*Selena*"Where have you been, baby?" he whispered, his eyes reflecting the pain. "I missed you so much." He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose. My heart skipped a beat.His words seemed to wrap around me like a spell, making me feel weak in the knees. Part of me wanted to surrender to him, to believe every word he spoke. But I knew I couldn't. Not after everything that had happened. The memories of our past, our love, and the hurt came rushing back, conflicting emotions tearing at my heart. As if I snapped out of the trance, I panicked."I have to go," I mumbled, trying to break free from his grasp.I pushed him with all my strength, but he held on firmly, refusing to let go. Our eyes locked, and I saw a flicker of frustration in his gaze."Let me go," I demanded more firmly, trying to regain my composure.Zander sighed heavily, the struggle evident in his expression, before he rolled aside and got off me, finally releasing me from his tight grasp."So you're run
*Avery* The knock on the door echoed through the room, a soft but unmistakable sound that sent ripples of anticipation through the space. I glanced at my father, and he nodded ever so slightly – a silent understanding passing between us. With a determined exhale, I crossed the room. My fingers curled around the doorknob, and as the door creaked open, there she stood – Eden. I swiftly gestured to her, my hand extending to guide her inside. She slipped past the threshold urgently. I locked the door behind her with a soft thud, the world outside now sealed away. Turning around, I faced her, my eyes searching hers. "Did you make sure that no one would see you coming here?" I asked urgently. "No, Luna Avery, I told the soldiers on the border that I was going to take some important ingredients only found in this village," Eden replied in her voice, low but resolute. "Good," I said in a stern tone. "Do you know what happened this morning, Luna Avery? The Alpha king took that slut's s
*Maddox*The moment I laid eyes on Blair training with Lewis, I knew I was in deep trouble. It had already been incredibly challenging for me to resist the mate bond, especially considering I had a chosen mate and had been leading a happy life for all those years. But Blair's return brought back the agonizing pain of staying away from my destined mate.Why couldn't she make things simpler? Why couldn't she either reject me or accept my rejection? She's only making this situation harder for both of us. She deserved to find a mate who truly deserved her, someone who was of her own age.Eleven years ago, when I discovered that she was my mate, she was only eight years old. I was faced with two options: either wait until she turned sixteen and claim her, but I doubted she could handle my dark desires at such a young age, or inform her about our mate bond and overshadow her childhood, only to claim her when she reached the legal age for werewolves, which was sixteen.However, I chose a th
*Selena*The Moonglow pack was having a big celebration of the Yellow Moon festival today. Everyone was there, but Eden told me to stay back at the packhouse. My job was to clean the kitchen and get things ready for breakfast tomorrow. I scrubbed the kitchen until it sparkled, putting all the kitchen tools in their proper places. I even chopped up some vegetables and got things ready for the next day if I still stayed till tomorrow. The packhouse was super quiet and empty because everyone had gone to the party spot far away. After completing my tasks, I retreated to my room, getting ready to perform the final task.Just as I was about to power up my laptop, the world outside my thoughts was interrupted by a gentle yet insistent knock at my door. Surprise mingled with uncertainty as I approached. As I opened the door, the door's creaking hinges breaking the solitude that had enveloped me. Before me stood Lola, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.Without a word, she embraced me. I w
*Selena*I stood there frozen, my heart racing as Avery's words sliced through the fragile cocoon of grief that had enveloped me since Lola's tragic death. The wounds of her loss were still raw, the pain a relentless ache that gripped my chest."No!" The word tore out of me as my voice quivered with a mixture of shock and defiance."Yes! Yes, you are the murderer," Avery spat the words out with a fiery vehemence. My trembling lips parted, ready to defend myself against the accusations that had blindsided me. "She didn't kill Lola," the deep resonance of Zander's voice rolled out like thunder amidst a storm. He stepped forward, standing beside me.I turned my tear-filled eyes toward him, a mixture of astonishment and shock dancing in their depths. Why would he stand by me? "How... how can you say that, Zander?" Avery's incredulous voice laced with disbelief shattered the momentary respite as her words trembled, a quiver of uncertainty revealing the cracks in her conviction."I know
*Selena*I met his gaze, my own eyes steady with resolve. "I genuinely don't know who's the mastermind," I replied as my eyebrows wrinkled with stress."Don't try to deceive me, Selena. If you don't provide me with the truth, I won't hesitate to take more drastic measures. I won't be gentle anymore. So don't try my patience," he threatened, his tone carrying a dangerous edge. "I'm asking you very politely now. Who else is involved?""I'm being honest, Zander. And I'm not so self-centered that I'd endanger my entire community out of spite... even if I... I do hate you," I confessed, my breath escaping in a frustrated exhale."Really?!” His response was a skeptical snort. “So, what's your purpose in stealing this information?" He challenged, his voice harsh and confrontational, causing me to look away."Enough with your convoluted explanations. Tell me the real truth, dammit. Who are you working for?" His tone shifted, his demand growing more serious."I've already told you the truth,
*Selena*I stood there, a sense of uncertainty washing over me as Zander disappeared into the bathroom. The seconds felt like minutes as I waited, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The room seemed to tighten around me, and I found myself pacing back and forth, my eyes occasionally glancing at the ticking clock on the wall.Finally, he emerged from the bathroom, clad in sleepwear that hung comfortably on his frame. His hair was still damp, each strand catching a glimmer of light as he ruffled it with his hand, a casual yet enticing gesture that sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, my heart doing an erratic dance in my chest. It was impossible to deny – my ex-mate looked strikingly hot."You want to use the bathroom?!" his voice broke through my reverie, concern knitting his brows together. I shook my head slightly, still trapped in a trance, my voice held hostage by the sheer intensity of the moment."Okay, let's call it a night," he declared, his footsteps leading him to his
*Selena*"How… how would I know when you've never told me?" I countered, my voice tinged with a mix of frustration and sorrow."You know, Selena, I'm not good at expressing my feelings. But I'm disappointed that you never felt it," Zander murmured, his voice carrying a note of sadness that tugged at my heartstrings.I took a deep breath before responding, "This isn't my mistake, Zander. Every time we've been together, it's either been making love or discussing the Moonglow pack and our duties. You've never said those three magical words," I complained, innocence lacing my tone."I accept my mistake,” to my surprise, he admitted. “For all those missed moments, I want to say I love you, Selena. I love you so much." His words hung in the air, heavy with longing, before he pulled me into a deep, passionate, and almost hungry kiss."I love you too, Zander. I've loved you all along," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper, my eyes now glistening with unshed tears as I looked into his b