Yasmin’s back slammed into the cold stone wall, her vision swimming as she tried to catch her breath. She barely had a moment to recover before she heard the laughter—a cruel, mocking sound that echoed through the small dining hall. Her tormentors stood above her, their eyes alight with twisted delight. "Wolfless and weak!" sneered a tall boy, his lips curling in disgust. He leaned closer, his voice dripping with scorn. "What good are you to anyone, Yasmin? You’re a burden to the pack." The others laughed, the sound harsh and piercing. Yasmin kept her gaze lowered, trying to keep her expression blank. She knew better than to respond. Words would only make it worse. "Look at her," another girl jeered, flinging her plate at Yasmin. It struck her arm, the sharp edge cutting into her skin as the leftover food splattered across her clothes. "Pathetic." More plates followed, one after the other, shattering against her as she tried to shield herself. The smell of stale food clung to
As she walked through the pack house, her body heavy with exhaustion and hunger, she heard laughter ahead. It was light, carefree, filled with excitement. A group of girls stood near the staircase, their voices carrying through the hallway. Yasmin’s eyes caught sight of Tasin, her number one tormentors and pack mean girl, in the middle of them, her golden hair shining under the lights as she giggled with her friends. They were dressed in bright colors, their smiles wide, their eyes filled with anticipation. "The Red Moon is just a few days away," Tasin was saying, her voice filled with excitement. "I can’t wait to find out who my mate is. Can you imagine? Our destined mates, under the light of the moon... it’s going to be perfect." One of the other girls laughed, nudging Tasin playfully. "Who do you think it’ll be, Tasin? Maybe one of the alphas? Or that handsome warrior from the east?" Tasin blushed, her eyes sparkling. "I don’t know. But I hope he’s strong. Someone who can p
Zaid awoke from his slumber, the comforting darkness of his room barely disturbed by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. He blinked, his sharp eyes catching sight of a hazy, naked figure standing at the edge of his bed. He tensed instantly, his body on high alert, but as his vision cleared, he realised who it was. Edna- his Gamma's sister. He growled low in his throat, the sound reverberating through the room. "What are you doing here, Edna?" His tone was dangerous, edged with irritation. "And why are you undressed in my quarters?" Edna only smirked, her eyes smoldering as she took a step closer, her hips saying suggestively. "I came to see you, Alpha," she purred, her fingers reaching out to trace the edge of his blanket. "I thought you might need some. . . company." She leaned in, her lips parted, her fingers wandering across his arm. For a fleeting moment, Zaid felt a faint shot of desire his wolf responding to the scent of the willing female before him
Days later, Alpha Zaid stood in the dimly lit office of the Moonbeam Pack’s Alpha house, his patience wearing thin. He had been trying to close a deal with Alpha Saif for days, but the negotiations were proving to be far more challenging than he had anticipated. The deal was meant to benefit both packs—a trade agreement that would secure resources for Zaid's territory and allow Moonbeam Pack exclusive access to certain hunting grounds. But Saif’s greed had made him unwilling to agree, arguing that the deal didn’t offer him enough in return. Zaid clenched his jaw as he stared at the documents laid out on the table. Alpha Saif’s reluctance was infuriating; the man wanted more, always more, and it was beginning to wear on Zaid’s last nerve. His patience, already thin to begin with, was now hanging by a thread. He wasn't used to waiting, wasn't used to being stalled by someone else's selfishness. And yet here he was, still stuck in the Moonbeam Pack’s territory, far longer than he had in
The bond shattered, and Yasmin felt the warmth replaced by a cold, searing pain that tore through her very soul. She gasped, her knees buckling as she fell to the ground, her hands clutching at her chest as if she could somehow hold the pieces of her heart together. The agony was unlike anything she had ever felt—like something inside her was being ripped apart, leaving her hollow and broken. Laughter echoed around her, cruel and mocking, as she struggled to breathe. She looked up, her vision blurred with tears, and saw Ian’s face—guilt etched into his features. But he didn’t reach out to her, didn’t offer her a hand. He simply shook his head, turned away, and walked off with his friends, leaving her there on the ground. "Look at the runt," someone sneered. "Thinking she could be mated to someone like Ian." "Pathetic," another voice added, and Yasmin heard the laughter grow louder, their cruel words cutting into her like knives. Yasmin felt her heart shatter, the pieces scatte
Zaid didn’t wait for her to change her mind. He moved swiftly, scooping her up in his arms, feeling her soft body press against his chest. She gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, and he could feel her heart pounding against him. He held her close, and in a flash, he used his wolf speed to take her to his guest quarters, his feet barely touching the ground as he ran. He pushed the door open, stepping inside and kicking it shut behind them. The room was dimly lit, the moonlight streaming through the window casting shadows across the floor. He set her down, his hands lingering on her waist, his gaze locked on hers. She looked up at him, her eyes wide, her lips trembling. For a moment, she hesitated, and Zaid felt his own breath catch, the intensity of the moment almost overwhelming. Then, slowly, she reached up, her fingers brushing against his cheek, and he knew—knew that tonight would be theirs, that for this one night, they would forget everything else.~~~~T
