Acknowledgments To my dear readers, Thank you for taking the time to dive into this story. Your support, enthusiasm, and love for these characters mean the world to me. Whether you laughed, cried, or felt inspired by their journey, it’s your connection to this tale that makes writing so rewarding. I am deeply grateful for each and every one of you. A special thanks to Melani Maré-Botha, for being such an amazing reader. Your encouragement, insights, and unwavering support have been a true gift to me. Thank you for being such a shining star in this community.
NinaThe scent of him clung to my clothes as I hurried through the darkened corridors, my heart thundering against my ribs. Pine and earth... and something I couldn’t pin my hand on.Something that made my wolf curl her lip in disgust. Each step echoed against the stone floors, a rhythmic reminder of my performance in Jack’s cell.I wiped away the fake tears, a smirk replacing the concerned expression I’d worn moments ago. Every step away from him felt like a victory.My plan was working perfectly, like pieces on a chessboard moving exactly where I needed them.“You did well,” my wolf purred, preening with satisfaction. “He believed every word from you.”“I know he will.”“He believes you’re staying to bond with your sister.” Red’s lips curved into a dark smile. “Such a fool.”Of course he did. Men like Jack were so easily manipulated by a few tears and trembling lips.The fool actually believed I was truly his mate. He believed I wanted him as a mate and that I wanted to stay behind t
FinnThe small gasp that escaped Scarlett’s lips sent a wave of satisfaction through me. Even after all this year, I could still surprise her.My fingers remained gentle but firm around her wrist as I pulled her closer, letting her catch my scent – the crisp scent of my cologne and coffee from endless business meetings still clinging to my clothes.“Miss me, Luna?” I whispered, my voice rough with emotion after months apart.The silver glow of the moonlight filtered through her window, illuminating her face with a mix of shock and joy.“Finn, is that you?” Her free hand reached up to touch my face, fingers trembling slightly as they traced my jawline. “How... when did you get back?”I caught her exploring hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “About an hour ago. The company’s quarterly review finally wrapped up.”My wolf, Storm, stirred within me, desperate to reconnect with Ray after our long separation. Through our mate bond, I could feel Ray’s answering call, her presence warm and f
Finn Scarlett turned in my arms, pressing her forehead to mine. “I love you,” she breathed, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest. “I love you too.” “Ah,” she screamed as my finger gently made its way inside her, beginning to pleasure her. She moaned with delight as my movements started, slow and deliberate, before gradually increasing in pressure and speed. Her moans grew louder and more insistent, filling the room with her desire. “Yes,” she gasped, her hips rising to meet my touch. “Right there.” I smirked, continuing, savoring every sound she made. I could feel her body tightening on the brink of release. But just as she was about to let go, I withdrew my finger and dropped to my knees. Her eyes fluttered open, surprise and frustration flashing across her face as a whimper escaped her lips. She reached out, tangling her fingers in my hair as I leaned forward and began to pleasure her with my mouth. Scarlett’s moans grew softer, yet more intense as my tongue explored her,
ScarlettI woke to an empty bed, the sheets still warm from where Finn had lain. The sound of running water from the bathroom told me where he’d gone. I stretched, feeling the pleasant ache in my muscles.My wolf, Ray, purred contentedly. “Our mate is home.”“Yes,” I agreed, smiling despite the weight of responsibilities that pressed at the edges of my mind. Having Finn back made everything feel more manageable, even if only temporarily.The bathroom door opened, and Finn emerged with a towel wrapped around his waist, water droplets still clinging to his chest. My breath caught. No matter how many times I saw him, he still had this effect on me.“Morning, love,” he said, leaning down to kiss me. I caught the scent of his soap, clean and masculine.“I thought you might have left for pack business already,” I admitted, sitting up and letting the sheets pool around my waist.His eyes darkened with lust as they traced over my exposed skin. “Not without saying goodbye, honey.” He sat on th
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
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
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
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
