Adasha
Morning crept in slowly, the pale light casting long shadows across the room. Randy’s presence loomed heavy, as suffocating as ever.
The buzz of his phone broke the silence, and he answered it sharply, his tone clipped and controlled.
“Jason,” he said, and my stomach dropped. Why was Jason calling him?
Anxiety surged through me, my pulse roaring in my ears as I strained to catch the other side of the conversation.
Randy’s voice grew colder with each word. “I see,” he said, the sharp edge of anger unmistakable. His gaze turned to me, piercing and heavy, pinning me in place.
I felt exposed, every secret laid bare under his suspicion.
“Okay. Thank you,” he said curtly, ending the call.
He set the phone aside and turned his full attention to me. His expression was dark, menacing, and my breath hitched as the silence stretched.
“Did you think Jason would go against me, Adasha?” he asked, his voice low and deadly.
I froze, panic surging. What had Jason told him?
“Throwing yourself at him to get what you want,” Randy sneered, his laughter bitter and mocking.
“You must think very little of him to offer yourself for the sake of your parents. What are you planning, Adasha? Don’t you know I own the West? Everyone in it answers to me.”
“No,” I said quickly, shaking my head, my voice trembling. “I didn’t throw myself at him, Randy! You saw it—he came to me. I only danced with him because I thought you were okay with it. And all I did was ask about my parents’ well-being. That’s all.”
It was a lie, but a necessary one. My voice wavered as I tried to steady myself, terrified he’d see through me.
The truth—that I’d sought Jason’s help—was a dangerous confession. And Jason had twisted the narrative to save himself, leaving me to face the consequences.
Randy studied me for a long, suffocating moment, his presence as oppressive as the silence stretching between us.
“Please, Randy,” I whispered, my voice trembling under the weight of my desperation. “I can’t take any more.”
For a fleeting second, his eyes softened, a flicker of something unrecognisable—regret, perhaps? But it disappeared as quickly as it came, replaced by the seething anger that had become all too familiar.
“You’re lucky I have a meeting this morning,” he muttered, backing away.
Relief washed over me, immediate but hollow. I knew this reprieve was only temporary.
Last night’s fury wasn’t gone; it was lying in wait, biding its time, ready to consume me again when he returned.
He dressed swiftly, his movements sharp and deliberate, tension radiating off him like smoke from a fire.
His voice was calm when he mentioned the emergency meeting, but the darkness in his eyes unsettled me.
As he moved toward his safe, I watched him retrieve a stack of documents with his usual air of dominance, slamming the heavy door shut with a resounding finality.
That safe had always intrigued me, and today, my curiosity burned hotter than ever. I had memorised the combination long ago—a silent act of rebellion, a small victory gifted by my photographic memory.
With Randy gone, I knew this was my chance. Whatever secrets he had locked away might hold the answers I needed—about my parents, about his plans, about anything that could help me escape.
As he gathered his belongings and left, I schooled my expression into careful neutrality, masking the chaos within.
The torment he inflicted on me wasn’t my fault, yet guilt and fear clung to me like a second skin. But today, I would uncover the truth.
The moment the door clicked shut, I sprang into action. My heart thundered in my chest as I approached the safe, my hands steady despite the storm raging inside me. Each turn of the dial, each satisfying click of the tumblers, felt like a small act of defiance against the control Randy wielded over my life.
The door opened with a soft metallic groan, revealing neat stacks of documents and money. I sifted through them quickly, desperation mounting until I spotted a folder with my name on it.
My breath hitched as I pulled it free.
Why would Randy have a folder about me? What could possibly be inside?
I braced myself for something horrific, but nothing could have prepared me for the truth.
Inside was a bill of sale, my name scrawled across it like a grim banner. My parents weren’t my biological parents, and they had sold me to Randy as if I were a possession—a piece of furniture to be bartered.
The receipt was there, cold and clinical, a damning record of the transaction that had stolen my life.
