Turning eighteen was supposed to be the beginning of something powerful, the day my wolf would rise within me and transform my life. All my years as a runt—a frail, insignificant member of the pack—would end, and I’d finally find my place among them. But the only thing that changed this morning was that I woke up to the same empty silence inside, no wolf stirring, no strength or instincts awakening within me. Instead, I forced myself out of bed, threw on my usual worn-out leather jacket, and headed across town to the Sapphire Lounge, the exclusive club where I worked. It wasn’t excitingly attractive, but it paid what it could. I sat discreetly between two sleek buildings, the club was a dark, atmospheric den quiet mostly for the higher-ranking wolves who wanted a place to relax. When humans stumbled upon it by accident, they rarely stayed long, sensing something… predatory. Rick, the owner—a tough wolf with a bald head and a constant scowl—was waiting for me as I came through the
The pain struck hard, sharper than any blade. My chest felt like it was being peeled open, the searing ache cutting deep. Tears blurred my vision, slipping down my cheeks no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. Lisa noticed my distress and laughed, her amusement like salt in a wound. I tried to wipe the tears away, but they kept spilling over, relentlessly.“I-,” I managed to rasp, voice cracking with the weight of the moment. “I accept your rejection.”The bond snapped almost instantly. I saw Tyson’s face twist in pain—just for a second. He hid it quickly, but that flash was enough. Knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling the effects gave me a grim sense of satisfaction.Without another glance, I turned on my heels and ran out of the room, the need to escape overpowering. I didn’t stop until I reached the pack house and slipped into the narrow confines of my small, hidden room—a forgotten storage closet that I had quietly claimed for myself.It was a cramped space, so small that
The early morning sunlight streamed harshly through the cracks in the window, blinding me as I slowly opened my eyes. Every part of my body ached. My muscles protested as I pushed myself off the cold, unforgiving cement floor where I had collapsed last night, exhausted and tear-stained. I could feel the sticky trails left by dried tears on my cheeks, reminders of the sleepless night that had drained every ounce of strength out of me.I forced myself upright, though my knees wobbled and my head spun. I wanted nothing more than to stay hidden in my room, to bury myself in the covers and pretend the world didn’t exist. But I didn’t have that luxury. I needed to work—I needed the money. And even if I somehow managed to get out of work, I would have to come up with an excuse. I couldn’t tell them the truth…that Tyson had shattered me in every way possible.Gritting my teeth, I made my way to the bathroom. I grabbed a bucket, and a rag, and filled it with water, forcing myself to return to
I ran as if my life depended on it because, in many ways, it did. My lungs were on fire, each breath feeling like a jagged knife was carving its way down my throat. Branches lashed at my face, scratching my skin raw, but I barely felt it. My mind was on one overwhelming command: "run, just running".The mere thought of Tyson finding me sent another wave of adrenaline coursing through my veins. Tyson—the Alpha, the one I had once trusted, the one who now saw me as his favorite punching bag, his easy target. I could only imagine the kind of punishment he'd come up with for me if he caught me. His pride would be wounded, his rage unbearable. Running from Tyson was not just a physical act; it was rebellion, and he wouldn’t take it lightly.But the real horror lay not just in him. If the pack thought I’d fled because I had something to hide, they’d hound me for answers, strip me of whatever fragile peace I’d managed to carve out over the years. That nightmare kept my legs moving, driving m
Just as if something had come over them, the guards hurried to unlock my cell. One of them slipped his hand under my arm, lifting me a little too quickly. I barely had time to get my balance or adjust my shoe, so when my feet hit the ground, all my weight pressed directly on the bruised, raw skin of my heel, and I couldn’t help but wince.I didn’t expect anyone to notice, but apparently, my… mate did. He growled low, a sound that rumbled in the air and sent a chill through me."Did you hurt her?" he demanded, his eyes sharp on the guard, who immediately shook his head, looking nervous. “No, Alpha, we didn’t touch her—I swear.”My mate—still strange to think of him that way—glared at the guard, his gaze dark and intense. Then, without a word, he strode into the cell, sweeping me into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. I went stiff in shock, my whole body locked up, and I couldn’t seem to relax. He must have noticed, but I couldn’t meet his gaze; it was too clos
I stared at Ryker longer than I expected, struggling to process what he’d just said. In two minutes, he’d managed to tell me he didn’t want me yet intended to keep me here regardless. Trying to make sense of his reasoning made my head throb, and I had to fight the urge to beg him to reject me and put an end to this awkward pretense. “Why?” I finally blurted out, the word slipping past my defenses. Instant regret surged through me as his sharp gaze settled on mine, intense and unyielding, making me quickly look down at the tiled floor. I counted the tiles in silence, waiting for his response. “You showed up at my pack looking like you’d lost a fight, and as you mentioned, you don’t have a wolf—meaning you can’t heal yourself.” His voice was calm but deliberate. “Even if you weren’t my mate, I wouldn’t let you leave in that condition. It would be... cruel.” “I meant... why won’t you reject me?” He opened his mouth, closed it, and then finally said, “Because I don’t want to.” We
