The breeze in the dungeon had been thick with dampness, the stone walls suffocating and cruel. Emma had spent what felt like an eternity down there, surrounded by nothing but darkness and the distant sounds of howling wolves outside the packhouse. Her body ached from the cold floor, her wrists sore from where the guards had shoved her around earlier. But now, she was out.Kale held her close as he guided her through the dimly lit hallways of the packhouse. His arm was strong around her, steadying her when her legs threatened to give out. She wanted to tell him she was fine, that she could walk on her own, but the words never came. She wasn’t fine.Her breath hitched as they neared the grand staircase leading to the upper floors. A wave of exhaustion hit her, making her grip onto Kale’s sleeve without thinking.“We’re almost there,” he whispered, his voice a low murmur. His grip on her tightened protectively, as if he could shield her from everything that had already happened.Emma man
The next morning, Emma woke up and sat curled up on Kale’s bed, her arms wrapped around her knees. The warmth of the blanket he had given her did little to chase away the chill in her bones. She could still feel the dampness of the dungeon clinging to her skin, a reminder of how easily she had been cast aside.She let out a shaky breath, trying to calm herself. But then, through the thick walls of the packhouse, she heard a voice.“You went too far this time!” She recognized the voice as Kale’s, his voice was sharp, filled with barely restrained fury.“I did what was necessary,” that’s the Alpha’s voice.“Emma had disrespected me and this is my order.”Emma’s heart clenched, how did she disrespect the Alpha? Is it by defending herself or what? “Even tough, she’s still a part of this pack and our mate for that matter, father,” Jayden argued. “You can’t just throw her away like she’s nothing!”The Alpha’s voice was calm but firm. “I invited Emma into this pack because I believed she had
Emma sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The bruises on her wrist were already fading, but the weight in her chest remained. She knew what tonight meant. The Alpha had called a pack gathering, and it wasn’t hard to guess why.A sharp knock on the door broke her thoughts. Before she could answer, the door swung open. Lily stepped inside, dressed in an elegant deep blue gown that clung to her figure. Her hair was styled in perfect waves, her lips painted a soft pink. She looked like a princess.Emma, in her plain clothes and messy hair, felt like a beggar in comparison.Lily smiled sweetly, but her eyes held something colder. “You’re still sitting around?” she asked, tilting her head. “You should be getting ready.”Emma frowned. “For what?”Lily let out a soft laugh, stepping closer. “For the gathering, of course. Father has something very special planned for you.”Emma’s heart pounded, but she kept her face blank. “I already know,” she said flatly.Lily
Emma tightened her grip on her sleeves as she stood on the outskirts of the training field. The morning breeze carried the scent of damp earth and pine, but she barely noticed it. Her focus was on the wolves standing before her. They weren’t just warriors—they were the pack’s elite, trained fighters who had proven their worth over the years. Unlike her.Their gazes bore into her, some filled with amusement, others with indifference. A few looked outright annoyed, as if her presence here was a waste of their time. Emma’s stomach churned, but she refused to let it show. She had been humiliated enough.Cedric, the coach , stood at the front, arms crossed over his chest. He was built like a boulder, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered wolves before finally landing on her. There was no warmth in his stare, only the quiet judgment of a man who had already made up his mind.“Since the Alpha decided to keep you,” Cedric said, voice edged with sarcasm, “you’re going to prove that decision was
The nightmare clung to Emma like a second skin, her breath ragged as she sat upright in bed. Her heart was still racing, her mind struggling to pull itself free from the images burned into her skull.Blood.So much blood.Her hands trembled as she stretched them in front of her, expecting to see the deep crimson that had coated them moments ago in her vision. But they were clean. Her skin was pale in the moonlight, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to steady herself.Jayden and Kale.Lifeless. Cold.Emma shook her head violently, trying to dislodge the sickening image. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. But the weight of it pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe.Throwing the blankets off, she stumbled toward the washbasin, nearly tripping over the wooden floorboards. Her fingers fumbled for the metal pitcher, and she poured the water too fast, splashing her hands and the edge of the table. The moment the cold liquid touched her skin, she gasped, pressing her we
Emma had never been one to seek out attention, but avoiding the twins took more effort than she expected.It wasn’t just their presence that unnerved her—it was the vision. The gruesome image of Jayden and Kale lying lifeless, her own hands painted with their blood, haunted her. She could still hear the silence of it, the emptiness in their eyes.So she did the only thing she could. She put distance between them.She trained harder, pushing her body past its limits, forcing herself to stay busy so she wouldn’t have time to think about the vision. She avoided the twins as much as possible, keeping their conversations short and impersonal.At first, Jayden and Kale assumed she was still holding a grudge over how they had treated her before. That was nothing new. But as the days passed, her avoidance became more than just anger—it felt deliberate.She didn’t look at them. Didn’t speak unless she had to.And worst of all, she seemed to be spending more time with Tyler.Keeping Her Distanc