Yasmin’s heart raced as she slipped out of the pack’s guesthouse, the weight of last night pressing down on her like a stone. Her cheeks flushed at the memory: waking up beside a powerful man with an aura so potent it made her feel like she was drowning. Panic had surged through her veins the moment she’d realized what had happened. The Red Moon Festival. The night when unmated wolves gathered, hoping fate would be kind enough to grant them their destined mate. And it had been. Ian—the pack’s gentle, kind-hearted soldier, the one she’d quietly admired for years. Her heart had skipped a beat when he’d been revealed as her mate, her deepest wish come true. But the memory of what happened next cut like a blade, raw and unforgiving. The rejection. She’d barely absorbed the thrill of finally having a mate before Ian had rejected her in front of the entire pack, his words echoing with an unexpected cruelty. The humiliation and heartbreak of that moment washed over her again now, like ic
Yasmin dragged her mop across the cold, stone floor, her arms weak and sore. Her back ached from bending over all day, and every muscle felt like it was on fire. The pack members had made sure to remind her of her place today, jeering and shoving as she passed by, calling her names like "wolfless wretch" and "omega scum." She kept her eyes down, scrubbing the floor with everything she had, hoping to make herself as small as possible. When she finished, Yasmin tried to push herself up, but a sudden wave of dizziness nearly toppled her. She pressed a hand to her mouth as nausea hit her, bile rising in her throat. Stumbling to her feet, she managed to make her way outside, rushing to the edge of a bushel where she sank to her knees and threw up. Her body shook with every heave, and she gripped the grass as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. "Get it together," she muttered to herself, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. The nausea had been coming and going for days
Zaid led Zephyr through the side door of the shed, flipping on the light with a flick of his wrist. The space came alive as the overhead bulbs illuminated the dusty, warm wooden beams and walls. Shelves upon shelves lined the room, stacked high with wooden carvings, tools, and unfinished pieces. There were intricately carved animal figurines, hand-forged furniture, delicate picture frames, and even detailed sculptures of wolves, their faces frozen in mid-snarls. The smell of sawdust and fresh-cut wood filled the air, grounding everything in the comforting scent of craftsmanship.Zephyr’s eyes widened in awe as he slowly took in the room. His small hands instinctively reached out, his fingers itching to touch the polished surfaces of the creations. “Wow! Did you make all these?” His voice was a mixture of amazement and genuine curiosity.Zaid chuckled, a low rumble that made the room feel warmer. “Yes, I did. Every single one.” He paused, stepping aside to give Zephyr room to explore.
The silence at the dinner table was thick, pressing down like a weighted blanket over Yasmin as she tried to focus on the beautifully arranged plates and not the piercing gaze of Zaid’s mother across from her. Yasmin stole a glance at Zephyr, who was busy marveling at the feast set before him, oblivious to the tension she felt building around her."So," Zaid’s mother began, her tone smooth but sharp as she studied Yasmin, as if weighing every word before speaking. "Tell me about yourself. You don’t seem to carry a family name."Yasmin swallowed, caught off guard by the blunt question. “No, ma’am,” she answered softly, meeting the woman’s gaze with as much confidence as she could muster. “I don’t… have one.”Zaid’s mother tilted her head, her expression neither approving nor disapproving, merely curious. “Just Yasmin, then. And your origins?” she asked, folding her hands neatly as she leaned forward.“Yes,” Yasmin replied, taking a quick breath to steady herself. “I’m from the Moonbeam
Zaid’s mother’s house was tucked a little way into the woods, removed from the bustling heart of the Crimson Fang Pack’s main grounds. As they approached, Yasmin took in the modest, two-story building with a warmth that suited the woman she was about to meet. The structure was quaint, with ivy creeping up the stone walls and a garden of herbs sprawling to the side. The scent of rosemary and sage filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of cooking, and Yasmin couldn’t help but feel a little comforted by the home’s earthy charm.Zaid stepped up to the door, gave it a solid knock, and after a moment, a voice called from inside, “Come in!”Yasmin took a steadying breath, her nerves fluttering as they stepped over the threshold. The interior of the house was inviting and lived-in, the kind of space that spoke to years of care and small touches of personality. Jars of dried herbs lined the shelves in the entryway, filling the air with a subtle, calming fragrance. Nearby, potted plants
