KaiThe ride to Bridewood stretched to three hours and fifteen minutes, thanks to a checkpoint that bottlenecked traffic on the outskirts of the county.When they saw who I was, they waved us through without much fuss, but the delay was unavoidable. Fifteen minutes lost to bureaucracy—a minor inconvenience, but it prickled at my nerves all the same.By the time we arrived at the Council, the tension in my chest had solidified into a sharp edge. Darius and I stepped into the grand reception hall, the cool air inside doing little to ease the simmer of frustration in my veins. And there he was—Austin.He stood at the far end of the room, his posture straight and rigid, a smug grin plastered across his face. My eyes flicked to the man at his side, a legal representative from the look of him. What game was Austin playing now?Whatever it was, I had no patience for it. He was my enemy in this moment, and I had no intention of pretending otherwise. A polite greeting wasn’t just unnecessary—i
KaiJust as we were about to follow, Ingrid and Laura arrived, looking flustered. From the state of their composure, I guessed they’d been delayed at the checkpoint. Fitting, I thought.My aunt could use a reality check—a reminder of her place. She wasn’t royalty, no matter how much she pretended otherwise.Ingrid wasted no time airing her grievances. “Those guards were insufferable,” she snapped, her voice brimming with indignation. “They searched our vehicles, even after we told them we were with you.”Her words were aimed at me, but I didn’t bother responding. The guards were only doing their job, and truth be told, a little inconvenience might do her some good.My silence seemed to irk her further, but I brushed it off. I had no time for petty tantrums.Austin, his lawyer in tow, disappeared into the chamber, and Darius and I followed shortly after. Behind us, I knew Ingrid and Laura would trail in, their self-importance likely fueling their steps.Inside, the chamber was an impos
Kai"I’ve decided to let fate run its course," I said, my voice steady but laced with cold finality. "Besides, I have no desire for an incompetent and conniving person as my Luna.”The Chairman frowned, his gaze sharpening as he leaned forward slightly. “Elaborate, please.”I shifted in my seat, my posture firm, unyielding. “I was away for one day,” I began, my voice carrying the weight of suppressed frustration, “and in that short time, Miss Westwood, in collaboration with my father’s sister, managed to destabilise the delicate balance of my pack. They bullied pack members, workers, and even my guests. These are not the qualities of a true Luna. Unleashing her on my people would not just be irresponsible—it would be an act of insensitivity.”The Chairman sighed, his expression unreadable.“Those are not strong grounds, Alpha,” he said, though his tone was less dismissive than resigned.“To me, they are,” I replied firmly, refusing to back down.I leaned forward slightly, letting the
Kai“Kindly verify the signature,” the lawyer said, his tone cool, almost triumphant.I took a steadying breath, my eyes scanning the document again.“This is a peace document,” I began, my voice firm but measured.“My father asked me to sign it before handing over the regions to me. It was meant to ensure I maintain peace and remain loyal and fair to both regions in terms of safety, leadership, and opportunities. There is no oath supporting the claims being alleged here today.”The Chairman sighed, his expression unreadable but heavy with the weight of his authority. “Section eighteen, sub-section ‘a,’” he said simply, his words carrying the finality of a gavel striking down.I flipped through the pages with increasing urgency, dread pooling in my chest. When I reached the section in question, my stomach dropped. There it was, written in black and white—undeniable.I, the undersigned, hereby agree and affirm that I shall not renege on any obligations or statements contained herein,
KaiUnable to contain my shock, I blurted out, “Wait—what? Father-in-law?” The words hit me like a slap, my disbelief evident in my voice. My gaze darted to the Chairman.“What are you even talking about? I don’t remember marrying Laura.”The Chairman met my gaze calmly, though his expression carried the weight of authority. “Yes, Alpha Redwolf,” he replied, his voice steady but firm.“All marriage rights have been fulfilled by your family. Some were completed by your father, and others were carried out by your aunt on behalf of your family.”My blood ran cold, disbelief giving way to a simmering rage.“The mating and marking right is all that is left,” He continued “And the responsibility of fulfilling the mating right falls on you. The only remaining components are the consummation and claiming, which, based on your stance today, appear unlikely to happen anytime soon.”The room seemed to shrink around me as his words sank in.The implications churned in my mind, each revelation mor
