Chapter: Two Sixty OneIn my dream that night, the gala turned into a total shit show. Chandeliers dripped blood-red light, and guests wore masks that sneered at me as I walked by.Whispers followed like freaking smoke: "Step-brothers... disgusting... what would their parents think?"Familiar faces...Mom, Roderick, Frank, loomed from the crowd, eyes full of disgust. Mom turned away, Roderick disowned us with one cold word, and Frank... Frank just walked away, heartbroken and silent, leaving me alone in the center of the ballroom as the whispers turned to shouts.I’ve had multiple dreams of being trapped and drowning...but why did this one feel so close to home?I jolted awake, heart racing, sheets damp with sweat. The suite was pitch dark except for the faint glow of the city outside, the clock on the nightstand reading 2:47 a.m. I sat up, disoriented and trembling, the dream clinging to me like cobwebs.Unable to even think about falling back asleep, I grabbed my phone and texted him.Me: You awake?His re
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Two SixtyI was just about finally settling into my room and pretending the outside world didn’t even exist when all of a sudden they barged in."Mr. Atlas, good evening," the lead stylist chimed in, already unzipping the protective cover of the emerald suit. "We’re here for the final fitting. Mr. Harrigan wants everything to be perfect for tonight’s gala."I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, still wrapped in the plush robe from the night before. "Already? It’s barely... what time is it?""Eight-thirty," she said cheerfully, as if that explained everything. "We’ve got a tight schedule. Hair styling at eleven in the morning, photos at two, and leave by six."Two assistants flanked her, one already holding the suit jacket aloft while the other spread out accessories on the vanity: polished black dress shoes, a silver cufflink set that looked like it belonged in a museum, matching tie pin and pocket square that sparkled like captured stars. I felt like a mannequin being dressed for display.
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Two Fifty NineThe jet landed smoothly, barely bumping the ground, the tires almost delicately touching the tarmac as if they were afraid to disturb it. From my oval window, I took in the sight of Hayseville below—an endless stretch of desert punctuated by a dazzling display of neon and glass that looked like someone had tossed a bunch of jewels across the sand.Even in the daylight, the city seemed alive, lights flashing in vibrant pinks and electric blues, hotels shaped like pyramids and golden spheres rising as if to compete with the sky itself.Pressing my face against the glass as we taxied, I felt my heart do a little flip, a feeling that had nothing to do with flying. Willow Haven had its own charm...quiet streets, familiar faces, kinda had that cozy small-town vibe that made you feel secure, but this?It was something completely different. Hayseville didn’t just whisper; it roared, all glitz and extravagance, like Vegas had decided to mature, get some work done, and start flaunting designer
Last Updated: 2026-04-25
Chapter: Two Fifty EightThe moment I opened my eyes the next morning, the room was already buzzing with activity. Maids flitted around like they were on a mission, they were opening closet doors, laying out garment bags, and wheeling in trays of hot coffee and pastries, as if we were gearing up for a royal event instead of just a two-hour flight.Someone had already drawn back the heavy silk curtains, flooding the suite with pale winter light that bounced off the mirrors in bright flashes. My phone read 7:42 a.m., which meant we were officially running late, and in Roderick Harrigan’s world, being late was basically a crime.I barely had a moment to rub the sleep from my eyes before a maid...Maria, I think, appeared with a tray of fresh orange juice and a warm croissant."Mr. Atlas, we need to hurry. The car leaves for the airport in thirty minutes."I mumbled something unintelligible, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and stumbled into the bathroom, where another maid was already running the shower an
Last Updated: 2026-04-25
Chapter: Two Fifty SevenI pushed through the heavy front doors of Oakfield Mansion, instantly hit by the familiar scent of polished wood and fresh pine from the holiday garlands, wrapping around me like an embrace I wasn’t quite sure I wanted. Inside, the foyer was buzzing with a kind of organized chaos...maids darting around with garment bags slung over their arms, suitcases lined up like soldiers by the grand staircase, and Mom in the middle of it all, tablet in hand, directing everyone in that crisp voice she used when she needed things done her way. "Make sure Roderick’s navy tux is in the big black case, no wrinkles, and Atlas’s emerald suit needs its own hanger. And the shoes go in the separate pouch. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow for Hayseville; I don’t want any last-minute scrambling." One of the maids nodded and quickly dashed upstairs. Mom glanced my way as I walked in, her expression softening for just a moment before she realized it was me. "Atlas, honey...how was school?" Please, pleas
