Alpha LorenzoThe office felt too small for the pacing I was doing, my feet dragging across the wooden floor as I turned sharply from one end of the room to the other. I could feel the agitation building inside me, like a caged animal ready to break free. My mind raced as my pulse drummed in my ears.Raelynn.The name lingered in my thoughts like a phantom, but not in the way one would expect. It wasn't filled with warmth or longing. Instead, it was an echo I couldn't trace, something that felt foreign and out of place.But Alexis… Alexis was everything.I’d been a fool, blinded by hesitation and plagued with doubts for too long. The binding of our mate bond had kept me distracted, questioning everything I thought I knew about myself and her. But not anymore. No, I couldn't ignore it any longer. Not after everything I’d gone through. Not after feeling that tug, that undeniable pull toward Alexis. My Luna.I had called her only a few moments ago, my voice tight with anticipation. “Ge
Unknown’s POVConan stormed out of Lorenzo's office, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and disbelief. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to make sense of what he had just heard. One minute, Lorenzo was desperate to find Raelynn, his true mate, and now…out of nowhere…he was declaring that Alexis was his Luna?"Impossible," Conan muttered under his breath as he moved swiftly down the corridor. His hand gripped his phone tightly as he turned the corner, heading toward his office. The idea of Alexis being Lorenzo’s mate was ludicrous. He knew it was impossible for Alexis to be mated to Lorenzo. The bond couldn’t just shift like that…mate bonds didn’t work that way. There had to be something sinister at play.When Conan reached his office, he slammed the door behind him, breathing heavily as the frustration settled deeper in his gut. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but nothing about Lorenzo’s sudden claim made any sense. Alexis had never shown any sign of being Lorenzo’s
Unknown’s POVFiona crossed her arms, her expression one of pure determination. "And what should we do while we wait for Queen Xylie? We can't just sit around and watch her get closer to Lorenzo.""We won't be idle," Conan assured her. "Marcus, I want you to be my eyes and ears in the pack. Keep an eye on Alexis, especially when she's with Lorenzo. Look for anything unusual…any strange behavior, anything that might give us a clue about what kind of magic she’s using."Marcus nodded. "I can do that.""And Fiona," Conan continued, turning to her, "I need you to help me gather information. Speak with the omegas in the pack discreetly. Find out if anyone’s noticed anything strange around Alexis, any signs of magic or enchantments. The more we know, the better prepared we’ll be when Xylie arrives."Fiona nodded, her expression serious. "I’ll get on it right away. The omegas are usually tight-lipped, but I’ll find a way to get them to talk.""Good," Conan said, a grim smile touching his lip
Unknown’s POVAlexis sauntered into the grand hall of the Nightshade Manor, her steps light and filled with purpose. A triumphant smile played on her lips, the rush of victory still fresh in her veins. Everything was falling into place…finally. Lorenzo was hers, bound to her in more ways than one, and soon, she would become his Luna. No more waiting, no more watching from the shadows. She would have the power she deserved.As she glided into her lavish sitting room, she called for her butler, Edgar. He appeared almost instantly, as he always did, with that unreadable expression that bordered on total obedience. Alexis barely glanced at him as she plopped herself into a chair."Edgar," she began with a casual flick of her wrist. "Pack up all my things."Edgar’s brow arched slightly, but he didn’t ask why. "Shall I begin now, Miss Alexis?""Yes," she replied, her voice brimming with satisfaction. "I’ll be moving out of this house very soon. Everything should be ready for when I give t
Unknown's POVConan had tried to talk to Lorenzo about Alexis multiple times over the past few days. Every time he broached the subject, however, Lorenzo would cut him off with a low growl, his once warm and trusting gaze now icy and unapproachable. It was as though the Lorenzo he knew, the Lorenzo who once confided in him and valued his counsel, was slipping away, replaced by someone he could barely recognize.“Lorenzo,” Conan tried again one morning, his tone careful but urgent as he stood in the Alpha’s office. “I need to talk to you about this Luna ceremony. Something isn’t right. Alexis…”Lorenzo's growl stopped him cold. “Conan, I’ve warned you,” Lorenzo said, his voice tinged with irritation and impatience. “If you keep questioning this, I’m going to start thinking you’re ready to stop being my Beta.”Conan froze, the weight of Lorenzo’s words crashing down on him like a tidal wave. Lorenzo’s tone wasn’t merely annoyed…it was final. The threat in his words wasn’t just a passin
Unknown's POVThe following morning, the tension was thick in the air as Alexis arrived at the Royal Lake Pack, her aura heavy with entitlement. She walked in as if she already owned the place, her chin held high and a smug smile plastered on her face. Conan, Marcus, and Fiona stood nearby, watching as the omegas followed behind her, struggling to keep up with her brisk pace as they carried her many belongings."Take those directly to the Alpha's wing," Alexis commanded, waving her hand dismissively as if she were brushing off a pesky insect.The omegas hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. One of them, a young maid with wide eyes and trembling hands, dared to speak up. "We… we don’t have permission, Luna…" she stammered, using the title Alexis had yet to officially earn. "Only the Alpha can tell us to enter his wing…"Without warning, Alexis's hand shot out and slapped the maid across the face with a loud crack. The maid gasped, stumbling backward, her hand flying to her cheek. Te
LorenzoAs I stood in front of Fiona, her head bowed in respect, I could feel Alexis’s eyes boring into me from behind. There was a tension between us, thick enough to cut through with a knife. I knew what Alexis wanted…for me to punish Fiona. But I couldn’t. Fiona was just following my orders, doing exactly what I asked of her. I wasn’t about to punish her for doing her job.“She was only following my orders,” I said firmly, turning to face Alexis. “There’s no need for any punishment.”Alexis’s face flickered with disapproval, her lips parting as if she were about to argue. “But Lorenzo…”“No,” I cut her off, my tone leaving no room for argument. “Fiona did nothing wrong. Let it go.”Behind me, I heard Fiona shift slightly, and for a brief moment, a subtle smirk played across her lips. It was quick, barely noticeable, but Alexis caught it. I saw the way her eyes flared with anger, her face contorting in rage. “Fine,” Alexis muttered, biting her lip. Her tone was laced with venom, t
Unknown's POVConan’s mind was a storm of frustration and urgency as he hastened to his office. The announcement Lorenzo had made at lunch was both shocking and troubling. The new Luna, Alexis? The whole situation was unraveling quickly, and Conan needed to act fast. He threw open the door to his office and slammed it behind him. Without wasting a moment, he grabbed his phone and dialed Queen Xylie’s number number with trembling hands. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.The phone rang twice before the smooth, regal voice of Queen Xylie greeted him. “Conan. I assume this is urgent,” she said without preamble.“It is, Your Majesty,” Conan replied, swallowing his nerves. “Lorenzo has announced that Alexis will be his Luna. There’s going to be a Luna ceremony next week, and I need your help.”There was a pause on the other end, the silence stretching as Xylie processed the information. “You’re saying Alexis is becoming Luna? Are you certain?”“Absolutely certain,” Conan replie
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