Kai“Now that this is established, we have our demands,” Austin’s lawyer said, his voice calm but with an edge of arrogance that set my teeth on edge.My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me to retaliate, to put him and everyone behind him in their place. But I forced myself to remain seated, my fists clenched beneath the table.Losing control now would only play into their hands.“The Council is listening,” the Chairman said, his tone neutral, though his gaze flicked briefly toward me.The bastard lawyer stood, straightening his suit with practised ease before delivering his so-called demands.“First, we request a formal apology from the Regional Alpha for the pain and suffering the Westwood family has endured under his leadership.”His voice was steady, but I could hear the deliberate weight in his words, designed to needle and provoke.“And,” he continued, “we demand that Miss Westwood be reinstated to her rightful place as the Luna of both the South and East, as well as Alpha Malachi
Kai“No one is threatening you, Alpha,” the Chairman began, his voice calm but unyielding. “However, we must uphold our laws. Without them, we risk descending into the lawlessness we once endured under the rule of the Mad King—a tyrant whose words were law, who believed no one’s rights existed except his own.”His words were measured, a reminder of the Council’s authority, but they held no weight for me. I didn’t care about their comparisons or their subtle warnings.My patience was wearing thin, and my wolf bristled beneath the surface, the urge to break free growing stronger with each passing moment.“Since all rights have been performed,” the Chairman continued, his tone carefully neutral, “Laura will remain with you as yours. What you choose to do with her is entirely up to you. You may refuse to touch her—that is your prerogative. No one can force that. But as this document stands, she is rightfully the Luna of both the East and the South.”The room fell silent, the implications
Kai“What nonsense,” one of the councilors snapped, his voice carrying the weight of centuries-old tradition. “A widow or a mated wolf cannot serve as the Luna of a Regional Alpha. It is unacceptable, and I’m certain Alpha Redwolf knows this well.”The room stirred slightly, a few murmurs of agreement breaking through the silence. The Chairman raised his hand to quiet them before continuing, his tone measured but resolute.“However,” he said, his gaze fixed firmly on me, “there is no law against a Regional Alpha having a mistress—or several, for that matter. In some cases, mistresses are even favoured above the Luna. It falls to the Luna to win her husband’s heart, should she desire it. That is her burden to bear. As for the Council, we have instated Miss Westwood in her rightful place. We cannot, and will not, force her husband to favour her.”His words were final, yet they only seemed to add fuel to the fire. The Chairman turned his attention to Austin, his sharp eyes narrowing.“An
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AdashaThe sun was already high when the first cars pulled up the drive, tires crunching against the gravel.I stood near the front steps, Michelle balanced on my hip, Ethan clinging to Kai’s hand beside me.The soft hum of laughter and voices rolled in from the yard where balloons bobbed in the breeze and long tables were set with food, drinks, and gifts wrapped in all colors of the rainbow.One by one, they stepped out of the vehicles—and my heart swelled with something I couldn’t quite name. Gratitude, maybe. Or just the deep, overwhelming warmth of seeing people you love all in one place, safe and smiling.Randy was the first to appear, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him.Olivia walked beside him, glowing in a flowing dress that barely disguised her growing belly. He had one hand protectively resting on her lower back, the other carrying a stuffed bear nearly the size of Ethan.“Don’t say anything,” Randy said with a mock glare as he saw me smirking.“I wasn’t going to say
AdashaTwo Years LaterThe war with Tamara and Edmond felt like a lifetime ago.Now, the only battles Kai and I fought were over who had diaper duty or who could make the twins laugh harder.Our twins were turning one, and the house buzzed with energy as we prepared for their birthday celebration.We’d been wrapped in a bubble the past year—busy, blessed, and exhausted. Life had shifted. Priorities changed. And in that quiet, we’d drifted from everyone we once fought beside.This party was more than just a celebration for the twins. It was a reunion. A chance to gather everyone who meant something to us. To laugh. To remember. To feel like a family again.So much had changed.Randy had ended up fated to Olivia—Uncle James’ daughter.They were mated now, and from what I heard, completely inseparable.They were expecting their first child, and I couldn’t wait to meet the little one when the time came.Randy had softened, grown into himself, and it showed. I was genuinely happy for him.
