Thank you for making it this far! I hope you enjoyed this mass release. With the holidays approaching, I’ll be taking a short break and won’t be updating until January 2nd. I appreciate your patience and understanding. A big thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown! I was pleasantly surprised to receive gifts—thank you so much, Penny and Marlenny! I didn’t even realize that was a thing on GN, but I’m truly grateful. To everyone who has given this book a Gem, left a comment, or written a review—thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish the comment section were long enough to list all your names, but please know I deeply appreciate each and every one of you. 🙏🏾
Randy I had never felt such consuming rage as I did this past week. The searing pain on my mark was relentless, a fiery torment that flared at the worst moments. I’d be in the middle of a meeting, and suddenly the burn would sear through me, hot and unforgiving. Why would Adasha do this to me? I had never subjected her to this kind of betrayal, never imagined she was capable of such cruelty. Was this why she left? To be with her lover? Was Jason lying about their conversation to mislead me? Confusion and hurt churned inside me, a storm I couldn’t escape. I caught my reflection in the mirror. My face looked haggard, my eyes shadowed with exhaustion. Rest felt impossible, not with the pain of Adasha’s infidelity gnawing at me, night after night. Damn her. Anger surged, and before I could stop myself, my fist crashed into the mirror. Glass shattered, fragments falling around me like a reflection of my broken life. "Why, Adasha? Why would you do this to me? Was my love not en
RandyPamela’s red, swollen eyes brimmed with fear, and Jacob instinctively stepped in front of her, his stance protective but wary.“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice low and venomous, each word laced with seething rage.“Randy, calm down. No one knows where she is,” Jacob said, his tone placating. He was trying to de-escalate the situation, but his words only fanned the flames of my fury.“You think I’m sick? You think I need help? Is that what you believe about me—your Alpha?” I stepped closer, glaring at Pamela. “Where did you send my wife, Pamela?”“Alpha, please, calm down,” Jacob interjected, his voice firm but trembling at the edges. “I promise I’ll help you find her. Just… spare Pamela. It wasn’t within her control.”His words only deepened my sense of betrayal. “My own Beta conspired against me!” I snarled, fists clenching tighter.“Don’t say that!” Jacob began, his voice pleading, but I cut him off, unwilling to hear his excuses.“I shouldn’t say that?” I hissed, my tone
RandyI sighed deeply, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like a boulder. Jacob’s defiance was unwavering, but I couldn’t let his perception of me go unchallenged.I needed to defend myself, to make him understand the reality he didn’t see.“People are after her, Jacob,” I confessed, my voice low but intense. “That’s why I kept her hidden. You don’t know the half of it—or who she really is. Do you think I just wanted to lock her up and keep her from the world? Those bastards who sold her to me… they did it to save their own skin. She isn’t safe out there. How could you do this to me?”Jacob’s expression shifted, a flicker of shock crossing his face. I realised too late I’d said too much. Adasha’s precarious situation wasn’t something he needed to know—it wasn’t his business. But the fear coursing through me, the sheer terror of not knowing where she was, had cracked my composure.I took a steadying breath, forcing myself to refocus. “It doesn’t change what your mate did,” I
RandyI was still trying to figure out how else I could find Adasha when Jacob’s voice came through the mind link."Another way to find her— is to publish her image and offer a handsome reward for her," Jacob’s voice came through the mind link, steady but tinged with hesitation.I could feel the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. He was trying to redeem himself and his wife, to salvage the damage they’d done. But the betrayal still burned.They had let me down, and I didn’t plan on letting that slide."That should be the last resort," I responded curtly. "Like I said, she isn’t safe out there. Her past might catch up with her.""It’s the only way to broaden our search," Jacob shot back, his tone resolute. I growled under my breath, knowing he was right. This course of action would stir more trouble than I cared to handle, but what choice did I have?"Fine," I said reluctantly. "If you think it’ll work and won’t drive her into deeper hiding, then go ahead. But I want this nightm
KaiThe day had been going smoothly, and I didn’t anticipate any disruptions—until my aunt arrived with Austin in tow.The sight of them was enough to sour my mood. I’d finally found peace, a chance to live in the moment, but of course, he had to show up and start making demands.It was infuriating.I’ve always been upfront with people when it mattered, and I’d been honest with Austin, spelling out my intentions. But the lure of power? It was too much for him.He chose ambition over his own daughter’s happiness.Yes, I’ll admit it—my father had struck a deal with Austin’s father.That much wasn’t a secret.Austin’s father had always been pragmatic, driven by the goal of avoiding conflict and ensuring the South had strong leadership. And truth be told, I understood why Austin’s father made the choices he did.He didn’t trust Austin to lead the South properly, and with the death of Austin’s brother, there weren’t many options left.The man had to look elsewhere to secure his people and
