Willow's POV
I sat on my bed, lost in thought, my mind racing with several thoughts at once. It had been weeks since I moved in with Jason and Ruby, and they had been kind and understanding, never prying into my past. But I knew I couldn't stay here forever. I needed a plan, a way to move forward.
Just as I was getting caught up in my thoughts, I felt a tap on my back. I turned to see Ruby standing there, concern etched on her face.
"Willow, what's wrong? You've been lost in thought for a while now, and I've been trying to get your attention," Ruby said, her voice soft.
I let out a deep sigh and apologized, "I'm sorry, Ruby. I just have a lot on my mind."
Ruby sat down beside me, her eyes filled with kindness. "You can share with me, Willow. I've noticed how quiet you've been since you moved in. I didn't want to pry, but I want you to know that I'm here for you."
I hesitated, unsure if I should open up to Ruby. But something about her gentle demeanor put me at ease. I took a deep breath and began to tell her everything - about the triplets, about being their mate, about the rejection.
Ruby listened intently, her expression changing from shock to anger. "Those bastards!" she exclaimed when I finished. "How could they do that to you?"
I shrugged, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know. I thought we had a connection, but I guess I was wrong."
Ruby put her arm around me, pulling me into a hug. "You're not wrong, Willow. You deserve so much better than those triplets. They're idiots for rejecting you."
I felt a lump form in my throat as Ruby's words comforted me. Maybe, just maybe, I could move on from this and find happiness again.
"Thanks, Ruby. Just talking about it makes me feel a little better," I said, smiling weakly.
Ruby smiled back. "Anytime, Willow. We're here for you, and we'll support you no matter what."
“Your support and help for the past weeks have been a great deal for me, I really appreciate it,” I mumbled and I looked at Ruby. "I should be going soon," I said, trying to sound strong. "I don't want to overstay my welcome."
Ruby's expression turned concerned. "Where will you go, Willow? You can't just leave without a plan."
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. I didn't have anywhere to go, no family to turn to. I felt a pang of fear at the thought of being alone again.
Ruby seemed to sense my fear. "You don't have to leave, Willow. You can stay here with us. The house is big enough for all of us."
I was taken aback by her offer. "Really? You'd let me stay?"
Ruby nodded. "Of course. We're happy to have you here. You're not disturbing us at all."
I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. "Thank you, Ruby. Thank you so much."
Ruby smiled. "It's nothing, really. Now, tell me, are you done with high school?"
I shook my head. "No, I didn't get to finish."
Ruby's expression turned thoughtful. "Well, you can enroll in my school. You can start on a school loan, and we can help you with the rest."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. A chance to finish school, to start anew. I felt a surge of hope.
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
Ruby nodded. "Of course. We want to help you get back on your feet."
I thanked her again, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. I had never felt such kindness from strangers before.
"Thank you, Ruby. Thank you for everything."
“Oh please don’t make it sound like it’s something big,” she joked and chuckled
“It’s something big Ruby, you don’t know what this means to me and how I won’t have to regret leaving the pack even with all the humiliation I faced.”
She let out a deep breath and held my hands. “I understand you perfectly Willow, I have been there when I lost my parents, I felt lost and I thought there was no way forward until I met Jason who made me stand on my toes again, luckily my parents left this big house for me. If Jason was kind enough to see through me during my darkest days why can’t I do that with you I can’t lie, I love your presence here, you made it feel homely.”
I smiled and I couldn’t help as a tear escaped my eyes, I pulled her into a hug and she chuckled. She wrapped her hands around me and sighed beautifully.
*
I walked into class, feeling accomplished. I had never thought I'd be able to attend school again, but thanks to Ruby's help, I was finally back on track. The loan they had secured for me had been a lifesaver, and I was determined to make the most of it.
I took my seat and I noticed Ruby smiling at me from across the room. I smiled back, feeling grateful for her support. She had been with me every step of the way, encouraging me to keep going even when things seemed impossible.
She came say next to me but as the lesson began, I started to get a strange feeling. My head was spinning, and my vision began to blur. I tried to focus on the teacher's words, but they seemed to be coming from far away.
"Willow, are you okay?" Ruby whispered, tapping my shoulder. "You've been staring off into space for a while now."
I quickly cleared my throat, trying to cover up my confusion. "I'm fine, Ruby. Just a little...distracted."
“Okay,” she mumbled and we continued listening to the teacher, I tried my best to focus even though it was hard, and when the class was finally over I let out a deep breath.
“Let’s go to the food canteen,” she muttered and I nodded.
We resumed walking and suddenly my legs became too heavy to carry, I tried to move but I couldn’t and my legs gave out on me. I felt myself falling, and then everything went black.
