With one final glance in the mirror, John turned around to exit the room. According to Carla and Luke's explanation, although this event was a celebration, it didn't call for formal attire. It was more of a casual gathering to commemorate and honour their shifter origins.As he walked down the corridor, John's lynx started to stir in his mind, as if sensing something. Upon reaching the hall, John spotted his mate standing there, waiting for him and looking as stunning as ever. The young shifter lynx within John purred at the sight of the impressive Alpha bear specimen. They moved forward together, and John's lynx scanned his mate up and down while remaining unnoticed by Darius."Let's claim mate," his lynx urged mischievously, in John's mind. Trying to rein in his naughty feline instincts, John continued to admire his mate's physique. Darius was clad in black jeans that clung to his legs like a second skin, accentuating his defined muscles. The simple white T-shirt he wore stretched o

Darius shook his head in amusement at his beta sister before confidently striding into the centre of the square. With a commanding presence, he cleared his throat, capturing the undivided attention of his pack members. "Our esteemed Beta Prius, known for his grumpy demeanour," eliciting a chuckle from the crowd and an annoyed grunt from Prius, "has found his mate in Luke Silverton, a werewolf who happens to work alongside none other than Prius' own sister, Carla. You all must agree, if he can survive living with Carla, he can handle anything," he added with a smirk, prompting laughter from the audience. "Hey!" Carla shouted, arms folded across her chest, a look of mock offence on her face. "I happen to be the best employer ever!" Darius slyly winked at her before continuing. "Nevertheless, as you can see, they couldn't wait to claim each other." The audience, again, burst into a chorus of enthusiastic acclamation and jubilant clapping. "So, without further ado, let us officially

Sera emerged from the bathroom, only to be hit by a sudden burst of dizziness that made her sway, prompting her to lean a hand against the wall for support. After regaining her bearings and stability, she pushed away from the wall and started walking back toward the party."What was that?" she thought to herself. Just as she was about to dismiss the feeling as a consequence of the high emotions she had been subjected to in the last few days, her lynx perked up and began to pace anxiously in her head.Sera quickened her pace, a sinking feeling settling in as they reached the door opening into the square, and her lynx painfully whispered, "Danger, boy."Alarm bells went off in Sera's head as she looked around and couldn't find John or the Alpha. Her eyes landed on Carla, and she moved quickly towards her. "Where are they?" she asked the woman without any preamble.Carla shot a look at the healer, sensing her distress and agitation. "They were here," Carla said, but then neither of them

Darius felt a whirlwind of emotions churning within him as he looked at his mate and the stranger standing before them. Was he hearing things correctly? Did John just address the man as his father?"Yes, he did," the stranger's voice cut through the air as if he had plucked the thoughts right out of his mind Darius mused. “Oh but I did, Mr. Alpha bear!” His chuckle held a mixture of amusement and something deeper, a hint of familiarity that sent shivers down Darius's spine.Sera, sensing the tension, moved towards the man, her curiosity piqued. Her steps were tentative, her gaze locked on the figure before her."Hello, Sera," the man greeted her warmly, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Long time no see—I see you haven't aged at all!" His words were laced with a playful tone, but underneath, there was a sense of sincerity that resonated with Sera.Sera rolled her eyes at the comment, her lips curling into a smirk. "Of all people, I didn't think they would send you Zion…" she be

John observed the lively gathering in front of him, people mingling, laughing, and seated around a massive bonfire. Some children were joyfully roasting marshmallows, their screeches of delight blending with the overall atmosphere of happiness.The scene before him felt so... human. If stumbled upon in the woods, one might easily assume that Wildwood Haven for just another human town. John was acutely aware of the large hand gripping his small one, a connection that hadn't wavered since they returned from the almost-kidnapping earlier. The tingling sensation that ran up his arm and spread throughout his body warmed something inside him. Darius had not left his side, nor had he released his hand, not even when some of the pack members, including Mirabel, attempted to hug him, making the whole motion awkward. The worst moment had been when the group of kids that Mia had used to entice Darius away from John came to a halt in front of him. Their eager attempts to pull him away for the