The car came to a stop in front of the mansion. I noticed the servants directing their attention towards me, and I couldn’t help but see Ryan’s car parked neatly in a corner—a clear indication of his presence. Stepping out of the car, I disembarked before the chauffeur had the opportunity to open the door for me.“Thank you, Charlie,” I acknowledged, waving him off. Approaching the entrance, I removed my jacket and handed it to the waiting butler. He nodded respectfully and greeted me, but I continued past him, ignoring his salutations.The sound of my shoes echoed as I entered the living room. I observed Margaret handing Ryan a cup of tea, which he acknowledged with gratitude. Given that Ryan was my closest friend, I had extended to him the privilege of feeling comfortable whenever he visited. He glanced up from his cup as Margaret greeted me.“Welcome back, Alpha Hawthorne,” she began, a faint smile gracing her lips as she held onto the white ceramic tea pot with beautiful rose flow
—AURORA'S POV— I made my way to the window, drawing the curtains aside to allow the light to filter in as I gazed outside. Below, I spotted the gardener tending to the gardens—a middle-aged man with a mane of gray hair atop his head, likely around fifty years of age. Our eyes met, and I offered him a smile along with a brief wave. He reciprocated the gesture with a smile of his own before resuming his work. A knock resonated at the door, diverting my focus. "Come in," I granted, and Ruth entered, a smile gracing her face as her gaze settled on me. "How have you been?" she inquired, and I responded, assuring her that I was doing well. Her nod acknowledged my response. "Prepare yourself, he's waiting for you," she informed me, prompting my agreement with a nod. As she began to turn away to depart, I called out, "Wait." She halted, her eyes locking onto mine, brimming with curiosity. "Is everything alright?" she inquired, and a chuckle escaped me as I shook my head. Her shoulders rel
His gaze bore into me, intense and unrelenting. He let out a sigh, his expression softening, and bestowed upon me a look of sympathy. "I apologize," he uttered, his tone gentle, leaving me bewildered as I grappled with the unfolding scenario. "I've heard accounts of your mate and how he treated you. No one should have to endure such treatment," he added, offering a smile that carried a genuine warmth.Stunned, I remained seated, my lips parting and closing wordlessly. My voice eluded me, leaving me dumbfounded. I sensed Diego's sigh of relief, but my attention remained locked on the Alpha. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Even after everything Hawthorne had done, he was willing to let it slide when an opportunity to get back at him was being presented to him."Thank you," I managed to utter, forcing a faint smile, to which he offered a nod in acknowledgment. “You are welcome to stay, but,” However, he wasn’t done and it soon became evident that he had more to say. “You will
-ALPHA HAWTHORNE’S POV-Casting a glance at my wristwatch, I rhythmically tapped my leg while the car navigated a leisurely path that wound into a forested expanse. Before long, a house came into view on the horizon. The sun's radiance illuminated the surroundings, while the leaves of the trees, swayed in harmony with the gentle breeze.We came to a gradual halt, and as I stepped out of the car accompanied by my guard positioned a short distance away, I proceeded toward the house. Rapping my knuckles against the door's surface, I patiently waited for a reply before granting myself entry. Swiftly enough, a figure appeared at the window, her gaze fixed on me.I offered her a gentle, reassuring smile along with a quick wave. It was evident that fear flickered in her eyes upon spotting me. Swiftly, she hastened to unlatch the door, nodding her head in acknowledgment as she did so."Please, come inside, Alpha," she extended the invitation, to which I nodded in acceptance. Sign
-AURORA’S POV-Alpha Riel had organized a grand feast at the manor, extending special invitations to those particularly close to him, including Diego. To my surprise, I also received an invitation. Perhaps it was his method of reaffirming his earlier assurance that I should consider myself at home within his pack.That night, as I sat before the mirror, Ruth carefully combed my hair. She gazed at me with a warm smile. Over the past few days spent with Diego, Ruth and I had forged a close friendship, and in some ways, we had become best friends. Our bond was such that we felt entirely at ease in each other's presence.Ruth had also introduced me to a couple of her friends who worked alongside her in Diego's mansion. As she continued combing my hair, I sensed her gaze fixated on me, and she briefly halted her movements."You look stunning. I can't wait to see the reactions when you walk into the party," Ruth complimented with a warm smile. I playfully rolled my eyes and l
Upon entering the mansion, I found myself in a spacious hall. Initially, I hadn't recognized where we were, but as my gaze fell upon the enormous table stretching along one side of the room and the magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling, I realized that we were actually in Alpha Riel's expansive living room. Around fifty wolves filled the hall, but there were no chairs for sitting. Some had already taken to the dance floor, reveling in the music with their partners, while others stood along the sidelines, holding drinks in their hands as they observed the dancers before them. As soon as I entered, with Diego leading the way, all heads swiveled in our direction. Whispers resonated among the crowd, and some women seemed to fixate on me, perhaps perceiving me as a rival. I averted my gaze from their gaze and couldn't help but notice the men's stares, which felt as if they were trying to undress me with their eyes. I felt incredibly uncomfortable, and at one point, nervousness
Another slap followed swiftly before Harrison could utter a word.Diego's relentless grip on Harrison's collar had caused the color to drain from Harrison's face as he struggled to breathe. At this point, I stared around, meeting people’s gazes. I was so scared and had no idea what to do but what I knew that what I didn’t want was a murder right in front of me.People would talk, saying I had caused it and I would be hated, hunted by them, or chased out of the pack. Even Diego’s friends were surprised to witness what was going on before their eyes and so was the alpha."Diego, please stop," I pleaded desperately, but he paid no heed to my words. His grip continued to tighten, and I watched as Harrison's eyes filled with terror and tears streamed down his face. He struggled for breath, desperately attempting to break free from Diego's hold."Diego, STOP!" Alpha Riel's voice finally cut through the chaos. He snapped out of his daze, his brow furrowed with concern for Harrison's life.Di
*** SIX MONTHS LATER*** -ALPHA HAWTHORNE’S POV-Waking up in my room, I walked toward the window, gazing outside, my hand clutching the necklace I had left with my mate. It was the one thing that symbolized how much I loved her. She was the only one to whom I had ever given something I held such sentiment for.The necklace had once belonged to my mother before she passed away. With Aurora gone, I couldn't think properly, as my thoughts were constantly consumed by her absence. Even the maids were afraid to approach me or make the slightest mistake, knowing I might punish them severely for it.As planned, Ryan had already put out posters offering generous rewards for information about her, but there was still no result. I was beginning to lose hope that I would find her, and even Estefan had yet to report back. He had already set out on the mission I assigned to him, but his lack of communication worried me.I feared that my mate might have been abducted and taken to one of