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. But it vanished just as quickly as it had come, overtaken by the cold logic that always ruled him. With a huff, he flicked her hand away, his expression hardening. "Enough." He said, his voice commanding. "Leave." Edna pouted, he gaze narrowing slightly, a mixture of hurt and confusion crossing her features. "Why do you keep refusing me, Alpha?" She asked, her voice dipping into a whine. "I could make you feel so good. . . " Zaid didn't deign to respond, his face impassive as he held her gaze with cold authority. "Out." He ordered, his eyes darkening. Edna's lips twitched with frustration but she knew better than to defy her Alpha when his eyes held that particular deadly gleam. She reached for her robe with a frown, wrapping it around her body hastily, her pride stung before she turned and hurried out, her cheeks flushed with shame. As the door clicked shut behind her Zaid shook his head. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, his eyes shifting to the window. The room was bathed in the pale silvery glow of the moon. His mind briefly turned to the approaching Red Moon- a time when unmated wolves in every pack waited eagerly for the moon to reveal their destined mates. His lips curled in derision. He'd been waiting his 'mate' for the past 200 years, to no avail. Two centuries of endless waiting for what did not exist. He'd long given up on finding her, and he knew this year's Red Moon would come and go like all the others. Perhaps the Moon Goddess didn't deign to give a hopeless monster like him a mate, which was absolutely understandable. He pushed the thought away from his mind and rose. He had work to do, a pack to run and all that. There was no time to worry about unexisiting mates. ~~~~ The Moonbeam Pack was in a frenzy of preparations, their spirits high as the Red Moon festival drew closer. Laughter echoed through the village, and the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meat filled the air. Bright decorations adorned the pack house, and everyone was eager for the celebration. Yasmin, however, had been working ten times as hard as anyone else, her body aching from the long hours and heavy chores. She scrubbed floors until her hands were raw, carried heavy baskets until her arms felt like they would fall off, and kept her head down through it all. Thankfully, with everyone’s minds focused on the festivities, her usual tormentors seemed to have forgotten about her. The brief reprieve allowed her to heal in peace, the bruises on her skin slowly fading. Her empty stomach gnawed at her, but that hunger had become a familiar companion, one she had learned to endure without complaint. After she was done cleaning the pack's massive hall—scrubbing until her fingers ached and her back protested—she was finally given a moment of respite. One of the kitchen hands, a gruff older wolf, informed her she was to report to the pack farm in an hour. It was the only time she’d get to herself, and she was determined to make the most of it. Yasmin slipped away, her bare feet moving silently over the packed dirt path. She knew a shortcut, a small, hidden trail that led deep into the woods. It was a path she had discovered when she was a child, a place where she could be alone, away from the prying eyes and cruel words. The narrow trail wound through the thick trees, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in dappled patches. Eventually, she reached her destination—a small stream, crystal clear, that ran gently over smooth stones. Yasmin glanced around, ensuring no one was nearby, before she quickly undressed. She let her clothes drop to the grassy bank, the worn fabric pooling at her feet. The cool air brushed against her bare skin, and she stepped into the stream, sighing in relief as the cold water closed around her aching muscles. She sank down, the water lapping at her shoulders, and let herself relax. The sounds of the forest surrounded her—the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, the gentle trickle of water. She closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face, her fingers trailing through the water. For a moment, she allowed herself to forget everything—her duties, the endless work, the cruel laughter. Here, she was free. But the sound of rustling leaves pulled her out of her peaceful thoughts, and her eyes snapped open, her heart jumping in her chest. She turned, too late to react, as two unfamiliar men appeared, their uniforms marking them as guards from another pack. They were talking and laughing among themselves, but when they saw her, they stopped. “Well, what do we have here?” one of them said, a grin spreading across his face. Yasmin’s breath caught in her throat, panic flooding her veins. She scrambled to her feet, the water splashing around her as she rushed to the bank. She fumbled for her clothes, her fingers trembling, but the men moved too quickly. One of them grabbed her arm, yanking her back. “Where are you going, sweetheart?” he mocked, his grip tightening painfully. The other guard moved closer, his eyes raking over her. “No need to be shy,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. They exchanged a look, their smiles sickly, and Yasmin’s heart pounded in