Emma’s silence had once been tolerable. Now, it was suffocating.The twins had always been patient in their own way—Kale, with his calm and calculating nature, and Jayden, with his smirks and simmering intensity. But patience had limits.And Emma was testing theirs.Jayden paced the length of his room, his fists clenching and unclenching.“She’s still ignoring us.” His voice was tight, controlled—but barely.Kale sat on the edge of his bed, arms crossed. “I noticed.”Jayden stopped and turned to him. “That’s it? You ‘noticed’?” His eyes burned with frustration. “She barely looks at us. She barely talks to us. But Tyler? She’s with him all the damn time.”Kale exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t like it either, but pushing her will only make it worse.”Jayden scoffed. “And doing nothing is better?”Kale didn’t respond immediately. His silence stretched, heavy between them.“We have to do something,” Jayden muttered. His voice was lower this time, but no less intense.Kale m
Emma’s mornings had become painfully routine—wake up before sunrise, push through the exhaustion, and prepare for another grueling day of training.But today felt different.She had barely slept.The vision of Jayden and Kale’s lifeless bodies still lingered in her mind, no matter how much she tried to push it away. She could still see the blood on her hands, feel the horror twisting in her stomach.With a shaky breath, she sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. The room was dim, the only light coming from the faint glow of dawn slipping through the wooden shutters.She needed to clear her head.Emma swung her legs over the side of the bed and forced herself up, stretching her stiff muscles. Every inch of her body ached from yesterday’s training, but she ignored the pain and moved toward the small basin of water in the corner.The cold water against her skin jolted her fully awake. She splashed her face again, hoping to wash away the unease that clung to her.After drying off, she opened th
The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a soft golden hue over the pack house. It was quiet, peaceful until the sound of a car pulling into the long driveway disrupted the stillness. The vehicle came to a slow stop near the front gate, and the guard on duty stepped forward with a wary expression.Ava was the first to step out, her chin raised with false confidence and her parents following closely behind her.“Halt,” the guard said, narrowing his eyes as they try to step in. “This area is restricted unless you’re summoned by the Alphas.”Ava scoffed and folded her arms. “Do you not recognize me?”The guard straightened, clearly not impressed. “Doesn’t matter who you are. No one enters without permission especially not after hours.”Ava stepped closer, her voice sharper. “Emma is my sister. The mate of your Alphas. If I want to see her, I will.”Her mother winced at Ava’s tone, but her father only watched quietly, waiting.“She belongs here as much as they do,” Ava added with a glare.
Emma sat motionless on the cold floor, the phone still clutched in her hand as Damien’s voice faded from the call. Her chest tightened, eyes wide, and her heart pounded like a warning drum. The last few words echoed painfully in her head“Three days… just stay hidden.”She couldn’t breathe for a moment.Her throat closed up, and a shaky gasp escaped as hot tears finally broke free. She let the phone drop from her hand as she hugged her knees tightly to her chest.Three days without seeing them.Three days without speaking to them.Three days of pretending like they didn’t matter.How was she supposed to pretend otherwise? After everything they had shared earlier that day… after the way they held her, touched her, kissed her like she was their world. How was she supposed to hide from that?Her body still ached from their passion, but her heart her heart ached even more now.She sniffled and wiped her eyes, trying to quiet the sobs building up inside. It was too much. It was happening t
Emma stood in the café, staring at Ava with narrowed eyes. Her heart thudded quietly against her chest, confusion swimming in her. She had expected Damien, not Ava. Ava sipped from a cup of tea and set it down slowly. “Didn’t expect to see me here, did you?”Emma took a slow step forward, her fists clenched tightly by her sides. “What are you doing here?” Her voice was low but firm. “How did you get access to Damien’s phone?”Ava shrugged with a smirk. “Oh, that?” She waved a hand like it was nothing. “Let’s just say Damien is easy to capture.” “That’s not funny,” Emma said sharply. “Answer me properly.”Ava tilted her head, playing with the edge of her sleeve. “Relax, Em. It’s just a little joke. I sent the message so what? You came, didn’t you?”“You tricked me.” Emma’s breath caught. Ava’s smile widened, but her eyes stayed cold. “I wanted to talk to you.” Emma shook her head and took a step back. “I’m leaving.” She turned toward the door, but before she could reach it, Ava su
