VERENA“If we wait for them to attack us, then our packs will die, Dad,” I reply with a stern voice. “They are strong, but not invincible. If we all battle them together, I’m sure we will win. I will call all the neighboring packs we are in alliance with currently and set a meeting.”Dad’s frown deepens, a furrow etching itself between his brows. “Rena, I admire your spirit,” he says, his voice laced with concern. “But uniting the Alphas won’t be easy. Most haven't faced a threat like the Ashwalkers, and they might scoff at your warnings."A wave of frustration washes over me, but I quickly push it down. Defeat isn’t an option. “Then we’ll make them believe,” I declare, my voice firm. "We'll gather evidence, share what happened to Ruth, and convince them of the danger they face."Carlisle’s voice cuts through the tense atmosphere. “I’m in,” he declares, his gaze meeting mine. "If the other Alphas hear what the Ashwalkers did to my pack, they won't be able to ignore the threat." His wo
VERENA“Who are you talking about, Verena?” he presses, his voice low and dangerous. “It's him, isn't it? Elijah.” He hisses. “So you two are a team now?”I hold his gaze. "We're on good terms now," I declare, my voice firm and strong. “Also, he’s Ezra's father. He donated his blood to save him and helped us a lot. He loves Ezra and deserves to be involved in his matters as much as I do.”He scoffs and looks away. “So you choose him after all,” he says, his voice filled with disdain.“We have talked about this, Carlisle. And I haven’t forgotten about the way you behaved with me that night,” I say and cross my arms.Something flickers in his eyes before he says, “I’m sorry about that night. I wasn’t in my right mind.”My brows lift at him in shock. Well, I certainly did not expect him to apologize so quickly.“It—You know my feelings for you,” he confesses, his gaze filling with a vulnerability I haven’t seen before.A lump forms in my throat. “I have always tried to tell you not to ex
VERENAMy heart tightens at the pain in his words, and I see him take a step back. His eyes glisten, but he hides it by looking away, placing one hand in his pocket that I am sure is clenched into a fist. “I know that I can’t have you,” he whispers.Seeing him like this makes my heart sink. Guilt washes over me. I know it is not my fault as I can’t control anyone’s feelings, nor can I force them. But he has been such a good friend to me. A strong support who has been there for me when Elijah wasn’t. If he hadn’t let me in his pack, I don’t know where I would have gone. I would have been a rogue.He clenches his jaw, and he looks at me, his eyes glistening under the light of the room. “It's not your fault. But it fucking hurts…” he laughs, the laugh having no humor to it. It's a mask that he uses to hide the pain he’s feeling. “Maybe I’m destined to be mateless for my entire life,” he says and smiles.“No, that isn’t true. I’m sure there is someone out there for you too,” I say to conso
VERENA“You sure you felt the right kind of bond and aren’t just some horny bitch who’s attracted to any hot Alpha male?” She accuses me. I narrow my eyes. “Hey! I am not that kind of a person.” I spat. “Chill, woman. I am not questioning your character. I am just asking. Carlisle is hot as fuck. Maybe not as hot as Elijah. But that’s because he’s my mate, so I find him to be the hottest.”“What’s your point?” I ask, getting irritated by her stupid rant. “My point is that I won’t blame you if you found him attractive and mistook it for the mate bond. You have been a naughty girl. Hehe.” I roll my eyes. “You don’t get to say that. You are the horniest wolf I have come across.” “I am your first wolf. You don’t have any reference, idiot.” She says, sassiness dripping from her tone. “And wolves are meant to be horny. We are meant to eat, sleep, poop and reproduce. We don’t do complicated stuff like you guys.” “Yeah, but the mate bond you guys have makes things complicated. And no, I
VERENAMy face turns cold, my heart hammering against my ribs. “What?! Who attacked it?” “Seems like some kind of a Shadow Den Gang,” Kyla’s voice crackles with urgency through the mind-link. “These guys are ruthless—according to the information I have, they specialize in kidnapping omegas and selling them on the black market.” Panic claws at my throat, like icy fingers that squeeze the air out from my lungs. “Where are you?” I ask. The silence that stretches on feels like an eternity. Then, Kyla’s faint and breathless voice fills the link. “I’m inside the cottage,” she gasps, “I’m hiding some of the girls I could get in the basement. They haven’t—Ah!” Kyla’s voice trails off, a choked sob escaping her lips. A jolt runs through my spine. No. I hope she’s safe. My blood runs cold. “Kyla! Are you there?!” I ask, feeling my heart race frantically. Her voice reaches my head. “Luna, I can’t hold them back for long. There are too many of them and they are extremely strong. I’m trying
VERENAA primal snarl escapes my lips as I bare my teeth at them. “Their scent is foreign. They are not from this pack.” Serena tells me with a cautious voice and stands tall on her paws, growling at them. “They have strong auras.” These aren’t ordinary wolves. Who are they and why are they here? The auras radiating from them send a shiver down my spine. A knot of dread tightens in my gut. The wolves from my pack join me, gaining the attention of the foreign wolves. I mind-link Kyla. “We are here. Are you still inside the basement with the girls?” I ask. “Yes, I am here. There are several men roaming the halls of the cottage, searching for us. I am masking the scent of my blood so that they don’t find us.” She replies, her voice slightly shaking. “Blood? Are you injured?” I ask, my stomach coiling with worry. “I fought a few of them and one of the wolves attacked me. So I had no choice but to hide. These wolves are strong. They killed the guards on duty here like it was nothin
VERENAOne rogue gets a lucky bite on Serena’s hind leg, drawing a searing pain that makes us stumble. Another wolf slams into her side, sending her sprawling into the dirt. The wolves surround her. Panic claws at my throat as I hear their growls and watch them stare down at me, baring their teeth. A powerful maw comes down at her, teeth inches from her throat. Time seems to slow down. Adrenaline rushes into our system, and Serena twists her head, feeling the razor-sharp teeth scrape against her fur. She slams her legs back into the attacker’s chest, sending the wolf flying back with a surprised yelp. Heaving, panting, Serena scrambles to her paws. Blood drips from the wound on her leg, painting the dirt red. The wolves circle, their movements measured, predatory. This isn’t a fight anymore—it's a hunt. One of the larger wolves charges at her first. Serena meets him head-on. He’s stronger than the rest. We both feel a searing pain on the shoulder as the large wolf sinks his teeth i
ELIJAHI tap my boot against the gleaming marble floor of the Alpha King’s mansion, suppressing a sigh. Just a couple of hours ago, Cyrus barked orders through the call, saying that the King requested my presence. He didn’t give any details, just “get your butt here” kind of vibe. That fucker. I don’t like to waste my time waiting for anyone. Except Rena and Ezra. Still, he is the King, and I wouldn’t be caught disrespecting that piece of shit, especially when he owns my pack. What does he want this time? Hopefully, it's something important because I got better things to do than twiddling my thumbs in his foyer. Cyrus’s call had left a bitter taste in my mouth. The guy never reaches out with good news. Since Rowan took control of my pack, refusing his ‘proposals’ isn’t exactly an option. So, I am pretty much stuck in this situation. It fucking sucks to take orders like a damn dog. But my hand is tied. Giving up the pack was the only way to keep Rena safe then. I have no regrets re