I woke up to meet Ruby's worried face hovering above me. "Willow, oh my god, what happened? You just collapsed!"
I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back down. "I...I don't know," I stammered. "I just felt really dizzy all of a sudden."
Ruby's expression turned serious. "We need to get you to the nurse's office. Now."
I nodded weakly, still trying to process what had just happened. What was wrong with me?
As we walked to the nurse's office, Ruby kept a tight hold on my arm, supporting me. "Do you think it's stress?" she asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
I shook my head. "I don't know. I've been feeling okay, just a little overwhelmed with schoolwork."
The nurse examined me, asking me questions and taking my pulse, her expression turned grave. "Willow, I think we need to run some tests. I need to be sure,” she said and I turned to look at Ruby, all I could do was nod.
My heart racing as the nurse took my blood and walked away, I wondered if I had a deadly disease, Ruby gently stroked my hair when she noticed how worried I was. "You'll be okay, Willow. Just breathe." Her calming words did little to ease my anxiety.
The nurse returned with a sympathetic smile and a folder in her hand after a while, I felt an adrenaline rush and sat down immediately. “Is everything alright?” I asked and her lips were in a thin line before she handed over the result to me.
“Willow, the test results show that you're...pregnant." She mumbled.
My world crumbled. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Pregnant? How could this be? I thought back to that fateful night when I discovered I was mated to the triplets. It all made sense now. I gasped, and tears burst forth like a dam breaking.
Ruby's arms enveloped me. "Shh, it's okay. We'll get through this."
The nurse nodded. "I think it's best if you go home and process this news. We can discuss options later."
I nodded numbly, still trying to wrap my head around the situation. Ruby gathered our bags, and we left the school in silence.
*
A week passed, and I struggled to come to terms with my new reality. I barely ate, and tears became my constant companion. This wasn't the life I planned for myself, how could I be pregnant? I was so lost in their touch that I didn’t realize what that might cause to me.
One evening, Ruby and Jason confronted me seeing the way I had been on my own. Refusing to attend classes. "Willow, you need to think about what you're going to do," Ruby said gently. "You can't keep avoiding this."
Jason added, "Yeah, it's been a week. You need to make a decision."
I took a deep breath and let my shoulders sag. "I've decided to keep the baby."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Are you sure? Have you thought this through?"
I nodded. "I know it's not ideal, but I can't bring myself to...you know. And luckily, we'll be graduating soon. No one will find out. I'll give birth and apply to college. I'll make it work."
Jason frowned. "It won't be easy, Willow. You're still in high school."
I knew he was right, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that this baby was meant to be, I can’t kill my own child, abandoning my child after I had been abandoned so I shook my head swiftly. "I'll figure it out. I have to."
Asher’s POVI drummed my fingers on the desk, trying to focus on the papers in front of me, but my mind kept wandering. Eight years!It had been eight long years since Willow vanished into thin air. Eight years of searching, of hoping, of praying. Eight years of guilt eating away at us like cancer, knowing we are the cause of our mate's disappearance.I don’t know where she is now, if she is better or if she’s… I don’t want to think about it. I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to collect my breathing and perhaps concentrate on work.Just then, Aiden and Axel walked in, their faces etched with concern. "Any news?" Aiden asked, his voice laced with a mix of hope and desperation.I shook my head. "Not yet. But I promised to let you know as soon as I hear anything."Axel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's like she disappeared from the face of the earth. We've employed the best agents, searched every corner of the country...it's like she never existed.""I know," I sa
Willow's POV“Give it to me Daniel! I was the one with it first!” “No, I don’t want to watch Barbie. I want something else!” “You are so mean!” Ella burst into tears and continued screaming. “Give it to me Daniel! Don’t be so mean, I was watching the TV first you could have waited let me finish!” I sighed, trying to brush my teeth in peace, but the twins were at it again. Daniel and Ella were fighting over the remote control, their shrill voices echoing through the bathroom. I spit out the foamy liquid in my mouth before speaking."Stop fighting, you two!" I exclaimed, coming out of the bathroom. "Daniel, give Ella the remote control."But Daniel crossed his arms, his face set in a stubborn expression. "No, I want to watch my show!"I knelt down beside him, looking him straight in the eye. "Daniel, you're the big brother. You need to protect and take care of Ella always. That means sharing and being kind to her. You promise to always protect your sister, is this how you are going t
Chapter 6 Asher's POV It was strange to be back in this part of the city, and even stranger to walk into a meeting and see her there. Willow. The same girl we had grown up with, only... not the same. The moment I saw her, I was hit with a wave of surprise. She was no longer the chubby, quiet girl from our pack, always keeping to herself as if hiding in the shadow of others. She had transformed into someone different, confident, striking, and undeniably womanly. Her once-soft chubby features had sharpened into something fierce, something... beautiful. I caught the flicker of shock that passed over her face the moment her eyes landed on us, me, Aiden, and Axel. I could tell she wasn’t expecting us, just as we hadn’t expected to see her. For a second, it looked like she was ready to bolt like she couldn’t bear to be in the same room as us.The room grew tense as she stood up abruptly, her movements jerky and defensive, making her intentions clear. She was about to leave.“Willow,” Axe
Chapter 7Willow’s POVI slammed the door behind me harder than I should have, my hands trembling as I leaned against it, trying to gather myself. My mind was racing, my heart was pounding, and I felt like I was going to explode. How dare they? How dare they just waltz back into my life like they hadn’t destroyed everything? Like they hadn’t rejected me when I was at my most vulnerable like they had any right to walk in here and start calling the shots again.I kicked off my shoes angrily, muttering to myself as I paced the small living room. My chest was tight, and tears stung at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I was done crying over them, done letting them have that power over me. Aiden, Axel, Asher, those arrogant, self-assured triplets who thought they could control everything and everyone. They had treated me like I was disposable back then, and now they thought they could just walk back into my life like nothing had happened.I wasn’t that same girl anymore.