My heart shattered into jagged pieces as the truth sank in. I had been living a lie. The people who raised me, who I thought loved me, had sold me into this nightmare.
Adoption itself wasn’t the wound—it was the betrayal. I had been commodified, handed over to a man who treated me like property.
For six long years, I had endured Randy’s cruelty, clinging to his threats about my parents, holding onto the hope that they cared for me. But they didn’t.
They had sold me, and the profits of their betrayal likely financed their comfortable lives, far removed from the hell I endured every day.
My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of grief and rage. Tears poured down my face, and a guttural sob tore from my throat. It was too much to bear.
“This isn’t the time, Adasha,” Willow growled, her voice sharp and grounding. “This has made our load lighter. It’s time to leave—and to hell with those traitors.”
Her anger mirrored my own, igniting a fire deep within me. She was right. There was nothing left for me here. I had nothing to lose now, and no reason to stay.
I scrambled to my feet, wiping the tears from my face and steeling my resolve.
The look in Randy’s eyes before he left had been a warning—a promise that his rage would not be contained for long. I had no time to waste.
I’d attempted escape before, but this time was different. The chains that bound me had shattered. The lies, the manipulation, the threats—none of it mattered anymore. I had no one to protect, no reason to linger.
This was my moment. If I stayed, Randy’s control would eventually turn fatal. I couldn’t afford to gamble with my life any longer.
The time to leave was now. And I wouldn’t look back.
AdashaThere was no time to second-guess, no space for hesitation. I had been planning this moment for years—three long, agonizing years of plotting, preparing, and waiting for the right time to escape. Each failed attempt had come at a terrible cost.To Randy, my efforts to leave weren’t just acts of defiance; they were personal insults, each failure punished with a fury that left me shattered in every possible way. His rage broke my body and crushed my spirit, leaving scars that ran far deeper than the surface. Every attempt chipped away at who I once was, leaving only fragments of myself behind.But not this time.This time, I wasn’t planning to fail.Some might suggest I seek help from Randy’s family, but they were no saviors. They were as cruel as he was, circling me like vultures, eager for my downfall. Their judgment and disdain were relentless, treating me as though I should be grateful for a life that was never truly mine to begin with. Now I understood why: I wasn’t jus
AdashaI packed everything I could carry and headed out of the house.My body ached from last night’s punishment, every movement a painful reminder, but I forced myself to walk normally. I prayed I wouldn’t bump into anyone. The pack was full of watchers, their loyalty to Randy unwavering. A single misstep, a moment of hesitation, and everything I had worked for would unravel.As I approached the packhouse door, a familiar scent stopped me cold. Pamela.My heart sank. Of all people, it had to be her. Pamela wasn’t cruel, but I couldn’t trust her not to alert her mate or someone else. I steadied my breathing, forcing myself to remain calm. Running now would only confirm her suspicions.“Adasha!” she called out.I turned to her, carefully neutral. Smiling would be too suspicious—after all, what did I have to smile about? Everyone in the pack must have heard Randy’s wrath last night when he punished me for talking to Alpha Jason.I let my exhaustion show, my sadness and brokenness
AdashaI ran with everything I had, my legs burning as Willow, my wolf, propelled me forward with relentless determination.The pain Randy had inflicted was a distant ache now, dulled by adrenaline and the single-minded drive to escape. I couldn’t afford to feel it. I couldn’t afford to stop.Every pounding beat of my paws against the forest floor was a desperate push toward freedom. His cruel words echoed in my mind, spurring me on. The sting of my bruises and the ragged sound of my breath didn’t matter anymore. All I wanted was to get away. To be free.This was my moment, my chance to reclaim my life, and I couldn’t waste it.With each stride, I prayed fervently. Please, don’t let Randy catch me this time.My heart, already fractured from years of torment, couldn’t endure another failure. My body and Willow wouldn’t survive another round of his wrath. This was it—the final push, the last desperate grasp at survival—and I clung to it with everything I had.I had no destination in
