Chapter 10 I gazed out the window, fingers tracing the intricate embroidery on my gown. The sunlight filtered through the leaves outside, casting soft patterns on the floor of my room. I’d tried to be indifferent about this mateship, telling myself it was simply an alliance–a necessity for my bloodline, a safeguard for my own … Read more
Chapter 9 The morning sun cast a soft glow through the tall windows as I stepped into my father’s office, the familiar scent of leather and pine wrapping around me like a comforting hug, The memories that lingered in this room always made me feel at ease, even if they were only fragments of a … Read more
Chapter 8 I watched them from a distance, my gaze cold, yet a storm of emotions whirled beneath the surface. Kayden and Francis–they thought I didn’t notice their worried glances, their whispers about my change in demeanor. But I saw everything. After all, how could I ignore the two people who had once meant the … Read more
Chapter 7 Chapter 7 I was just trying to get through the day, tucked away in the packhouse‘ s common area, attempting to focus on some maps I‘ d been asked to review. It was routine work, usually enough to keep me grounded, but today my thoughts were slipping. My mind kept circling back to … Read more
Chapter 6 I held the phone against my ear, staring blankly out the window as the forest stretched before me under a sullen, clouded sky. My father’s voice crackled over the line, deep and steady, but there was an undercurrent of worry in it, a concern I hadn’t heard in years. “This isn’t an easy … Read more
Chapter 5 Chapter 5 I gripped the phone so tightly my knuckles went white as the line went dead. My mother’s voice, always gentle, always warm, had been a balm to me, a reminder of home. But now, as I stood in this harsh reality, her words seemed to echo in an empty cavern, underscoring … Read more
Chapter 4 I held my breath, watching Sharon as she clutched the crystal plaque in her hands, her expression a strange mixture of innocence and something sharper, more calculating. Her eyes gleamed, almost pleading, but I knew her well enough to recognize the hidden edge beneath her softness. “Malinda,” she said, her voice low, as … Read more
Chapter 3 The weight of my decision felt like a stone lodged in my chest, cold and unyielding. “It s just a photo,” I murmured, more to myself than to Kayden and Francis, though I knew they’d hear it. “We don’t need any more photos together.‘ 99 My tone was final, and I hoped they … Read more
Chapter 2 t Late in the evening, I shut my door and popped in my sound–dampening earplugs, letting the celebration music fade to nothing. The decision was final–I’d return home and accept the arranged mating with a powerful Alpha. It was my only real option now. But leaving Shadow Pack wasn‘ something I could just … Read more
Chapter 1 My heart shattered, but I refused to let it show. Kayden and Francis, my oldest friends–the ones who’d once vowed to protect me–stood across from me, cold and unyielding, with Sharon nestled between them, wide–eyed and innocent as ever. 99 “Maybe if you weren‘ t so distant, we’d still trust you, Francis spat, … Read more