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• EIGHT • The Cost of Compassion
Last Updated:
2025-03-11 23:09:59
Lorea AsheThe weight of these choices is devastating, isn’t it? Going wolf isn’t the cure-all the Blue Ridge Alpha was hoping it would be. Cecilia’s compassion, the other Alpha’s compassion… sometimes, the most well-intended actions can precipitate the harrowing consequences. No good deed… goes unpunished. But who’s really at fault here? The Father - Turning his son, knowing his mental illness. The Son - Brutal, but lacking control due to his sickness? Cecilia - Stepping into a dangerous situation, and possibly accidentally bonding the wolf to her with her magic? Prepare for a deeper exploration of these complex emotions and the unintended destructive power of love in a future installment of the past: Down With the Sickness - ALPHA’S TREASURE.
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Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • • NINE • What Are You Sniffing At, Alpha?
Daniel sat quietly as he processed Donna's story. Lucas brought her the tea and sank back down in the chair he had claimed earlier. Henry was looking down at his hands, and Daniel could smell sadness, anger, and despair as they rolled off of Henry and narrowed down to one emotion. Hate. He shook his head. Poor kid."First things first. Henry, you will become a part of my pack. You will accept me, listen and obey me as your Alpha. I will teach you to control, live, and thrive with your wolf."Henry looked up at Daniel. Uncertainty and hope began to dawn on his face."Sir? How can I?" he whispered. “I lost my family, my home. I’m a monster! I’m the same as that thing that destroyed my life! I want to kill myself, and I can’t even do that!” He sobbed, and Donna's emotions overtook her as well, his pain adding to her own, causing her to quiver next to him as she hugged him tightly."You'll do no such thing," Daniel reinforced softly. "We are not monsters. Sometimes, there are bad things ou
Last Updated : 2025-03-12Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • • TEN • Sunshine and Silence
Samantha was embarrassed that she was caught staring at the man. She didn't know how long it lasted. He could have been dangerous with that acute predatory look in his eyes that seemed to stop time and make the world around her disappear, but the steadiness of his gaze, which should have daunted her, felt like the first solid thing she'd seen since her life began falling apart.The feeling he was seeing the things she was trying to hide was unnerving, so when his attention shifted and released its hold on her, she let her hair fall in front of her face, an effective curtain to shield her. She made it a point not to look his way again, but it was like she could feel his high energy and presence. It wasn't oppressive. It felt as if it was sunshine, but if the light had weight, a soft pressure against her skin.After he seemed to dive back into work, she began to relax again. The sun on her face after the meal and wine was heavenly, and soon she forgot about her faux pas. Unfortunately, s
Last Updated : 2025-03-16Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • • ELEVEN • Grapefruit and Spice
"What are you sniffing at, Alpha?" Donna had asked sharply through the phone. "It sounds like that nose is going to get you in trouble."Daniel wasn't aware he had his nose in the air, like a dog or wolf, that came across something interesting, until Donna mentioned it. The wily bastard had locked onto a scent that was sweet and lightly citric.What the hell? He frowned as he traced it back to the woman with the sunglasses. He could feel his wolf's contented purr as the smell became stronger when she lifted her face to the sun and shook her hair, letting the dark, loose waves fall behind her. His wolf was drunk on her pleasant fragrance, rolling around as it wrapped around them. Daniel leaned into his notepad on the table, exasperated at its antics.The woman looked radiant, basking in the sun with her head tilted slightly back. He enjoyed the way a smile hinted at the corners of her mouth and wondered briefly what her lips tasted like as his eyes traced their curves. He admitted his w
Last Updated : 2025-03-29Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • • TWELVE • The Wolf's Den
Daniel stepped off the plane onto the unpaved strip that was a hard-packed crusher run covered in short grass. He enjoyed the familiar buzz of insects, the wind whispering among the leaves, and the distant sound of a mountain creek, all welcoming him home.A local farmer owned the strip. Somewhere along his family tree was a great-uncle who was a werewolf, and the pack had been close to his family for a few decades now. He was standing next to another man by a white, unmarked Tahoe, and Daniel made a beeline for them."Good to see you, Daniel," the farmer greeted him, nodding."Jim, likewise," Daniel replied as he nodded in return. "Thanks for letting us through on short notice, this is a quick trip.""Anytime," Jim waved."Will you be joining us for the barbecue and run tonight?" Daniel asked."My family and I will be there, Alpha," Jim grinned. "For the barbecue, not the run. Justin here came down and grabbed a couple of pigs two days ago and has had them on the ground since yesterda
