Chapter 16Hell Hath No FuryAsher’s POVThe phone slipped from my hand as Willow’s words echoed in my mind. A date? She had a date? Fury coursed through me like wildfire, igniting every nerve. I didn’t bother picking up the phone, I just turned and stormed out of my office, barely aware of where I was going until I found myself striding toward the training grounds, where I knew Aiden and Axel would be.There they were, standing side by side, aiming steadily as they shot arrows at the distant targets. The clang of each hit barely registered as I approached. The two of them glanced over when I got close, their expressions curious but unconcerned. That would change soon enough.“Hey,” Axel called, tossing me an extra bow. “Fancy joining us for some target practice?”“Not today,” I snapped, barely stopping myself from breaking the bow in half. “We have a problem. Willow is moving on.”My brothers’ hands froze mid-motion, their arrows poised to launch. Axel’s gaze sharpened instantly, whi
Willow's POV The room was aglow with chandeliers, crystal, and light sparkling across the expansive ballroom. I felt a little like Cinderella, stepping out of the car with Jason and Ruby, the weight of the evening buzzing through me. The dress, a deep red satin that clung to my figure and flowed around my feet was enough to make me feel glamorous, but also exposed. Jason glanced at me and muttered, “You look incredible,” before turning to offer Ruby his arm.The warmth in his gaze was genuine, and for a moment, it lingered, making me wonder if I imagined it. As quickly as it came, his expression hardened, replaced by a more professional detachment. The night was about networking, he’d reminded me, and I clung to that reminder now. I was here for work, not personal dreams or complications.“Come on,” he whispered, his voice confident as always. “You’re the CEO of Winterlock Pharmaceuticals. Tonight’s yours to own.”I squared my shoulders and tried to believe it. The lights, the laught
Asher's POV As soon as Willow stormed out of the gala, I knew our plan had worked. The mission to separate her from anyone she’d come with, to ensure she didn’t spend her evening in the arms of some overly friendly “Alpha’s son,” had been executed perfectly. Aiden, Axel, and I exchanged satisfied glances. But this wasn’t over yet. There was still one person who needed to be reminded of where the boundaries were. I spotted Benjamin at the bar. He looked mildly confused, maybe a little ruffled by the drama, but still composed. I walked up to him, letting my steps land heavier than usual as I came to a stop right in front of him.“Benjamin,” I said, keeping my tone civil, “could we have a word? Privately.”He hesitated, glancing at Aiden and Axel standing like shadows at my side, before nodding. “Sure. Follow me. You are being gentlemen now after being total assholes to me barely thirty minutes ago.” He protested but we ignored him, we had more pressing matters to address. He led us
Willow’s POV The door clicked shut behind me, and silence settled over my apartment as I let out a deep, shaky breath. After the gala, my nerves were still buzzing with a blend of anger and disbelief. I couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped, cornered, and all thanks to the triplets. They had the nerve to make an appearance at an event I was attending, and not only that, they turned it into a spectacle that practically screamed: “territorial.” But I wasn’t their territory. I wasn’t anyone's. And the sooner they realized that, the better.I poured myself a drink and ran a hot bath, trying to scrub away the evening’s tension. The warmth wrapped around me, soothing my muscles, but not the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind. I wished I could forget the way Asher’s gaze had burned through me, or how Axel had watched me, almost daring me to resist them. I wished I could just erase Aiden’s smug grin from my memory. They were everything I wanted to escape, and yet…they were undeniab
Willow's POV The sunlight filtered softly through the blinds as I woke up, still groggy from the strange, restless sleep. I glanced around and found myself alone in the living room. True to their word, the triplets were gone. For a moment, I thought it had been a surreal dream, but the faint scent of their cologne lingering in the air and the sheets scattered on the couch reminded me that it was real.As I stretched and sat up, I spotted a note propped neatly on one of the sofas. My heart skipped as I reached for it, wondering if it was another one of their taunts. It read:"Willow, thank you for your kindness. We’ll find a way to pay you back soon. With love,Aiden, Axel, Asher."I shook my head, feeling an odd mix of relief and annoyance. I crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trash, refusing to let their charming words and smooth handwriting sway me. I’d had enough of the games they played, and if this was supposed to be a peace offering, I wasn't buying it.After tidying up t
Asher's POV The city lights stretched out beneath us, a sprawling sea of flickering bulbs illuminating the skyline from our penthouse. I leaned back into the plush leather couch, drink in hand, and took in the familiar sight of my brothers. After the chaos of the past few days with Willow, this quiet moment felt long overdue. Aiden lounged across from me, his focus split between his phone and his drink, while Axel, the schemer of the group, was looking pensive, the gears in his mind clearly turning.We were back here, together, but the issues waiting for us back home loomed larger than ever. And it was Axel who finally brought it up, the problem that none of us could dodge forever: the arranged marriage pact with the girls in our pack. The sheer thought of it grated on me. No matter how much I might try to push it aside, the obligation hung over me like an unwanted shadow.“We need a plan,” Axel began, tapping his glass thoughtfully. “Once we go back, our father is really going to pr
