“Please, I can't take any more of this,” I begged.The memories continued their relentless assault on me, each one a jagged piece of my past cutting deeper than the last. Standing in my old bedroom, I felt like an unwelcome visitor in my own life, a distant ghost watching my past self navigate through nights filled with loneliness and days heavy with silent judgments.I let out a loud sigh as I threw into yet another unwanted past moment, I saw myself getting ready for dinner at the palace. Olivia from the past appeared in the mirror in front of me, eyes tired from the weight of expectations and a heart heavy with confusion. A knock on the door snapped past me out of her reverie. It was the maid holding a delicate box.“Madam, Alpha asked me to bring this to you,” she said, opening the box to reveal the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen. It sparkled with an elegance that seemed almost otherworldly. My past self gasped, her fingers trembling as she touched it.“Where did this come
Alexander's POVI glanced at the clock on the wall, its minute hand crawling with agonising slowness. Liam sat next to me, his small hand gripping mine so tightly. The feeling of his hand on mine reminded me I was still here, still waiting for her."How much longer?" Liam whispered, his eyes never leaving the closed door."I don't know, buddy," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "We just have to keep waiting."Hours passed in a silent torment. Every time a nurse or doctor walked by, my muscles tensed, hoping they had news. Liam shifted restlessly next to me, his young face contorted in worry. I wished he would never have to know.The door to the operating room finally creaked open, and a doctor stepped out. He looked exhausted, his face lined with shadows of a sleepless night. My heart pounded in my chest as I leapt to my feet, holding my breath."How is she?" I blurted out, my voice cracking.The doctor sighed, looking down at his clipboard before meeting my eyes, his expressi
Alexander’s POVThe room was dark, the only light coming from the soft glow of the monitors surrounding Olivia's bed. I sat beside her, my fingers intertwined with hers, refusing to let go as the days bled into one another. My body was numb, every muscle aching with the strain of holding onto hope.I've sat by her bedside every day for the past month. The twins came to see her every day. The more I saw them, the more I understood why she did what she did. She did it out of love for them, and I could never hate her for wanting to keep our children safe, even if she was keeping them from me. I'd thought about it a few times, telling them that I was their father, but then it dawned on me: who was I to disrupt the only sense of normalcy they had in their lives? They had grown up believing Allan was their father, and he had treated them as if they were his own. How could I be the one to destroy that?One late night, as fatigue weighed heavily on my eyelids, the room suddenly felt colder. My
Olivia's POV:Darkness swirled around me, a thick, suffocating presence that refused to let go. I relived the same nightmares repeatedly: I had begun to believe that I was going to be stuck in this horrible place forever. The oppressive blackness seemed endless until a voice, faint but insistent, pierced through the void."Olivia… Olivia…"The sound was my lifeline. I stumbled forward, driven by a desperate need to reach it. Just as the voice grew louder, a blinding light seared through, blinding me. Startled, my body felt unbearably heavy. Scents—sterile, medicinal, and oddly comforting—filled my senses.The harsh light burned as I pried my eyes open, my vision swimming in a sea of blurriness. "Olivia," the voice repeated, and slowly, the haze began to dissipate."Where am I?" My voice came out gravelly, foreign to my ears.As if my own voice in my ears set something off inside of me panic surged through me as the memories of me standing on the edge of the cliff flashed through my hea
The room was silent. I felt Alexander's eyes on me, burning a hole into my very soul. We had to talk about the twins now. Whatever happened between us before, he had the chance to see his children grow, to hold them, to be there.I took a deep breath, mustering the courage to speak, to say the words that had been festering inside me for so long. "Alexander, Liam and Sasha were..."But before I could finish my words, he leaned closer to me and gave me a big tight hug.The hug was super warm, driving away all the pain and coldness in my dream.“Alexander,” I murmured his name.“I know what you want to say. The moment I saw the twins’ faces, I knew they were mine.”He parted with me a bit and continued what I had ended.“Sorry, I didn’t tell you the truth for a long time. I, I just...” I was just afraid of them being taken away from me."I understand why you did what you did," he continued, stepping closer again. "You were just being a good mother and protecting them."I swallowed hard, my
Alexander’s POVThe chill in the night air was a stark contrast to the warmth of the emotions swirling inside me. Olivia had sent for Allen and the twins to come into the room. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for them to get here. This was the moment I became a father. It wasn't how I dreamed of it being, but my heart still leapt with fear and excitement. The door creaked open, and Allen stepped into the room, followed closely by the twins. I looked between them and Olivia, her eyes filled with a mixture of apprehension and determination. She glanced at Allen appreciatively, knowing the twins would feel more secure with him here. The twins climbed up onto Olivia's bed, wrapping their arms around her.Olivia took a deep breath. “There’s something very important we need to tell you. I should have told you sooner, but... it was complicated.” Allen stood quietly by the doorway. As I looked over at him, my heart ached for him. He had been there for the twins their whole life, st