AdashaThe wolves emerged silently, their golden eyes gleaming with intensity. Their movements were deliberate, practiced, and lethal.I froze, my breath catching in my throat. How had they gotten so close without me sensing them? I cursed myself for my lapse in vigilance. The relief of escaping Randy had blinded me to the dangers of these unfamiliar woods.There were too many of them. My heart raced as I took in their numbers—this wasn’t a rogue ambush. These wolves belonged to a pack. Their scent carried strength and unity, and judging by their size and discipline, they were Betas. Fierce, loyal, and utterly unforgiving.Willow, a Delta at best, growled low in my mind, but I silenced her. There was no point in fighting. We didn’t stand a chance.Slowly, I fell to my knees, clutching my bag tightly as though it could somehow shield me from the inevitable. Bowing my head, I exposed my neck in a gesture of surrender, praying they wouldn’t see me as a threat.The wolves paused, parti
AdashaThe moment we arrived at the settlement, they locked me in a cell. I didn’t expect much mercy, but I had hoped for at least a little.My bag was taken, and dread pooled in my stomach as I imagined them sifting through its contents. A bag of cash and two changes of clothes—it screamed suspicious. Who runs from rogues with nothing but money and the barest essentials? It painted a picture I couldn’t explain, one that made me look like a criminal, not a desperate wolf fleeing for her life.Depression settled over me like a heavy fog.I had traded one cage for another.Had I escaped Randy’s suffocating torment only to fall into something worse? At least Randy’s fury killed me slowly; these people might just finish the job outright. Alphas didn’t take kindly to trespassers, especially those who lied.I sat there in the cell, unable to relax, unable to think. If I got a chance to speak, I’d plead for my bag, beg for their mercy, and request to leave their territory as quickly as po
AdashaThe Alpha leaned forward, his piercing gaze locked onto mine as though he could see every secret I was trying to bury.“Where is your mate, Adasha? Where is the owner of that mark on your neck?” he asked, his voice calm yet demanding.Instinctively, my hand rose to touch my neck, brushing against Randy’s mark. My stomach tightened with dread. I had known the mark would be a problem, a glaring symbol of the chains I was trying to escape. Still, I couldn’t stray from my narrative.“My mate is dead, Alpha,” I said, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes. “Please… don’t make me say more,” I pleaded, hoping the emotion in my voice would shield me from further questions.He studied me for a moment longer, his expression unreadable, and then rose from his chair. Taking the bag with him, he turned toward the door.My heart sank. Even if I tried to run now, I couldn’t survive without the funds in that bag. I was trapped, and he knew it.“Someone will help you freshen up, and then
KaiThe moment I walked into my office, Gabe and Darius were already there, waiting for me. Their expressions said it all—frustration, concern, and a hint of disbelief. The sight made me chuckle.Two grown men fussing over a woman. A Delta breed at best.Ignoring their grim faces, I strode to the bar cart in the corner and poured myself a glass of whiskey. With the glass in hand, I sank into the couch, taking a slow sip before addressing them.“I’m listening,” I said with a sigh, motioning for them to speak.Darius, my Beta, didn’t waste a second.“What are you thinking, Kai?” he demanded, his voice edged with frustration. “Granting a stranger access to you like that? You even placed her in your wing! This is reckless. You should let Gabe and I interrogate her properly. She’s obviously lying and hiding something.”I took another sip of my drink, savouring the burn, before letting out a quiet sigh.“Of course, she’s lying and hiding something. Whatever it is, it’s personal,” I said, m
RandyThe meeting was gruelling, stretching from morning well into the night. It was another tedious discussion about the northern conquest, a strategy I had no real interest in.My Alphas were keen on expanding our territory, arguing that with the East and South already secured under strong leadership, we needed to amass more land to match their strength.But I wasn’t interested.I had fought enough battles to last a lifetime, and this was one I had no desire to join. My attempts to excuse myself and return home were met with resistance, leaving me restless and frustrated.My mind wasn’t on the meeting. It was back at home, where I’d left things unresolved with Adasha.The look in her eyes when I’d last seen her lingered in my thoughts. Fear. Defiance. Disgust. She saw me as a monster, and perhaps I was. But what choice did I have? How else was I supposed to keep her in line, knowing what women like her were capable of?When the Olsens sold their daughter to me, they assured me she w