ScarlettI turned to leave, but before I could make it to the door, a weak voice called out to me, stopping me in my tracks.“Scarlett…”The sound of my name from his lips sent a shiver down my spine. I froze, my hand hovering over the doorknob, unable to move forward or turn back.“Who… who are you leaving him for?” he rasped, his voice barely above a whisper, broken and raw with emotion.The world seemed to freeze in that moment. Time stood still as his question weighed heavily on my chest, making it difficult to breathe.Despite everything I had done; the violence, the threats against his mate; David still couldn’t accept my betrayal.His loyalty to Finn ran so deep that even now, bloodied and beaten, he clung to the belief that I couldn’t truly abandon my mate.I looked at David, at the man who had always stood by Finn’s side through every hardship, and something inside me cracked. This was the moment when my bridges would truly burn, when I would have to leave them both behind.I
Scarlett“Sister, are you sure you are going to kill him?”It was her. It was a familiar and beloved voice that I could never forget, not in a thousand lifetimes.The sound froze me in my tracks, sending chills down my spine.I turned slowly, my heart hammering against my ribs, knowing exactly who stood behind me even before my eyes confirmed it.It was my sister, the one person who could see through my lies.“Alisha,” I whispered her name, the sound barely escaping my trembling lips. “Why are you here?”Her eyes, so like my own, searched my face, confusion and hurt swimming in their depths. “You want to kill my mate, sister?” she asked, stepping toward me with outstretched hands. I stumbled backward, my legs quivering beneath me, but I forced myself to stand firm.“Why?" Her voice trembled, on the verge of tears, cracking with emotion. The sound cut through me, adding to the pain in my already broken heart.Every fiber of my being screamed to reach for her, to pull her into my arms a
ScarlettFive days. Five agonizing days since the Alpha King’s proposal had shattered my world.The pressure of his ultimatum pressed against my chest like a stone, making each breath a struggle.How could I possibly tell my people? The words stuck in my throat whenever I tried to form them. And Finn; my sweet, loyal Finn, how would he look at me if he knew the terrible price I had to pay for his life?The thought consumed me, crawling through my veins, stealing sleep from my nights and peace from my days. My beloved mate was dying, his strength fading with each passing hour. And I alone held the power to save him—at a cost that tore my heart in two.I paced the bedroom floor until my feet ached, the floorboards creaking beneath my restless steps. The Alpha King’s face haunted my thoughts—his cold smile, those piercing eyes that made my skin crawl.He wasn’t someone I could challenge or defy. The mere thought of confronting him made my hands tremble.Even if I mustered all my courage
DicksonThere isn’t a single soul here. Not one. A place that was once bustling with rogues and outcasts has fallen deathly silent, mutated into a graveyard of memories and broken ambitions.The emptiness mocks me as I stand amid the ruins of my former glory. The bitter taste of regret floods my mouth as my thoughts drift to Scarlett—that woman who had seemed so insignificant, so easily controlled.If I had known she would become someone like this; this force of nature, this omen of destruction - I would have crushed her rebellion before it could take root.I would have held her down, broken her will, forced her to submit to my every command.By now, I would have been crowned Alpha King, with packs bowing before me instead of lying here, surrounded by the ashes of my mate and my dreams.“Who are you?” someone suddenly asked.My head snaps up, instincts instantly alert. I hadn’t detected anyone approaching—not a scent, not a sound, not even the subtle shift in air that usually betrays
Dickson.“How DARE you!” Scar’s voice shattered the silence, her amber eyes flashing with such venomous rage. She spat her words, each one aiming directly at my heart.Her beautiful face contorted with disgust, transforming the woman I loved into someone I barely recognized. “If I had known you were such a pathetic, spineless FAILURE, do you honestly believe I would have bound myself to you? You worthless bastard.”“Scar, please, just listen—” My desperate plea withered under her furious glare.“SHUT UP!” she snarled. “I thought you were something special- something magnificent. A true Alpha with the strength to crush that goddamn pack beneath your heel.”Her lips curled back, revealing her canines. “But I was catastrophically wrong. You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind excuses.”She paused, drawing a ragged breath, the contempt rolling off her in waves. “I lie awake at night wondering how moon goddess could have made such a grievous error in allowing you to become an Alpha.” Her
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