Last Updated: 2026-04-24
Chapter: Two Fifty SixI lingered in the library’s quiet long after Frank’s question hung in the air, feeling it settle around me like a weight I couldn’t shake off. The silence wasn’t cold or angry, it was just heavy, the kind that happens when two people who care about each other run out of safe topics to discuss. His hand was still loosely holding mine, and I could sense the slight tremor in his fingers, the effort behind keeping his voice steady. I forced myself to look into his eyes again, and before I could think too much, the words tumbled out, soft and sad and sincere. "For what it’s worth," I said, "my feelings for you haven’t changed. Not even a little." His eyebrows went up slightly, surprise flitting across his face. "You were my first love, Frank," I carried on, this confession feeling both enormous and inevitable. "And I still love you. I probably always will, even if it takes me a while to find the right words to express it. This whole situation I’m dealing with involving someone else? I
Last Updated: 2026-04-24
Chapter: Chapter 146"Annabelle, I don’t want you to carry this alone, because you don’t have to. Not anymore," he murmured softly.I began crying again, and Rowan quickly wrapped his arms around me to hold me close. He hugged me as my sobs wrecked my body, and I cried in his arms for a while without exchanging any words."I’m here for you no matter what. I just want you to know that," Rowan whispered tenderly into my ear.It took quite a long while, but I managed to get a hold of myself again. I knew that I couldn’t keep on crying in his arms forever because it wouldn’t solve anything."I’m sorry," I apologized for showing him my weak side."There’s nothing for you to apologize for. Talk to me, Gail. I can’t help you if you don’t. Surely something happened, right?" Rowan asked knowingly.I shook my head slightly before biting down hard on my lower lip. The words that I wanted to tell him felt so difficult to utter. However, I knew that I couldn’t hold it in any longer because it felt like my chest would
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 145The place gave me the chills and reminded me of an ice cave to the point where I wouldn’t be surprised if a bear jumped out at us. The room was already filled with life and laughter as people clinked champagne glasses together. I could understand why George was so firm about us getting new dresses and dressing up for the event. Everyone there looked polished and confident, and dressed to impress.Once again, it was another event where we appeared as the perfect family. The truth was far different, and it was up to me when to press the button to make everything crumble down into nothing."Rowan," a sweet voice called out his name.There she was, wearing a sparkling red dress that clung to her beautiful body. Her smile was inviting as she practically glided toward us. My breath caught in my throat when I spotted my arch-enemy. I had wished silently that Francesca wouldn’t be at the event, but clearly, my wish was denied."I think it’s been far too long. It’s such a shame that we couldn’
Last Updated: 2026-04-13
Chapter: Chapter 144That night, when I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling in the dark, my phone suddenly buzzed on the nightstand as its screen lit up. My heart jumped because I knew exactly who it was even before I reached my hand for my phone. The message was a harsh reminder from Francesca.’Tick tock, tick tock. Four days left, my dear Annabelle. Will you tell your mother, or shall I do it myself?’A shiver ran through me before an ugly cry escaped my lips. I flung my phone onto the bed and curled up under the blankets as my stomach twisted so badly I thought that I might become sick.Four days. It felt like my world was about to come to an end.I had made up my mind because I didn’t have any other choice but to tell my mother. I kept telling myself that sooner was better than later. Now that my time with Rowan was running out, I wanted to enjoy every moment with him. Every second became even dearer than before-and unbearably sweeter.I convinced myself that if I were to tell my mother, perhaps Fra
Last Updated: 2026-04-12
Chapter: Chapter 143Her words stung, but I couldn’t risk anything by replying. All I could do was sit there as if I were a lifeless statue, letting her say everything she wanted to say. My body shook as my heart pounded so hard that I thought it would crack my ribs. Perhaps that wouldn’t be such a bad way to go, I thought to myself."My sweet, dear Annabelle, of course you’ll believe the pretty lies Rowan tells you. But don’t overestimate yourself. Not for one second should you think that you’re someone special to him when you’re just one of many. Look at me - I’m the one who will stand beside him and spend the rest of my life with him. Our fathers made an agreement, and nothing can change that. Your little fling won’t change anything," Francesca reminded me.Her eyes hardened even further, and all the false sweetness in her tone and smile vanished completely."So here’s what will happen. You end things with Rowan. You take your mother and leave. If you don’t, I’m going to tell your mother everything. I’