Kai"Did you ever stop to ask yourself why someone would give you that information?" I asked, my voice smooth, but edged with something colder."And if they did… did it ever occur to you that they probably knew exactly who you were?"Gregory’s face shifted—first confusion, then slow, dawning realization.His breath hitched slightly."You were so desperate to find your father that you didn’t stop to think about the danger you were walking into?" I continued.Shame flickered across his face. He swallowed hard, but he didn’t deny it."Can you lead us to the people who tipped you off?" I asked.He hesitated, then nodded."I have numbers I can reach."I chuckled, shaking my head."I doubt anyone will be picking up on the other end."Gregory’s jaw tightened, frustration warring with understanding.He had been used.Had he succeeded, Abraham would have had the perfect excuse to eliminate us all, pinning it on the Moonchilds.Plan A had been to trap us in that banquet hall.When that failed,
Kai"Do any of you have the ability?" I asked, watching Gregory closely.He shook his head. "Neither of us inherited it. It might have skipped our generation."Maybe. But I wasn’t convinced.I suspected something else—something deeper.If James’s ability had been weak, the genetic pull might not have been strong enough to pass it on.Michelle, on the other hand, had been the stronger sibling. That much was clear. She had passed the trait to her daughter.To Adasha.But if Adasha’s compulsion was as faint as her uncle’s, then something had dulled it. Something had weakened it.Nightshade.That was a theory I’d have to dig into.For now, though, I needed answers."So what made you come for me?" I asked, my tone edged with curiosity and something sharper."And where did you get your warriors?"I already had a name—Abraham. Now I needed the full picture. I needed to know what had driven Gregory to seek me out, what had fueled his reckless attack. Because nothing about this situation was r
Kai"We live on the east side—Ravenhurst, just by the small Narva village," Gregory began.I remained still, my expression unreadable, though his words struck something deep within me.Ravenhurst. Near Narva.That alone was reason enough to press him with questions, but I held back.Let him speak.Let me hear the full truth before I decided what to do with it."We used to live in Narva," he continued, his voice steady, but there was a weight to it—an old wound that had never truly healed."But after my mother was killed, we moved to Ravenhurst. It wasn’t safe for us anymore."His hands curled into fists, knuckles whitening.Even now, after all these years, the rage still lived inside him, simmering beneath the surface."She died in an attack eleven years ago. The Council was hunting Moonchilds, and because her wolf was white—greyish white—someone spotted her in the woods."His breath hitched, and for the first time, his composure cracked."They followed her home." His voice was lower
Kai"James is the pillar and hope of our family, Alpha." May’s voice cracked, her tears falling freely now.I clenched my jaw, watching her as she knelt before me, desperation carved into every trembling breath."Please, Alpha." She swallowed hard, her gaze pleading. "Gregory wants to speak to you about his father. He promised to tell you everything in exchange for help. We might not mean much to you, and I know this is too much to ask, but please…"She hesitated.A flicker of fear passed over her face, and then she pushed forward, voice barely above a whisper."If not for our sake, then for Adasha’s."Silence settled between us, heavy, suffocating.She knew she was crossing a line by using Adasha’s name. And yet, she wasn’t wrong.James had been taken, and if they were willing to go after him, then it was only a matter of time before they came for her.My mate.The very reason he had been captured in the first place could just as easily become the reason they hunted her down.I exhal
