"It is good to see you, Alpha Jake and Luna Kelly," Adam stated as he exited the villa and approached them. He did not expect to see Garrett's parents, as they had not visited him since he exiled himself. "Oh Adam! You look well!" Luna Kelly said it excitedly, causing Adam to smile. He missed her cheery disposition. "Thank you, Luna. I would love to catch up over coffee; however, you are not permitted to be here without permission," Adam said. He had decided that this conversation needed to be in person versus over the intercom due to how volatile Jack could be when he was denied what he wanted, as well as the fact that he still had respect for them even though he no longer was loyal to them. "I paid for this villa. I can go where I please," Alpha Jack responded. "Not here; you can't. This is Alpha Garrett's home. It is my job that his sanctuary remains his sanctuary," Adam countered. Alpha Jake scoffed and said, "Alpha of what? That boy has no pack." "Regardless. He is s
"Absolutely not!" Garrett snapped, slamming his hands down on his desk as he stood up. Jack just watched him unamused from his seat. "You can't keep pulling these power plays. I'm not a pup anymore. I won't be controlled by your whims and demands." Jack's face hardened, lines etched deeper by the weight of expectation. "You think you're so grown up, Garrett, but you still don't understand the responsibilities that come with our bloodline. This isn't about control; it's about preserving our pack and ensuring its future." Garrett's eyes flared with anger as he shot back, "You've always used that excuse, Dad. But it's a convenient way to justify your domineering behavior. You've never cared about what I want or who I am as an individual." Jack's voice turned cold, his eyes piercing through Garrett's defenses. "I've always done what's best for the pack, including pushing you to embrace your role. You're my eldest son, and it's your duty to lead." Garrett's voice grew weary, tinge
Garrett stood on the grand balcony of his luxurious villa, his emotions in tumult as he watched Kelly and Lily talking in the garden. Lily seemed so happy speaking with his mother. He was pleased that she was having a wonderful time with her as he had no doubt his mother would be kind to Lily. 'I told you we need to just challenge him,' Berric said, still agitated by the conversation. 'I do not want to lead his pack of unruly monsters. I don't want to live like that,' Garrett responded. His relationship with his father had always been strained, and the idea of being a part of the pack held little appeal for him now. Kelly's soft voice filled Garrett's mind which immediately caused the muscles in his body to relax. 'Garrett, my son. Are you spying?' Kelly spoke softly, her voice tinged with amusement. 'No, I'm just clearing my head,' Garrett responded. 'I am glad that your conversation with your father was mostly civil as your home hasn't been burned down,' Kelly respond
Brandy strolled through the high-end boutique, her two friends trailing behind her. They were laughing and browsing the racks of designer clothing, oblivious to the surprise that awaited them. As they turned a corner, Brandy's eyes widened, and she froze in her tracks. "Lily? That couldn't be you," Brandy said. Lily turned to face Brandy and her once pleasant expression dropped to a slight frown. There, amidst the luxurious display of designer dresses, stood Lily, her half-sister. Brandy's mind raced with confusion and disbelief. What was Lily doing here? She certainly didn't have the money to shop in such an expensive store. With a smug smile, Brandy approached Lily, flanked by her friends who were eagerly awaiting the drama about to unfold. "Hello Brandy," Lily said, struggling to fake a smile. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my dear big sister," Brandy sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "What brings you to this exclusive boutique? Did you take a wrong turn?
