The past few weeks had been nothing short of a dream Daniella never dared to hope for. She and Dalton had started seeing each other more often, their meetings gradually shifting from coincidental encounters to planned outings. At first she was wary at first. Her heart had known only pain for so long, it was strange to let someone in. But Dalton—he was patient, understanding, and he never pushed her beyond what she was ready for. Instead, he remained steadfast by her side, giving her space to heal, but never letting her feel alone.He had a way of making everything feel easy—like she wasn’t the woman who had been heartbroken, abandoned, and forced to rebuild herself from the ground up. Instead, he made her feel like a woman who deserved to be cherished.From cozy dinners at quiet restaurants to spontaneous coffee runs where he’d tease her about her obsession with vanilla lattes, their time together had become the highlight of Daniella’s days. Sophie adored him too, clinging to him eve
The moment Liam and Matilda entered their chambers after the Luna ceremony, Liam's jaw clenched in irritation. The evening had been meant to solidify their leadership before the pack, to inspire confidence in the future under their rule. Instead, Matilda had turned it into a spectacle of vanity and arrogance.Matilda, still in her extravagant gown, lounged on the velvet chaise, her lips pursed in a pout. She turned to face Liam, eyes filled with indignation."I can't believe you did that to me!" Matilda whined, her voice sharp and petulant. "In front of everyone! You snatched the mic away like I was some fool who didn't know how to speak. You embarrassed me, Liam!" She stomped her foot, her face flushed with indignant rage.Liam exhaled slowly, his patience hanging by a thread. He turned to face her fully, his jaw tight, eyes dark with frustration. "You embarrassed yourself, Matilda," he said, voice low and firm. "Do you even hear yourself? Calling our people ‘servants’? Laughing at t
The journey back from the omega camp was made in uncomfortable silence. Liam sat stiffly, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He had never felt so frustrated in his life. Matilda, on the other hand, lounged in her seat, inspecting her nails with disinterest, as if she had merely endured a boring luncheon rather than displayed a disgraceful lack of leadership.As soon as the car pulled up to the packhouse, Matilda swung the door open and stepped out with an exaggerated sigh. "Finally," she drawled, stretching as if she had been through a physically exhausting ordeal. "That was utterly horrendous."Liam slammed his door shut, fists tightening at his sides. "Horrendous?" he echoed, his voice dangerously low. "You didn’t even step inside. You stood there, sneering at them like they were beneath you."Matilda turned to face him, her expression impassive. "They are beneath me, Liam," she said, as if stating the obvious. "I am Luna and the daughter of the Alpha of Range pack. My presence w
The elders of Hollow Pack gathered slowly in the grand council chamber. A few paused by the long table to pour themselves tea from the silver pot placed there, while others settled into their seats with the weariness of those who had seen too much drama in too little time."Another meeting? So soon?" Elder Miriam muttered as she adjusted her shawl. She took a seat with a slow sigh. "I swear, if this is another incident involving our dear Luna Matilda, I might actually consider retiring."Elder Jonas chuckled, taking the seat beside her. "I second that. Last week it was her screaming at the kitchen staff because the caviar was on the wrong toast. Before that, she stormed out of training grounds because someone called her 'Miss' instead of 'Luna.'"Elder Ruth snorted as she shuffled in with her cane. "You forgot the flower incident. The one where she threw a tantrum because the omegas didn’t decorate her chamber with blue orchids.""Blue orchids in spring?" Elder Thomas asked, settling
Mariam gave a warm nod. “May she bring you strength and clarity, Beta.”But then her gaze narrowed slightly, and she tilted her head. “And where is her pack from, dear? Surely not from any of our neighboring alliances. We’d have heard the talk.”The smile on his lips faltered.Adam hesitated for a beat, the smile on his lips faltering."She... she’s not from any pack. She’s human."Silence.Dead silence.A ripple of surprise moved through the elders. Some leaned back in shock, others exchanged uncertain glances."Human?" Elder Corin echoed. "You mean she's not turned yet?"Adam shook his head. "No. She's fully human. I met her on a business trip to Texas a year ago. It was... unexpected. I didn’t recognize the bond at first, but... over time, it became undeniable."Reuben exchanged glances with Mariam. “A human mate for a Beta is... unusual,” he said cautiously.“It’s not just unusual,” Caleb said. “It’s risky. Humans are vulnerable. In times of conflict, she becomes a target.”Elder T
After the meeting with the elders, Beta Adam returned straight to the pack house. As he stepped through the wide front doors, the scent of roasted chicken and fresh bread hit him, mingled with the faint chatter and laughter echoing down the hallway.He barely made it past the common room before a voice called out.“Beta Adam!” one of the pack teenagers shouted, bounding toward him.Adam turned just in time to catch a soccer ball being lobbed in his direction. He caught it easily with one hand, smirking. “Still trying to take me down, huh?”Another teen popped up behind the first. “You promised you'd help us plan the training routes for the tournament!”“And stay for dinner!” a girl added quickly, already tugging at his jacket sleeve. “Mira made that spicy stew you like.”Adam chuckled, loosening his tie with a shake of his head. “You lot don’t give up, do you?”“Nope,” they chimed together, grinning.He gave in with a sigh that wasn’t entirely reluctant. “Fine. Dinner. But just dinner