Last Updated: 2026-04-11
Chapter: Chapter 142"I know that you’ve been fucking around with your stepbrother. How scandalous. I wonder what your dear mother would say if she knew that you’ve been sleeping around with her husband’s son?" Francesca asked in mock wonder.I felt my entire face freeze just at the thought that she might tell my mother about my relationship with Rowan. Although I knew that I needed to tell my mother one day if I wanted to date Rowan for real, I was nowhere near ready to confront her about this. On top of that, my mother still didn’t know about the nature of Rowan’s family business. It felt like I had two very bad and shocking pieces of news to break to her. I had no idea what to say, and I didn’t even want to think about her reaction."I just told you that it’s not true," I repeated again, even though I knew she wouldn’t believe me. I finally found out the real reason why Francesca had invited me to meet up with her today. She was using my relationship with Rowan to blackmail me into quickly telling my m
Last Updated: 2026-04-10
Chapter: Chapter 141I instantly froze because I recognized that voice. Turning slowly, I saw Francesca standing there with a sweet smile on her lips. She had the perfect mask on, but I knew she didn’t come to see me with any good intentions."I hope that I’m not intruding. I just thought that maybe we could talk. It’s been a while," she said as she walked even closer to me."What do you want?" I asked."I wondered if you got my text message? I don’t recall getting your reply," she said as she wrapped a strand of her hair around her finger."I’ve been busy," I replied shortly."Of course. I’m sure that the trip you went on with Rowan kept you plenty occupied," she said before letting out a small laugh."What is it that you came here for?" I asked through gritted teeth. Francesca was definitely bad news, and the fact that she could walk in and out of the mansion without prior notice made it even worse. Because she was engaged to Rowan, everybody here already treated her as if she were part of the family-an
Last Updated: 2026-04-09
Chapter: Chapter 12: Do I Even Belong?The house woke slowly. Not with noise, not with chaos, but with a quiet kind of life Isabella wasn’t used to. Soft footsteps in the hallway. The distant clink of dishes. Low voices drifting up from downstairs, warm and unguarded. Isabella stood by the window in her old room, fingers lightly gripping the curtain as she stared out at the gardens. The lilacs swayed gently in the morning breeze, their scent faint but present even from here. Everything felt… real. Too real. Her reflection stared back faintly in the glass, layered over the view outside. For a moment, she didn’t recognize the woman looking back at her. Not Isabella Hamilton. Not entirely Bella Hartford either. Just… someone in between. Her gaze slowly dropped to her wrist. The faint fang-shaped mark sat there, unmoving, unchanged. Her fingers brushed over it unconsciously. Do I really belong here? Her throat tightened slightly. Just one glance at this scar and my life takes a drastic turn… A so
Last Updated: 2026-03-18
Chapter: Chapter 11: The Reckoning IIIsabella's POV Eli never went back to the office. He called his partners at 5:03 a.m., told them to reassign every case on his docket, and by the time the sun rose over the lilacs the estate library had been transformed. The long mahogany table was buried under colour-coded folders. Three whiteboards on wheels formed a semicircle, covered in timelines and arrows in Eli’s terrifyingly neat handwriting. Jayden’s laptops glowed like a NASA control room. Mason’s guitar case leaned against a bookshelf he’d walked straight off a fourteen-hour flight, hugged me until my ribs creaked, and declared, “Point me at the bastards.” Eli stood at the head of the table in rolled shirtsleeves, hair still perfect, eyes blazing with the same protective fury I remembered from when we were kids and someone tried to cut me in the lunch line. “My sister’s divorce,” he announced to the room, “is now my only client. Everything else can burn.” A copy of Victoria’s divorce papers was projected o
Last Updated: 2025-12-05
Chapter: Chapter 10: The ReckoningIsabella's POV The Rolls hadn’t even come to a full stop before Genny was out of the car, heels clicking like gunfire on the gravel. I followed, legs numb, heart hammering so hard I could taste it. She didn’t head for the drawing room. She marched straight to the library, flung the double doors open, and snapped, “Everyone, now.” Within five minutes the entire household was there. Eli strode in still in his suit from the city, tie loosened. Jayden jogged down the stairs barefoot, laptop under his arm. Uncle Sebastian and Aunt Clara appeared from the kitchen, flour still on Clara’s hands. The twins skidded in wearing matching guilty expressions (probably had been eavesdropping anyway). Mrs. Aldridge hovered at the doorway, twisting her apron. Jayden already had his phone out. “Mason’s on in ten seconds.” Genny didn’t wait. She pointed at the biggest sofa. “Bella, sit. I sat. The screen on the coffee table lit up. Mason’s face appeared: hotel room somewhere in A