I couldn’t sleep all night. Tossing and turning, I lay in the massive bed that seemed too soft, too unfamiliar. Finally, I pulled the blankets to the floor, wrapping myself there, hoping it might feel closer to the small, rough bed I was used to. But even then, sleep stayed away as though I were in a race with it, one I was destined to lose. The night felt like a strange paradox—both dragging and fleeting. The stars hung for what seemed an eternity, but the first light of dawn felt like it arrived far too soon. And when it did, my stomach tightened, reminding me that today would be decisive. Whatever Ryker had planned for me would start to unfold. In the early morning silence, I heard footsteps stop outside my door. My heart pounded in my chest, and I didn’t dare breathe. The steps paused for a heartbeat too long, then retreated. Only after they faded completely did I let out the breath I’d been holding and scrambled back into the bed, desperately straightening the blankets on the
I stayed away from Ryker for the rest of the week. Well, I stayed away as much as I could, considering I was living under his roof and we crossed paths in every corridor. He was everywhere, watching me, making sure I didn’t slip away, even when I was alone. He never let me out of his sight, whether it was during meals when I moved about the house, or even when I tried to retreat to my room. He sat with me at the table, his gaze heavy and always on me, as if waiting for some misstep, for some sign that I might harm myself.A week. Seven long days were spent locked away in this strange place, and I still couldn’t tell if I was more terrified of Ryker or less than when I had first arrived. His silence about our bond, our connection, left my mind spinning. I didn’t know whether it was because he simply didn’t care or because he was too calculating to reveal his thoughts. I was too afraid to ask about it, and it hung between us like a looming storm, waiting to strike.A part of me—just a s
As soon as I crossed the threshold of the pack's protective walls, the façade I had carefully maintained all day shattered. My breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as I leaned against the cold, unyielding stone for support. I had thought dealing with Ryker would be the most challenging part of today, but I hadn't accounted for Tyson's presence.For years, I had forced him into the shadows of my mind, locking the memories away where they couldn't hurt me. I wasn’t still hung up on what he did—at least that’s what I told myself. I had fought tooth and nail to reclaim my life, to move forward. Yet seeing him again felt like being plunged into frigid water, the air snatched from my lungs, and no means to resurface.For a fleeting moment, the thought of calling off the ceremony crossed my mind. But the weight of my duty crushed that idea before it could take root. I couldn’t let two men—two ghosts of my past—derail the future of our kingdom. Still, understanding my responsibilities didn’t
I hadn’t seen Ryker again since that day. Two days had passed, and his absence lingered in my mind like an unanswered question. I tried to suppress my curiosity, but my family saw through me as they always did. Christine eventually let it slip that he was staying in the palace guesthouse.Knowing he was so close felt strange, almost suffocating. Just a short walk separated us, and the proximity unsettled me in ways I couldn’t explain. They say “out of sight, out of mind,” but whoever coined that phrase never had someone like Ryker looming just within reach. He was a storm cloud on my horizon, refusing to dissipate.Then there was the dress—my looming nightmare. The designers paraded sketch after sketch before me, yet none resonated. Each one felt lifeless, uninspired, and the indecision gnawed at me. They needed my approval by tomorrow, and I had nothing to give. The frustration weighed on me, a heavy stone tied to my every thought.The only solace I had was Audrey. Somehow, my little
“Christine, I need you to get her for me,” I said, my voice trembling as I struggled to calm my breathing.Christine’s brows furrowed, her arms crossing tightly over her chest as she gave me a sharp look. Her gaze was unreadable, but the tension in her posture screamed a mix of frustration, concern, and perhaps even a desire to smack some sense into me. She exhaled heavily, tilting her head slightly to glance past the pillar. I mirrored her movement, peering out into the garden where Ryker stood.He was animatedly speaking to Audrey, his deep voice carrying on the breeze. His stance was relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in the way his eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings like he was searching for something—or someone.I ducked back behind the pillar, pressing myself against the cool stone, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs. “Please,” I whispered desperately, my voice cracking. “Before he asks who her mother is and she mentions me. I can’t face him yet—I’m not ready