Emma lay quietly on the bed, her breath still catching in her throat as her body slowly calmed. The air in the room felt warm, thick with the scent of sweat and something more intimate. Jayden’s strong arms were loosely wrapped around her waist, while Kale lay on her other side, his fingers gently stroking her hair.She blinked up at the ceiling, unable to form a single thought for a while. Her limbs felt heavy spent. Her skin still tingled where they had touched her, kissed her, made her theirs again.Her cheeks burned with the memory.How did this even happen?They had been upset with her. She had been avoiding them. She was scared of what she felt, confused by the chaos inside her chest. But then… somehow, everything had shifted. They had touched her like they couldn’t bear to lose her.And now here she was again wrapped up in their warmth after another night she never planned.Kale chuckled softly, brushing a kiss to her shoulder. “You’re so quiet.”Jayden shifted, pulling her cl
Emma’s breath quickened as she found herself cornered between Jayden and Kale, their tall figures looming on either side. The weight of her nightmare still clung to her chest like chains, suffocating, and impossible to shake off. Her pulse thudded heavily in her ears, and for a brief moment, she considered bolting.Just run, a voice whispered in her head. Before they get too close. Before you fall deeper into something you can’t undo.She clenched her fists and took a small step back, hoping they wouldn’t notice. But Jayden’s sharp, penetrating gaze locked onto her instantly.“Why are you running from us?” His voice was calm, but the firmness in it gave her pause. There was concern there too just enough to make her chest ache.Emma opened her mouth, but her tongue felt heavy. She couldn’t form a proper sentence. How could she explain the storm brewing inside her? How could she say she was scared of herself, of how easy it would be to let them in?“I…” she paused, eyes darting away. “I
The sharp knocking on the door startled Emma awake. Her heart pounded in her chest as she sat up, her mind still hazy from sleep. Who could it be this early in the morning?She rubbed her eyes, dragging herself out of bed. The knocking continued, more urgent this time.“I’m coming,” she mumbled, forcing her tired body to move.With some effort, she reached the door and pulled it open, only to freeze in surprise after her eyes met with the last person she expected. “Tyler?” Her brows furrowed as she took in his presence. She hadn’t expected to see him.Tyler stood before her, his face unreadable. He greeted her with a small nod.“Good morning, Emma.”Emma crossed her arms, still groggy from sleep. “Why are you here?”Tyler hesitated, as if unsure how to say what he came for. “I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be away for a while.”“Away? Where are you going?” Emma widened her eyes. “I can’t tell you that.” His expression darkened, and he looked away.“Why not? Is something wron
Emma sat in the quiet of her room, her mind a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. She couldn’t shake the image of her hands wrapped around Kale’s throat, his desperate struggle, the look of betrayal in his eyes. It had been so real, too real that she couldn’t ignore it. Her chest felt tight, her breathing shallow as she curled into herself. She had run away from them, from the only people who had truly stood by her, because she was afraid. Afraid of what she might do.“What if one day I lose control?”The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Could she really live with herself if she ended up harming the people who meant the world to her? How long would she have to suffer this torment before she was free? Before she could trust herself again?Her fingers clenched against the fabric of her dress.“I need to stop thinking like this. I need to control it.”But no matter how hard she tried, the fear gnawed at her, whispering in the back of her mind that it wasn’t a matter of if, it was a
“You will apologize!” she demanded, her eyes blazing with anger. “How dare you raise a hand against your own blood? Against Lily?” The Luna’s voice was sharp and furious, slicing through the room like a whip.Her fists clenched tightly at her sides, her entire body shaking with barely contained rage. The tension in the room thickened, pressing down on everyone like a heavy weight especially Emma who likes a lost puppy. But Kale and Jayden stood firm. They did not cower under their mother’s fury, nor did they bow their heads in submission. Instead, their expressions remained cold, their bodies unmoving.“No,” Kale said, his voice calm but unyielding.Jayden crossed his arms over his chest, his stance just as firm. “We won’t apologize.”The Luna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me?” She raised an eyebrow. “We won’t apologize for defending Emma.” Kale’s gaze didn’t waver. The Luna let out a harsh breath, frustration clear in her facial expression. “Defending her? From what? The tr
The walk to the Luna’s chambers felt longer than it should have. Emma could feel the weight of the twins’ stares on her. Jayden walked close on one side, his expression unreadable, while Kale was on her other side, his usual smirk absent for once. It was strange to see them this serious. It made her stomach twist with unease. As they reached the large double doors of the Luna’s quarters, the maid stopped and bowed. “Only Lady Emma may enter,” she said hesitantly, clearly nervous under the twins’ sharp gazes. Emma took a breath. “It’s fine,” she murmured, mostly to herself. Jayden placed a firm hand on her wrist. “If she says anything, if she does anything, you call for us. Understood?” Emma met his gaze, seeing the rare concern in his eyes. It sent a strange warmth through her chest. “I will,” she promised. Kale sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Don’t let her mess with your head.” Emma nodded before stepping forward. The doors creaked open, and she slipped inside. Th