Thank you for your patience and for allowing me time to rest—I truly appreciate it! 💖🙏😊
RandyJacob took my words to heart. He knew there was no room for hesitation—we were leaving at dawn.Every second spent in the North felt like a wasted breath, a delay I couldn’t afford. Too much lay ahead, too little time to get it all done.As we made our way out of the building, a figure moved toward us with urgent strides. Draco’s Beta, Marcus.My guard went up immediately. Given the Stephensons' history—their twisted attempt to sell Adasha out to Draco—I had every reason to be wary.What if Jason had already taken their offer to him? The mere thought sent fire coursing through my veins, but I forced my expression to remain unreadable."Alpha Olsen," Marcus greeted, his tone respectful, but I only gave him a curt nod. I wasn’t in the mood for formalities, and I certainly wasn’t going to pretend otherwise."Apologies for stopping you, Alpha," Marcus continued, clearly noting my impatience."I can see you're in a hurry, but Alpha Bouras requests a moment of your time before you lea
RandyDraco’s words unsettled me, and I could tell he wasn’t just speculating—he knew something, or at the very least, he had a gut feeling I couldn’t afford to ignore.The suggestion raised in the meeting had been absurd, and I was relieved when it was struck down. But now, hearing him speak with such certainty, a sliver of doubt crept in.I didn’t want to appear too concerned, so I kept my tone light. "They were just testing their luck," I said, leaning back.Draco exhaled sharply and shook his head."On the contrary, Randy. Do you really think they made that proposal hoping we'd agree? No. They’re planning something as we speak."I frowned, sitting forward. "So what do you propose?"Draco sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He wasn’t enjoying this conversation any more than I was. "You already know what I’m going to say," he muttered.I waited, watching him.Finally, he spoke. "We’ve never seen eye to eye, and we both prefer to keep to ourselves. But this isn’t about preference a
RandyDraco studied me, searching for a reaction, for some tell that I had more to hide. But I gave him nothing.I saw the exact moment when he realized he wasn’t going to get under my skin and silently conceded.I decided to press forward."That’s all I have to say about Jason," I stated firmly. "What happens in my pack is my business, Draco. And I don’t take kindly to you snooping around in it. I doubt you’d appreciate me digging into the affairs of the North, would you?"Draco exhaled, raising his hands in a slow, placating gesture. "He reached out to me, Randy. I didn’t go looking for him." His voice was even, but there was something insistent in his tone. "All I’m saying is we should question your in-laws and see what they know. It would put us ahead of Abraham and the others. We need to secure ourselves before they do."I chuckled, low and deliberate. The laugh wasn’t genuine—it was calculated, meant to throw him off, to make him second-guess his angle."Only a fool would take
KaiThe drive back to the East was long, stretching endlessly before me. I should have felt relief at returning home, at finally being able to put my territories in order—but instead, my mind was a battlefield.I needed to be on high alert. The families were meeting behind our backs, conspiring in whispers, and I had to uncover the truth before it was too late.Was it the Westwood child orchestrating this? Or was it James?Logic pointed to the former. James had never given cause for alarm in all these years. If it were him, we would have seen signs long ago.According to May’s account, if this ability—the power of compulsion—had existed for generations, we should have heard whispers of massacres long before I was even born.Yet, the first real event had only happened recently.That could mean only one thing.The perpetrator was either my age or younger—someone who had only just come into their power or someone who had been pushed to their limits, provoked like Michelle had been in the
KaiWe lay in bed, the quiet hum of the afternoon wrapping around us. I pulled her close, savoring the warmth of her body against mine.There were a thousand things demanding my attention, but at that moment, none of them mattered."So, you spent the entire time painting?" I asked, my fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns along her arm."Not really," she murmured, turning slightly to meet my gaze. "Gabe started training me yesterday. It was fun. It’s been a long time since I sparred with anyone. I really enjoyed it."I frowned, my muscles tensing.Gabriel never mentioned that. And while I trusted him, the thought of him sparring with her—touching her, even in training—didn’t sit right with me.Was he just helping her, or was he taking liberties?I knew I shouldn’t think like that, but with Adasha, jealousy seemed to be a demon I would struggle to tame."Henceforth, you spar with me," I said, my voice firm, leaving no room for debate.She chuckled softly, her eyes dancing with amusem
KaiI strode into my office, determination coursing through my veins. Today, I would get to the bottom of things—no distractions, no detours.The air felt charged with anticipation as I settled in, waiting for the others. Gabe was the first to arrive, his usual easygoing demeanour intact.I knew Darius would take a little longer; the exhaustion was bound to catch up with him. That was fine.Leaning back in my chair, I eyed Gabe with curiosity. “Heard you’ve been sparring with Adasha,” I said, arching a brow.A slow grin spread across his face—he knew exactly how I’d feel about that. “Didn’t want her missing you too much. There isn’t much to do around here, you know.” He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself.I huffed, but his words had my full attention. “She’s a tough one,” he continued, his tone carrying something close to admiration.“I haven’t even seen her wolf yet, but damn, she’s fierce. Gifted, no doubt—a true Luna. I gave it everything I had, and she still held her own. Didn’t b
