I tossed and turned all night, sleep teasing me as the thought of our impending divorce felt both real and surreal. Dawn's early light started to seep through the curtains when I decided to get up. I made up my mind to face Allen again and discuss our next steps.Voices carried up from the kitchen, their tones hushed but earnest. My curiosity piqued, and I made my way downstairs to find Allen sitting at the table, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands.“Morning,” he said softly, managing a faint smile. His eyes betrayed the sleepless night he’d endured as well.“Morning,” I replied, taking a seat across from him. “I suppose we should talk about the trip?”“Yes,” he nodded, setting his cup down. “I think it would be good for the kids, and maybe it’ll give us some closure too."Closure. The word lingered in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.“I’ve always wanted to visit that small town not far from here, right on the beach,” I said quietly, trying to shift the mood. The se
Alexanders povI had found nothing in the files of Cassandra's death. I don't know why I had even bothered; I had read them a million times before and never seen anything that stood out. The evidence, the witness and the logic all made sense. Sigh! I put down the documents and decided to leave these things behind. Maybe time would give me an answer one day. I made my way down the grand staircase, and as I got halfway down, Olivia's scent filled my nostrils. I looked up to see her standing by the door, a bag by her side. "Olivia," I began, taking the last few steps to reach her. "Alexander," she interrupted, her voice was peaceful and calm. "What are you doing here? " That was not a good sign, her peaceful expression let me feel she really decided to let her past go. It was obvious that I was the part of the past she gave up. That stung. I sighed, trying to collect my thoughts, feeling the walls closing in around me. "Olivia, I need to tell you something before I go." She looked
Olivia's POVI made my way to where I had told Allen I would meet him so we could leave for our holiday. My mind was still replaying the conversation I had just had with Alexander. I couldn't believe that he and Lidia had come up with a plan like that. It was no secret that Lidia didn't like me and blamed me for our father's death, but I never thought she would do something like that. As I came around the corner, I saw Victor and Lidia standing there with Allen and the twins. Liam called out. “Mummy”, and he ran towards me, wrapping his arms around my legs. “I'm so excited about our holiday. I've never seen the beach before.” “I can't wait either,” I said with a warm smile as I ruffled his hair.Allen came, taking my bag, and my eyes fell on Lidia, who looked sad for some reason. She stood with her shoulders slumped and an absent look in her eyes as if lost in her own world. "Lydia, are you alright?" I asked softly, stepping closer to her. She forced a weak smile, but it didn’t reac
The rain soon became too heavy, making it impossible for the driver to see properly. As we skidded around the muddy roads, the twins clung to me. The excitement we all once had was long gone and now replaced with fear. The crashes of thunder were deafening, and with each one, the twins cried out with fear. I kept calm, whispering sweet words to them, trying my best to take away their fear. The carriage came to a stop, and I looked out the window, trying to see where we were, but the night was too dark. The carriage door came open, and one of the guards stuck his head in. “There is a store here where we can seek shelter till the storm passes.” Allen nodded his head and went to follow the guard out of the carriage, but before he could, I grabbed his arm, stopping him. He turned to look at me with a confused look on his face. “Allen, are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice low so the twins wouldn't hear me. “We don't have a choice, Olivia. It is much t
My breath caught in my throat as Allen's eyes darkened, his stance shifting to one of readiness. The air in the store grew even tenser, like a taut string on the verge of snapping. The twins sensed the danger, too, their small hands clutching at my cloak, their eyes wide with fright."What's the meaning of this?" Allen demanded, his voice robust despite the tense situation. "What do you want from us?"The leader of the rogues, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered. "Justice, for one. Retribution, for another." He took a deliberate step closer, his followers mirroring his movements.Allen drew a deep breath. "These are innocent children. Leave them out of your vendetta.""Innocent?" the rogue hissed, his eyes gleaming with a malicious light. "Does innocence matter when our lives were torn apart by the very man you serve?"The tension was palpable, the storm outside forgotten amidst the brewing conflict within the store. I could feel the weight of each heartbeat, a drum
My body shook with fear as my eyes stayed glued on Sarah's fear-filled face. “Please don't hurt her. We will do as you ask,” I begged the man. “Grab the boy,” he ordered. I quickly ran to Liam and wanted to protect my child, but before I could, a man grabbed him, pulled him away, and held on to him tight. Liam fought, trying to get away from the man as he yelled at them. “Leave me alone. Let my sister go.” I looked around the room. All our guards lay dead, and Allen was on his knees. He was hurt badly but trying his best to hide it. “Take the children and beta here and lock them up.” My heart started to pound in my chest, and my mind raced a million miles an hour, trying to think of something to stop them from taking them away and getting us out of there. The leader turned back to me, his eyes locking onto mine. “And you will run back to Alpha Victor and tell him that we have his Beta and his children.” They started to take Allen and the twins out of the room. “Wait!” I called o