Randy“Well, are you just going to stand there?” Her voice snapped me out of the trance.I blinked. She was staring right at me, arms crossed, like I’d kept her waiting too long.“I… I thought you were— I was just—” I stammered, completely unprepared.She laughed. Soft, amused, but laced with something that curled in my gut.“Now that my family’s free, you thought I’d leave?” she asked, eyes locked on mine like she was reading every thought I’d tried to bury.I couldn’t answer. Because yeah… part of me had.She saw it. Smirked. And then, without a word, grabbed my hand and pulled me into the room.Before I knew it, I was sitting on the edge of her bed, heart pounding like I’d just run ten miles.She stood in front of me, the wickedest smile tugging at her lips. Then she slid the sheer robe from her shoulders and let it fall.I forgot how to breathe.The lingerie underneath was designed to kill. Lace. Skin. Confidence. Everything about her said mine, and she wasn’t asking for permissio
RandyI didn’t stick around in Bridewood after the council hearing. There was no point. My business wasn’t here—it was back home.And after everything we’d seen, everything we’d nearly lost, I wasn’t about to waste another second.The universe had given us a rare gift: survival. A second chance. That kind of mercy doesn’t come often, and it sure as hell doesn’t come twice.I had someone waiting for me. A sharp-tongued, stubborn woman who challenged me at every turn and still somehow made my world make sense. Olivia.She’d crashed into my life like a storm, and I’d spent too long pretending I didn’t want to get caught in it.No more second-guessing. No more keeping her at arm’s length because I thought it was the “right” thing to do.I was done holding back.Adasha was smiling again.That look in her eyes—that light—I hadn’t seen it in years. And if she could forgive me, then maybe it was time I started forgiving myself too.So we packed up. Jacob, Thompson, and I hit the road back to
Kai"So what are you trying to suggest, Alpha Bouras, Alpha Olsen?" William asked.Draco didn’t blink. “I say we abolish the law against the Moonchilds—and give them a seat among the Twelve. It’s rightfully theirs.”The room froze. Then exploded.Voices rose like a storm, clashing over one another. Some shouted in disbelief, others in anger. No one talked about making the Twelve into Thirteen. That was the part that made them really uncomfortable.Draco stood steady, calm in the storm.He didn't care.And neither did Randy.“I strongly support Alpha Bouras,” Randy said, rising to his feet. “When Edmond crossed the line, it wasn’t the Twelve that stopped him. It was a Moonchild. When everyone else fell, she stood. It’s time we stop punishing a bloodline and start honouring it. This is what justice looks like.”The murmuring dropped, volume shifting as some heads nodded reluctantly.I stood next.And I didn’t sugarcoat it.“I agree,” I said. “I don’t care what anyone in this room thinks
KaiIt explained everything.Adasha’s blood would have completed the serum. Stabilised Edmond’s mutation. Kept his eyes from bleeding, his mind from fracturing, his body from falling apart.Without it, he looked like something from a nightmare—a shell of a man, straining to contain power not meant for him.But what I still didn’t understand was why. Why go this far?Why betray the very council he sat on? His family had power. He had influence.So why?And still, Edmond refused to speak. Sat silent in his silver cage, eyes dull with defeat. Or delusion.Tamara wasn’t much better—except she wouldn’t stop crying.But not for her victims.Not for her daughter.Not even for the madness she helped unleash.No.She kept looking at Austin, pleading, weeping like the betrayal hadn’t even happened.“I never cheated on you, Austin,” she said, loud enough for the entire hall to hear. “I just… I wanted more for us. For our daughter. The Redwolfs were going to cheat our family. I couldn’t stand by
Kai"You have a big heart, Malachi," Abraham said, his voice low but warm.It pulled me back from watching Adasha and Austin—the quiet reconciliation unfolding in a single conversation.I gave him a faint smile. “A foolish one, too.”He shook his head. “No. You acted based on what you had. I must say, you three are wise. I had no proof—only suspicion. And yet you gave me the benefit of the doubt.”He looked around the council hall, his expression sobering.“It’s all in the past now,” he added. “And know this—I bear no grudge.”I nodded, and for once, I felt the weight ease a little.That’s when the room shifted.The side doors opened, and Gregory walked in, flanking a man I didn’t need to be introduced to.Tall, weathered, lean from hardship but still standing with dignity.The resemblance to Gregory was uncanny. But it was the eyes that told me who he truly was.James Moonchild.Adasha’s uncle.Michelle’s brother.One of the most hunted, most whispered-about survivors in our entire w
KaiWe talked over the final details of our trip to the council, and that’s when I learned Austin had insisted on joining us—even though he hadn’t fully recovered.But I understood.He needed to be there.Not just as a witness, but as a man with something to put right. His presence was required, and maybe… so was his redemption.As for Laura—she was out of danger, physically—but her path was clearer than ever.She would be returning to Rivercreek.Did Tamara ever tell her the real plan? Or was she just another pawn? Another disposable piece to be sacrificed for her mother’s social climb?I couldn’t say.And maybe it didn’t matter.I didn’t feel sorry for her.I hoped she’d be better. That she’d choose better. But deep down, I knew I’d dodged a bullet.If fate hadn’t intervened—if Adasha hadn’t come into my life—I could’ve ended up just like Austin. Bound to someone who wore the name but none of the heart.There was no way Laura didn’t carry some of Tamara’s venom. It was in the way sh