terror. “Please, let me go,” she begged, struggling against the man’s hold, but he only laughed, his fingers digging into her bare skin. “Why so shy?” he taunted, his other hand reaching out to touch her, his fingers brushing against her. Yasmin’s stomach churned, and she screamed, her voice echoing through the trees. She fought, kicking and thrashing, but they were too strong, their laughter drowning out her cries. “Help! Somebody, please!” she screamed again, her voice cracking with desperation. Suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos. “Hey, let her go!” The guards paused, their heads snapping up, and Yasmin turned, her eyes widening in relief. Ian stood at the edge of the clearing, his jaw clenched, his eyes a bit flinty. For a moment, there was silence, and then the guards let go of Yasmin, their hands dropping away. “Come on, Ian,” one of them said, a smirk playing at his lips. “We were just having a bit of fun.” Ian’s voice was like steel, though he forced a smile. “We should head back. Troy's bringing out his girl's booze. You don't wanna miss it” The guards exchanged a look, their smirks fading. One of them muttered something under his breath, but they turned and walked away, their footsteps fading into the forest. Yasmin’s knees gave out, and she dropped to the ground, her hands trembling as she pulled her dress over her head, her fingers fumbling with the fabric. Her cheeks burned with shame, her eyes stinging with tears she refused to let fall. Ian stepped closer, his gaze softening as he looked at her. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice gentle. Yasmin nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She kept her head down, her cheeks flushed, unable to meet his eyes. She felt his gaze linger on her for a moment, and then he sighed. “You need to be more careful, Yasmin,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. “These woods aren’t safe, especially for someone like you.” She nodded again, her face still burning, and managed to whisper, “Thank you.” Ian hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he simply nodded. “Take care of yourself,” he said, and then he turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the trees. ---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
For a moment, Yasmin felt like the air had been sucked from her lungs. She just stared, the words sinking in slowly, like they’d been spoken in another language. Pregnant? It couldn’t be. Her mind raced back to that one, unforgettable night with the mysterious man, a stranger who had seemed to appear from nowhere. She’d felt a strange pull toward him, an electric connection that made her lose all sense of control. But after that night, he was gone, like he’d never existed. And now… now she was— She looked at Kamira, mouth open, but no words came out. Her heart pounded, each beat louder than the last, until it felt like the only sound in the room. “I… I’m… pregnant?” she finally managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper, laced with disbelief. Kamira nodded, a softness in her eyes. “Yes, child. I understand this must come as a shock. But we should do an ultrasound, just to be sure. It’s best to confirm it for you.”Yasmin could only nod, feeling as if her body were moving on its
Yasmin spent the next few weeks moving carefully, quietly, like a shadow in her own life. She avoided crowded areas, steering clear of anyone who might take notice of her. Most of the pack hardly spared her a second glance—an omega without a wolf was invisible, after all—but Yasmin couldn’t risk even the slightest slip. With her secret swelling inside her, every moment felt fragile, like a thin layer of glass separating her and her baby from disaster. Each day, she took on more work, gathering every scrap of income she could find. Her meager omega earnings were barely enough to cover her basic needs, so she began accepting odd jobs in secret, things no one else wanted to bother with. By dawn, she was scrubbing floors in the packhouses, and by afternoon, she was washing laundry and hanging it to dry in the biting wind. Late at night, after everyone else had gone to bed, she’d steal away to clean and organize storage rooms, her hands raw and red from hours of labor. On weekends, she
Yasmin’s heart raced, her mind filling with the possibility of escape. “You mean… I could leave with them?” Kamira’s grip tightened, grounding Yasmin as she continued, “It’s risky, but yes. You’ll stow away with the supplies. No one will know you’re there. They’ll drop you off at a checkpoint outside the territory, and from there, you’ll be on your own. It won’t be easy, Yasmin, but it’s a chance to start fresh.” The words sank in, and Yasmin felt tears pricking her eyes. It was a dangerous plan, but it was a plan—a way out, a chance for freedom. She squeezed Kamira’s hand, gratitude spilling over. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “Thank you, Kamira. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Kamira smiled softly, brushing a tear from Yasmin’s cheek. “You’re stronger than you know, Yasmin. You may not feel it now, but I see it in you. And I’ll be here for you, every step of the way.” For the first time in a long while, Yasmin felt a glimmer of hope. She le