KaiIndeed, Aunt Ingrid had contested the position with me, citing every possible reason why she deserved to be next in line. But her arguments had been futile.Succession wasn’t up for debate. It was a lineage thing, and as long as my father had an alpha-bred heir, she was automatically out of the running.It didn’t stop her bitterness, though.“Could it be possible she’s doing all this to prove my incompetence?” I asked aloud, the thought cutting through my frustration.“If she can convince the South that I’m not a man of my word, that I can’t handle my responsibilities, it’d be easy for her to get them to throw their support behind her. She’d frame herself as the stabilising force they need.”Darius and Gabe exchanged a look but said nothing. Their silence wasn’t from disbelief—it was from the uncomfortable truth that they were thinking the same thing.Finally, Darius spoke, his voice calm but measured. “All I can say is that you should still try to reach out to Laura. Even if it f
KaiTurning on my heel, I left her standing there, unwilling to waste any more energy on the confrontation.I made my way to Adasha’s room, eager for some reprieve. When I reached her door, I knocked, but there was no answer.A flicker of unease settled in my chest. Against my better judgment, I opened the door and stepped inside.The state of the room stopped me in my tracks. It was a mess—chaos everywhere.On the floor, I spotted a canvas.Curious, I bent down to pick it up, and the sight made my breath hitch. It was a painting of me. She’d captured me perfectly, making me look even more handsome than I thought possible.But the fact that it was on the floor? That struck me.Why was it discarded like this? My gaze swept over the disarray, my mind racing.Had Ingrid said something to her? Or worse, had Randy found a way to contact her? The possibilities gnawed at me.“Adasha!” I called, my voice sharper than I intended. From the bathroom, I heard the sound of running water stop, fol
AdashaKai stood there, a mix of surprise and frustration etched across his face. His silence spoke volumes—he was caught off guard and at a loss for words.Maybe he hadn’t expected me to know, but I wasn’t the type to let things fester anymore. My years of quiet endurance were over.Randy had once kept me silent, but those days were behind me. It was better to confront the truth head-on than live in denial, pretending everything was fine while bracing for the inevitable.I had no interest in self-deception, and Kai needed to understand that I knew."You misunderstood everything," he said calmly, but I shook my head, refusing to believe it.As he took a step toward me, I instinctively moved back, keeping distance between us."Adasha," he said, his voice measured, "that conversation was meant to stop Austin from bringing Laura here. I don’t want to settle with her. I never have, and I never will."I met his gaze, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest."And me? I know settling wi
Adasha“Even you, Magnus?” Laura said, her voice trembling with disbelief as she turned to him.I had expected her to say that—Magnus was from Rivercreek, her home, after all.Magnus looked genuinely pained, his expression filled with regret, but he didn’t waver.“Sorry, Luna,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “But Alpha’s word is law.”Laura’s eyes darted back to Kai, searching his face for any hint of hesitation.“You’re serious about this,” she said, her tone incredulous. “You would actually throw me into a cell… for her?” She spat the word with venom, her gaze flicking to me with a mixture of contempt and desperation.But Kai didn’t respond.He didn’t even look at her. His silence was deafening, a clear statement that he was done talking. The weight of his unspoken words hung in the air, suffocating and final.“Malachi, this is extreme!” Ingrid interjected, rising from her seat. “Laura is legally your wife. You can’t humiliate her like this! What will her people say? This is wron
AdashaThe room was deathly silent, but Laura wasn’t done. Her voice sliced through the tension like a jagged blade, oblivious to the storm brewing in front of her.I could feel Kai’s rage, simmering and raw, and I wondered how he would handle this. Laura, blind to the signs, pressed on, her words brimming with fury and indignation.“You brought this upon yourself,” she said, her voice trembling with both anger and unshed tears. “By the time I’m through with the Easterners in the South, you’ll regret what you’ve done to my people—simply because they refused to serve your whore.”The venom in her tone stung, but the room was charged with something far more dangerous. Kai was vibrating with fury, his jaw tight, his entire frame coiled like a predator about to strike.The foolishness of Laura’s inability to recognise the line she had crossed was staggering.“Darius,” Kai said suddenly, his voice so cold and calm that it sent a shiver down my spine. “Did you get that last part?”“Yes, Alp
AdashaBreakfast was served in the dining room, a larger, more formal setting than usual. Kai had insisted on addressing his officers after the summons, and though it made me uneasy to eat in a room with other people, I understood the necessity.Normally, Kai would have adjusted his routine for my comfort, but this was one of those times where duty took precedence.As we entered the room, I immediately noticed there were five people seated instead of the three I had expected. The extra two—Ingrid and Laura—were impossible to miss. My chest tightened at the sight of them, but I quickly reminded myself of Kai’s promise. His assurance was all that mattered.With measured composure, I took my seat beside him. Darius and Gabe greeted me warmly, their respect evident in their tone and demeanor.Magnus followed suit, though there was an unmistakable hint of confusion in his expression, as if he was piecing together a puzzle no one had explained to him.I returned their greetings, extending