FLASHBACK TWO YEARS AGOHis mind wandered back, two years ago, to the trip he had never wanted to take."Come on, Adam," Alpha Liam had said, tossing a manila folder onto his desk. "You’re the only one who can finalize this deal. You’ve got the charm, the brains, and the patience I clearly lack. Texas isn’t going to bite."Adam had groaned, already buried under a pile of logistics for the upcoming winter solstice gathering. "You’re the Alpha. Just flash your scary face and sign the contract."Liam had smirked. "Exactly why I’m not going."So Adam had gone. Begrudgingly. He'd flown out to Austin, spent the afternoon checking into a sleek downtown hotel, and prepared himself for what he assumed would be a mind-numbing dinner with a client who collected rare books and spoke in long-winded metaphors.That evening, dressed in a tailored navy blazer and nursing a dull headache, Adam had wandered from the hotel early, looking to kill time before dinner. The air was warm, the sun dipping lazi
He smiled after he ended the call with Sandra, his heart filled with an unspoken joy at how everything had unfolded. The quiet hum of contentment settled over him like a warm blanket, his chest rising and falling with a rare sense of peace. After months of delicate conversations, cautiously hoping, and silent prayers to the Moon Goddess, things were finally aligning. Sandra would get to meet his people—his world, his family, the place that shaped the man he had become. And in turn, they would meet her, the woman who held his heart so gently yet so firmly, as if she’d always known how to carry it. He let out a breath, slow and steady, the corners of his mouth lifting again in a smile that wouldn’t leave. His parents had not objected either—a fact that did not surprise him. He had never truly feared their disapproval. They had always trusted his judgment, had always known that he didn’t offer his heart lightly. Their quiet acceptance had been another affirmation, a thread of reassurance
The cell door creaked open with a groan that echoed through the narrow corridor, the iron hinges protesting the movement. Arya stepped out, her heeled boots clicking sharply against the damp stone floor. Her posture was elegant, commanding—her chin tilted ever so slightly upwards in that familiar way that made her seem like royalty in a place that reeked of rot and fear.She turned to the guards, her lips curling into a tight smile.“Lock the cell,” she ordered coolly without glancing back. “I don’t want any accidents.”The guards nodded silently and pushed the thick iron door shut with a deep metallic clang. One of them turned the key with a rough twist, and the deadbolt snapped into place with finality. Arya stood still for a moment, watching them with feigned patience, her hands clasped lightly behind her back.“The trial is scheduled, correct?” Arya asked in a silk-smooth tone, as if she were inquiring about afternoon tea, not the brutal torment of another living being.“Yes, my
“Arya…” Elizabeth’s voice rang out, quiet but clear, halting Arya’s retreat.Arya stilled, her hand on the door’s iron handle. “What?”Elizabeth swallowed hard, her voice cracking beneath the weight of pain and disbelief. “Why?”Arya paused mid-step. Her fingers curled around the keys at her hip. She did not turn.“Why what?” Arya asked, her voice smooth and clipped, though it carried an edge.“Why go to such desperate measures to get rid of us?” Elizabeth’s voice trembled with hurt and confusion. “Do you hate us that much? Why pretend? Why go so far? Was all of it a lie?”Arya stood still, her back to the bars. For a moment, Elizabeth thought she might walk away, might ignore the question entirely. But then Arya turned slowly, her brown eyes glowing faintly in the dim torchlight.There was a sneer on her face, cruel and cold, but beneath it, Elizabeth saw something else—bitterness, long-nurtured pain, and something dangerously close to heartbreak.“You really want to know?” Arya aske
The damp chill of the underground cell gnawed through Elizabeth’s thin, torn tunic, and the stench of mold and decay lingered in the air like a curse that refused to be lifted.Chains rattled faintly with her every movement, and little Habibah lay curled in her mother’s lap, her breath warm against Elizabeth’s bruised skin. Elizabeth’s fingers ran slowly through her daughter’s tangled curls, each strand a small comfort against the storm of fear in her chest. For a brief, aching moment, there was silence. Suddenly, the silence broke. The sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor—slow, deliberate, merciless. Elizabeth stiffened, her hand tightening around Habibah. The child whimpered.A cruel laugh drifted through the air, low and mocking, bouncing off the cold walls like a specter.“No,” Elizabeth whispered, eyes lifting toward the cell bars. “Please, not again.”The shadows moved, shaped themselves into a familiar figure. A woman stepped into the dim torchlight, flanked by three