Olivia’s POVThe night was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves outside the window. Alexander was back in the room like always; he hadn't left my side, taking care of everything I needed. The twins were here with him, playing a game on the floor. A smile played on my lips as I watched them. Moments like these felt almost surreal, like waking up from a hauntingly beautiful dream. My eyes lingered on the tender scene.“Can we talk?” I asked Alexander, breaking the silence. His gaze met mine, and I could see a mix of concern and curiosity. He nodded, gently disentangling himself from the twins.“Kids, why don’t you play in the other room for a bit?” I suggested with a soft smile. They looked hesitant but eventually scampered off after a quick hug from Alexander.As soon as they were gone, I turned to him, my heart racing with a mixture of fear and something else I could not quite work out. “Alexander, we need to have an honest conversation,” I began, folding my arms as if to sh
Olivia’s POVMy mind still replayed the conversation i had with Alexander only a few days ago. I hadn’t let my guard down completely with him but it was hard not to open up my heart every time i saw him with the twins. As the days passed the twins became more welcoming with Alexander and it was clear that they wanted him around.I hadn’t realised that my heart had craved this so much until seeing it with my own eyes. Alexander was in the other room putting the twins to bed just like he had been doing for the past few nights. It was my first night out of hospital and although i was still tired i felt much better.Sitting by my window i heard a soft knock on the door and Aurora swirled inside of me telling me that it was Alexander. “Come in” i called to him keeping my eyes on the window.Alexander stepped inside and his intoxicating scent filled the room. “How are you feeling?” he asked making me turn to looked at him.“Much better but tired.” something out of the corner of my eye turned
Olivia's povA foreboding chill crept into my bones as Reed’s pack vanished behind us, the vast wilderness stretching ahead. My mind was a whirlwind, thoughts flitting like moths around a flame, settling briefly before being cast aside by another pressing concern. Derek’s pack was our destination; saving them demanded urgency that no distraction could deter.The carriage was silent except for the rhythmic clatter of wheels against uneven ground. Alexander sat beside me, his presence comforting but our peace tinged with a palpable tension. Every piece of me ached to reach those in need.As we drew closer, the air shifted, the sweet scent of forest mingling with something acrid and metallic—an unmistakable prelude to the chaos awaiting us. Blood. I inhaled deeply, my senses sharpening, a familiar heat flaring through my veins as we approached the hallowed ground of Derek’s realm. I know longer cared what Reed may have told Derek's pack about me all I wanted to do was help them.In a sud
Reed's PovThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees as I paced the clearing, my thoughts consumed with plans that only I could comprehend. The breeze swept through the whispering birches, making melodies in the leaves, but my mind was deaf to it. I had called a meeting with the pack; each pack member was summoned to our usual rendezvous.When they had all gathered, a mixture of young and battle-worn faces encircled me. I could see their concern, their uncertainty reflected back, shadows of doubt clouding their eyes. "Listen up," I began, feeling their attention zag toward me. "There have been sightings of the dark rogues getting close to us, and I believe tonight they will come."I paused, letting the words sink in. The air grew tense as if holding its breath along with them. A few murmurs erupted, soft as the rustle of leaves, but I raised my hand, silencing them once more. Their loyalty was commendable, but their faith in me needed shoring up."You've heard whispers about the sp
Olivias povThe road was filled with a tense quietness as the carriage bounced over rugged terrain. The scent of pine mingled with the crisp chill in the air, an intoxicating reminder of the mountain's nosebleed peaks and swathes of woodland stretching endlessly beneath the sky. Alexander and I remained silent. Our focus aligned on the journey to the packs that needed us. The horses' hooves pounded rhythmically against the ground, a steady heartbeat pushing us onward."We'll be there soon," Alexander said softly, breaking the delicate bubble of contemplation enveloping us. His voice was a soothing balm against the trepidation I felt, but I knew better than to dwell on them. Before I could reply, Reed's pack came into view as we cleared another slope, and my heart clenched momentarily—as my mind drifted back to all the horrible things that Reed had done, Cassandra’s face flashing before my eyes. I shook my head, pushing the thought out of my head as fast as it came. His town sprawled
