Alpha LorenzoThe door to Raelynn’s room was already ajar as I burst inside, my heart pounding in my chest. I could sense something was terribly wrong. The air was thick with an unnatural tension, and every instinct I had screamed at me to protect her.And then I saw her.A woman was crouched over Raelynn’s unconscious body, dragging her across the floor as if she were nothing more than a sack of potatoes. My mate…my beautiful, strong mate…was limp and helpless, her body a marionette in the hands of this stranger. Fury shot through me, white-hot and uncontrollable. My wolf snarled within me, desperate to tear this intruder apart.The woman…a doctor by the looks of her, dressed in a white coat…seemed oblivious to my presence. She heaved Raelynn’s body onto the bed with little regard for her comfort, and I watched in horror as she pulled out a syringe, plunging it into Raelynn’s arm. Blood flowed into the tube as the woman filled the syringe.For a moment, all I could see was red.In
Alpha LorenzoAs I hung up the phone with Conan, a deep breath escaped my chest. Every nerve in my body felt taut, ready to snap at any second. Valentine had dared to target Raelynn, and the rage that simmered beneath my skin had only been held back by the fragile rhythm of her heartbeat. It was that steady thrum, that faint rise and fall of her chest, that kept me from giving in to the primal urge to rip apart anything that stood between me and her safety.When I pushed open the door and reentered the room, I immediately noticed Alison slumped over in a chair by Raelynn’s bedside. Her body had leaned dangerously far to the side, and if I hadn’t caught her just in time, she would’ve toppled over. She jerked awake, her eyes blinking rapidly as she tried to shake off the exhaustion that weighed her down.“Alison,” I murmured gently, straightening her in the chair. “You need to get some rest.”She shook her head stubbornly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m fine. I’ll st
RaelynnThe night was endless.I could feel the wind tearing at my fur, every nerve in my body screaming for me to stop, to breathe, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t afford to. I was running for my life. My paws slammed against the earth in rapid succession, the sounds of the forest blurring into a cacophony of rushing trees, snapping branches, and the thudding of my own heartbeat. Behind me, they were closing in…the scent of blood and danger sharp in the air, drawing nearer with every breath I took.The darkness around me twisted and pulsed, alive with shadows that seemed to stretch out claws toward me. It felt like the world was collapsing, shrinking, funneling me toward some unknown end. I didn’t know who was chasing me, only that they wanted me dead.I darted left, narrowly avoiding a sharp dip in the ground. My wolf instincts were in full control, guiding me through the treacherous terrain. But even as I ran, something felt wrong. The ground beneath my paws was slick and wet, more l
RaelynnI sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, my eyes fixed on Lorenzo, who was sitting across from me, his eyes locked on mine. The tension between us was palpable, and I could feel the weight of our unspoken words hanging in the air. Finally, after two hours of silence, I spoke up."I want the truth, Lorenzo. No lies, no sugarcoating. If I find out you've been lying to me, I won't forgive you."Lorenzo's expression remained calm, but I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "I've never lied to you, Raelynn. And I won't start now. I was drugged."My eyes widened in shock. "Drugged? How? When?"Lorenzo took a deep breath before continuing. "The day I marked you. I wasn't in control of myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't have marked you."I was stunned. "You're telling me you didn't mean to mark me?"Lorenzo held up a hand. "Wait, let me explain. I definitely want to be marked and mated to you, but doing that now would put a target on your head. I just became the Supreme Alpha, and
RaelynnI let out a soft sigh, my body slowly sinking into the bed as I glance up at Lorenzo. “What about Alison?” I ask, my voice a bit groggy, yet tinged with worry. She had always been my rock, and after everything that happened, I needed to know she was okay.Lorenzo smiles softly, sitting down beside me. “She was here, by your side all night,” he says. “She nearly fell out of the chair from exhaustion. It was actually pretty funny.”I can’t help but laugh at the image of Alison teetering on the edge of a chair. “That sounds like her,” I say, shaking my head with a smile. “Can you let her know I’ve woken up?”He shakes his head gently. “Don’t worry. Alison will be here in the morning. She deserves some rest. You, too. You should sleep, Raelynn.”I pout a little, feeling the weight of the day still pressing down on me. “But I’m not…” Before I can finish, a yawn escapes my mouth. I blink heavily, my eyelids betraying me as they droop lower.Lorenzo chuckles softly, brushing a strand
Unknown’s povValentine sits behind his desk in the Nightshade Manor, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. The anticipation courses through me like a slow, burning fire as he wait. The phone remains silent on the desk, each second drawing out the tension. Dr. Kristen Webber and Dr. Brianca Sharpe should have called by now.Valentine taps his fingers rhythmically against the polished mahogany. The only sound in the room is the quiet ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. “Any moment now...”Across from me, Alexis lounges in one of the leather armchairs, her gaze steady as she watches me, though Valentine can see the flicker of impatience behind her calm demeanor."You seem restless, dad," she finally says, breaking the silence. "Is something bothering you?""Waiting is a wretched thing," Valentine responds without taking his eyes off the phone. "We’re on the verge of a breakthrough. They should’ve found Raelynn by now... and I need her blood for the Petal Bloom
RaelynnI let out a soft sigh, my body slowly sinking into the bed as I glance up at Lorenzo. “What about Alison?” I ask, my voice a bit groggy, yet tinged with worry. She had always been my rock, and after everything that happened, I needed to know she was okay.Lorenzo smiles softly, sitting down beside me. “She was here, by your side all night,” he says. “She nearly fell out of the chair from exhaustion. It was actually pretty funny.”I can’t help but laugh at the image of Alison teetering on the edge of a chair. “That sounds like her,” I say, shaking my head with a smile. “Can you let her know I’ve woken up?”He shakes his head gently. “Don’t worry. Alison will be here in the morning. She deserves some rest. You, too. You should sleep, Raelynn.”I pout a little, feeling the weight of the day still pressing down on me. “But I’m not—” Before I can finish, a yawn escapes my mouth. I blink heavily, my eyelids betraying me as they droop lower.Lorenzo chuckles softly, brushing a strand
Unknown’s povThe ride home from the DSIR was tense, the atmosphere inside Valentine’s luxury sedan crackling with Alexis’s restrained anger. Beside her, Valentine sat silently, brooding. His earlier outburst had left her shaken, but not surprised. It wasn’t the first time she had seen him nearly choke the life out of someone, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. Kristen and Brianca had failed him spectacularly, and that sort of failure had consequences…consequences that Alexis might very well be the one to administer.Once they pulled into the long, winding driveway of Nightshade Manor, Valentine stepped out of the car without a word, disappearing into the house. His anger was palpable, but Alexis had her own frustrations to deal with. She slammed her car door shut with more force than necessary and made her way into the mansion, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.She headed straight to the kitchen. The pristine countertops gleamed under the dim lighting, but
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