Willow's POV I couldn’t shake the unease as I parked my car outside Jason’s house. My hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white as if clinging to any semblance of control I had left. Today was the day. After eight years of trying to forget, I would face them again. The triplets. Asher, Aiden, Axel. Just their names made my stomach churn with a mixture of dread and anger.I glanced in the rearview mirror at my twins, Daniel and Ella, who were sitting quietly in the backseat. They had no idea what was going on, and I intended to keep it that way. Jason’s house would be their sanctuary for the day, far removed from the tension I was about to dive into. The last thing I needed was for them to sense my anxiety. "Alright, kiddos. You’re going to have so much fun with Uncle Jason today!" I plastered a smile on my face, though it felt fragile, like glass that could shatter with the wrong word.Daniel grinned, showing off his missing front tooth. "Can we play with the new game he bough
Asher's POVThe ink was barely dry on the documents when my phone buzzed in my pocket, the vibration cutting through the atmosphere like a knife. I glanced at the screen, at my assistant, Leo. He never called unless it was urgent. I answered, trying to ignore the heaviness in my chest that had settled after meeting Willow."Asher, you need to get back to the pack. Your father is expecting some important guests. He wants all of you there," Leo said, his voice brisk and professional, though I could hear a hint of concern woven in.“Got it. We’ll head back now,” I replied, pocketing my phone and turning to the other boys, who were still gathered around the table, their expressions a mix of satisfaction and apprehension."Looks like we have to leave," I said, my voice carrying a weight that felt heavier than it should. “Dad wants us back at the pack. I just got off the phone with Leo.”Aiden’s brows furrowed in concern. "What’s this about? What kind of guests?”I shrugged, not having the
Asher's POV The morning light barely filtered through the thick curtains of our room, but the rumble of footsteps outside told me the day was already in full swing. I cracked open an eye and saw Axel sprawled in the bed across from me, dead to the world. For a moment, I considered going back to sleep, pretending that today wasn’t important. But that nagging reminder of what was coming crept in, Father’s guest. The Alpha of some nearby pack was due to arrive, and Father expected us to be on our best behavior. He was to have arrived yesterday but only his councilmen and the rest of his entourage had, he would be arriving this morning with his daughters and the mere thought of it made me cringe. Of course, that wasn't happening. At least not in the way Father envisioned.Axel groaned and rolled over. “What time is it?”I glanced at the clock. “Late enough that we should’ve been downstairs by now.”“Perfect.” He smirked the devilish grin that told me he was already plotting something.
Willow's POV The sunlight streamed through the windows of the shopping mall, casting warm, golden light across the busy stores. Jason walked beside me, pushing the cart as we strolled through the aisles. His easygoing nature always put me at ease, but today, there was a slight tension in the air. Maybe it was just me. I tried to push the feeling away as we navigated through the aisles, Jason’s hand occasionally brushing against mine as we walked.We were out shopping for Daniel and Ella, who had outgrown nearly every toy in the house. Jason had been sweet enough to come with me, even though I knew he didn’t enjoy shopping all that much with someone. As we rounded the corner into the toy section, a voice called out to him from across the store."Jason!" a girl’s voice rang out, high and bright.We both turned to see a young woman, tall and pretty, with blonde curls framing her face. She waved eagerly as she made her way over to us. Something about the way she moved and the way her eye
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