AdashaKai’s eyes locked onto mine, unwavering and intense, as he gently brushed my cheek with his thumb. The touch was soft, almost reverent, but it carried a weight that made my heart ache.“You worry too much, Adasha,” he said, his voice steady, soothing. His gaze didn’t waver, as if he were trying to reach the deepest part of me, the part that was still scared, still unsure. “You need to learn to trust.”I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me.“I know you’ve been through so much,” he continued, his tone softening even further. “But not this. I’m not Randy, Adasha, and I never will be. I don’t aspire to be like him. What we have… it’s rare. Scarce. Ordained.” He let the words settle between us, his hand never leaving my face. “I’d be a fool to throw it away—or let anyone take it from me.”His eyes darkened, a fire kindling in their depths. “I’ll find a way to make this work, I promise. And I won’t have a Luna other than you, Adasha.”His words were a vow, s
AdashaMorning crept in, the soft light painting delicate patterns on the walls. Kai was still beside me, his presence a quiet weight on the bed. It was unusual—he was always the first to rise.Perhaps the journey had drained him more than I realized. My thoughts swirled around the summons he attended with Laura and Ingrid, and unease pooled in my chest.It had to be about his bond with Laura. The idea tugged at something deep within me, a quiet ache I tried to bury.I hated the helplessness of it all, the knowledge that this was beyond my control.I turned my gaze to him, his face soft in sleep, the tension he usually carried smoothed away. For a moment, he looked almost vulnerable. I slipped out of bed carefully, the cool floor grounding me as I moved toward the shower.The steaming water offered a temporary reprieve, washing away the tangled emotions I couldn’t name. When I emerged, toweling my hair, Kai stirred. He blinked lazily, his sharp eyes focusing on me.“Why aren’t you in
RandyMarvin’s tears flowed freely, his face a mask of despair. He knew—knew deeply—that he was in immeasurable trouble with me.He had violated our agreement, shattered what little trust I had given him, and, worst of all, placed a target squarely on Adasha’s back.If she hadn’t run away, none of this would have unraveled. I wouldn’t have needed to arrest Jason, wouldn’t have discovered the full extent of their treachery.These two were evil—loyal to no one but their own selfish interests. Adasha was no longer theirs.They had sold her to me years ago, and now they had tried to sell her again.They weren’t just failures—they were scum. Fraudsters. Betrayers.There was no excuse for what they had done.I shifted my gaze to Lois, who was trembling as she cried, and motioned for her to continue. I needed every piece of information before I decided how to act."Jason tried to get Marvin to tell him who the person was," Lois said, her voice shaking as she spoke. "But Marvin refused. He sa
Randy"So, you decided to reach out to your regional Alpha—me—and offer her to me for a fee, as if you were some bounty hunters," I said coldly, my voice cutting through the heavy silence."That way, you wouldn’t get in trouble for it… right?"Lois didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. Her silence was confession enough.The memory burned fresh in my mind.They’d offered her to me as if they were doing me a favour, presenting her as though she was a prize to be claimed.To them, she wasn’t a child—they saw her as a way to avoid danger and even profit. After all, the Twelve Families’ prerogative was clear: eradicate the Mad King’s bloodline at all costs.Adasha was no ordinary child. She was premium prey, a direct descendant of the Mad King himself.But when I laid eyes on her, everything changed.I knew, in that moment, that I couldn’t let anything happen to her. Not her.Instead of handing her over to the council, I did something I thought was right at the time.I paid Marvin and Lois mo
RandyI could see Lois was nervous, her hands trembling as she wiped at her tear-streaked face. But I didn’t interrupt her.She needed space to speak, to breathe.She knew she had no other choice—she had to tell the truth, and she knew it."The woman told us she could help us adopt," Lois began, her voice quivering. "She said there was a child available… but the child wasn’t in the system. I didn’t ask why."She paused, her gaze darting to Marvin before lowering to her lap."I guess… I guess my desperation clouded my judgment. She told us she could arrange everything—papers, custody—all of it. There was only one condition." Lois swallowed hard."We were never to return to the southern border. Ever."Her voice faltered, and she wiped her eyes again."At the time, it didn’t seem like much of a condition. We weren’t from the south. We had no ties there. It felt like such a small thing to agree to."I watched her intently, every word she spoke deepening the gravity of their situation."It
Randy"I swear that’s the truth," Marvin said, his voice shaky, eyes pleading for mercy. I turned to Jacob, my expression unreadable."I’ll give you some time to think it over," I said coldly, releasing the chain in my hand. It clattered loudly, a sound that seemed to echo Marvin’s faltering confidence."In the meantime," I continued, my voice firm, "you’re going to tell me everything about how you adopted my wife. I want to know why you adopted her, which Alpha sanctioned it, and whether you’re still in contact with the people who gave her to you."I shifted my attention to Lois, her nervousness written all over her face."I’ll give you a chance to answer, Lois. And believe me, what’s about to happen to your husband for lying to me will happen to you, too, if you don’t start talking."Her eyes widened in terror, but the weight of my words didn’t seem to fully register until two guards stepped into the room, their presence commanding and grim.They moved with quiet efficiency, their i