Zaid leaned against the stone wall of Crimson Academy, his sharp eyes scanning the grounds as children began to trickle out of the school in pairs and clusters. Parents waited along the sides, greeting their children with open arms, and some of the pack members who recognized him gave respectful nods, bowing their heads slightly in deference as they passed. After a moment, Zaid spotted Zephyr emerging from the school, his dark hair bouncing as he animatedly talked to two other boys. One of them, Zaid recognized immediately—it was Marla's son, whose laugh was as boisterous as his mother’s. Zaid couldn’t help but smile as he watched the easy camaraderie between the three boys, feeling a pang of pride. Zephyr caught sight of him then, and his whole face lit up. With a quick wave goodbye to his friends, he broke into a run, his small feet thumping against the ground as he crossed the courtyard toward Zaid. Zaid crouched down, a warm smile spreading across his face as he opened his arms
Zaid leaned over the cluttered table, his eyes sharp and focused on the files scattered around him. Various maps, reports, and plans lay in a disorderly array, but his mind was already piecing them together, analyzing every possible angle. Across from him, his Beta, Khal, had his arms folded, eyes narrowed as he studied the central map, occasionally throwing out ideas. His Gamma, Ren, paced back and forth, his voice punctuating the silence with suggestions.“What if we take a different approach here?” Ren pointed to a position on the map. “Maybe station an extra patrol at the eastern border. We’ve seen a lot more movement there.”Zaid considered this for a moment. “It’s a good point,” he muttered, tracing a line with his finger along the map. “But we’d need to draw resources from another area to make it work.” He glanced at Khal. “Thoughts?”Khal stroked his beard thoughtfully. “We could ease up the west boundary, bring two patrols over to cover that side. Haven’t seen activity over t
Yasmin woke before her alarm, her mind already racing with thoughts of Zephyr’s first day. She padded quietly through the room, the soft morning light filtering through the windows as she headed to Zephyr’s room. Pushing open the door, she found him sitting on the edge of his bed, still rubbing sleep from his eyes as he fumbled with the buttons on his crisp new uniform.She couldn’t help but smile as she moved closer, crouching down to fix his collar and smooth out the fabric of his shirt. “Look at you,” she murmured. “My little man, all grown up.”He grinned as she ruffled his hair. “Mom,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes. “It’s just school. I’ll be fine.”“Just school,” she repeated, her smile widening. “But you're really excited to start this ‘just school.’"Zephyr’s face softened, a faint, proud smile tugging at his lips, though he quickly tried to hide it. “I guess…”Yasmin brushed a stray curl from his forehead, feeling a lump in her throat. “And besides, this uniform makes you look
As the last of the dishes were cleared away and the bustling dining hall began to quiet, Yasmin leaned back, content and full, her gaze drifting to where Zephyr was laughing with a group of children at a nearby table. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes bright, his happiness filling her with a profound, grateful warmth. She’d longed to see him like this, truly carefree.“Yasmin,” Zaid’s voice cut through her thoughts, gentle but commanding. She turned, meeting his thoughtful gaze. “I wanted to talk to you about Zephyr. I assume he's been receiving education?”Yasmin nodded. “Yes, just the basics—reading, a little arithmetic. Thistlethorn didn't offer much. And I know it’s not enough. I’ve been trying to teach him more, but…” She trailed off, unsure how to put into words the frustration and limitations she’d felt. “He deserves more.”Zaid’s expression softened. “I’ve seen his spirit. He’s hungry to learn, I can tell. And he should have the opportunity to grow—in every way.” He glanced ov
Yasmin stirred awake, slowly peeling her eyes open as the softness of the bed cradled her in a comforting cocoon. She sighed deeply, feeling as if she’d slept for a lifetime. This bed had to be enchanted; nothing else could explain how utterly refreshed she felt. A smile tugged at her lips as she stretched, her gaze drifting to the window where she noticed the sky deepening into shades of twilight. With a soft groan, she reluctantly sat up, brushing her hair back and deciding it was time to find Zephyr. She padded out of her room and crossed the hall to his, only to find it empty. Her heart fluttered with a slight pang of worry, her motherly instincts already kicking in as she glanced up and down the corridor. He could be anywhere in this enormous house, and the thought of him wandering alone made her stomach twist. Yasmin took a steadying breath, reminding herself that this wasn’t a strange place—at least, not to Zaid. And Zaid was with him, so he was safe. Squaring her shoulders,
The Crimson House was like stepping into a world Yasmin couldn’t have dreamed of. The entrance hall stretched on and on, its high, vaulted ceilings carved with images of wolves, stars, and ancient vines that twisted together in a mesmerizing pattern. Sunlight poured through enormous windows, casting a golden light across polished marble floors, and art lined the walls—paintings that told stories of the pack’s history, legends of battles, and serene landscapes of the northern forests. Portraits of former Alphas watched over the space, their faces resolute, capturing centuries of legacy and strength.Yasmin lingered near the entrance, feeling almost reluctant to move forward, her hand unconsciously tightening on the shoulder of her young son, Zephyr, who was wide-eyed with amazement. His mouth opened in a soft “wow,” and Yasmin couldn’t help but smile as she watched him take it all in. He looked so small against the vastness of the hall, yet his excitement filled her with a quiet streng