RaelynnThe sun shone through the curtains, the rays gently falling upon my face. It should have been comforting, but instead, it only reminded me that the world kept turning, no matter how shattered I felt inside.I lay there, unmoving, staring at the ceiling as the weight of Lorenzo’s betrayal crushed me. It was the second time he had hurt me, and it was different this time, but the pain was still as piercing. Maybe even worse.I sigh a deep sigh a sadness fills my chest. I did not want to get up but I can't stay in bed forever. My body felt weak, drained of all the joy and energy I’d had only days before. I sighed and pulled myself up, letting the covers fall off of me as I swung my legs over the side of the bed.It was all routine. Dress up, brush my teeth, put my hair in a ponytail. Every action felt robotic, as if I were going through the motions of someone else’s life. None of it mattered. If it truly did, then why did nothing seem to matter, when the one person I thought I cou
RaelynnThe mall was so alive, with all the hustle and bustle of people going about their business, but I just didn't seem to fit into the picture. My body was in motion, but my mind was somewhere else, it kept on playing those same painful memories in my head.Alison walked beside me, chatting away about her latest obsessions…new outfits, shoes, and the latest gossip…but her words barely registered. I was here, but not really.We passed by a store window displaying a mannequin dressed in a sleek black dress, and Alison’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Rae! That dress would look killer on you! She exclaimed, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the entrance. I followed her obediently, but my heart wasn’t in it.Inside, the store was filled with racks of clothes, and Alison immediately dove into them, picking out dresses and holding them up against me. “This one’s perfect! And look at this color! You’ll knock them dead! She gushed, tossing dresses into my arms without waiting for my response.I fo
RaelynnI gulped and nodded once more and then faced the car. Henry was already waiting by the driver’s side, and as soon as he saw me, he opened the back door."Miss Raelynn, how was your shopping?" he asked with his usual formality, but there was a softness in his eyes, a quiet acknowledgment that something was off. He didn’t ask questions, though. Henry was like that…always aware, but never intrusive.Fine henry" I replied in a bored tone and I climbed into the backseat and put my bags next to me. I looked back at Alison once more and waved slightly before the door shut.The car pulled away from the mall, and I leaned my head against the cool window, letting the hum of the engine and the gentle motion of the car lull me into a state of numbness.My mind replayed the scene with Lorenzo over and over again, like a broken record that wouldn’t stop.How did things get so complicated? How did I get here? Afraid, imprisoned by someone I used to love. Goosebumps traveled my skin at the th
Alpha LorenzoIt was just barely dawn when I got to my office. I’d been up since before dawn, driven by a sense of urgency that had become second nature.In two months would be the joining ceremony, and all the alphas would be required to attend. It was a day of days, where the fate of the packs would be decided, and alliances that had been forged through generations would be set in stone. There was no margin for error, no detail that I could miss.So I sit back in my chair and stare at the screen before me while I write the other alphas. My fingers flew across the keyboard, typing the invitation for the ceremony:Subject: Unification Ceremony - September 22ndTo all Alphas,The unification ceremony is scheduled for the 22nd of September. It is mandatory for all packs to be in attendance. Prepare your packs accordingly and ensure that everyone is aware of the significance of this event. This is a time for unity and strength, and it is crucial that we present ourselves as one.More det
Alpha LorenzoThe first light of dawn crept through the blinds, casting long shadows across my bedroom. I rolled over in bed, reaching instinctively for my phone, hoping for a message from Raelynn.My heart sank as the screen lit up…no calls, no texts, nothing. The gnawing feeling in my chest only grew worse.I replayed last night over and over in my head, trying to figure out what I could’ve done wrong. My messages were still unanswered, my calls still ignored. The distance between us felt like a heavy weight pressing down on me.I wasn’t used to this…being shut out, left in the dark. Raelynn and I were connected on a level that went beyond words, and yet, for the first time since we found each other, she felt unreachable.I sighed a long sigh and forced myself to get up. Lying here all day wouldn’t fix anything. The pack called, and I had duties that I could not shirk.But even as I tried to focus on my duties, Raelynn’s absence lingered in the back of my mind like a dark cloud.Whe
Alpha LorenzoI hadn't talked to Raelynn in days. Days of not knowing, days of a gnawing hollow feeling, days of a growing irritation I just could not escape. The silence between us was deafening, but I had work to do. My world had collapsed and life did not stop.I shoved open the doors to the newly built construction site, the skyscraper that would soon be the crown of our recent spread of the city. It was only in the framework stage with the beams and scaffolding crossing the Oregon skyline.Workers moved like ants below me, their shouts blending with the roar of machinery. But none of it registered. My mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts of her.I took a deep breath, trying to ground myself. I had a meeting to attend, a deal to make. At the site was Marcus Sterling, a vampire that had been one of my main business associates.His contributions to the business were significant, and securing his continued involvement was crucial. But even as I prepared to face him, I couldn’t shake
Alpha LorenzoI didn't notice that my fist was clutching something until her car was out of sight. I opened my fist, and there it was…Raelynn’s moonstone necklace.The thin chain was all wrapped around my fingers, and the cold stone shone in the darkness of the parking lot.I stared at it, my mind reeling. This necklace meant something to her. I knew it did. She’d told me once that it had been a gift from her mother, something she treasured deeply.And now it was in my hands, pulled off in the chaos of our brief encounter. I hadn’t meant to grab it. I hadn’t meant for any of this to happen.My grip tightened around the necklace, the stone digging into my palm. I could still hear the anger in her voice, the fear in her voice, the words still stung my ears.She’d threatened to scream, to accuse me of something horrific, and it had shattered something inside me. What could I have ever done to make her have such a hatred for me. Everything was fine one second but now…I closed my eyes, tr
RaelynnI hadn't seen Lorenzo in days, ever since that horrible run in at the mall. I had been trying to do everything possible to avoid thinking about him, yet that moment continued to haunt me like a shadow I could not lose.And I never knew what I had done to be tortured so. I just wanted to get away and live my life, but no, Lorenzo had different ideas.This morning, I was pacing my room, feeling an unsettling sense of panic creeping up on me. I had this nagging feeling that something was missing. It wasn’t until I stood in front of the mirror, brushing my hair, that it hit me.My moonstone necklace.My hand flew up to my neck and my fingers brushed the now vacant place where the necklace used to hang, its weight a constant reminder. My heart dropped. It was gone.“No, no, no, I whispered to myself, spinning around to search my room. That necklace was not just some piece of jewelry for me. it was a part of my mother, a part of my family. My mother wore it every day until she passe
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