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

—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

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

His eyes remained fixed on me for a brief moment before he disappeared into the crowd, taking shelter among the partygoers. I might have been able to spot him if it hadn't been for the dimming lights, replaced by the glow of a disco ball.I had lost sight of him, but the awareness that he was here, right in this room, sent a shiver down my spine. The way he had glared at me gave me an unsettling feeling. It was as if he harbored a deep resentment towards me, as though I had committed some terrible offense against him."Aurora?" Monica's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I turned to look at her. She wore a concerned expression as she glanced in the direction I had been staring and then back at me. "Are you okay?" she asked, and I nodded with a smile."Of course, I'm okay," I replied, although the truth was far from it.Who would be okay, knowing that a threat was after them? Although I had initially assumed that Hawthorne might have sent the stranger, I wasn't entirely certain.