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Chapter 4

Penulis: Mandy B
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-01-24 13:05:01

ASHVIN

The first time I met Zahra-Rose, the girl my brother was so obsessed with, I stayed hidden, watching her from the shadows since. I had no idea why I couldn’t walk away, but something about her demanded my attention.

Her white, fair skin glowed under the room’s warm light, and even with her long, black hair pulled into a tight bun, there was an effortless grace about her. It wasn’t just her beauty. It was something deeper—something radiating from within.

Was it her smile? That smile seemed to light up the entire room, a smile so pure it felt like it carried no weight on this world. Or was it the way her warm, familiar eyes lingered on everyone she greeted, as though she genuinely saw them?

It was clear why Asael fell for her. And yet, that realization only made my stare linger longer than it should have.

I forced myself to look away. It wasn’t right to feel this way about my younger brother’s fiancée.

When we were introduced, her smile didn’t falter. It was the same one she gave everyone—kind and inviting. She reached for my outstretched hand, her grip surprisingly firm.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Alpha Ashvin,” she said, her cheeks tinged pink. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Her voice was soft, sincere, and for a moment, I forgot how many battles these hands of mine had fought. Her touch was different—untainted by the world’s cruelty.

I quickly withdrew, both my hand and the thoughts that dared to follow.

Everything seemed fine after that. I had convinced myself there was nothing to worry about until that night. The night she came to the club.

Under the dim, pulsing lights, I didn’t know it was her. She was just a woman moving with the music, and the pull between us was magnetic, undeniable. I had never felt something so raw, so consuming, as I did that night.

Then the light caught her face, and I froze.

Zahra-Rose.

The same woman who had haunted my dreams for the past two years now stood before me, no longer Asael’s fiancée but something far more dangerous.

Now, as I stood before her, I saw how much she had changed in just a few days. She looked thinner, her face drawn with worry. Losing her family had taken a heavy toll.

“Why…why do you want to see me?” Her voice trembled, and her sharp glare didn’t miss a beat.

It was clear she remembered the club. The kiss.

“I know what happened between us,” I said, keeping my face neutral. “I was doing a job. I didn’t know it was you. But you can’t keep reacting like this every time you see me.”

Her eyes widened, anger flashing in them, but she held her ground, taking a small step back.

“What were you doing there, Alpha Ashvin?” she demanded, her voice lowering. “Isn’t that—” She stopped, unable to finish, but the implication hung heavy in the air.

“I promised to help find your family,” I said firmly. “That’s all the help you’ll get from me. Nothing more.”

The words tasted bitter, but I needed to remind myself of my place. Whatever I had felt for her needed to die here and now. For two years, I had kept those feelings buried, and I intended to keep it that way. She was a little girl untainted by the woes that surrounded the world. I was the one who fought battles and killed as many enemies as needed.

Her face twisted with confusion, but I couldn’t let myself linger. I turned and walked away.

As I glanced back, I saw Asael standing with her, speaking softly. His voice seemed to ease her, and for the first time in days, I saw a small smile curve her lips. She was better suited for him. She always had been.

“Ashvin?”

My father’s voice pulled me back. I turned to where he sat, my beta Kai standing close beside him.

Kai whispered something to him, then stepped back as I approached.

“What did you say to him?” I mind-linked Kai, narrowing my eyes.

“You’ll find out soon,” Kai replied, his tone clipped.

“There’s something suspicious about the Darkeast pack,” my father began. “On the day of the attack, everyone we questioned gave the same story—that they were holding a grand party for their princess. It feels like a cover for whatever really happened to the Moonshine pack.”

Darkeast. Of course, they were my first suspects. They’d been desperate to merge with Moonshine’s territory for years, but Alpha Enzo had refused, even rejecting their offer to marry one of his daughters. That refusal would have enraged them.

Since Alpha Enzo has no son on his side, the darkeast people would have thought merging will make them the most powerful among the realms and he wasn't having that.

“It makes sense,” I said, my mind racing. “If their ambitions led to this, we need proof. The sooner we resolve this, the better.”

Kai nodded, already prepared to dig deeper. After exchanging a few more words, I walked away, my beta following close behind.

“You’ve had a tough week. Are you heading out to relax?” he asked knowingly.

I stopped, my gaze drifting back toward the courtyard. There she was again, smiling faintly as Asael stood beside her. Even after all she’d endured, there was still light in her eyes.

“She’s betrothed to your brother,” Kai reminded me, his voice low.

I tore my gaze away from her, my jaw tightening.

“They ended their engagement,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him.

Kai opened his mouth to argue, but I didn’t give him the chance. I walked away, forcing myself not to look back.

In no world would she ever be mine. She belonged to Asael. She always had. And that is exactly where she belongs, by his side and no way near mine.

“Keep telling yourself that,” my wolf, Zen, mocked.

But even as I pushed the thought away, I knew he was right.

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 5

    As the search for my mother and sisters continued, I tried to stay calm, pushing back the constant wave of worry threatening to drown me. But whenever I was alone, the tears would come, unrelenting, no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. How could I not worry? The people I loved most in the world were missing, and I had no idea if they were even alive.Seated among the remaining of my pack, the air around us was heavy with grief. Everyone here had lost someone, their parents, siblings, mates. The weight of our collective sorrow pressed down like a suffocating fog.“We can’t keep living in another pack’s territory when we have one of our own,” a voice broke through the silence. One of the older warriors stood, his tone firm as he addressed the group.I understood his frustration. Our pack had been decimated during the attack, our warriors killed, our homes burned. We weren’t strong enough to stand on our own, not yet. “I know,” I said, trying to reason with him, “but we need t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-24
  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 6

    I married Ashvin the next day.It was something I had never imagined happening in my life.Everything felt surreal as we stepped out of the grand celebration his pack had thrown for us. I kept pinching myself, expecting to wake up from this strange dream, but the sharp sting in my arm was a cruel reminder, that this was no dream. This was my reality now.I struggled to breathe, to swallow the lump in my throat, but it only seemed to grow heavier with every passing second.Sitting beside Ashvin in the car on our way to his home, my nerves were all over the place. I had no idea what I was doing. No idea what my future holds.All I knew was that this marriage was the best chance to save my people. Ashvin was someone I could trust, or at least, I hoped I could. His pack had promised to help find my mother and sisters. That was the only reason I agreed to this union.“Are you okay?”His voice startled me. I hadn’t expected him to speak, let alone ask about my well-being.I turned to him, m

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 7

    I woke up the next day, married.That word still felt foreign on my tongue. How would I ever get used to it?I climbed out of bed, stretching my sore limbs, and rushed to the bathroom to freshen up. It was still early, but I didn’t want to sleep in, not when I had no idea what was expected of me.Hours later, a knock on my door startled me. A voice informed me that breakfast was ready, and I hesitated before finally leaving my room.As I walked through the house, I couldn’t help but admire its beauty. Every corridor, every detailed design screamed wealth and power. I nearly got lost, and someone had to escort me downstairs.When I reached the dining hall, my breath hitched. A lavish breakfast covered the long dining table. My stomach grumbled in response, a reminder that my appetite had slowly been returning. That was a good sign, I supposed.Yet, as I stared at the food, my excitement dimmed. It reminded me of home, of mornings spent laughing with my mother and sisters, of Maya playi

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 8

    The next two days were intense, more than I had anticipated. I probably thought it was a little thing I would be learning, how foolish of me.The intense training I did pushed me beyond my limits, I worked, I learned, I sweat, and yet it never seemed to be enough. Luna Verena and the women who thought me were hell-bent on breaking me.I remember watching my mother care for our pack members, seeing how she taught every child and woman the little she had learned over the years.She is ever as soft spoken as I have known her to be, impacting wisdom without doing much, she was a natural at this and so is Luna Verena.And now, Luna Verena was doing the same for me, trying to impact the same wisdom and training me.Each day, I observed her settle disputes with wisdom and grace, passing judgment with a steady voice and an unwavering presence. It was admirable, yet overwhelming. Overwhelming because I cannot possibly be as good as both women are.I had never trained my mind to be Luna, never

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 9

    My heart pounded violently in my chest, my feet frozen in place as my eyes flickered through the darkened woods.What the hell am I doing here? And in my pink nightwear, no less?I tried to recall how I had ended up in the middle of the forest, but no matter how hard I strained my memory, I came up empty.“Your name is Zahra-Rose Drystan,” I murmured, trying to remember myself. Yes, that was my name. But that still didn’t explain why I was standing here, alone, trembling.Then I heard voices as they got closer.“She’s close. She couldn’t have gone far. When you find her, kill her. She’s the only one who can help her pack.”She? Who is she?Why am I hiding?I willed my legs to move, to run or to ask questions, but they wouldn’t budge.“What the hell?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.A branch snapped nearby.“Find her, she is nearby.” The order rang through the trees, followed by the sound of movement, branches rustling, leaves crunching underfoot.They were searching f

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 10

    ASHVIN HARVEY’S POVKai sat beside me as we listened to the endless complaints from the elders and the people as they grumbled about every minor inconvenience as if the world itself conspired against them. It was a good season for our pack. The grasses were flourishing, the seeds had begun germinating, and yet, they still found something to whine about.“I’ve heard you, Marcus,” I said, leaning back against my chair. “I’ll send some Omega farmers to look into your problem.”The old man nodded, smiling in satisfaction before bowing and rejoining the others.“Anyone else?” I asked, scanning the group. They exchanged glances, silently determining that they had nothing more to say. Good.I dismissed them, and one by one they filed out of the place. With their absence came silence.“They’re comfortable around you,” Kai remarked, standing and making his way to the table in front of me, casually leaning against it.He wasn’t wrong. Many of those men had trained me. I had pushed myself hard

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 11

    (ZAHRA-ROSE’S POV)According to the law of the Four Realms, any pack with a new leader must present them to the other packs, including their Luna. Which is why I am preparing for a two day journey to the DarkEast Pack. I would rather spend my days training than traveling, but in this, I have no choice.Ashvin is doing this not just for tradition but for my family. The DarkEast Pack is the primary suspect in their disappearance and we have to go there to know what is really happening. “Remember, no matter how much you don’t want to do something, you have no choice but to follow through. In doing so, the people will know that he leads you first and when he leads you first, that makes him a good leader,” Luna Verena reminded me as we prepared to leave.That was one of the first lessons she taught me. If I respect my husband and Alpha, others will follow suit.I glance at my reflection in the mirror, second-guessing my outfit. It’s simple yet elegant, a fitted, short-sleeved beige blous

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 12

    We arrived at DarkEast Pack late in the night. Alpha Deus Lennox, his Luna, Inara, their son, and future Alpha, Kairo Lennox, along with several elders, had been waiting for our arrival. When we arrived, they welcomed us with open arms.Luna Inara pulled me into a warm embrace.“You are so stunning,” she said, dragging her hands lightly down my arms, her sharp gaze never leaving mine.I thanked her politely as we all moved into the grand hall, where a lavish feast awaited us.Ashvin was already engaged in conversation with the other men, his expression calm yet composed as they welcomed him. He played his part well, relaxed, and amiable. There was nothing about their demeanor that seemed suspicious. Their expressions were open, warm, and even excited to host us. If they were truly involved in my family’s disappearance, they hid it well.“I heard what happened to your family…” Luna Inara said softly as we sat close to each other. “It’s truly tragic. The last time I saw your father, h

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  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 24

    ZAHRA-ROSE POVFor days, all I could think about was what my father told me. It haunted me, lingering in the back of my mind no matter how much I tried to push it away. His words followed me like a shadow, whispering through every quiet moment, reminding me of exactly what he expected me to do.Now, with the way things are unfolding in the pack, I know I should concentrate more , but I can’t. My fathers word follow me everywhere, demanding I do exactly what he wanted me to.“I heard the Alpha wants to start rebuilding the MoonBright pack again,” I heard someone say. I walked closer to the door, pressing my ear against it so I could hear properly.“Yes, I heard too,” another voice responded. “He should abandon that pack. The Luna is already useless enough; he shouldn’t waste resources somewhere with no progress.”There was a sound of agreement from the other person. My chest tightened, and anger surged through me, burning hot and deep. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed open the door

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 23

    ASHVIN HARVEY’S POVI was back in the human world, the place I swore I would never return to. But these past few weeks have pushed me to the edge. If I didn’t find a way to release some of this tension, I might lose control.I waited in the back room, adjusting the outfit I had changed into. Every instinct screamed at me to walk away, to abandon this whole thing and pretend I had never returned back here. But I couldn’t.“What are you doing?” Zen’s voice echoed in my head, laced with judgment and irritation. He didn’t like this either, but I hadn’t let him talk me out of it.It had been a whole week, an entire week, since I had last seen Zahra-Rose. My mother had informed me that Zahra was training hard to become Luna, even though she was the first without a wolf. People were talking about her, disrespecting her. The first time I heard her name in the pack’s gossip, I punished those involved. Rank didn’t matter, I sent them to the farm to work, humbling them. But the more I punished

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 22

    I don’t know how or where the rumor all started, but suddenly, I could hear the whispers, the hushed, cutting words people spoke about me throughout the pack.I tried to ignore it at first, convincing myself it was temporary. That it would pass. But I was wrong. The whispers grew louder, sharp and biting, and this time they didn’t bother hiding it anymore.I thought escaping to the restroom during training would help, but even there, they followed me, making it impossible to cut them off from the hurt I was feeling. “Can you believe that? What exactly is she going to do for us? Sure, she has a little strength, but it’s nothing compared to a wolf’s. Imagine her facing a strong opponent, she would be overthrown in seconds, and we would all be in danger.” One of them that followed me to the restroom said to the others. I clenched my jaw. I didn’t want the words to get to me. I’ve heard worse before. But the sting behind my eyes and the tightness in my throat told a different story.Th

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 21

    “Are you sure about this?” Kai’s voice cut through the dark tension hanging between us. His golden eyes narrowed, suspicion curling in his tone.“Why, Kai?” I clapped a hand on his shoulder, letting my claws briefly press against his jacket. “We’ve been doing this for a very long time.”Kai’s brow furrowed. “Yeah, but you weren’t married the last time you pulled something like this. Remember what happened back then? You met her, and….”“It’s not like I’m meeting her there tonight.” My voice hardened. “She’ll be asleep, and I already told her I have things to handle. I need this, Kai, you know I don’t take orders from you.”Kai’s hands rose in surrender as he stepped back, his mouth twisting into a grimace. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”I didn’t answer. The truth was, I needed to get away. The weight of my pack, the battles, the constant tension, it was all suffocating. I couldn’t breathe beneath it anymore. I needed to clear my head, to find some shred of peace.But as I wa

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 20

    For the next two days, Zahra-Rose stayed by my side, helping me in every way she could to speed up my recovery, which I appreciated. But the fact that my wound was healing so slowly made no sense. It should have started healing the moment the silver blade was pulled from my side, not lingering painfully for two days.After examining me, the pack physician delivered the answer I didn’t want to hear.“Wolfsbane was added to the silver metal used on you,” he said, his tone grim. I accepted his explanation with a tight nod and dismissed him.Now, I sit with Kai, trying to make sense of everything that happened that day, and how he knew about the plan they had in the arena. “What about what I asked of you?” I say as we finally find ourselves alone. Zahra-Rose has gone to retrieve something from my mother.Kai’s eyes held mine. “Let me show you.”I rise and follow him out the back of the house, heading toward the second house we rarely use. Hidden beneath it is a basement I had built years

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 19

    ASHVIN HARVEY’S POV (THE FIGHT)A challenge for a fight?? it was laughable, especially coming from Kairo whose head cannot carry his body.Immediately he came out with that bullshit, I knew something was wrong. He had a plan, his father had a plan, and they were all out to get me.But he should have known that I was wiser and would never allow anyone to taunt me. And even if you taunt me, I will never be shaken, and yet he challenged me.“What will you do?” Kai asked me through the mind-link as we sat in the open field.My eyes moved to Zahra-Rose. I could see the fear in her eyes, the boldness she had speaking out, and I knew just for her sake, I needed to fight.“If you trust me enough, you will know he has no strength in him and that we have been blessed by the Moon Goddess,” Zen said, ever willing to show off.A smile rippled across my face as I looked at Kai.“Go and find out what he is planning, and be quick about it.”He left the arena, and within some minutes, as father and s

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 18

    I have been restless all day. The entire pack was on edge, the tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. Maybe it was the lack of news, the heavy silence stretching too long. The fight should have been over by now, yet no word had reached us. The tension was eating me alive, and I was forgetting how to breathe.“This is all my fault,” I choked out, my voice breaking.Luna Verena held me, her arms steady and warm around my shaking form. She had been holding me like this since I got back to the packhouse, refusing to let me slip into the dark pit of my thoughts.“You mustn’t blame yourself, child,” she said softly, her hand smoothing over my hair. “Ashvin knows exactly what he’s doing. He wouldn’t have agreed to this challenge if he wasn’t sure of the outcome.”But I didn’t believe her. I couldn’t believe her.I should have stopped him from going to that pack. I should have convinced him not to engage with them, not to play into Kairo’s twisted games. And worst of all, I had let

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 17

    Suddenly, his father, Alpha Deus, appeared from nowhere, the trail of Elders following behind him like dark wraiths.“Let us add a twist to this fight,” he announced, stepping to the edge of the arena. His gaze swept over the gathered wolves, predatory and sharp. He wasn’t just addressing the fighters, he was addressing everyone.What is the meaning of this? And what twist is he talking about now?I glanced at Ashvin, who sat there with his arms crossed, looking completely unbothered. A faint smile played on his lips as he watched Alpha Deus, who seemed far too pleased with himself.“And what is this twist?” someone called out when the Alpha let the silence drag too long.Deus’s gaze darkened, and his frown deepened as he spoke. His voice echoed with the weight of dominance, holding the attention of every wolf present.“We all know the concern of the two packs regarding the future of MoonBright. Their alpha left no heir, and it is foolish to allow the next leader to be chosen based on

  • The Stripper Alpha   Chapter 16

    ZAHRA-ROSE’S POVWhatever they have planned, I’m calling it bullshit.I’m sitting on a chair as some she-wolves apply makeup to my face. Ugh, makeup. I hated it so much.Whenever my sister, Haelyn, who’s obsessed with this stuff, would practice on my face or whatever the hell she claimed she was doing, it always itched. I would end up wiping it off before anything could come of it.But now I can't. Not unless I wanted to defy the future Alpha’s orders, which would cause a scene. And somehow, I knew I needed to obey whatever they were planning, without asking questions.I don’t know how I knew, but when I turned to look at Ashvin as he spoke with Kairo, I could hear the words in his eyes.“Don’t fight them. Don’t worry about anything, I’m always here.”His lips never moved, but I heard the words as clearly as if he had spoken them.Goddess, I’m clearly crazier than I care to admit.So, to keep him from worrying, I sit still as they paint my face, hating every swipe of the brush and eve

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