Asher’s POVThe tension in the air was thick as we walked through the estate grounds, past dimly lit pathways and the occasional chirp of a night bird. I could feel the weight of our plan pressing down on me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d really thought this all the way through. Benjamin wasn’t the easiest person to talk to today, and if we wanted him to consider our proposal, we’d need a perfect balance of diplomacy and, well, a little luck.As we approached the fountain where he was standing, gazing at the rippling water, I knew he’d already sensed our presence. Benjamin turned, his expression guarded, hands tucked casually into his coat pockets. He looked at us with an arched brow, clearly unimpressed.“Well, well,” he said, his voice laced with skepticism. “Here we are again. What is it this time? Another one of your brilliant ideas that’ll make my life more complicated or you have decided that I do not deserve to see the next day for daring to talk to your mate?”I shot
Chapter 23A Day in the Life of the CEOWillow’s POVThe morning started off like any other in the office. I had barely settled into my chair when Ruby came in with a cup of coffee and a quick rundown of the day’s meetings. She had the perfect balance of energy and professionalism that made her indispensable; as much as I liked to think of myself as independent, having her support let me breathe a little easier. “Looks like you’ll have a break right before lunch,” Ruby said, scanning her notes. “I think that’s the first time in two weeks you’ve had a morning free.”I smiled, sipping my coffee. “Maybe I’ll take up knitting.”She rolled her eyes with a grin. “Knowing you, you’ll just fill it with something work-related. But hey, a girl can hope.” We laughed, and I let myself savor the moment before diving into my inbox.It wasn’t long before the peace was interrupted by a knock on my office door. Ruby’s eyebrows shot up, and she tilted her head toward the door with curiosity. “Expectin
Chapter 100Merciless Obsession Willow's POVThe branches clawed at my skin as I sprinted through the forest, the cold night air burning my lungs. Every footfall seemed like it would be my last, but I couldn’t stop, not now, not when the men were so close. The sound of heavy boots crashing through the underbrush behind me was enough to send a chill down my spine. Their pursuit was relentless, merciless. I glanced down at Ella and Daniel, each of them held tightly by one of the men. They were exhausted, faces pale from the constant running, their bodies almost too weak to keep up. But they kept moving, urged on by the knowledge that if we stopped, we wouldn’t survive. I could see the pack’s border now. The outline of the trees that marked the boundary was faint in the distance, barely visible under the moonlight. We had to get there. We had to cross over and make it to safety.But something felt off. The border... it shouldn’t have been here. I was certain that we hadn’t been captu
Chapter 99Locks and KeysAsher's POVThe cold night air bit at my skin as we huddled near the border of our pack’s territory, the faint scent of damp earth and pine filling my nostrils. I leaned against the rough bark of a tree, trying to catch my breath. It felt unreal, being here, being free, but the freedom tasted bittersweet. We weren’t safe. Not yet.Kingston had pulled off an impossible rescue, and for that, we owed him our lives. But the weight of what lay ahead pressed heavily on my shoulders. Lilian and her dark forces had taken control of the palace. Our home. Our father’s legacy.The betrayal still stung like a fresh wound. I kept hearing Jason's words echo in my head: "You thought you were untouchable." And now here I was, on the run, fighting to take back what was mine. Our throne, our people, our future. The responsibility felt heavy, but I couldn’t back down. Not now.“We can’t keep running,” I said, breaking the silence that had settled over us. My voice was low but f
Chapter 98The Moon FireWillow's POVThe chains around my wrists felt heavier than they had yesterday or was it today? Time blurred in this miserable place. My body ached, my head throbbed, and every breath felt like a battle against despair. But I couldn’t afford to give up. My children were here, somewhere in this hellish place, and they needed me. I pressed my back against the cold stone wall and closed my eyes, focusing all my energy on the sliver of hope that I might reach them. Linking to my children wasn’t something I’d ever tried before. We hadn’t needed such a skill; we had always been together. But now? Now, it felt like my only chance to find them. “Daniel. Ella,” I whispered in my mind, trying to project my thoughts through the darkness. “Can you hear me? It’s Mommy.” Silence. I bit back a sob of frustration and tried again, pushing harder, imagining their little faces, their bright eyes filled with joy—or fear. “Ella! Daniel! Please, answer me.” And then I hear
