violently. I needed to think, to find a way out of this.Running wasn’t an option, not yet. He was too strong, and with his rogue warriors surrounding the place, I wouldn’t make it past the gates.But I wouldn’t be his captive forever.I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Satisfied?” I asked, a smirk plastered on my face.His lips curled into a sneer before he spoke. “I think I prefer you like this, obedient.”I clenched my fists. Obedient? If he only knew how badly I wanted to rip him apart.“Get some rest,” he continued, rising to his feet.“Okay.”Dickson chuckled, brus
Dickson“Scar needed a luxurious life if I wanted her to stay beside me. She would truly love me if I could make her happy.” The thought consumed me.I stood up to my feet, about to leave, when someone called for my attention, pulling me back from my swirling thoughts.“King, we saw you coming in with a woman. Who is she?” Curiosity and something darker—hunger?—laced the question.“My mate, your queen, and she is off-limits.” My voice carried a warning that silenced the room, the threat in my tone obvious.With this, I left, their whispers fading behind me like smoke.I went back into the room where she was being kept, the room we would be sharing together as a couple.My heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety, causing my hands to tremble as I walked down the corridor.I could still hear her screams as I approached. My hand was on the door handle when I quickly mind-linked my beta.“Henry, bring some food for the queen.”“Understood, sir.”I opened the door to enter, and it
Dickson“Yes,” I replied again before grabbing her shoulder, desperation making my grip tighter than intended.“Please bear with me. After all this, I promise to build you a mansion, no, a palace. But for now, please stay with me.” My voice cracked with weakness I’d never shown anyone before.“No!” she screamed, yanking my hand away with such force it staggered me. “I will never stay in a place like this.”“Scar—” I tried again, reaching for her, fear clawing at my insides.“Do not call me that!” she scowled, her eyes flashing with rage and betrayal. “You should have let me stay in my pack when you knew you had no place to call home.”She paused, tears streaming down her face as she continued, each drop taunting my soul. “You brought me here to make me suffer. How selfish of you. I hate them, but I hate you more. I fucking hate you, Dickson.”Each of her words sent a sharp pain inside me. Why was she talking like this? A cold, sickening dread spread through me. Was she regretting acce
DicksonI could still taste blood in my mouth. The sting of the former Beta’s punches throbbed in my jaw, but it was nothing compared to the satisfaction burning inside me.I had won.Not in the way I expected, my hands weren’t drenched in Lucas’s blood, and I hadn’t torn apart the wolves who had ruined my mate, but I had still won.That bastard of an Acting Alpha was humiliated.The pack he longed to rule didn’t even acknowledge him. The former Beta had dismissed him like an annoying pup.Lucas’s rage had been almost tangible, thick in the air like a storm waiting to break, but he was powerless.His pride had been stepped on by his friend’s father, and his weakness was laid bare. And that, more than anything, made my wolf purr in satisfaction.Scar’s fingers tightened slightly around my arm as we left, her touch grounding me. She was still shaking, but her eyes gleamed with something I had never seen before, revenge.She had stood her ground, unleashed her fury, and made Lucas taste
LucasHe smirked. “Really?” The contempt in his voice was unmistakable.I nodded quickly, desperation clawing at my throat. “Yes.”He turned to face Scar, a cruel amusement dancing in his eyes. “Did you hear what he said? What do you think about that, mate?”Mate! That familiar term of endearment never used for me sent waves of bitterness through my body, jealousy burning in my veins.“This is the best arrangement, Alpha Dickson,” I pressed on, fighting to keep my voice steady despite the fear threatening to consume me. “Consider it carefully. Scar doesn’t have feelings for you; her heart belongs only to me. She loves me.”“What makes you believe I could ever love you?” Scar’s voice cut through the air like ice, dripping with venom. My gaze shifted from him to her, and what I witnessed shattered something within me.Her eyes burned with revulsion, raw hatred emanating from her like heat. She despised me. No, I couldn’t accept this. A desperate hope clung to me. She must be pretending
LucasBefore I could fully process the implications, he was already outside. As I reached the door, my eyes fell upon a scene of pure horror, a sight that would change everything.My Scar.Rage consumed me as I watched Alpha Dickson caressing Scar’s hand. The tenderness in his eyes as he claimed what was rightfully mine ignited a primal fury within my chest.“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Alpha Dickson!” I thundered, channeling my Alpha tone, but he remained unmoved.My authority meant nothing to him. His eyes glimmered with joy as he gazed at Scar.“I have been waiting forever,” he murmured, his thumb tracing circles on her palm, each movement stoking my anger. “I thought the goddess had abandoned me, forgotten to grant me my better half. Yet here you are, such breathtaking beauty.”His fingers drifted to her face, utterly entranced by her. Why him? I should be the one beside Scar, not him.She is mine alone. Even in death, she could only belong to me.“Let go of her now!”