The more I set this up the more I get excited to see what's going to happen.
MILA“Gabe.”My heart raced as he looked at me and I saw the semblance of the boy I once loved. He looked just as he always did–confident, handsome, and utterly oblivious to the turmoil he’d left in his wake. I steeled myself, forcing a calm expression as he turned to Tyler.“We’re having a conversation here, Gruggs,” Tyler said, stepping in between us. I rolled my eyes at his antics. Grew up my ass. I thought as I walked around him.“Actually, we were finished, Alpha Tyler,” I said, hoping he could hear the finality in my voice. “If you have any other queries you can direct them to my manager, Camila.”“But…”“Gabe, may we have a moment?” I asked before turning to Tyler. “Alone.”Tyler looked shocked before recovering and clearing his throat. “Maybe you could point the way to your manager.”I pointed to a crowded area where Camila was surrounded by editors, reporters, and other admirers. Tyler looked between us again before turning on his heels. I waited a few minutes before turning t
I didn’t waste time, leaving the party with Jenna as Camila stayed back and answered questions about my sudden disappearance. The run there felt like a blur, my thoughts racing as fast as Rayne ran. My hands trembled as I placed my dad’s ring into the keyhole. A series of mechanical clicks followed, and the sound of metal shifting made me step back. The slabs moved, revealing a hidden house. I turned to see that Jenna had finally caught up, and Alex tagged along.“What in the Transformers is this?” Alex muttered, wide-eyed.“I don’t know, but that was cool,” I replied.Drawn to the front door, I cautiously grabbed the handle, half-expecting some kind of booby trap. What the heck was in the house? Why were my parents’ rings the key? Who wrote on my mom’s grave? The handle felt cool in my hand, and as it glowed softly, the door swung open on its own. Stepping into the dark interior, the house seemed to come alive. Lights flickered on, illuminating a spacious living area. The open floor p
ARII stood in the middle of my fashion studio, surrounded by fabric and sketches of my latest designs. It’s been a week since Mila’s fashion show and it was all people were talking about. Even at MoonCrest, a pack notoriously behind the times, word of her stupid show had spread. So I had to focus, bring myself back into the conversation before my father noticed. I was going over the final details of my new collection when the sound of the door opening grabbed my attention. I assumed it was my assistant with the coffee I’d ordered.“Mirabella, I ordered that coffee five minutes ago,” I said. “Why are you late?” “Sorry Luna Arianna,” Mirabella said, placing the coffee on my desk. “Amber requested a few things as well.”I groaned internally. I hated the fact that my sister was working alongside me. My father had essentially decreed it the moment Amber got her idiotic followers to buy my stepmother’s health supplements. Whatever she made from that sale skyrocketed my father’s company up
TYLERThe dining room was buzzing with chatter of pack members, the clinking of silverware, and the rich aroma of a feast. We were celebrating the success of the January Release. Though it was successful, we still had a long way to go to get back on the right foot. I sat at the head of the table, Gabe, Ari, and Noah on my right, and my parents on the left. Gabe, as always, wore a calm expression, while I was sitting there anxious. Dinners like these often came with a side of high expectations and pointed conversations.Halfway through the dinner, an Omega delivered a neatly folded newspaper to my dad, Alpha Troy. He took it, opening it with curiosity. As he scanned the pages, a smile crept across his face.“Well, well,” Alpha Troy said, his voice filled with interest. “It seems like Mila’s fashion show was a huge success. It’s all anyone is talking about.”My heart skipped a beat at the mention of Mila. Reuniting with her had been a shock and something I actually enjoyed. It had been a
MILA“Mila, this place looks amazing,” Laura gushed as I walked into the new headquarters of our operation. It had only taken three hours to bring everything over from the orphanage to the house in the woods. The transformation was astonishing: the once-empty space was now buzzing with energy and purpose. I gathered everyone around the table in the living room that was covered with fashion sketches, mood boards, and other things in case someone came looking. I placed the board that mapped out the plan we had for everyone.“Alright,” I said, my voice steady with determination. “Let’s go over what everyone is doing.”Laura placed the touchscreen laptop in the middle of the table and projections displayed in front of us. “This is an outline of both MoonCrest and Grand Mountain packhouses and offices,” Laura said, pointing to the different areas of the outline. “We have the tech to eavesdrop if necessary but we have to get inside.”“I’m sure I can get a meeting with both,” I said, glanci
MILAThis would have been the perfect time to have a decoy I thought as I smiled and waved at Tyler and his new woman. I have never seen someone clinged to another the way this woman was and Tyler’s face was definitely a cry for help. Help I didn’t want to give. The closer they got the more Tyler’s face changed from desperation to admiration. I wasn’t all that surprised. Camile picked out a cute ensemble today. She needed to be in charge of everything and it felt good being dressed since I do most of it when I’m working. Today she put me in a thin-knit turtleneck under an oversized boyfriend button-down, a leather miniskirt paired with tights, thigh-length boots. This was a season for layers and by the look on Tyler’s face, he was taking off each one with his eyes. This wasn’t good I thought looking down at the pills in my purse.“Emilia. Fancy seeing you here.”“Alpha Tyler, I would say it’s a pleasure but you know,” I replied, forcing a polite smile. There was a quiet moment as the