Chapter 97Pristine ConditionKingston's POVI paced in my study, frustration bubbling under my skin like an itch I couldn’t scratch. No one was answering my calls, not Lina, not the triplets, not even the team members. Silence stretched across every channel I tried an eerie quiet that didn’t sit well with me. Something was wrong; I could feel it in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t normal, not for any of them. The last time I’d spoken to Lina, she’d mentioned a vision about Asher and the house, she had said she was on her way to my place to drop off the kids so that I could babysit them for a few hours, at least until Asher was gone. After that, she’d gone quiet. Too quiet. My instincts were screaming at me that something had gone terribly wrong. I decided I’d head to Willow’s house, hoping to find some answers or at least see Lina and the kids. As I grabbed my keys and prepared to leave, a cold whisper brushed against my ear. “The palace dungeon.” I froze. The voice was f
Chapter 96Raging EncountersAsher’s POV The heavy slam of the iron door echoed through the dungeon, and I flinched involuntarily, the sound reverberating in my chest like a dull roar. The cold stone walls were damp, the air thick with mildew and despair. My brothers and I were chained to the wall, barely able to move, and yet, I couldn’t allow myself to lose focus. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.Aiden groaned to my left, adjusting against his restraints. “This is humiliating,” he muttered. “A dungeon, Asher? Us? How did it come to this? Once we get out of here, I am going to rip Benjamin's head from his neck, this insolence will not go unpunished. I will make sure of it.”I had no answer for him, though the question burned in my mind too. Axel, on my right, was unusually quiet, his sharp mind likely racing for a solution. That was Axel, always thinking, always plotting.And then, from the far corner of the room, a low, eerie chuckle broke the silence. It wasn’t just any laugh
Chapter 95First LinkWillow's POVI woke up in darkness. At first, I thought I was dreaming, everything felt like a hazy blur, a disorienting mess of thoughts and fragments that didn’t quite fit together. My body ached, every muscle sore from being tied for what felt like days. My skin was sticky, and there was a bitter taste in my mouth like I had been drugged or forced to sleep too long.I tried to move, but the chains that bound me were cold and unyielding. My legs felt weak, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stand. But then, a faint noise in the distance caught my attention, and I strained to hear, trying to block out the fogginess in my mind.The door to my cell creaked open.A familiar figure stepped inside, and my heart jumped. Elana.I couldn't help the anger that surged through me. She was the one behind all this. She was the reason my children were gone. She was part of the plan to put me through this nightmare. I could barely hold my head up, but I ma
Chapter 94Unexpected RiddleAsher’s POV I woke up to the sharp sting of reality, a jolt that ran through my body as the world came rushing back into focus. The first thing I noticed was the dampness against my skin, and the cold metal of the chair biting into my back. My wrists were bound tightly to the arms of the chair, my body immobilized in a way that felt too familiar. But the worst part was the silence. The heavy, oppressive silence that hung in the air, was thick and suffocating.I wasn’t alone.My eyes quickly scanned the room, taking in the sight of my brothers. Axel and Aiden were sitting beside me, both of them equally restrained, their faces contorted in confusion, anger, and fear. They were alive, but it was clear that none of us had any idea of how we got here.“What the hell?” I muttered, my voice hoarse from what felt like hours of unconsciousness. A soft, almost mocking voice answered. “Nice to see you awake, Asher.” I turned my head toward the sound, my heart lea
Chapter 93A Different WorldLina’s POVI woke up with a start, the kind of awakening that made my heart race and my instincts flare. My head was pounding, the dimly lit room swimming in and out of focus, but what really snapped me to full awareness was the low, guttural growl that echoed inside me. It wasn’t my own, not my own wolf growling, but something deeper, more primal like my wolf was responding to something she sensed, something she feared.My throat tightened, and panic flared within me. The last thing I remembered was taking the kids to the car, and telling them we were heading to Kingston’s place. I’d seen a vision of Asher coming to the house, his presence like a storm cloud on the horizon. I needed to get them out of there. I could still feel the cold, clenched grip of the vision in my mind, the urgency that had driven me. But after I’d gotten them in the car, everything after that went black.I didn’t remember how I ended up here.I shifted in the bed or was it a cot? I
Chapter 92Captured.Willow's POV Waking up from the drug-induced haze was always the worst part. It took a moment for my mind to reconnect with my body. The pounding in my skull was relentless, and my limbs felt like lead. But this time, something was different. I didn’t wake up to the suffocating silence or the dim flicker of the overhead light. Instead, I heard voices. Familiar, terrified voices. “Daniel? Ella?” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper, as my heart skipped a beat. Their cries, sharp and frantic, cut through the fog in my mind. It couldn’t be. My children couldn’t be here. This had to be a trick, another twisted game by Alpha Thane to break me. But when I forced my eyes open, reality hit me like a dagger to the chest. There they were. My babies. Tied to a wooden pole in front of me, their small bodies trembling, their faces streaked with tears. “Daniel! Ella!” My voice came out as a strangled scream, raw with disbelief and terror. The blood rushed to my h