Allens pov“Hold on, Sarah,” I muttered through gritted teeth, my legs pumping as my body screamed in protest. The forest path back to the palace stretched on endlessly, every shadow a potential enemy. My left arm throbbed, blood dripping down my sleeve from the deep cut I’d sustained during the fight. The wind sliced through the trees, mocking my desperation."Allen," Sarah’s voice wavered, small and frightened against my chest. "I'm scared." “We’re almost there,” I lied, my breath hitching with pain. “Just hold on a bit longer.”My vision blurred, and my legs wobbled beneath me, threatening to drop us both. My foot caught on a root, sending me sprawling to the ground. Sarah cried out as we hit the mud. Pain surged through my injured arm, and I had to bite down to keep from screaming.I tried to push myself up, but my strength was failing me. Black spots danced in front of my eyes. Collapsing like this wasn't an option—not when their lives were on the line. Using my uninjured arm, I m
Alexanders povThe rain pelted down, each cold droplet like a shard of ice against my skin as I stepped out of my carriage to see if I could find somewhere for us to hold up until the storm passed. Streams of water ran down the helm of my cloak, soaking me to the bone. The storm had come in quicker than anticipated, and the night sky roared like an angry beast. "Alexander!" Ethan's voice barely pierced through the wind. "We can't see anything up ahead. We need to pull up and wait it out!" I knew he was right, but the thought of Olivia being out there ate away at my insides. I had sent Rebecca home with my most trusted guards and given them the orders not to wait for my return to the kingdom to just behead her. Ethan and I followed behind Olivia. I knew Olivia didn't want to go with me, but I thought I wouldn't see her for a long time and it was a long journey, I wanted to keep her safe. So I chose to follow her family and escort them quietly. If she needed any help, I would be ther
Olivia's POVThe tension in the room thickened as Cole spoke, his words carrying the weight of a disturbing revelation. "Two of our pack members were on their way here a few days ago with gifts for your victory celebration, but they never arrived. When we got word that they hadn’t made it, we sent out people to search for them." His voice faltered for a moment as if the next words weighed heavily on him. "What we found was not what we had hoped. One of them was dead, the other missing, and the carriage was gone."A chill ran down my spine. I couldn’t bear to hear this. The situation was growing more dire than I’d imagined."Two days ago, we found the carriage," Cole continued, his gaze hardening as he recalled the grim discovery. "It wasn’t far from here. And this morning, we found the other missing pack member."My heart pounded in my chest. "Where did you find him?" I asked, my voice almost whispering, desperate for any hope.Cole's gaze flickered to the others before he spoke again
Olivia's POVThe sun had barely risen, but the kingdom was already alive with energy. The grand celebration for our victory was being planned for that evening, and every pack was invited to join in the festivities. The air was thick with excitement and anticipation.I had just finished speaking with Ethan about his proposal to Lidia. His nerves were apparent, but I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He was nervous, but I knew he was ready. Before I walked away, I placed a gentle hand on his arm, offering him a reassuring smile."Don’t forget," I said softly, "when I say I’d like to thank my sister, that’s your cue."Ethan nodded, his expression shifting to one of determination. "I won’t forget. Everything will be perfect."I gave him a quick nod before heading toward Alexander’s office. As I walked through the corridors, I caught sight of the triplet alphas—Cole, Casper, and Carlson—along with their shared mate. They greeted me warmly, offering hugs and smiles."It’s good to see you
Olivia's POVThe ceremony had come to an end, and the officiant's voice rang out, full of warmth and joy. "You may now kiss your mate."For a long moment, Alexander and I stood there, neither of us moving. Our eyes met a deep, silent understanding passing between us. The world outside the two of us felt distant—almost irrelevant. It was as if time itself had paused, giving us this moment to just be, to finally breathe, to finally have each other completely.And then, as though it was inevitable, Alexander leaned in, his breath warm against my lips. His eyes never left mine, and in them, I saw everything I had ever hoped for—the love we'd both fought for, the bond that had only grown stronger over time.His lips were soft when they first touched mine, and I felt my heart flutter, a thousand emotions rushing through me. But then he deepened the kiss, his hand cupping the side of my face as he pulled me closer. I responded instantly, my fingers threading through his hair, holding him as
