RaelynnI struggled to breathe. My chest heaved as I tried to calm down. Lorenzo's body heat still clung to my skin. His touch stayed fresh in my thoughts making it tough to think about anything else.My hands shook while I fixed my dress. The fabric felt weird against my sensitive skin. I gulped still shocked by what just happened...or almost happened...in that secluded booth.I had almost lost my virginity to Lorenzo.The thought struck me. My heart raced, and I felt my face and neck turn red, the warmth spreading down to my chest.I struggled with my dress straps, my thoughts a jumble of shame and a stronger feeling. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. How could I after what happened?Lorenzo laughed, and I glanced up to see him watching me with a grin that made me tremble. His dark eyes sparkled with humor, but I saw something else too...a look of desire, of ownership.The memory of his kisses on my skin and his hands caressing my body made me catch my breath again.I hurried t
RaelynnThe door opened with a soft click waking me up. My heart jumped, and I sat up in bed confused by the sudden disturbance. I looked around the room, sleep still blurring my sight. But when I saw the shape in the doorway, all my drowsiness vanished.I blinked several times seeing the person standing there. It was Valentine. My adoptive father. The dim light from the hall behind him made his tall figure look even more intimidating than usual. I sat up straighter feeling tense as I waited for him to talk."Raelynn," he said, his voice quiet and steady, but I noticed a slight edge in his tone. "You came home, and you didn't even visit me."Shame hit me right away. In all my worry and distraction about Lorenzo and the call, I'd forgotten why I'd come back home in the first place. I took a deep breath trying to speak as I moved the covers and got out of bed."I'm sorry, Valentine," I whispered looking up at him. "I...something else was on my mind."His face remained stern. In fact, it
RaelynnI woke with a start, my heart pounding against my ribcage as the solution I’d been searching for floated into my mind like a gift from the fates. I bolted upright in bed, my breath coming in quick gasps as if I had just run a marathon.The faint light of dawn filtered through my curtains, casting a soft glow over the room, but my thoughts were already racing.I couldn't tell anyone in the manor that my "friend" was Lorenzo. No one knew I had found my mate, let alone that my mate was the powerful Alpha Lorenzo.The secrecy was necessary for now, I reminded myself. The idea was risky, but it was the best I could think of. I needed to buy myself time, and that meant I had to come up with a convincing cover story.As my mind settled, my thoughts turned to Alison, my friend from the coven. They hadn’t spoken in a few days, and if anyone could help me out of this situation, it was Alison. With a plan forming in my head, I reached for my phone and scrolled through my contacts. Aliso
Alpha LorenzoThe morning sun barely had a chance to warm the pack grounds when I pulled myself out of bed. Another day of responsibilities awaited, the weight of my title as Supreme Alpha settling onto my shoulders like a familiar burden.My mind was already racing with the tasks ahead…pack matters, council meetings, and the endless demands that came with leading the werewolf world.I glanced at the clock on my bedside table. Six in the morning. I had about two hours before the council meeting. That should give me enough time to handle a few pack issues before heading to the council headquarters.After a quick shower, I dressed in my usual attire…black suit pants, a crisp white dress shirt, and a black suit jacket that marked me as the leader of the Lake View Pack. As I buttoned up, my thoughts wandered to Raelynn.I hadn’t spoken to her since yesterday morning, and I could already hear her soft voice in my head, chiding me for not keeping in touch. She wasn’t the type to demand cons
Alpha Lorenzo"Okay," I said moving on to the next item we needed to discuss. "We've got to talk about bringing all the packs together under one kingdom. You all know that picking a Supreme Alpha means we're starting something new. We'll set up a kingdom, and all the packs will be under one rule. This isn't something we can argue about...we need to do this for our kind to have a future."Just as I thought, Henry and Howard two of the more stubborn alphas right away said they were against it."I don't see why we need to change things," Henry said, his voice filled with resistance. "Our packs have always worked on their own, and that's been fine for hundreds of years. Why should we give up our freedom now?"Howard agreed looking just as stubborn. "He's got a point. We've made it this far without a kingdom. Why mess with something that works?"I looked at them with narrowed eyes, my patience running out. "This isn't about giving up freedom. It's about making sure we survive. The world is
RaelynnI was rudely waken from my beautiful sleep in the morning by the ringing of my phone. Half asleep, I searched for it on my nightstand, without looking at the identity of the caller before picking the call.“Hello?” I grasped, I was so sleepy that the words felt stuck in my throat.“Good morning, love” The husky tone of the man on the other end was enough to bring me back from my sleepy state. Lorenzo. The last bit of drowsiness was washed away as soon as I perched on my bed, my heart palpitated.“Lorenzo!” I exclaimed, surprised. “Hi.”“I am sorry I could not reply to you yesterday,” he started to speak in a language that was rich in an apology. “By the time I was through with the council it was quite late and did not feel like disturbing you.”I could not help but smile, I was happy to hear his voice. “It’s fine you know… You’re so busy… Anyway… I was just longing to speak with you. ““I also missed talking to you,” he responded and I was melted by the truthfulness that was i
Alpha LorenzoJust hearing the sound of Raelynn’s voice brought a smile to my face when she first called me on the phone.Her voice when saying ‘hello’ didn’t sound very bright, but when she realized that it was me, she sounded much more awake I wished that I could have talked to her yesterday, but I had no time at all. Saying sorry to her, I said that when I was finally through with my meetings it was already past the time and too late to call her. Luckily she accepted my apology without any word of complaint. This simple gesture of hers is something I could never get used to. ‘I will compensate for it later,’ I told her before I reclined in the chair that was in front of the table. It stayed on my face as we spoke to each other. Her friend was to come visit her today at Valentine’s behest, which made me a bit more comfortable knowing she wouldn’t be on her own. The more we talked, the lighter I felt. Simply, listening to Raelynn’s voice was calming to me, which was not an easy fe
RaelynnWhen I received Lorenzo's text that night, I could hardly contain my excitement. My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage like it was trying to escape, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips, refusing to fade. Lorenzo had told me to be ready at dawn for a surprise.A day out with him, a whole day to escape the complexities of pack life and the weight of our responsibilities…how could I not be excited?I quickly grabbed my phone and rushed to meet Valentine in his study. If I didn’t give him a plausible excuse, he’d surely question my whereabouts. I told him I’d be spending the day with Alison at her coven, using our strained friendship as the perfect cover.It wasn’t a complete lie…I had planned to meet Alison soon to mend our relationship. I just didn't mention that today’s plans had a very different, much more thrilling, agenda."Valentine," I whispered as I stood outside his study door, hesitant but determined. "I'm going to Alison's coven for the day. I'll be back
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