Chapter Nine: Beta Ceremony Part TwoPhera POV:I took a deep breath and kept looking at the front, forcing my body not to give into those mesmerizing scents of my mates and run into their arms. Be strong, P! You got this. I could hear the heels chattering against the sparkling black marble floor towards them; jealousy sprang in my heart at the thought of so many she-wolves throwing themselves at my mates, but I pushed it down. They were my mates by name. I hadn't accepted them, nor was I planning to, more like ever, anytime soon. So those girls could go and have fun; even though those thoughts and words sounded bitter to me, I pushed myself further towards the bar, where I could see Betty and Reese waving at me like mad women, which had me chuckling. If there was something that didn't change over these past few years, it was our friendship.We had been friends since we were in diapers; apart from leaving my family all those years ago, leaving them was the second hardest thing I did
Chapter Ten: Beta Ceremony Part ThreePhera POV:Nate's ceremony went by in a blur, and after half an hour, he was announced as the beta of the RedMoon Pack. Everyone hollered and clapped, she-wolves in the back, jumping up and down as he winked at them. I couldn't help but roll my eyes while chuckling. My brother, forever the casanova of the pack, I pity his mate when he finds her. She would be in for a ride taming the famous Nate Evans. All the noise died down instantly when Axel lifted his hand; everyone became quiet as a mouse waiting to see what their alpha had to say."As everyone must've heard by now that, our younger brother has found his fated mate..." Axel started, then looked towards Newmara smiling at her. Even though it was small twitch of his lips and couldn't be seen because of their angle, I picked it up instantly. Hurt squeezed my heart, it was just a smile, but still, it was more than I got since I came back. All I was getting was their smugness or protectiveness. Pl
Chapter Eleven: Back In CalforniaPhera POV:The conversation I had with the triplets replayed in my mind like a broken record. Why wasn't it the right time? What could be so important that they couldn't even tell their own goddamn mate what had made them act the way they did, knowing I was their mate all those years. But, all of those things aside, what tore my heart into pieces was when they didn't even flinch when I mentioned them and Newmara. That meant they knew I was watching. Did they mean for me to see them together? That they preferred my sister over me, and now that she's mated to their younger brother, I'm their fallback while I should've been their number one priority the moment they turned eighteen and knew about me being their mate. "Ms. Evans!" I heard Mr. Maxwell shout my name, jolting me out of my thoughts. Looking up, I saw the entire class staring at me as I blushed, embarrassed. Fuck! This was probably the tenth time I had been called out like this over the past
Chapter Twelve: GraduationPhera POV:I looked down at the degree in my hands and couldn't believe I had finally done it. It was one step closer to my goal: to be independent and rid myself of ever going back to RedMoon. All that was left now was to get a job in a wolf-owned company, and I would be set, and I wouldn't have to go back to my cheating mates as much as my soul called for them. Not once since I had left RedMoon did they try reaching out and explaining themselves. They knew where I was, and they could easily get a hold of me, but not once had they tried. It just confirmed what I already knew. They just wanted to claim me because it was their alpha instinct kicking in, not that they desired me in any way. The realization hurt, but it was what I had to get used to. I was broken out of my thoughts when I felt myself being lifted in the air and twirled around; I would've headbutted anyone else who did that, but I knew my brother's scent anywhere, which had me giggling as he spu
Chapter Thirteen: InterviewPhera POV:Smoothing down my skirt once more as I looked up at the massive white skyscraper with the words Bane Corp written in black on the very top had my nerves bundling with anxiety. The conversation I had with Newmara yesterday regarding the triplets and what I had seen all these years ago wasn't helping. I had to give myself several pep talks in the morning to keep the triplets and Newmara's words out of my head so I could focus on my interviews today. If I fucked up both of the interviews today, then there would be no option but leave California and head back to RedMoon, which I didn't want to do one bit. Well there was always running away which I was still considering. Taking a deep breath and squaring my shoulders, I walked into the building with my head held high, praying to the goddess that everything would run smoothly. As soon as I entered the sleek lobby of Bane Corp, I was struck by the buzzing energy of the place. The polished floors reflec
Chapter Fourteen: You're Coming HomePhera POV:You know the excitement a person gets when they get their first job, all on their own because of their hard work and talents, and nothing could ruin the first day at the job. You get up in the morning, have your shower singing session while wiggly your bum and then do your makeup and hair and top it off with a healthy breakfast and then arrive all bushy tail to the office. Well, with my luck, that all went down the drain when I was asked to go see the supervisor when I got to work. When I went to go meet my floor manager for the accounting division, I was given the shock of the decade, my bushy tail feeling turning into a soaked, wet angry poodle feeling when I saw who was in the office: my mates. Their pine, cedar, and grass scents mixed with musk were all over the office, making my body ripple in excitement and sending the shocks down south. The last couple of times I had met them, all my emotions were focused on rage and betrayal, b
Chapter Fifteen: Between Love and PridePhera POV:The silence left behind by their departure was nearly deafening, a suffocating vacuum of unspoken words and looming decisions. My heart was a tumultuous sea, waves of confusion crashing against the shores of reason. As the reality of the situation settled in, it seemed the room began to close around me, the walls inching ever so closer in an almost ominous fashion.I looked around the office—a representation of everything I had worked hard for. The sleek, ergonomic furniture, the state-of-the-art computer setup, the lingering scent of fresh paint—it was all supposed to be my new beginning. But now, this space felt like a cage, the very air heavy with my mates' presence and ultimatums.I shook my head and blinked away the moisture forming in my eyes. Now wasn't the time for tears. I paced around, attempting to ground my swirling thoughts. Every step was a battle against the pull of my mate bond, the very essence of my wolf urging me to
Chapter Sixteen: The Web We Weave Phera POV:After leaving the patch of serenity that was the park, I finally reached home—a modest two-story house not far from the heart of the city. The moment I stepped inside, the absence of noise felt like a void, drawing me into its emptiness. It was as if the walls themselves were closing in on me, like they, too, felt the gravity of the decisions that loomed large in my life.I went straight to my bedroom, tossing my purse on the dresser. The mirror reflected a visage of contradictions: eyes filled with courage but lined with weariness, lips that had known love but remained sealed with secrets. Without another thought, I changed into my pyjamas and plunged into the bed that had become a battlefield of emotions.The world around me dissolved into shadows as I closed my eyes, but sleep eluded me like a cruel tease. My mind played the day's events on a loop, each scene starring Axel, Damon, and Zane. Towering figures, they were—each one standing