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The past several days blended into each other as Samantha stayed close to the house. Her attempt to enter the boutique left her feeling broken, defeated, and frustrated. She knew the feelings would persist as long as her eye was this fantastic shade of eggplant. It had been three days now, and each day, the bruise darkened with no sign of abating any time soon.The only saving grace to any of this was that Richard still hadn't come back home or reached out to her. The longer he stayed away, the more she dreaded seeing him again, and the pit in her stomach grew heavier knowing they were going to have to have a very difficult talk eventually.The afternoon she came home from the restaurant, she had looked around the house, lost. She lay on her bed and cried. It didn't get her anywhere, nor did it help ease the dull ache inside. She ran a hot bath and added Himalayan sea salt to it, hoping the warmth would penetrate her chilled core, but sat in the tub with her arms curled around her knee
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The food and new attitude did Samantha a lot of good. It was like she walked around the house with a fresh set of eyes. She tied her hair back and started with the laundry, looking at his clothes mixed with hers in disgust.She was a nuisance.A bother.Clingy.A child.She punctuated every thought with another item of his she threw in a separate pile to go back in the basket, then she yanked his towel off the hook and threw it on top of everything she left behind. Luckily, the washroom was upstairs, so she took her clothes and sorted them in there before starting the first load.After an initial pang of anxiety, feeling like she was being petty and immature, she decided that it felt good. Next, she stripped everything off the bed so it could wait its turn in the machines. Feeling a moment of satisfaction, she moved to the bathroom with cleaning supplies and started in the shower, scrubbing down the walls. Unsure what to do with his hygiene items, she gathered everything into a small b
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Daniel's eyes popped open with a start. The soft tap on the door was just enough to rouse him from his deep slumber. He checked the clock on the nightstand, and it read four pm. Dammit. He meant to be awake before now.He got up and threw a T-shirt on over his dark jeans as he opened the door and found Lucas lazily leaning against the opposite wall in the hallway with his arms crossed."Sorry to wake you from your beauty sleep," he drawled, not looking the least bit apologetic. “Donna sent me to get you so she could have a word with you before the cookout officially starts.""I'm surprised she didn't get me herself," Daniel mused as he left the door open and put his shoes on."Why would she when she knows she can get me to do it," Lucas grumbled good-naturedly.Daniel followed Lucas down the stairway. As they descended, the smell of food became thicker in the air, making his stomach rumble and reminding him it had been a long time since his last meal. He could hear Donna just outside,
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He knew this discussion and her displeasure, no, her infuriation, was inevitable. He hoped to take care of this tomorrow, but it was here in front of him right now, today."Donna, I do not want to, nor will I ever send Henry away," Daniel swore. "But I promised him he and his wolf would thrive, and they have. But I cannot in good conscience hinder or limit him either.""He won't go," she said stubbornly. "He doesn't want to.""That may be," Daniel sympathized. "But I think I owe it to Henry to let him make that decision himself, as much as it pains us both. You know his wolf is strong, Donna, you've known it from the very beginning. It was part of the reason you feared another Alpha would kill him.""He's not as strong as you, or Lucas, or Thomas, or Judd, or even Justin," she protested. "He doesn't even rank in the top three deltas!""No," Daniel said. "Not yet, anyway. A lot of that has to do with desire. Henry is happy right now with his position in the pack, but we can both feel hi
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Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Five
When they returned to the hotel, it was pushing nine. Thomas retreated immediately, grumbling about being up before everyone else this morning.Thomas is getting a little cranky, Daniel thought aimlessly. He poured himself an Irish whiskey.His wolf is cranky, Daniel’s wolf commented. All of their wolves are getting restless.I’ll take everyone up for a run at Blue Ridge on Saturday, Daniel promised. Why aren’t you cranky, then? Daniel heard a coughing chuckle from his wolf at the question.