The preparations for the ceremony started immediately, overwhelming me like an unstoppable tidal wave. It was like being pulled into a whirlpool of constant activity—meetings, lessons, and expectations. Day after day, I was swept along, learning everything about how a crowned princess should behave, from the way I spoke to the way I walked. I was taught what I was allowed to say in public and, more importantly, what I wasn’t. There were so many rules, some obvious, some subtle, but they all pressed down on me, suffocating my sense of freedom.It was exhausting. Every night, I collapsed into bed with the hopes that the following day would be the last lesson, the last meeting, but each morning, I woke up to the realization that there was always more to be done. Audrey, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, was simply excited about the grand party that was to come. She noticed that I was busier than usual, but her world was filled with bright, simple joys, like dressing up and playi
Audrey Valentina Caine was born about seven months after I ran away from Ryker. The pregnancy came as a complete shock to me. I didn’t even know I was carrying a child, not until that very day when Christine found me in the bathroom, tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the discovery. I didn’t know what to do. The thought of raising a child alone paralyzed me with uncertainty.But despite my fears and the chaos I often felt, Christine was there for me in ways that no one else could be. And to my surprise, so was my mother. She had missed so much of my life, but now she was determined to make up for it by pouring all her love into Audrey. The little girl, as oblivious as she was to all the struggles around her, was adored. And I don’t think she even realized the magnitude of that love. Everyone in this grand palace was wrapped around her little finger, and she didn’t have to do a thing to earn it. I named her Audrey because the name felt right, and part of m
FOUR YEARS LATERThe crisp bite of the early morning air brushed against my exposed skin, sending a shiver that traced the length of my spine. I hadn't expected it to be this cold, especially not in August. It was too early for this kind of chill; I always thought it would come with September, with the sharpness of fall settling in. But here I was, wrapped in nothing but a sleeveless dress, feeling the wind bite through the thin fabric as though it were a warning.I pulled my arms closer to my sides in a weak attempt to shield myself from the growing cold, but it didn’t help much. My thoughts were far from the chill of the weather. Instead, they lingered on memories long buried, memories of Ryker. August was always the month that made me think of him, the month I ran, the month I left him behind. And yet, four years later, I couldn’t escape him. His face, his voice, the love and the pain... they lingered in the back of my mind, haunting me with every step I took away from the life I h
I sprinted, my legs burning with each step as I raced away from the office and back downstairs. My heart pounded in my chest, the rhythm erratic, as if it knew something I couldn’t grasp. The weight of the truth hung heavy in the air, thick like smoke, suffocating me with every breath. I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone what I had witnessed. My mouth felt dry, words trapped in my throat like a prisoner behind a wall. I couldn’t even speak them to myself—let alone to anyone else.The entire day felt like a blur. I forced myself to go through the motions, trying to appear composed, trying to act like everything was normal, but inside I was crumbling. My thoughts were a whirlwind, a storm of questions and doubts, but I couldn’t find the answers I was desperate for. Riley noticed. She asked me about the mating ceremony with an intensity that stung, but I couldn’t bring myself to shout the truth at her. The only thing I wanted in that moment was to escape, to return to my own bed, to s
The air was thick with unease the moment I stepped into the living room. My heart stumbled when I saw Damien sitting there, dressed to the nines in his usual immaculate style, talking casually with Eve as though this were the most natural thing in the world. The soft rustle of fabric and muted voices seemed to echo louder than they should have, and the tension clung to the room like an unwelcome guest.Ryker’s surprise mirrored my own. I caught his sharp glance and realized something was off. If Ryker hadn’t expected Damien’s presence, then Eve certainly hadn’t either. A chill crept up my spine as I pieced it together.Before I could decide what to do, I heard the familiar sound of Eve’s light footsteps skipping down the stairs, each step like a note in a song I knew by heart. Her carefree rhythm faltered as her gaze landed on Damien. She froze for a moment, then spun on her heel and retreated upstairs, her steps now hurried, almost frantic.I turned to Ryker, whose confusion was evid
I spent the remainder of my day in Ryker’s office. His quiet presence was a comfort, anchoring me in a way I hadn’t expected. The air between us was calm yet alive, like the steady rhythm of waves kissing the shore. While I poured over texts about the mating ceremony and began sketching vague plans for what I envisioned, Ryker worked at his desk, the scratch of his pen against paper and the occasional shuffling of documents punctuating the stillness.Every so often, I felt his eyes on me, their weight a quiet invitation to meet his gaze. When I did, he would smile—soft, warm, and completely disarming. It was a smile that reached into my chest and made my pulse flutter. At one such moment, his eyes caught mine, and there was a flicker of something unspoken, a question lingering on his lips. I was certain he was about to say something when the door burst open without so much as a knock.I didn’t have to look up to know it was Riley. Only she would dare enter Ryker’s sanctuary so brazenl