GABEI heard a crash from inside the office and instinctively stood in front of Noah. Mirabella scrambled out of the office, clothes and hair disheveled. I reached out to keep her from falling on the ground and she jumped away from me.“Mirabella, what’s going on?” I asked, helping her to a seat.She was about to say something when she looked behind me. I turned to see the concerned look on my son’s face and went to him.“Hey, it’s okay buddy,” I said, embracing him. He was never a fan of loud noises. “How about you stay out here with Mirabella? She can show you how to play those cool games on my phone, okay?”I ushered him towards Mirabella who gave me a sympathetic look. I knew that meant Arianna was in a “do not engage” mood, but I wasn’t that kind of partner. If she was in pain and I could help, I would always lend a hand. I cautiously opened the door and saw Arianna pacing near her desk, phone pressed to her ear.“I don’t care if she was more famous than the Kardashian sisters,” s
MILAAfter what felt like an eternity of waiting, I was finally granted access to the packgrounds and led to the packhouse. Even though I didn’t have many memories from before the accident, this place felt strangely familiar. The moment I crossed the threshold, I sensed a pull deep within me that I couldn’t quite describe. Even Rayne commented on it.“It’s not like a mate’s bond but more spiritual,” she remarked as I pulled up to the packhouse.The packhouse stood majestically at the edge of the dense forest, an imposing structure blending rustic charm with modern elegance. Its exterior was constructed from large, rough-hewn logs, giving it a sturdy, timeless appearance. Stone chimneys rose from the roof, which was a mix of wooden shingles and metal accents. The sprawling building had multiple wings, each with large, panoramic windows that offered views of the surrounding wilderness. Ivy climbed the walls, and flower boxes filled with vibrant blooms adorned the windowsills, softening t
MILA “Open your eyes!” Gabe opened his eyes and looked around the rooftop of the orphanage. The rain blurred the lights from the packhouse in the distance, casting a hazy glow over the rooftop, and for a second, it felt like we were kids again–hiding up here, pretending the world wasn’t as cruel as we knew it to be. “Wow, this place is really coming along,” Gabe said, walking through the rows of flowers. “She would’ve loved this, you know, if she was still here.” Great. Mood killer. I thought, trying to think of something soothing to say. I sighed, watching Gabe’s fingers trail over the petals, his touch softer than I’d ever seen. “She would’ve loved this,” he repeated, quieter this time, as if speaking more to himself than to me. I shifted on my feet. Even with the umbrella, the dampness of my clothes stuck uncomfortably to my skin. What was I supposed to say? That she was in a better place? That everything happens for a reason? Gabe would see through that in a second. Instead,
MILAI looked up at the sound of my name, my heart lurching at the unexpected voice.“Gabe?”He stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable, but his presence filled the room like a shadow creeping in.Why didn’t I notice him earlier? I wondered.He took a step forward, slow and deliberate, as if each movement was weighed down by something unseen. My pulse quickened.“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his voice low, suspicious.I straightened, stepping around the large oak desk to face him fully. I couldn’t let him see how rattled I was, how close I’d been to finding something–anything–that could help Laura’s case. Even though she couldn’t remember what had happened that night, she had told me she was trying to record everything. But her phone was missing, and I had a strong feeling it wasn’t just lost.I needed to find it before anyone else did.“I could ask you the same thing,” I said, stalling for time. I forced my voice to stay steady, to sound indifferent, but my fingers t
GABEThe sound of laughter and quiet chatter drifted from the other room, a cruel contrast to the weight pressing down on my chest. Hundreds of pack members from all over showed up for my father’s funeral, their hushed conversations and forced condolences mixing with the steady patter of rain against the windows.I knew he was a well-liked man, but damn—I hadn’t expected this many people. The sheer number made the already stifling atmosphere feel even more suffocating.Luckily, my mother had taken care of everything, handling the arrangements with her usual poised efficiency. She even managed to get Tyler temporarily released for the service, a feat that shouldn’t have surprised me, yet did.“Don’t worry, sweetie,” my mother said after speaking with one of the councilmen. “Everything is going to be cleared up soon.”I let the words wash over me, too numb to dissect their meaning. Instead, I focused on the business, temporarily handing Alpha Gregory control of the CEO position. He had