"Brandy, I've run the tests," Dr. Bennett began, his voice laced with professional detachment. "I'm sorry to inform you that you're not pregnant." Brandy stared at Dr. Bennett in utter disbelief, her mind overwhelmed with a chaotic mix of panic and dismay. This couldn't be right. She felt the movement. "You are wrong. I know I am pregnant," Brandy protested, her voice trembling with a potent blend of anger and desperation. The sterile scent of the doctor's office permeated the air, threatening to make her sick. The pack doctor, a grizzled man named Dr. Lucas Bennett, hid his grin from behind his clipboard as he pretended to read her medical chart. He enjoyed witnessing Brandy's turmoil, believing that she deserved this after the troubles she and her mother had caused him and his daughter. "Brandy, I assure you the results are accurate," Dr. Bennett insisted, gently placing his clipboard aside. "Run the test again. I know what I felt," Brandy demanded, her anger intensifyin
"This is exactly why I was against the rejection ceremony!" Kelly exclaimed at Jake. "That woman and her daughter are awful!" Their gazes fixed on the television screen as the news anchor reported on a recent incident involving Brandy verbally assaulting Lily. The words that Brandy hurled at Lily were harsh and Kelly couldn't fathom why anyone would treat another person with such cruelty. "Before long our packs are going to look like trash tv." "It is normal for two eligible she-wolves to argue and bicker until one is established as Luna," Jake responded, unphased by the news segment. "This is nothing compared to what I have seen. I have seen sisters maim, poison each other just to ensure their place as Luna. Luckily, this just seems like childish bickering." "Words lead to actions," Kelly said as she and her sister never did any of this. Her sister was happy for her to be Luna. "Then, so be it. The Grey Blood pack needs a strong Luna," Jake said again, dismissing her. "But,
"This shouldn't be this hard!" Lily exclaimed, frustration lacing her voice as she sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor. Her brows furrowed in deep concentration as she searched the internet for the 'perfect gifts for your fiancé'. The articles were more click bait than anything else. She knew that Garrett would be giving her gifts, as there were so many under the tree currently. Everything she found was either too basic or something that Garrett already had. It was two days before Christmas, and Lily was running out of time and options. Dina, her mischievous and sarcastic wolf, couldn't resist chiming in. 'You could just sleep with him,' she teased, her voice filled with amusement. Lily rolled her eyes and huffed in irritation at Dina. 'Shut up. You're not helping,' she retorted, trying to suppress a smile. Dina chuckled. 'Hey, it's a valid option,' she insisted before going dormant again. Lily's mind drifted to Adam. He was Garrett's advisor and Beta. He had always been
"This is unacceptable! This can not happen again," Garrett growled as he rubbed his face wearily and stood up from his desk. Garrett and Adam had spent the entire Christmas Eve hunched over their desks, diligently working to fix the reports left behind by an incompetent employee. Garrett had noticed the errors by chance and spent hours trying to get the right figures. Adam only joined in when he came to his office after Garrett was not returning his calls or responding through the pack link. "You could have let me deal with this mess. You could've been at home with Lily," Adam yawned from his place on the loveseat in the corner of his office. "It wouldn't be fair to you either," Garrett said. "We need to fire whoever did these reports. This could've been disastrous." "You already fired him," "What?" "Ben, the accountant. You already fired him." Garrett reached for the edge of the desk but stopped himself. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Garrett wanted to thr
"No, I know who you are," Amdis said firmly. "You are my mate. I would recognize you anywhere." The sincerity in his words made her heart skip a beat. Kasia's heart thundered in her chest, its pulse thudding through her veins as if attempting to escape her very being. The room itself seemed to press in on her from all sides, suffocating her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. The crackle of thunder from outside caused her to jump in surprise. Her mind reeled as she struggled to process his claim. How could this be? Alpha King Ethan was her mate; there was no doubt in her mind about that. Panic bubbled up inside her, and she fought to maintain control over her emotions. "I keep telling you that you're wrong. You have me confused with someone else. I don't know how many times I must tell you this," she said firmly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "My mate is Alpha King Ethan, not you." The mere mention of Ethan's name caused Amdis' features to contort into a frown
Kasia awoke with a start, her heart pounding. Her body felt cocooned in silk, the fabric clinging to her like an unwelcome lover. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, memories of Amdis, the vampire who had taken her away, flooded back. She glanced down at herself, noticing for the first time that she wore nothing but a sheer camisole. Anger flared within her, and she clenched her fists, cursing silently. "Who does he think he is?" Kasia muttered under her breath as she threw off the silk sheets and slid out of bed. For a moment, she considered tearing the offensive garment from her body, but practicality won out. She needed to find a way out of this place, and she couldn't do that naked. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings. Kasia's instincts kicked in, and she moved cautiously towards the window, scanning the room for any potential threats. As her eyes adjusted to the fading light, she realized tha