Elizabeth sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, her back against the heavy, fortified wall of the secret chamber. “Will Papa really come back soon?” Habibah whispered for what felt like the tenth time, her voice barely a breath.Elizabeth gave a small, reassuring nod. “Your father said to stay put. He’ll come for us when it’s safe. We just have to trust him.”Habibah bit her lip, glancing nervously at the heavy steel door that kept them hidden from the chaos outside. The chamber had been built centuries ago as a refuge, and it was nearly impenetrable, soundproof, and sealed tight. Until—A sound broke the heavy silence — the soft, unmistakable creak of footsteps approaching.Elizabeth stiffened immediately. She pressed her hand gently to Habibah’s arm, signaling her to stay silent. Both of them leaned in, hearts pounding so hard it was almost deafening in their own ears.The door handle shifted, moving slightly.Habibah's breathing quickened, and Elizabeth gripped her hand tightl
Three years had passed since little Habibah was birthed and welcomed into the Emerald Pack. In those years, she had blossomed like a rare flower, her laughter ringing like bells across the pack grounds. The pack loved her fiercely — not only because she was the Alpha’s daughter, but because there was something radiant about her, she had a bright and untamed spirit with the gentleness of her mother, Elizabeth, and the fire of her father, Czar.Elizabeth, her mother, watched her every day with quiet awe. Sometimes, she would run her fingers through Habibah’s dark curls and wonder how such a miracle had come into their lives after all the pain they had endured.Czar, the Alpha, was no different. He had vowed since the day Habibah was conceived and born that he would protect her with everything he had—even if it cost him his life.But these were troubled times.The werewolf territories were embroiled in an endless war — pack against pack, hunters against wolves, betrayal seeping into once
Elizabeth basked in the glow of an expectant mother, she could not be more thankful for the peace, joy, and love that found her. She and Alpha Czar counted the days till the birth of their child, until word arrived that the Willow Creek Pack — an ally under Emerald's protection — had been attacked, the news shattered the pack's peace, especially that of Elizabeth. Alpha Czar knew his position and wasted no time. Without hesitation, he assembled his warriors; his vow to all allied packs must be fulfilled no matter the cost or consequences. "Under my watch," he had sworn, "no friend shall fall alone."Elizabeth, heavy with child and only weeks from her due date, had begged him to stay. But duty was a jealous, unyielding master. Alpha Czar kissed Elizabeth's forehead, lingering there a little longer than usual, his hand pressed over her swollen belly. His voice, low and steady as he made her a promise, “I’ll be back before you know it, my love. You and our little one — you’re my world
Czar's parents, welcomed Elizabeth with open arms. Their trust in their son's judgment was unwavering. “He’s never made a decision that endangered this pack,” he told the council once. “If he sees a Luna in her, then so do I.”The majority of the pack mirrored this sentiment, embracing Elizabeth as one of their own.However, not all shared this enthusiasm. A few elders from the high council murmured amongst themselves. They saw her lineage—or lack thereof—as a threat to tradition. A Luna should come from a bloodline of power, they argued. Not from nowhere.“We do not doubt your leadership, Alpha,” Elder Harran had said, rising to speak. “But a Luna must come from strength. Her background is unknown. How can we be certain she is the right choice?”Czar had risen slowly, his frame imposing, his voice calm but razor-edged."Have I ever led this pack into ruin?" he asked, locking eyes with each elder."No, Alpha," they replied in quiet unison."Have I not fought, bled, and sacrificed to k
The forest had always whispered ancient secrets, but Elizabeth had never expected to be part of one. She’d only wanted to explore some of the old trails beyond the marked boundaries. But somehow, she’d wandered too far, drawn in by the haunting beauty of the wild and the unearthly quiet. Trees loomed like sentinels, and the shadows stretched deeper than they should have. Before she knew it, a group of imposing men had surrounded her.They moved with eerie grace and frightening precision, their eyes glowing with something primal. She hadn’t even had time to scream before she was bound and blindfolded, the cold roughness of rope scraping her skin.When the blindfold was finally removed, she found herself in a cold stone cell deep within a prison under the Emerald Pack's stronghold.****************That was the first time Alpha Czar laid eyes on her.He was there for a routine inspection, flanked by two of his guards. His towering figure filled the hallway, his black coat whipping behin
ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO Many, many years ago, before the moon ever looked kindly on the Emerald Pack, before it bore the name that would inspire awe across the territories, it had another name — one spoken only in hushed tones by the old and the haunted. Once, it was a place of shadows and fear, ruled by a tyrant whose reign had withered every shred of hope from the hearts of its people. His name had long since been erased from the histories, not out of ignorance, but out of deliberate intent. The pack had chosen to forget.This alpha, cruel and insatiable in his thirst for power, ran the pack with an iron fist. He saw his members not as family, but as tools — to be used, to be discarded, to be punished. Families lived in fear, mothers whispered warnings to their children, and warriors bore scars not only from outside battles, but from within. The woods that now stood tall and proud were then filled with silent dread.But change, as it often does, came from the unlikeliest of places.He h