Kai"I don’t trust Magnus either," I said, my voice measured, "but we can use him to gather intel on Draco. Only on Draco. None of the other nine. He must not be fully briefed—am I clear?"Darius gave a firm nod, understanding the limits I was setting.I exhaled, my mind already calculating the next step."More importantly, we need to figure out what really happened in that village. I don’t buy Abraham’s version of events. The silence surrounding it is unnatural—too clean. Either it was compulsion, or it was something far worse—a mass poisoning, a calculated slaughter designed to fuel a cause, propaganda at its darkest. We need to investigate it thoroughly, and if there are any survivors, we need to find them."I knew I was asking a lot. But this wasn’t just a task; it was a necessity."I’ll be joining the investigation myself," I added, glancing between them. "But we have to be inconspicuous. No one should know what we’re doing, not even a whisper of it. I have reason to believe Drac
KaiI studied Austin where he knelt, his face twisted with defiance, but there was something else in his eyes—something unsettling. Delusion.Had he truly convinced himself that his daughter still had a claim here? That this was supposed to be her home? We had already settled this at the summon—the very summon he initiated, lawyered up for, and dragged me through. And yet, here he was, spouting the same nonsense.I already felt violated, cheated—trapped into a contract I never agreed to, manipulated into a marriage I never wanted. But I refused to be bullied. I refused to be forced into submission. To comply would make me weak, and I was anything but weak.I leaned forward slightly, my voice even but sharp as a blade."I thought we finalized that at the summon, Austin. Your daughter should have remained in Rivercreek as their Luna—not here. I don’t need her here, and, frankly, you’ve done such a poor job raising her that I wouldn’t wish her on my people."A muscle ticked in his jaw, a
AdashaI stood there, stunned, my mind reeling.What the hell had just happened?First Ingrid and her bizarre miming act, her hand frozen mid-air as if an invisible force had stopped it.Now May, behaving as if she knew something I didn’t—something dangerous, something inevitable.A shiver ran down my spine. Was I missing something?The walls suddenly felt too small, the air too thick.I exhaled sharply, shaking off the unease. I needed to clear my head.Stripping down, I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water soothe my nerves.By the time I crawled back into bed, exhaustion pulled at me, but my mind refused to settle.Wherever Kai was, I hoped he was safe.I hoped he would come to bed soon.Because after everything I had just experienced tonight—he was the only one who could make sense of it all.***Malachi’s touch pulled me from the depths of sleep.Warm fingers brushed against my skin, and I stirred, my eyelids fluttering open to the dim glow of the night.The room was cl
AdashaIngrid’s hand seemed fixed to the spot. Frozen in the air.It wasn’t me who stopped her.At least, I don’t think it was.But something—something unseen, something powerful—held her hand mid-air, freezing her in place.She tried to force the slap, her fingers trembling as she fought against whatever force restrained her. But it was useless. She couldn’t move.I frowned, watching her struggle."Have you taken up miming as a hobby?" I asked dryly, tilting my head.Her hand dropped instantly, as if the invisible grip had released her all at once.That’s when I saw it.Not just confusion in her eyes—but fear.She took a small, hesitant step back, her gaze flickering over me like she was seeing me for the first time."What are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I frowned at her, my lips pressing into a thin line."Wow, Ingrid. First, I’m a homewrecker. Then a whore. And now you’re asking what I am?" I let the words settle, watching as she stiffened. "Tell me, what exa
AdashaI woke up to an empty bed.The cool sheets beside me sent a ripple of unease through my chest. Where was Kai?He had just returned from his trip—I had expected to wake up to his warmth, his presence, but instead, the room felt hollow, silent in a way that set my nerves on edge.Maybe he had things to attend to. Maybe I was overthinking.But the absence was unsettling.I sat up, rubbing my eyes, my stomach twisting slightly. A soft knock at the door drew my attention, and a moment later, Mirabel stepped inside, carrying a tray.She set the dinner down—one plate.Not two.A flicker of disappointment stirred inside me, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. There was no reason to read into it.At least it wasn’t May bringing my food.Lately, she had been creeping me out, always lingering too long, always watching me like she knew something I didn’t.Still, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling as I picked at my food."Where is Alpha Kai?" I asked, trying to keep my voice cas