Olivia's POVMy heart raced as I took in the sight of the garden, the flowers a stunning blend of colours beneath the glowing moonlight. Every detail had been crafted with care, each petal, each whisper of the breeze, all speaking of the love that had brought us here. But none of it mattered more than the man standing before me.Adjusting the dress that flowed around me like liquid silk. Victor and Allen flanked me, both looking incredibly proud and supportive, but their presence felt like a blur, fading in comparison to the figure at the end of the aisle: Alexander.When my eyes met his, everything else melted away. The crowd, the world—everything faded until only he remained. There he was, waiting for me, his face a mixture of longing and awe. My heart swelled with emotions that couldn’t be put into words. No part of me felt nervous. Everything just felt right.For so long, I had fought the love that bloomed between us, but tonight, under the stars and in the presence of our family,
Alexander's POVI stood before the mirror, adjusting the pristine cuffs of my shirt, the faintest tremor of nervousness threatening to disrupt the calm exterior I fought so hard to maintain. My reflection stared back at me—sharp jawline, hair perfectly styled, the weight of responsibility etched in my gaze. But beyond the Alpha that I am, I saw the man who was about to marry the woman of his dreams for the second time, but this time, I would not take her for granted. I would treat her the way that I should have from the start.My chest tightened as I ran a hand over the collar of my suit. Everything was perfect. The flowers, the guests, the setting. But all I could focus on was the one thing that had eluded me for far too long—the realisation that this was the life I had always wanted yet failed to see for long, and I hated myself for that.A soft knock at the door drew my attention, and I turned to see Ethan standing in the doorway, his usual confidence absent, replaced by something
Olivia's povThe shop door chimed softly as we entered. The dressmaker, a kind older woman with an eye for detail and warmth to match, greeted us with a beaming smile. Bolts of exquisite fabrics lined the walls, their colours are vibrant, each one telling its own tale. I knew the one I held within my heart today—a tale of love, resilience, and hope.Lidia followed me closely, her earlier doubts seeming to melt away amid the excitement of the shop. "I’ve been waiting for this," she confessed softly, leaning closer as she took in the palatial display of elegant gowns. "Getting to see you in your wedding dress is like a dream."We approached the mirrored dais, where an array of wedding dresses awaited—each one a masterpiece of lace and silk and dreams sewn into reality. As I stepped upon the dais, emotions welled within me, teetering precariously on a tide of sentiment and expectation. I reached for a gown gently, fingers trailing over the delicate beadwork, feeling the promise imbued w
Olivia's povI knew Ethan was trying to muster his courage. His hands trembled slightly as he thumbed the edges of the box, cooling his earlier confidence. Finally, he opened the box, revealing a stunning ring. The large moonstone at its centre caught the light, casting an ethereal glow that seemed to shimmer with life."Olivia, this ring has been in my family for hundreds of years," Ethan said, his voice tinged with reverence and nerves. The raw honesty in his eyes touched me deeply.“It’s beautiful," I murmured, genuinely captivated by the artifact's majesty and the legacy it represented.Ethan went red-cheeked, the usual bravado he donned so effortlessly slipping away. "I was wondering if you would…" He paused, his words stumbling over one another like a landslide. I waited, offering him patience and a soft smile of reassurance.After a moment, he cleared his throat and started again. "I mean, I'm here to ask for Lidia's hand in marriage. I haven't seen Victor yet, but he'll under
alexanders povThe anticipation that pulsed through my veins was far stronger than any battle I'd waged, any beast I'd fought. Tonight was the night Olivia and I would affirm what we already knew in our hearts: that we were meant to be together. Our bond had withstood countless trials, and now it would be sealed under the moonlight with the people we loved.Despite the day’s beauty, echoes of concern lingered. Red flags flew in my mind every time I thought of Reed. His absence was like a splinter under my skin—a constant irritation that could not be ignored. But tonight was not about him. Tonight was about Olivia, about our family, and about the life we were building together.The palace was bustling with excitement. People flitted about, preparing for the evening’s festivities. I had instructed everyone to keep the atmosphere relaxed yet festive. Even though she opted for a simple ceremony, Olivia deserved a night filled with joy and laughter.Maneuvering through the busy rooms, I fi
**Olivia's POV**I took a breath, the pleasant scent of roses filling my nose. The garden was alive with nature's symphony, a perfect backdrop for what could be the most significant day of my life. Alexander had already set to arranging everything needed for our moonlit wedding. Tonight would be magic.I left the garden, excitement twirling within me as I ventured toward the dressmaker to see if she had anything that I could wear tonight with such short notice. I noticed there was no time for me to have something made, but I didn't care. The dress was not important; marrying my mate was the only thing that mattered. My footsteps echoed softly off the cobblestone path, each step a rhythmic countdown to becoming Alexander’s wife.As I approached, the gentle hum of early morning activity filled the air. People were setting up stalls for the evening's festival, laughter mingling with the scents of freshly baked goods. We hadn’t had a true celebration in so long; spirits were high, and eve