MILAIt was only a few minutes. That’s how long it took us to get from the orphanage to the packhouse. The grounds were eerily quiet despite the flurry of movement around us–guards murmuring orders, medical personnel working swiftly, and the distant wail of someone mourning. My stomach twisted as I took a step forward, my heart hammering against my ribs.We were stopped by the gates as Gabe spoke to the guards. I was too busy looking around, searching desperately for any sign of Laura. My heart was pounding, my breath ragged as I reached for my phone and dialed Camila.“Where’s Laura?” I asked as soon as she picked up.“Brian says her phone is still in Emily’s office,” Camila answered, her voice faltering. “Jenna and Alex are the way. They're bringing someone out on a stretcher, Mila.”Her voice broke and I nearly dropped my phone.No, no fucking way. “Gabe…” I said, barely a whisper.He looked at me, then followed my gaze. A stretcher was being wheeled out of the house with Arianna
LAURAI pressed my back against the cold stone wall of the packhouse, clutching the hacking device in my hand like it was the holy grail.Fuck. Why is this so scary?I took a moment to calm myself.No turning back, Laurie. You can do this.I wasn’t just a hacker. No, I was a field agent. A spy. A legend in the making. And… caught if I don’t stop talking to myself and get a move on. Just think like Mila.Crouching low, I scurried toward the back door, the one I personally disabled the security cameras for. Did it count as cheating if I was the one who helped Gabe set up most of these security measures in the first place? No. Absolutely not. It was called working smarter, not harder.I carefully turned the knob and slipped inside, holding my breath as I closed the door behind me. Step one: complete.Step two: don’t get caught.I tiptoed down the dimly lit hallway, dodging the occasional patrol or house worker. The packhouse wasn’t exactly Fort Knox, but Emily was paranoid enough to make
MILAMy hand was still pressed to Gabe’s chest. The fireworks still crackled overhead, but Gabe’s steady grip on my arms anchored me, his voice a distant hum cutting through the overwhelming noise.“You’re okay,” he murmured. “Focus on me.”I forced myself to nod, clinging to his presence. I hated this–feeling weak, feeling vulnerable–but the night had unraveled far beyond what I had prepared for. Francesca was probably dead. Amber was definitely dead. And Arianna…My gaze snapped to where I had seen Arianna last.“She’s gone,” Gabe said, following my gaze.Of course, she was. Just like with Randall, she always knew when to slip away before the damage fully settled. My stomach turned at everything that had happened. The system breach. Emily’s and Arianna’s coordinated attack leading to two deaths. What else could’ve gone wrong?Then I remembered what Amber said. They threatened my father if Gabe…I pushed off Gabe’s support, standing even as my knees wobbled. “I need to go. You can’t
GABEThe control room was of course locked. I had tried warning the others that Arianna and my mother were up to no good. I just wished I’d figured out what they were planning before it was too late. The moment Brian failed to hack the system and shut everything down, I didn’t hesitate. I ran straight here.With a swift, brutal kick, the door burst open.The room was empty.Whoever had played that video had already fled.Grinding my teeth, I rushed to the controls, shutting down the feed as fast as I could. Every screen. Every angle. But it was too late. The screams from the other room were evident. The damage was done. Fuck!“Alpha Gabe?”Camila ran into the room just as I wiped the last screen. My jaw was tight, my hands clenched around the console.“Is that all of them?” she asked.I did one final sweep before giving her a sharp nod.“Why didn’t you warn us earlier?” The anger rolling off her was palpable, and I didn’t blame her.“I knew something was going to happen–I just didn’t
MILAEverything started out great. Until it wasn’t. It all happened so fast. First, the speech. I stepped onto the stage, ignoring the confident look on Arianna’s face. “This collection isn’t just about fashion," I announced. "It’s about the celebration of freedom. The freedom to take up space, to embrace every curve, every edge, every part of yourself without apology. For too long, we’ve been told to hide–to shrink, to fit into boxes that were never meant for us. But not anymore.”I gestured toward the models as they stepped forward, their confidence radiating with every stride. "Summer is about feeling light, unburdened, alive. Not weighed down by expectations or secrets we’ve been too afraid to let go of. This collection is about owning your truth–wearing it boldly, beautifully, without fear."Second, the show. The crowd erupted in applause as the models strutted forward, showcasing designs tailored to flatter and empower. Camila queued up the video of men and women wearing my cl
TYLERA text from some hacker had me following Amira and Lena down the hall into one of the rooms. I knew something was weird about that photographer. This text just proved it. They spent some time inside before leaving, the door was slightly ajar. Sloppy. Either they were careless, or they didn’t think anyone would question them being here.I stepped inside, eyes scanning the monitors that displayed the cameras covering the event. Nothing immediately stood out–until I saw a folder labeled Emilia.My stomach clenched as I reached for it. Flipping it open, I expected to see outtakes from the shoot. Instead, I found something worse—secrets. Photos that had nothing to do with modeling and everything to do with blackmail.The first image stopped me cold. Francesca, wrapped around an infamous therapist to the elites. His name alone was scandalous, tied to more than a few high-profile breakdowns. And beneath the photos, a mention of a video. My pulse hammered.Before I could flip through th