-3rd person pov-A man navigated the streets, his face concealed by a stolen piece of cloth, making his way past the surrounding buildings. He moved with evident difficulty, nearly limping, clutching his side as low grunts of pain escaped his lips. It was clear he was suffering.Finally, he had located the woman he had been assigned to track down, and it had been surprisingly straightforward. He couldn't help but wonder if he should thank the stars for the attack by those wolves on that fateful night. Now, all that remained was either to safely return her to her mate or, if circumstances took a darker turn, to inform him of her whereabouts.The sun still hung high in the sky, and he was fully aware that he needed to act quickly to avoid getting captured. The last thing he wanted was to be apprehended and face the consequences of trespassing in enemy territory. He understood that a single mistake could cost him his life, and he was determined to avoid that fate.Sweat d
—Alpha Hawthorne’s POV—I stood before a man, the whip firmly held in my hand, as I gazed at him with a furrowed brow. His back bore the marks of the lashes, and a mixture of sweat and blood trickled down his skin. His eyes were filled with resentment as he glared at me.He was one of the wolves I had managed to capture, the unfortunate soul who had passed out within my house, only to wake up to the sound of my whip. Despite enduring weeks of torture, he remained mute, never uttering a word, and accepting his grim fate. The thrill of tormenting him sent shivers of excitement coursing through my veins.He was fully aware he wouldn’t be saved by his companions. After all, it was simply impossible to kill me unless well executed. This was their only regret and the reason they had to retreat. Despite everything and being abandoned, he chose not to speak.He was the stubborn one, and I knew I would take pleasure in breaking him and making him talk. I had removed my shirt and handed i
Walking out of the basement, I wiped my blood stained hands with a handkerchief, a deep frown on my face, while Ryan followed suit in silence.I had hoped that Ramon would have provided us with a more useful information but again, I was wrong as he only ended up telling us how his family got abducted and he was forced to join if he wanted to see them again.The narrative seemed similar to the tale of the girl locked upstairs in one of the guest rooms. I did not trust Ramon, so I made the decision to confine him in the basement, ensuring he couldn't escape.Alex had informed me that Vera was inside the mansion, eager to engage in a conversation with me. She soon appeared, her eyes briefly assessing my exposed skin before diverting her gaze toward Ryan.She appeared much better compared to before, with a heartwarming smile gracing her lips, and her hands concealed behind her back. As I approached, she curtsied gracefully.“Alpha Hawthorne.“ She began to speak before meeting my gaze. I n
—Aurora's Pov—Seated with a cup of coffee in hand, I couldn't help but think about the recent encounter with the stranger. It was getting dark and the absence of any feedback from either Diego or George continued to weigh heavily on my mind. Xavier's laughter filled the corner of the room as a maid playfully interacted with him. Outside the house, a light fog had settled in, and the cold air seeped through the window.A crackling fire blazed in the fireplace, consuming the logs as it danced and flickered in response. My worry had consumed me, and I found myself losing track of time, my thoughts consumed by Hawthorne.I instinctively touched my neck, picturing the necklace he had gifted me, now missing after my escape from the mansion.“Miss Aurora?” My butler's voice jolted me from my thoughts as he approached, drawing my attention back to the present. I arched a brow, waiting for my butler to deliver his message. He leaned in, his hands concealed behind his impeccably tailor
—Alpha Hawthorne's pov— As I walked through the garden, my brows furrowed as I looked at the battle site where I had fought with the rogues. I still couldn't come to terms with the betrayal of one of my staff members. Despite everything, I had ordered for Ramon's body to be sent back to his family, a gesture of respect even though he had attempted to kill me along with his rogue associates. The sun was setting, giving way to the approaching night, and I crouched down to pluck a rose, reminiscing about how Aurora used to like them. She had always had a fondness for these flowers, and I had caught her stealing roses on more than one occasion. I brought the rose to my nose, inhaling its fragrance, which reminded me of her scent. A smile crept onto my face as I thought about our unborn child and hoped they would resemble their mother. "Alpha Hawthorne?" A guard's voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to him, not bothering to reply verbally. "You have a guest," he informed me. I initia
"What brings you here, Alpha Hawthorne?" Ryan inquired, his expression a mix of surprise and curiosity as he locked eyes with me.I maintained my gaze on him, pondering his purpose in a location like this. My attention briefly shifted to his surroundings, where I detected a few of his guards watching me with evident bewilderment."I received an anonymous tip about rogue activity in this area, so I decided to investigate," Ryan explained, his response seemingly genuine. I nodded in acknowledgment, deciding to steer the conversation away from our unexpected encounter."So, where are the rogues?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. I couldn't reveal my doubts to my friend.Ryan turned to look around. "When we arrived here, they weren't present," he replied, his expression mirroring my confusion.I fell silent, my mind racing with the possibility that I had been led into a trap. Panic surged through me as I realized I had left the omega alone without explanation. Without utterin
I tried to sit up as the bright morning light, flodded into the room but I was met with a sharp, piercing, pain from my side. A grunt involuntarily escaped my lips, and I clenched my teeth, biting down on my lower lip to stifle the pain. It was clear that I had sustained serious injuries during the battle with the rogues, and the pain was a stark reminder of the recent ordeal. Removing the duvet from my body, my gaze fell upon the bandage wrapped around my waist, concealing the gunshot wound. I diverted my attention away from my injury as the sound of approaching footsteps reached my ears. The familiar surroundings indicated that I was in the mansion, specifically my bedroom. "You're awake, Hawthorne," Ryan greeted with a faint smile as I attempted to sit up. The unease in his eyes became evident when I started to get out of bed. "You must rest; allow yourself time to heal," he advised, his words laced with genuine concern. "I'm fine," I responded, but Ryan didn't appear convinced a
“I’m sorry,” he apologized as tears streamed down his eyes, but there was still something I didn’t understand.How did they manage to reach him in the first place? He had been in my employment for five years, so how did they force him into betraying me?“How did you become a part of them?” I inquired, and after a few moments of hesitation, he finally revealed what I wanted to know.While I was away in search of my mate, he had gone to visit his sick daughter. However, she was no longer at the hospital, and the doctor had informed him that her uncle had come to take her. He was afraid because she had no uncle, and the only relative she had was killed by him.He had no idea what to do until he received a call from an unknown man who told him that if he ever wanted to see his daughter again, he should come to a location they had specified for a meeting. Alex had gone, hoping to reunite with his daughter, but instead, he was beaten up.He was driven to an undisclosed location with his mou