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Four
Samantha returned home and retreated to her bedroom. She still wasn’t ready to be in the living room, and she didn’t want to be downstairs when, or if, Richard came home tonight.It was ironic that just a few short weeks ago, his absence upset her, and now, the thought of his presence was almost too much to bear.She ran a hot bath. It was still early in the day, but she hoped the heat and some essential oils would relieve the knots of tension embedded in her back and shoulders, and she thought about her meeting with Mandy. It didn’t go how she expected.What did you expect? The silent, sarcastic voice mocked her. She didn’t have an answer to that. She just knew now that she had some big decisions to make.Mandy laid out a few options. Talk to a psychiatrist. File a restraining order. Petition for Divorce from Bed and Board. All of it was so detailed and were huge steps. It felt like overreacting. He had already left and had a chance to calm down. That moment last night was on both of
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Three
Richard couldn’t pinpoint when his fascination with Mari began. Once she began dating Nate, she became a natural addition to their friendship dynamic.He does remember their first night, though, when they crossed that line of friendship into… whatever this was. It wasn’t love. Neither one of them was going to leave their marriages. But it was fun, raw, and dirty, and the taboo of it all appealed to their mutual need for adrenaline and danger.He got her a job in the marketing department with his brother around three years ago. She excelled very quickly and had a great eye for detail. Almost two years ago now, she was working late on a project he was overseeing. Once she had his final approval on it, they went out for drinks afterwards to celebrate.After the long night and the glowing feeling of s
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Two
Edward could see where Daniel was going with the proposed changes, but he had to admit, in his situation, he would have pushed for the same thing. He knew Richard wasn’t going to take it well, but he did what he could to make sure Richard didn’t lose his stake in the company completely out of his own idiocy.He called him on the way home, the first time going to voicemail, so he called a second time. Richard answered the phone in irritation.“Uncle Eddie, what do you need?” He asked.“It’s not what I need, it’s what you wanted,” Edward snapped. “You asked me to do you a favor, and I’m doing that favor.”“Can this wait until tomorrow?” Richard asked, sounding repentant but distracted.
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-One
“We have a few things to discuss, I was hoping to inform the other shareholders of, and we will need a vote on some changes.“First of all, we’re announcing that Lucas Dunn, our COO, is now a twenty-percent shareholder. That leaves me, and Clearfork Securities at an even fifty,” Daniel explained.Daniel noticed as Edward nodded his head, and then he continued.“You’ll find the breakdown and relevant transference information on page one of your folder. The more important matter, however, is to generate the new bylaws and shareholder agreements to accommodate the acquisition. I was hoping your nephew would be present to weigh in on this, but since he is not, we’ll proceed without him.”
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty
“Tell me you have some good news, Thomas,” Daniel said, looking over his CFO. “What have you found?”“Honestly, nothing yet,” Thomas shook his head. “Sorry, but I can’t seem to make any connection to either Merrick or Roble.”“How are we on background checks?” Daniel asked.“They’re starting to trickle in, but so far, the worst I’ve seen is an open container violation.”Daniel’s jaw ticked. He felt the pressure of time bearing down, making him restless.Thomas is a good hunter, his wolf said out of nowhere. Daniel drew his eyebrows down. It was right. Thomas was a good hunter. He was always patient and thorough. Sometimes his style reminded Daniel of a cat.He could crouch motionless for hours if he needed to. He could wait there, taking everything in. He’ll find something eventually.Daniel opened his mouth to speak when the men heard two sets of footsteps approaching. Daniel raised an eyebrow and looked at the others. Their expressions mirrored his.Paige knocked on the door a little
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Forty-Nine
Paige walked calmly to her desk, which was set up directly in front of Lucas’s office. She opened her top drawer and reviewed its contents - a couple of loose paperclips, pens, and a used notepad.A man in light gray slacks and a cream shirt with his sleeves rolled up approached her as she took out the pen and notepad.“Good afternoon,” he smiled. He had light brown eyes with flecks of green. They were just a shade too dark to be considered hazel. She sat up straighter.“Good afternoon,” she returned, keeping her face in a professional mask.“I was wondering if Mr. Dunn was in his office?” he asked.“He’s not,” Paige replied. “He is preparing for a meeting toni
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Forty-Eight
Daniel let the events of the morning wash over him, and let the stress and sweat disappear down the drain just like his shampoo and soap.Instead, he focused on his incredible luck at running into her today. Samantha. He had a name to the face. It made her more real, more concrete. Instead of being plagued by visions of an ethereal beauty with haunted eyes, he now had memories of her voice, emotions, mannerisms, and the feel of her hand in his.He waited for her inconspicuously. Since they’d come from the park, he didn’t know where she’d left her car. When she left the lawyer’s, he didn’t see the confident square of her shoulders indicating someone was taking back the power to reclaim their life. He saw worry and hesitant insecurity, causing him to worry.Which caused him to worry.
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Forty-Seven
Samantha felt the coolness of the air conditioning blow past her as she pulled the door open to the law firm. She wasn’t sure if it felt like the premonition of a chill or like a breath of fresh air.She looked around, getting her bearings. It was surprisingly very soft and welcoming in the lobby. She expected something cold and intimidating and was pleased to find that wasn’t the case. It boosted her confidence and helped put her at ease with this daunting process.She identified the receptionist’s desk and checked in. The girl gave her a friendly smile when she looked up.“Hello, what can I help you with today?” She asked.“Hi, I’m Samantha Covington. I have an appointment with Ms. Mandy Schelbach this afternoon. Samantha proceeded with the check-in process, providing
