Alpha LorenzoI drove through the streets in the early morning light, the city still in the process of waking up. My mind wasn’t focused on the road ahead but on Raelynn. I hadn't seen her since the incident. Knowing she was still recovering made me feel on edge, like I had to constantly check on her to make sure she was safe. The feeling was overwhelming, tugging at me relentlessly until I gave in. I needed to see her.When I pulled up to the hospital, I wasted no time getting out of the car. I strode through the front doors and into the hall where the pack warriors stationed here nodded respectfully as I passed by. The tension that had settled in my chest eased a little. She was protected, at least.Approaching Raelynn’s room, I reached for the handle, intent on barging in like I always did when something caught my ear…voices, but more specifically, a man’s voice. My hand froze mid-motion, and I frowned. Who the hell was in there with her?I straightened up and knocked instead. Th
Unknown’s povIn the dim light of Valentine’s grand dining room, the candles flickered as soft classical music hummed in the background. The scent of expensive perfume and rich food filled the air as the gathering of vampires dined and conversed around the long mahogany table. Valentine stood at the head of the table, basking in the attention of his guests. His demeanor was calm, collected, but beneath that composure lay an unmistakable aura of power. His daughter Alexis sat to his right, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she waited for the right moment. Lorenzo stepped into the house, his instincts heightened. The grandiose atmosphere of Valentine’s mansion immediately struck him as ostentatious, yet oddly lifeless despite the luxurious decorations and well-dressed guests. It wasn’t what he expected. He had hoped to see more werewolves around but noticed that besides Alexis and himself, the gathering was mostly composed of vampires. That only deepened his suspicion. He forced
Unknown’s povThe night was quiet, save for the soft hum of the hospital's HVAC system. Raelynn sat propped up on her hospital bed, feeling lighthearted after sharing dinner with Alison. The food had been surprisingly good, and the company had been even better. Alison always knew how to lift her spirits with her bubbly attitude and humor. As Alison cleaned up the dinner tray, she looked over at Raelynn with concern. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you until you’re discharged? I don’t mind waiting around for a few more hours.”Raelynn smiled warmly, shaking her head. “No, it’s fine, Alison. I’m going to Lorenzo’s pack after I’m discharged, and it’s a long trip. You’ve already done so much for me today; you should get some rest.”Alison sighed, leaning against the counter. “I just don’t like the idea of you being here alone, that’s all. Hospitals give me the creeps at night.”Raelynn chuckled. “Trust me, I’ll be fine. Lorenzo will be here to pick me up soon. I’ll probably
Raelynn My head throbbed, and a sharp ache shot through my neck as I slowly opened my eyes. I blinked several times, trying to focus, but all I saw was darkness. My body felt heavy, as if I’d been drugged, and my mind struggled to piece together what had happened. The last thing I remembered was the hospital... the guards... Lorenzo's message. A cold rush of fear washed over me, and I tried to move, but something was wrong. I was trapped.My arms were tied tightly behind me, the coarse rope digging into my skin. Panic surged through me, and I attempted to move my legs, but they were bound to the legs of the chair as well. No matter how hard I pulled or pushed, the restraints didn’t budge. My breathing grew ragged, my heart pounding in my chest as the realization dawned on me…I’d been kidnapped.A cold sweat broke out across my skin as I reached inside myself, desperately trying to call Lynn, my wolf. She had always been there, a constant presence in my mind, ready to offer her st
RaelynnThe air felt thick with tension as the door creaked open. I tried to steady my breath, but every inch of my body ached with anticipation. I didn't know who was coming, but I could feel something sinister creeping closer. My heart was pounding against my chest as footsteps approached. And then, emerging from the shadows, Alexis stepped into the dim light.I gasped, my heart lurching into my throat. Alexis? What was she doing here?"Surprised to see me?" she asked, her voice oozing with mockery as a dark chuckle escaped her lips. She stepped forward with slow, deliberate steps until she was standing right in front of me.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Alexis was the last person I expected to see. She had been like a sister to me, ever since Valentine adopted me. We had shared so much, or so I thought. My heart cracked, the betrayal too deep, too raw. Why? Why was she here? What was she doing?Alexis bent down until her face was level with mine. Her eyes, which once held w
RaelynnThe air felt thick with tension as the door creaked open. I tried to steady my breath, but every inch of my body ached with anticipation. I didn't know who was coming, but I could feel something sinister creeping closer. My heart was pounding against my chest as footsteps approached. And then, emerging from the shadows, Alexis stepped into the dim light.I gasped, my heart lurching into my throat. Alexis? What was she doing here?"Surprised to see me?" she asked, her voice oozing with mockery as a dark chuckle escaped her lips. She stepped forward with slow, deliberate steps until she was standing right in front of me.I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. Alexis was the last person I expected to see. She had been like a sister to me, ever since Valentine adopted me. We had shared so much, or so I thought. My heart cracked, the betrayal too deep, too raw. Why? Why was she here? What was she doing?Alexis bent down until her face was level with mine. Her eyes, which once held w
RaelynnThe air still buzzed with the lingering tension left behind by Alexis’ departure. Her taunts and that wicked, dark chuckle rang in my ears like a haunting melody I couldn't escape. I found myself shouting into the void where she'd once stood, anger and frustration bubbling within me, needing release.“Coward!” I screamed after her, knowing she couldn’t hear me but needing to say it regardless. “You won’t get away with this, Alexis!”The silence that followed my outburst was suffocating, amplifying my own helplessness. My wrists were sore from being bound too tightly, and I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage, fueled by anger, fear, and the grim reality of my situation. Alexis had taken my powers. She’d stolen my very essence. She wanted to replace me in Lorenzo’s life, and worse, she seemed capable of doing it. The thought sent another wave of cold dread washing over me.Then, the goon I'd previously bitten walked toward me, a twisted smirk playing on his lips. H
Alpha Lorenzo The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the cold. Not the chilling kind that seeps into your bones, but the sterile, empty cold of a place unfamiliar and unsettling. My mind felt groggy, as if weighed down by an invisible force, my body unusually heavy as I slowly sat up. Blinking away the fuzziness clouding my vision, I looked around.I wasn’t in my room. Hell, I wasn’t anywhere I recognized.The room was dimly lit by a chandelier overhead, its lights casting soft golden hues that couldn’t quite fight off the shadows clinging to the walls. The décor was rich, luxurious even, with thick velvet curtains draped over large windows, blocking out any view of the outside world. The bed I was lying on was massive, with dark satin sheets that felt foreign beneath my fingertips. There was an ornate wardrobe to my left and a grand mirror opposite the bed, its gilded frame catching the light in a way that made it seem almost ominous.Nothing about this place made sense.I s
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