RaelynnThe blaring of my alarm clock tore through my sleep like an unwelcome intruder. I groaned, reaching out blindly with one hand, fumbling for my phone. My fingers finally brushed against the cold device, and I swiped at the screen, silencing the relentless noise.I sank back into the comforting embrace of my pillow, determined to steal just a few more minutes of sleep. My body ached with exhaustion, and my head throbbed slightly as the remnants of last night's indulgence still lingered. I closed my eyes and let out a contented sigh, savoring the silence.Five minutes. That's all I wanted.Unfortunately, five minutes was all I got.My alarm went off again, jolting me out of my half-asleep state. This time, my irritation spiked, and I grabbed my phone more aggressively, slapping at the screen to shut it up for good. "Ugh," I groaned, letting the phone drop back onto the bed as I resigned myself to the inevitable fact that I was now fully awake.I stared blearily at the ceiling,
RaelynnI stepped into the Microbiology classroom, the scent of freshly cleaned floors mingling with the faint chemical odor of lab supplies. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on the long rows of tables and chairs. Alison and I found seats in the middle row, setting our books down as I let out a soft sigh.“I can't believe we’re back at it again,” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck.Alison chuckled softly beside me, her fingers drumming against the desk. “At least we have each other to suffer through it.”I smiled faintly, my mind already drifting to the foggy remnants of last night's escapade. I had vowed that morning never to drink again. My head was still pounding from the combination of poor decisions and the inevitable regret that followed. However, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that I would likely break that vow far sooner than I’d like.The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. The room seemed to shift, the atmospher
RaelynnThe rest of the day dragged on in much the same way. Classes stretched on, seemingly endless, and I found it harder and harder to concentrate. By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to collapse into bed and sleep off the stress of the day.But sleep was never that simple.Days bled into weeks, and soon, we had been back at school for a month. I tried to settle into some semblance of normalcy, throwing myself into assignments and lectures, but there was no escaping the memories of Lorenzo. I had even tried going out more, meeting new people, doing everything I could to distract myself. But every night, when the world grew quiet and dark, he was there again in my mind.And then, one day, everything came crashing down.It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was studying at my desk, desperately trying to make sense of Alexis’ latest lecture. Ashley was lounging on my bed, her laptop open as she scrolled through various social media feeds.“Oh my god,” Ashley said suddenly, her
RaelynnThe rest of the day dragged on in much the same way. Classes stretched on, seemingly endless, and I found it harder and harder to concentrate. By the time the final bell rang, I was ready to collapse into bed and sleep off the stress of the day.But sleep was never that simple.Days bled into weeks, and soon, we had been back at school for a month. I tried to settle into some semblance of normalcy, throwing myself into assignments and lectures, but there was no escaping the memories of Lorenzo. I had even tried going out more, meeting new people, doing everything I could to distract myself. But every night, when the world grew quiet and dark, he was there again in my mind.And then, one day, everything came crashing down.It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was studying at my desk, desperately trying to make sense of Alexis’ latest lecture. Ashley was lounging on my bed, her laptop open as she scrolled through various social media feeds.“Oh my god,” Ashley said suddenly, her
RaelynnThe end of the semester couldn't have come any sooner, yet it dragged on, each passing day weighing on me like a lead blanket. My heart felt like a glass teacup that had shattered on a cold stone floor, and each little piece dug deeper into my soul. The news of Lorenzo’s engagement was the final blow…my world had finally crumbled. I couldn’t breathe whenever I thought about him, about what we’d shared, about what we’d lost. The bond between us still lingered, though it was faint, like a melody played from a distance. There were no signs of him cheating on me, despite everything. That much I knew because our bond, no matter how strained, would never lie to me. But that knowledge didn’t ease the pain. It only made it worse because it meant he still thought about me. He still cared, even if his choices said otherwise.So there I was, lying on my bed that Thursday evening, staring up at the ceiling, trying to drown out the roaring ache in my chest. My thoughts spun in endless
RaelynnI stiffened at his words, my mind racing. He couldn’t possibly know what I’d been through, what I’d been trying to forget. But the way he held me, the way his body moved against mine, it was as if he knew everything…every emotion, every heartbreak, every sleepless night. His touch, though firm, wasn’t harsh. It was almost as if he was trying to anchor me, to pull me back from the abyss I’d been teetering on for so long.I tried to regain control of my thoughts, tried to remind myself why I was here…why I’d been trying so hard to forget him. But being this close to him made it impossible. My body responded instinctively, betraying me with every sway of my hips and every beat of my heart that quickened at his nearness. “What do you want from me, Lorenzo?” I asked, my voice hoarse as I turned my head slightly to glance up at him. I could now see the sharp lines of his face more clearly…the strong jaw, the piercing eyes that had once brought me so much comfort and pain. His g
RaelynnI leaned against the bathroom sink, gripping the edges with desperate strength as heat burned through my body. Lynn howled at the edge of my mind, claws raking against the fragile walls of my self-control, urging me to give in…to let the storm raging inside me take over. The ache between my thighs was unbearable, a pull so insistent it made my body tremble and my thoughts blur.I could feel eyes on me. The sensation prickled across my skin, but I didn’t dare move. The air in the bathroom was thick and stifling, the humidity clinging to me like a second skin. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing, trying to wrestle back control from the wild impulses threatening to consume me.Then, suddenly, the air shifted.I felt it…a ripple, a disturbance that sent a chill down my spine. Someone was there. My eyes snapped open, scanning the room, but the bathroom was empty. Still, the feeling didn’t leave. It grew stronger, like an invisible hand brushing against my skin.I s
RaelynnI stiffened at his words, my mind racing. He couldn’t possibly know what I’d been through, what I’d been trying to forget. But the way he held me, the way his body moved against mine, it was as if he knew everything…every emotion, every heartbreak, every sleepless night. His touch, though firm, wasn’t harsh. It was almost as if he was trying to anchor me, to pull me back from the abyss I’d been teetering on for so long.I tried to regain control of my thoughts, tried to remind myself why I was here…why I’d been trying so hard to forget him. But being this close to him made it impossible. My body responded instinctively, betraying me with every sway of my hips and every beat of my heart that quickened at his nearness. “What do you want from me, Lorenzo?” I asked, my voice hoarse as I turned my head slightly to glance up at him. I could now see the sharp lines of his face more clearly…the strong jaw, the piercing eyes that had once brought me so much comfort and pain. His g
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