KaiI couldn’t leave Adasha alone after the cold bath.She trembled in my arms, her body wracked with silent sobs, her breath uneven and broken.The disorientation in her eyes was more than mere shock—it was devastation, a soul left untethered, fraying at the edges.I had known severed bonds could wreak havoc, but this? This was something else entirely.She clung to me as if I were the last solid thing in a world that had shattered beneath her feet.Her pain seeped into me, raw and unrelenting, and for a fleeting moment, I questioned everything.Yes, this was a new chapter.Yes, we had made our choices.But at what cost?Did I want this?To see her unraveling, caught in the throes of a loss so deep it stole the air from her lungs?No.But it was part of the process, and the process didn’t care about the wreckage it left behind.A sharp knock at the door broke through the heavy silence. I exhaled, grounding myself before calling out, “Come in.”May stepped inside, her gaze flicking to
Kai "I release her to you, Malachi Redwolf." Randy’s voice was strained, thick with the kind of pain that dug its claws deep and refused to let go. "When I get home, I’ll start the divorce proceedings. It’s the only gift I can give her now." His words felt like a death sentence—to himself. I watched as he sat there, hollowed out, his soul laid bare. A man whose world had been torn from him, whose heart had been ripped apart, leaving only remorse in its place. For a second, I hesitated. But then I remembered. The scars on Adasha’s body. The pain in her voice when she spoke of her past. The fear that had once lived in her eyes. Their marriage had been toxic. A slow, suffocating kind of destruction that would have eventually ended in her death. And that? That would have been far worse than losing her to fate. This… this was the better outcome. For both of them. Orion, who had been prowling beneath my skin, watching, waiting, finally receded—satisfied. "Thank you, Randy," I sa
Kai"Please take care of her, Malachi."Randy’s voice was quiet, but the weight of his words settled heavily between us."She’s had a shitty life," he admitted, his gaze distant. "First with her adoptive parents. Then with me."I could hear the regret thick in his tone, see the resignation in his eyes—the kind that dragged a man down into depths he might never crawl out of.And that? That was something we couldn’t afford.Not now. Not with everything coming."She still needs you, Randy."His eyes snapped to mine, wary, uncertain."She’ll need all the support she can get if she’s going to be truly free in our world."He didn’t respond, but I could see the turmoil inside him. The war between stepping back and stepping up.I exhaled, lowering my voice."She has compulsion abilities."Randy’s body tensed."But she didn’t commit the crime in Narva," I clarified. "It only surfaced two days ago—after an altercation with my aunt. Before that, she had no control over it. No idea it was even in
KaiI waited, my patience thinning with each second Randy hesitated. Whatever he was trying to say, it was difficult for him—more difficult to speak than to think.Then—"She told me you know she’s a Moonchild."The words came out in a rush, almost like he was forcing them past his own restraint.I frowned, my mind immediately racing through the implications. Had Adasha told him this as a deterrent? A warning? Or had he known all along?"Did she tell you this?" I asked, my voice careful, measured.He shook his head."No. I knew before I mated with her."I stiffened."In fact," he continued, "her adoptive parents tried to sell that information for a profit. They saw her as a commodity, something they could trade for the right price."My fingers curled into fists. The very thought of it—of her being treated like something to be bargained over—sent a slow, simmering rage through my veins."The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew she needed to be protected," Randy admitted, his voice rough.
Kai "So how about we find out exactly how Abraham and the Westwoods planned this?" Draco suggested, his tone cool and calculated. "Which families are in league with them, how deep their alliances run—and then, once we have the full picture, we launch a direct attack based on our findings." The room went silent for a beat. It was a bold move. But honestly? It was the only move that made sense. Randy exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Investigations take time," he admitted. "And as good as this sounds, we might not have the luxury of time it would take to execute it properly." Draco chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. "That’s because you don’t have my resources." Randy’s brow furrowed slightly, but Draco wasn’t done. "I have access to ample information," he continued, voice dripping with confidence. "And if I need to dig deeper, I know how to do it. Information is power, gentlemen. And it just so happens to be one of the strongest weapons in my arsenal." He wasn’t boasting