KaiThe forest blurred around me as I tore through the undergrowth, my paws pounding against the earth.The world felt too small. Too suffocating. I needed space—needed to outrun the turmoil clawing at my chest.It was dark, the moon high in the sky, but its silver light did little to illuminate my soul or the shadows that consumed it.Orion howled, long and mournful, the sound echoing through the trees like a lament.The pain was unbearable.The weight crushing.A burden so heavy I wasn’t sure I could carry it alone.But I was alone.Utterly and completely alone.Enemies surrounded me from all sides, lurking in the shadows, waiting for me to falter.My aunt, with her insatiable hunger for power, would see this as nothing more than an opportunity—an opening to destroy me.And she wouldn’t be the only one.This was my greatest weakness.A secret so dangerous that the moment it slipped from my grasp, it would unravel everything I had built.And yet…Walking away from Adasha was impossib
Kai"Alpha… Alpha, please."May’s voice reached me, but it sounded distant—muted, as if coming from another room instead of the space right in front of me.I couldn’t move.I couldn’t speak.The shock had settled deep into my bones, locking me in place like ice freezing over a river.My mind was a chaotic mess, unable to grasp the sheer gravity of what I had just learned.Adasha. A Moonchild. A Westwood. The great-grandchild of the Mad King.It was a revelation too staggering to process in a single breath, too monumental to comprehend all at once.What did this mean for me? For her?For everything?May’s voice broke through my trance again, this time thick with desperation."Please, Alpha. She is harmless, and you know it…"Her voice cracked at the edges, almost a sob, her fear tangible. Fear that I would overreact. That I would do something reckless.I forced my body to respond, to claw my way out of the mental spiral that had taken hold of me. May needed reassurance.If I didn’t giv
Kai"I never thought a day would come when I would be the one to reveal her secret."May’s voice was thick with sorrow, as if the words physically pained her. "But I know she is in safer hands now. And my time… my time is numbered."She exhaled, a long, weary sigh, then met my gaze with quiet resignation. "So I will pass it on to you."Silence hung between us for a moment before she continued, her voice lower now, as if the truth itself was too fragile to speak aloud."My friend gave her to a desperate couple who lived in the West." She swallowed hard. "They had come to the southern border, pleading for adoption rights, but their regional Alpha denied them. Said they didn’t qualify."She paused, as if reliving the memory, before pressing on. "They took the baby west and raised her there. And that was all I knew… until recently."Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet mine, something unspoken swimming in her eyes."When I saw her… it was like seeing a ghost." Her voice trembled, thick wit
KaiI handed her the tablet, my eyes fixed on her as she took it with trembling hands. The second her gaze landed on the image—the brutal carnage, the bodies, the sheer horror of it all—she gasped.Her breath hitched, and I gave her a moment to process. She needed it. The fear on her face was unmistakable."Look familiar?" I asked, my voice steady but firm.She turned to me, her wide, tear-filled eyes searching mine, her lips trembling as if she had already braced for an accusation."I don’t have compulsion abilities, Alpha," she blurted out, her voice cracking. "I swear, I had no hand in this."I shook my head immediately. "No, May. I know it wasn’t you."Relief flickered in her expression, but it was short-lived.I leaned forward, locking eyes with her. "There are only two people capable of something like this—James Moonchild and Michelle Westwood’s child."**Her body tensed, but I wasn’t done."The same child you took to safety."The colour drained from her face."Where is she, May
KaiI studied Austin where he knelt, his face twisted with defiance, but there was something else in his eyes—something unsettling. Delusion.Had he truly convinced himself that his daughter still had a claim here? That this was supposed to be her home? We had already settled this at the summon—the very summon he initiated, lawyered up for, and dragged me through. And yet, here he was, spouting the same nonsense.I already felt violated, cheated—trapped into a contract I never agreed to, manipulated into a marriage I never wanted. But I refused to be bullied. I refused to be forced into submission. To comply would make me weak, and I was anything but weak.I leaned forward slightly, my voice even but sharp as a blade."I thought we finalized that at the summon, Austin. Your daughter should have remained in Rivercreek as their Luna—not here. I don’t need her here, and, frankly, you’ve done such a poor job raising her that I wouldn’t wish her on my people."A muscle ticked in his jaw, a
Kai"I don’t trust Magnus either," I said, my voice measured, "but we can use him to gather intel on Draco. Only on Draco. None of the other nine. He must not be fully briefed—am I clear?"Darius gave a firm nod, understanding the limits I was setting.I exhaled, my mind already calculating the next step."More importantly, we need to figure out what really happened in that village. I don’t buy Abraham’s version of events. The silence surrounding it is unnatural—too clean. Either it was compulsion, or it was something far worse—a mass poisoning, a calculated slaughter designed to fuel a cause, propaganda at its darkest. We need to investigate it thoroughly, and if there are any survivors, we need to find them."I knew I was asking a lot. But this wasn’t just a task; it was a necessity."I’ll be joining the investigation myself," I added, glancing between them. "But we have to be inconspicuous. No one should know what we’re doing, not even a whisper of it. I have reason to believe Drac