AdashaI returned to the balcony, staring at my painting and trying to will myself to focus, but it was pointless. The brush in my hand felt heavy, and the colors on the canvas blurred together as my thoughts strayed.As I stood there, a realization struck me—I hadn’t left the building since I was brought here. There were no rules keeping me inside; Kai had set no restrictions. But the fear in my heart had done that job well enough, anchoring me to this place like an invisible chain.The thought unsettled me, and I resolved to change it. I decided to step outside, to acquaint myself with the world beyond these walls.I wouldn’t go far, just enough to get a sense of my surroundings, and I would avoid unnecessary interactions. Staying close to the pack house would ensure I could return quickly if I needed to.May was likely gone by now. If she were still here, I would have asked her to come with me. Instead, I would have to rely on Mirabel—whoever she was. I didn’t know her, but for now
Adasha“Is everything okay, Miss?” Mirabel’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.I turned to look at her, confused by the concern in her expression, until I felt the wetness on my cheek.Painful tears had slipped free, unbidden, stirred by the memories of my life with Randy.The weight of those memories was suffocating; there was only so much pain a person could lock away before it began to spill over.I wiped my cheeks quickly and nodded, forcing a small smile. “Let’s go back home,” I said softly. The idea of continuing the tour no longer appealed to me.The past had soured my mood, and I needed solitude to collect myself.Mirabel nodded without question, and we made our way back to the pack house. Once there, I headed straight to my room to freshen up.The cool water on my face helped soothe the ache in my chest, but the heaviness lingered, refusing to let go.It was evening now, close to dinnertime, but the house felt emptier than ever. Kai still wasn’t
AdashaThe woman was most likely the head cook; her confident demeanor and slightly different attire set her apart from the others.She held herself with an air of authority, but her eyes brimmed with pure hatred and disdain. It almost made me laugh. Her opinion of me meant nothing.“You aren’t the first mistress to grace his bed, Madam,” she said, her tone sharp and mocking.“Do not think so highly of yourself. Laura is our Luna, and not even Alpha Kai can stop her from taking her rightful place here. It is best you start counting your days.”Her words carried the weight of years of loyalty—not to Kai, but to Laura and Ingrid.“An order was given by the Luna, and we followed. We’ve done nothing wrong. And I believe it’s best you leave the kitchen. You aren’t authorised to be here.”She stood firm, her defiance palpable, as if daring me to react. I met her gaze and walked up to her slowly, closing the space between us.Randy had been many things, but even in Woodshire, no one had dare
Kai When Adasha told me everything that had happened in my absence, I was livid. From barging into my room to appointing Laura as Luna and banning the staff from serving Adasha, my aunt had crossed every possible line. Ingrid had gone too far, and I wasn’t going to let it slide this time. Still, I had to control my temper. Adasha had begged me not to lose it, reminding me that I needed to handle this with a clear head. I didn’t want to come across as unhinged, especially in front of her. When the staff brought breakfast to my room for Adasha and me, they were the picture of politeness. It was almost laughable how they pretended the events of the previous day hadn’t happened, as if they could erase their blatant disrespect with a smile and a tray of food. I held my peace, forcing myself to focus on the moment. I wanted to spend the morning with Adasha, to reassure her and make her feel valued before I dealt with the situation. But eventually, I had to face it. I left Adasha in th
Kai “I want you and Laura out today,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through the tense air. Ingrid shook her head defiantly. “I have the right to stay here. This is my home and my pack, too. As for Laura, the matter has been sent to the Alpha Council. Whether she deserves to leave or not is up to them. If she goes, know this: we lose the South too.”Her words burned, and I couldn’t help the surge of anger rising within me. I couldn’t believe my own aunt would side with an enemy against me, but then again, nothing about Ingrid’s motives surprised me anymore. I knew she was technically correct about her right to stay—it was her pack as much as mine. And if Austin had taken his complaints to the Alpha Council, Laura’s position was indeed out of my hands until they decided. Forcing her out prematurely would sever ties with the South, and the council would see it as a reckless move. They had cornered me skillfully, but I’d seen it coming. Still, I refused to be blackmailed into doin
RandyJason flinched at the sound of my fist slamming against the desk, his already bruised face paling further.The pathetic sight of him did nothing to quell the storm raging inside me. My wolf howled within, clawing at the edges of my restraint, demanding release.Every passing second without Adasha chipped away at my sanity, leaving raw, jagged edges behind.“Where is my wife, Jason?” I bellowed, the force of my voice shaking the air between us. My rage boiled over, uncontrollable, as my wolf threatened to take over completely.The fear in his eyes should have been satisfying, but it wasn’t. Not without answers.“I-I swear, Alpha! I don’t know!” he stammered, his voice hoarse and trembling. His eyes darted to the guards standing by the door, as if they might somehow intervene, but none of them moved. They wouldn’t dare.I leaned forward, my hands gripping the edge of the desk so tightly that the wood groaned in protest.“You expect me to believe that? After all this? After what ha
RandyJason hung there, suspended with nothing but his arms to bear the cruel weight of his body. His breaths came in short, ragged gasps, and I watched as tears carved streaks through the dirt on his face.The pain in his eyes was unmistakable, but Jake and I didn’t flinch. Whatever agony he was enduring now was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me.Nothing could match the betrayal, the rage, the ache that tore through my chest like a serrated blade.“Start talking,” I said, my voice cold and unwavering. “End this now, or I promise you—I won’t relent.”Jason’s lips trembled, his voice cracking under the strain. “Please…” It was barely more than a whimper, a pathetic plea that only hardened my resolve.I turned to Jacob and gave him a curt nod. “Do it.”Jacob stepped forward, methodical and unyielding. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t falter. He’d been by my side long enough to know this wasn’t a moment for mercy. Meanwhile, I stood back, my hands clenched into fists.I couldn’
RandyThe look on Adasha’s face that night, and again in the morning before I left, played over and over in my mind like a haunting melody.Her tear-streaked cheeks, the fear in her eyes—eyes that once looked at me with tenderness—now burned into my memory. I couldn’t stop the tears that began streaming down my own face.I had hurt her. Wrongly. Cruelly. Unforgivably.I was a monster.Jealousy and fear had consumed me, twisting my thoughts and blinding me to reason. I hadn’t listened to her.I hadn’t believed her. Instead, I let my insecurities fester until they turned into something dark and vile. And because of that, I hurt her.I broke her trust. I stormed out of the room, my breaths ragged, my chest tightening with each step.My heart pounded as guilt and shame washed over me like waves, drowning me in their weight. Pain and anguish tore through me in equal measure. What had I done?The memories of that night clawed at me, refusing to let go. I had beaten her. I had taken her in t
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