'Go back there and rip her throat out!' Deva snarled. 'No, he made his decision. We will not fight over him,' Kasia responded as she continued walking away. How could he have done this to her? She should've known better. This was all just part of the plan. He just wanted her close because she is a blessed blood. That's all it was. "Kasia, stop!" Lily said, grabbing her wrist. "Calm down. It's not what you think it is." "I saw what I saw. He was with that b****! I know what I saw," Kasia growled. "That's not what I saw," Lily responded, causing Kasia to squint at her. "What do you mean that's not what you saw? He was humping Aimee," Kasia retorted. "Yes, but when I first saw them, she looked a lot like you," Lily explained. "That…that doesn't make any sense," Kasia said. "How could Aimee have gotten to him so fast? We had just seen her. I don't know. I think something else is going on," Lily argued. "It doesn't matter," Kasia replied, her voice strained. She tried to
'You didn't have to be so mean,' Kasia scolded Deva. 'And he didn't have to have females all over him like he doesn't have a mate for WEEKS,' Deva growled back. Kasia watched as Ethan walked away and sighed. She regretted being coy with him. Perhaps he would have been able to tell her what he needed to say before he got pulled away. The mood was ruined, and Kasia didn't feel like dancing anymore. She moved away from the stage where the live music was playing. "This is only temporary," Lily said, surprising Kasia as she looped arms with her. "Let's get something to eat. Have you ever had fairy pastries before?" "That's a thing?!" Kasia asked, causing Lily to laugh. Lily and Kasia sampled mouthwatering dishes at one of the many food stalls. The scent of spiced meats and vegetables filled the air, mingling with laughter and chatter from the crowd. Kasia's hazel eyes twinkled with delight as she savored a bite of grilled meat skewer, not caring what she was eating because it was
The sun blazed high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the city as the Summer Solstice festival commenced. Colorful banners and streamers adorned the buildings, while stalls lined the bustling streets, offering food, games, and trinkets to the celebrating crowd. Laughter and lively music filled the air, setting a jovial atmosphere that reached every corner of the city. At the heart of it all, Ethan scanned the festive scene before him. "Relax, Ethan," Garrett encouraged with a knowing smile. "This isn't something you haven't hosted before." Ethan let out a strained chuckle, doing his best to maintain a calm facade. "Easier said than done," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Kasia, who had been avoiding him for days. The uncertainty gnawed at him. "You're still worrying about Kasia, aren't you? Lily says she has been super busy with Kasia to get her prepared for today. She's not avoiding you on purpose," Garrett stated. "She
"Are you sure about telling him now before finding out anything else?" As they neared the door, Lana asked nervously. "We haven't even done any research on the paperwork." "Positive," Janet replied, her voice steady. "We need to tell Alpha Ethan what we found immediately, so we can figure out our next moves." Deanna nodded in agreement as they stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. With a deep breath, Lana knocked firmly, and after a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Ethan seated behind his desk and the pack doctor, Brian, with him. "Come in," Ethan said calmly. "I am happy to see that we didn't have casualties." "Thanks to Lana. She was right about those traps," Deanna said as she entered the room, followed by Janet and Lana. "We have a report on the base we found." "Go on," Ethan prompted. "What did you find out?" "Not much. The base was pretty much destroyed," Deanna answered. "What do you mean?" Ethan asked. "It's not just us that have a problem with th
The moon cast an eerie glow on the ground as Deanna, Janet, Lana, and a few warriors made their way through the dense forest. The air was thick with tension, and Lana led them with quiet determination. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she focused on the task at hand. "Remember," she whispered to the others, "the closer we get to the hunters' base, the more traps there'll be. Stay alert." An impatient warrior, his face contorted in frustration, grumbled under his breath. He'd grown tired of following Lana's slow pace, and he decided to speed forward. Lana's hazel eyes flashed a warning, and she called out to him. "Don't! You don't know where the traps are." But her words fell on deaf ears. Just as the warrior was about to step into a well-hidden pit filled with sharp spikes, Lana lunged at him, pushing him aside. In doing so, her arm grazed one of the silver-tipped spikes, and she winced, silver oozing from the wound. "Idiot!" Lana hissed as she clutched her injured arm. "You could
Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore." "Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny. "Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?" Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it." "About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color—black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation. Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of make
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup