RaelynnAfter I was dressed, I headed downstairs to meet up with Ashley. She was already waiting for me by the entrance to the pack dining hall, her usual playful smirk firmly in place.“Good morning, sunshine,” she teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “How was your night?”I blushed, knowing exactly what she was hinting at. “It was fine,” I said quickly, brushing past her. “Come on, let’s grab breakfast.”“Oh, no, no, no,” Ashley said, falling into step beside me. “You’re not getting off that easily. You had a date with a mystery man last night and now you’re being all coy about it? Come on, Rae, spill!”I rolled my eyes playfully but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. “The date went well,” I admitted, keeping it vague. “But… something was off this morning.”Ashley arched a brow. “Off? Like how?”I bit my lip, wondering how much I should say. “I don’t know… He just seemed distant, like he was keeping something from me.”Ashley waved her hand dismissively. “You’re p
Raelynn The insistent ringing of my phone shattered the quiet cocoon of sleep I had wrapped myself in. My eyelids fluttered open, the light from the bedside lamp casting a dull glow across the room. I groaned as I reached over to the nightstand, fumbling for the device, before glancing at the screen.Alexis.I sighed and hesitated for a split second before answering the call.“Hello?” My voice was thick with grogginess.“Raelynn, are you still sleeping?” Alexis's voice came through the phone, sharp and urgent. “We’re leaving. Get yourself together.”I sat up with a start, the sleep fogging my brain finally dissipating as her words sank in. My gaze flickered to the clock on the wall. 6:00 PM. I had been asleep for longer than I thought. My heart skipped a beat…had I missed anything important? Had Lorenzo tried to reach me? I scrambled for my phone again, checking for messages, but there were none from him.“Wait, leaving? Already?” I mumbled, still groggy, while scanning the room a
RaelynnI stood in the middle of my room, staring at the piles of suitcases stacked against the wall. This was it…the day I would be returning to campus. The excitement of reuniting with my friends mixed with the bittersweet feeling of leaving behind what had been my home for the past few months.Staying with Valentine and Alexis this summer has been a rollercoaster of emotion, and I was glad to return to the normalcy of my dorm room at school.I glanced around the room one last time to make sure I hadn’t left anything behind. The dresser drawers were empty, and my bed was stripped of its sheets. The curtains billowed slightly as the morning breeze drifted through the open window. It felt like one chapter of my life was ending, and a new one was just about to begin.I took a deep breath, closed my suitcase, and zipped it shut."Raelynn?" Alexis' honeyed voice floated in from the doorway.I turned to see her standing there with Valentine beside her, both of them smiling warmly, thoug
RaelynnI woke up to the soft sunlight peeking through the blinds, gently illuminating the familiar surroundings of my dorm room. For a moment, I was disoriented, forgetting where I was. But as I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and looked around, the memories flooded back in: I was back at school, with Alison and Ashley, in our cozy little shared space. It was both comforting and surreal to be here again after all the chaos.Sitting up in bed, I stretched my arms overhead, letting out a contented sigh. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I thought about what the day might bring. I slipped out of bed and padded over to the bathroom, brushing my teeth while humming to myself. I felt a surge of excitement…today was going to be good, a fresh start after everything.When I opened the bathroom door, I was greeted by a groggy Alison standing outside, arms folded across her chest and her eyes half-shut. Her rose gold hair was a tousled mess, and her expression was one of mi
RaelynnAs we navigated through the crowd of students, our arms filled with registration forms, the bustling atmosphere around us momentarily disappeared when we suddenly ran into Xavier. His tall figure loomed over us, and his presence…always commanding…immediately drew the attention of everyone nearby. His eyes, however, were locked solely on Ashley. The intensity in his gaze was unmistakable, and even the usually confident Ashley faltered under it."Ashley, we need to talk," Xavier said firmly, his voice low but carrying a serious edge that cut through the surrounding noise. His expression was unreadable, but the tension between them was palpable. My heart sank a little at the sight of them together, and I couldn’t help but feel concerned.Ashley, who had been laughing with us just moments before, suddenly went quiet. Her smile faltered, and a brief shadow crossed her face before she masked it with a practiced indifference. She glanced at me and Alison, as if searching for reas
RaelynnThe evening sun had barely dipped below the horizon when I woke to a frantic pounding at my door. Startled, I jolted upright, heart hammering in my chest. My hand flew to my chin, where I found a slick trail of drool. Gross. I wiped it away with a sigh and blinked the drowsiness from my eyes. That was the second nap I’d taken today, and it was becoming a regular occurrence lately. It was weird for me…napping wasn’t really my thing. Something was off, but I couldn’t quite place what it was. The knocking persisted, becoming more insistent. "Raelynn! Open up! We don't have all night!" Alison's voice carried through the wooden door, urgent but still unmistakably cheerful. I groaned, throwing the covers off me. I hadn't meant to fall asleep again, but lately, exhaustion had been creeping up on me at the most random times. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, stood up, and trudged toward the door. When I swung it open, I was greeted by Alison in all her dolled-up glory.
RaelynnAs soon as we step into the glowing doorway of the party, a wave of energy seems to crash against us. The low thrum of music pulses through the air, vibrating against my skin like a second heartbeat. Heads turn in our direction immediately. I can feel eyes tracing the curves of my body, and I instinctively wrap my arms around myself, wishing I could just disappear into the shadows. Alison, on the other hand, revels in the attention. She beams at everyone like a queen surveying her adoring subjects, her confident strides making it impossible not to look at her. I envy her for that. Ashley, however, looks like she's lost in her own thoughts, her eyes distant. She’s always been quiet, more introspective, and tonight it seems that whatever’s been on her mind lately is weighing her down. I can’t quite figure it out, but I hope this night helps her loosen up, even just a little bit.I, on the other hand, want to sink into the floor. Shrink away from everyone’s gazes and fade into
RaelynnAfter what feels like hours, we finally stumble back to the bar for another round. The bartender raises an eyebrow at us as we stagger up to the bar, our steps unsteady but our spirits high. Alison, ever the life of the party, slams her hands down on the counter, laughing loudly. “Another round of the same, handsome,” she slurs, flashing the bartender a dazzling smile.I blink heavily, my vision slightly blurry as the alcohol continues to course through my veins. The room spins for a moment before I steady myself against the bar, gripping its edge with both hands. I’m definitely feeling it now. The warmth in my chest has spread throughout my entire body, making my head feel light and my thoughts hazy.“Sure thing, ladies,” the bartender says with an amused grin, sliding three more drinks across the counter toward us. “You’re putting me to work tonight.”Alison winks at him. “We aim to please.”Ashley joins us at the bar, her arm wrapped around Xavier, who stands slightly beh
RaelynnThe sun shone through the thick velvet curtains of our room and illuminated everything with a warm, golden light. The warmth of it kissed my skin, reminding me that this was no dream...this was my reality.A reality that only a few years ago, seemed like a world impossible to conceive, completely shattered into pieces that I would never be able to pick up. Yet here I am, so much stronger and smarter and more at peace than I have ever been in my life.As I lay in bed, listening to the soft rustling of the leaves outside and the distant chirping of birds welcoming the new day, I couldn’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come. The memories of my past, once sharp and painful, now seemed like faded shadows in the back of my mind.The pain of loss and betrayal, the paralyzing fear that I experienced during those days of darkness seemed like a dream…a nightmare that I had finally woken up from.My life had changed so much since those days. I thought of the darkness that had so nearly
Alpha LorenzoI wait outside the door to the dungeon the cold stone walls closing in around me. My hear beats faster the rage just below the surface.I need to do this. For Raelynn. For my pack. For all those who have been tormented by the life of valentine and his warped disciples.The door squeaks and I enter the somewhat dark hallway. It is damp and musty in there, with the drip of water bouncing off the walls.The guards nod their heads to me, with a very serious look on their faces. They know why I’m here. They know what I’m about to do.Valentine's cell is all the way at the end of the dungeon, away from all the others. I would have wanted him alone, removed from the rest of his nasty little gang. The man deserves no comfort, no company. Not after everything he’s done.I stand before his cell holding the cold iron bars. Valentine sits in there, perched on a little bench with his hands cuffed together in front of him.The look of pride and arrogance is no longer there, but instea
Alpha LorenzoWe step outside of the building and the heat from the fire engulfs us, and at that moment, I feel Raelynn's body drop from my arms. She's out of breath, out of energy, and I pick her up and carry her the remainder of the way.“Conan, take care of Valentine and his scientists, I shout over my shoulder as we make our way to the waiting SUVs. “Round them all up. No one gets away.”Conan nods, his expression grim. “You got it, Alpha. We’ll make sure they pay for what they’ve done.”I nod, my focus on Raelynn as I lay her gently in the back seat of one of the SUVs. She’s unconscious, her breathing shallow, and I feel a surge of panic. I can’t lose her. Not now.“Go! I shout to the driver, and the SUV speeds away from the burning building, the flames reflected in the rearview mirror. I cradle Raelynn in my arms, my heart beating hard against my chest.“We’re almost there, I whisper, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Just hold on a little longer, love. You’re going to b
Alpha LorenzoSo I pound my fist on the aluminum door as hard as I can, and I keep pounding and the door starts to cave in. Every hit vibrates up my arm, but I bite down on my tongue and continue. Raelynn is on the other side. I can feel her presence through our bond, faint but unmistakable.My entire body is on fire from the exertion, beads of sweat drip from my face into my eyes, but I will not give up. I can’t. Not when I’m this close. The dent in the door is minor, almost unnoticeable, but it is there. So I put all of my strength, and my anger, and my hopelessness into one last punch and I hope that it is.Then, without warning, a rush of warmth washes over the door. I yank my hand back, startled. The metal is red hot and I have to back up so I don't get burnt.I stare in disbelief as fire dances around the border of the door and the metal contorts and melts like some unseen force is wrenching it asunder.“What the hell…” I mutter, my eyes wide. This isn’t just fire; it’s somethin
RaelynnI’ ve been planning this for weeks. The smallest mistakes could cost me everything, so I’ve waited, watching, studying every guard’s routine. I’ve observed their movements, noted their shifts, even the way they carry themselves when they think no one is looking.One guard, in particular, caught my eye…small, unassuming, always on edge as if the very walls were closing in on him. I could see it in his eyes, the fear, the sweat above his brow whenever he was around me. And that made him my target.Well, this morning he was on walking post by my cell and I just knew it was time. He did not even realize how easily he was being played with.The shadows that had been my friends in darkness reached out to take his thoughts, pushing his focus away. A ripple of my fingers and the shadows told him of distant cares and his mind floated just enough for me to move.I moved silently, my fingers deft and quick, slipping into his pocket as he turned away. The cold metal of the key against my
Alpha LorenzoI can't remember the last time I was this tense. The past few months have been a nightmare, each day worse than the one before. I can barely sleep, my thoughts constantly consumed by Raelynn. My mate. My Luna. She’s out there, somewhere, suffering God knows what, and it’s my fault. I let her down, failed to protect her. And now, I’m desperate. Desperate to make things right, to find her, to bring her home. I’ve spent every waking moment planning, strategizing, preparing for this. There’s no room for error. Not this time.We’re in the war room, a dimly lit space in the pack house that’s become our headquarters for this mission. Conan, Alison, Ashley, and I are huddled around a large table, a detailed map of the Dawn Scientific Institute for Research spread out before us. The DSIR is an imposing fortress, heavily guarded, and getting in won’t be easy. But we have no choice. Raelynn is in there. I can feel it in my bones. “Alright,” I say, my voice steady but hard. “We
Alpha LorenzoI can't remember the last time I was this tense. The past few months have been a nightmare, each day worse than the one before. I can barely sleep, my thoughts constantly consumed by Raelynn. My mate. My Luna. She’s out there, somewhere, suffering God knows what, and it’s my fault. I let her down, failed to protect her. And now, I’m desperate. Desperate to make things right, to find her, to bring her home. I’ve spent every waking moment planning, strategizing, preparing for this. There’s no room for error. Not this time.We’re in the war room, a dimly lit space in the pack house that’s become our headquarters for this mission. Conan, Alison, Ashley, and I are huddled around a large table, a detailed map of the Dawn Scientific Institute for Research spread out before us. The DSIR is an imposing fortress, heavily guarded, and getting in won’t be easy. But we have no choice. Raelynn is in there. I can feel it in my bones. “Alright,” I say, my voice steady but hard. “We
RaelynnDarkness. It has been my constant companion for what feels like an eternity. My sense of time in this cold, damp cell is lost, days and nights running together in one continuous void of nothingness.I have no idea how long it’s been since I was tossed into this hell, since I was deprived of my dignity and my wolf. I don’t even know if it matters anymore. This place, this emptiness, it consumes you.I resemble now and again when the guards bring out their needles I test myself to see if I can remember what I was like before all this. I try to remember what it felt like to be free, to be whole.But those memories are as fragments of a dream. They are so beautiful and so elusive, and they dissolve before I can catch them. I have nothing but the pain to grasp on to. It’s the only thing that feels real anymore.I roll over on the cold floor and the chains that bind my wrists and ankles rattle. My body hurts in places I never knew I had.They don't feed me very much. Enough to keep
Alpha LorenzoIt's been a week since Alexis was incarcerated and I discovered the truth. A full week of searching and scouring every inch of our territory, and then some. The feeling of desperation claws at my insides, a gnawing ache that won’t go away no matter how many leads we chase, no matter how many faces I growl at in frustration. Every day without her feels like an eternity, every moment a fresh wound reopening. Max is restless, prowling just beneath the surface, ready to break free and tear apart anyone who gets in my way.I shouldn’t be here, pacing in my study with my phone clenched in my hand. I should be out there, tracking her down myself. But even alphas have duties, responsibilities, and meetings they can’t avoid. Today, it’s the damn council meeting, and if I don’t show up, there’ll be more questions than I’m prepared to answer. I need to keep up appearances. I need to make them believe everything is fine, that my world isn’t shattering around me piece by piece.“E