Alexanders povThe morning had barely begun, yet the weight of the world pressed heavily on our shoulders as Olivia and I walked down to the triplet alphas' office. The hallway was alive with murmurs, everyone eager to thank Olivia. Each gesture of gratitude was a vital reminder of just how much we owed her. The warmth in their eyes contrasted sharply with the shadow of worry that clung stubbornly to her face."Olivia," a young omega called, offering a shy smile as we passed. "Thank you for saving us."Olivia nodded, though her eyes betrayed her restlessness. I could feel her tension like an electric current between us. The dream she had last night weighed on her like lead, and I understood her fear—it was the fear that gnawed at me, too. Our thoughts were locked on our children, Liam and Sarah, who were miles away in the city, possibly at the mercy of dark rogues.As we entered the office, the room was already buzzing with discussions on our next move. The triplet alphas—Cole, Casper
Olivia's povI found a spot overlooking the pack grounds, where I could see the far horizon painted with hues of twilight. Sitting down, exhaustion overwhelmed me. My body ached from the turmoil of the past days, and my eyelids were heavy, struggling to remain open. Despite knowing I should stay alert, sleep tugged at me with relentless persistence. Just a moment, I told myself, my eyes slipping shut as I drifted off.In an instant, I was home, laughter echoing around me. Liam and Sarah, my joyful twins, ran ahead, their giggles a balm to my weary soul. Chasing after them, I called out, the evening's gentle glow transforming suddenly as the sky turned an ominous shade of black."Time to come inside!" I shouted, but only their laughter answered. Confusion churned in my gut as I searched the darkening landscape. The shadows around swirled, their movements taunting and elusive. Panic flared sharply as the twins' laughter ceased, replaced by silence."Liam! Sarah!" I yelled, desperation c
Olivia's povWith my heart drumming loudly in my ears, I watched Victor. He lay still, his breathing shallow as the Glass warmth kissed his lips. My hands lingered close, trembling with uncertainty. "Drink, Victor, please," I urged softly, my voice barely above a whisper, a prayer wrapped in hope.I held my breath, time moving languidly, stretching uneasily around us. The weight of the moment pressed heavily upon my shoulders. Each heartbeat felt like an endless echo, my pulse a desperate chorus in the quiet room. And just when doubt threatened to choke me, Victor’s lips parted softly. His throat moved, taking in the liquid, a small sip at first, then another. Relief washed over me, the tension slowly uncoiling as I watched the colour gradually begin to return to his cheeks. With every drop he swallowed, I felt the oppressive heat that had wrapped around him like chains begin to diminish.I didn’t allow myself to get too hopeful, not yet—not until I was sure. But the change was undeni
Olivias povI turned sharply, and the chill that ran down my spine got colder when I saw what the panic in Alexander's eyes was about. On the floor lay Victor, my brother, motionless. Alexander was kneeling beside him, urgently checking his pulse."Victor!" I cried out, racing to his side. My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out any other noise. Kneeling down, I reached for his hand. It was cold and clammy, a stark contrast to the fever emanating all around us. A knot tightened in my stomach."He collapsed just now," Alexander explained, urgency bleeding into his tone. His hand was on Victor's chest, listening to the shallow rise and fall of his breath. "He must have tried to hide how he was feeling to help the others."A heavy, suffocating wave of fear threatened to pull me under. Victor was always the strongest, the rock of our family, alongside our shared purpose to protect. Seeing him so vulnerable was a blow I wasn't prepared for.At that moment, only one thought pulsed th
Olivias pov"What's happening, Victor?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear and panic swirling inside of me.He hesitated, eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher—worry, seriousness. "It's the pack," he finally said, each word carrying the gravity of bad news. "Many of them are very sick—and it's spreading fast."My heart thudded, a drum pounding within my chest. "Sick? How?" I pressed, urgency soaring through every syllable."It started an hour ago with the members who were near the fire, inhaling the smoke. We just thought that it was from breathing in too much of that toxic smoke and would go away once they got some fresh air and rest," Victor explained, his eyes briefly meeting mine, filled with uncharacteristic vulnerability. "But now it's spreading wider, reaching even those who were not directly affected."Panic began its insidious climb within me. "We need to see them," Alexander interjected, his voice a steady beacon of purpose.Victor nodded, leading
Olivia's povI stood on the balcony, watching the grey clouds climb higher—the leftover ashes of the dark burning up. The sharp smell filled the air, making it hard to breathe, yet it was a burden we had to carry. As much as I wanted to rest, a nagging feeling kept me awake. The rogues haunted us, their threats hiding in every shadow, reminding us of the danger we faced.The night quickly draped around us, its shadows reaching out like curious hands, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the sight of the smoke rising into the evening sky. Frustration threatened to overflow; I was exhausted beyond words, yet adrenaline kept me tied to what lay below. Each heartbeat carried the hope that this would be the end of it.A soft sound broke the silence, and I turned to see Alexander standing there, concern softly marking his face. His presence was warmth against the cold pressing in, and I fought the urge to collapse into his arms."You should be asleep, Olivia," he said, his voice gentle.I s