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: Chapter 9: The Day OutIsabella's POV Aunt Genevieve arrived like a hurricane in haute couture. The dove-gray Rolls purred up the drive at exactly ten. She stepped out in sunglasses big enough to have their own postcode, a cream silk jumpsuit, and heels that could double as weapons. One look at my borrowed hoodie and leggings and she clapped manicured hands. “Darling, we’re burning those. Today you’re being reintroduced to the world as a Hartford, and Hartfords do not hide in tour merch.” I opened my mouth to protest and she was already steering me toward the car, diamonds flashing, perfume trailing like a royal decree. Genevieve Hartford-Blackwood (Genny to exactly four people on earth) was Dad’s baby sister, the family legend who’d run off to London at nineteen, married a duke, divorced him with style, kept the title, and built a lifestyle empire that had Vogue on speed-dial. Every year on my birthday she’d written a card anyway, addressed “To my niece, wherever you are,” and stored them in a lac
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: Chapter 8: The Cedar BoxIsabella's POV I woke up in my old bedroom and forgot, for three full seconds, that I wasn’t four years old. The ceiling above me was the same pale butter-yellow it had always been, the one Mom and Dad let me help paint the summer before everything shattered. Sunlight poured through the lace curtains like warm honey, catching on dust motes that drifted and spun like tiny, careless fairies. My stuffed giraffe, Mr. Longneck, sat propped against the pillows exactly where I’d abandoned him the morning I vanished, his stitched smile faded but still patient. The wallpaper still carried that faint lilac stripe, the one Mom swore would “grow with me.” My crayon drawings (lopsided horses, a sun with a smiley face, a family of stick figures holding hands) were still taped above the little white desk, edges curled now, colors softened by twenty years of quiet light. Even the nightlight shaped like a crescent moon still glowed faintly in the outlet, its plastic worn cloudy from thousands of
Last Updated: 2025-12-03
Chapter: Chapter 7: Home at LastIsabella's POV The car turned off the main road and the gates appeared, tall, black iron, the Hartford crest still gleaming in the dusk. I forgot how to breathe. Jayden slowed the Bentley, rolled the window down, and the scent hit me first: lilacs. Hundreds of them, thousands, spilling over the stone walls exactly the way they used to when I was small. The smell slammed into me like a memory I didn’t know I still owned. “Almost there, Bells,” he said softly, reaching over to squeeze my knee. I couldn’t answer. My throat had closed. The drive curved through the trees and then the house was just… there. Same gray stone, same ivy, same wide front steps. Every window glowed gold. Someone had strung fairy lights along the porch like it was Christmas instead of late summer. The front doors flew open before Jayden even cut the engine. Eli was first, moving so fast his tie flapped over his shoulder. He yanked my door open and pulled me out and into his arms like I weighed nothin
Last Updated: 2025-12-03
The Jilted Luna
"No! Let me go!!" I screamed, thrashing and kicking as hard as I could.
"I'll let you go," Carlisle said, his breath ragged, warm against my skin, "but only if you stop making a scene and accept your place in this pack."
My chest heaved, my breath coming in shaky bursts, but I didn’t waver. "Why would I? I want out!" I spat, defiance burning in my tear-streaked eyes.
Carlisle’s jaw clenched, his expression darkening. "Victoria, don’t push your luck."
"No, Carlisle, I’ve had enough," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "My body and mind can’t take this torture anymore. Please… just let me go. Your father wouldn’t have wanted this."
"Don't you dare!!" he roared, his voice thundering through the room. His chest rose and fell with barely contained fury.
In an instant, his grip tightened and his hand seized my chin, forcing me to meet his furious gaze while his hold on my legs loosened.
"You dare mention my father?" he growled, his fingers tightening. "You know damn well why he died, and yet you have the audacity to say his name in front of me? Before that decaying mate bond claims your life, I might just kill you myself.”
**************************
Victoria spent years tending to the Redmoon Pack while her mate Alpha Redmoon, was off fighting against the vampires who threatened to lay waste to their lands. However, Tori's whole world comes crumbling when Carlisle, her mate, returns with another woman and breaks their mate bond.
To him, Tori was nothing but a wolf-less omega and unfit to continue as the Pack's Luna and not just Alpha Redmoon—the entire Red Moon Pack thinks so.
But ultimately, fate had other plans.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 44: The daughter he rememberedJayden pressed a hand to his chest, trying to steady himself as he let out a shaky breath. The weight of everything that had just happened settled heavily on him, and for a moment, he could only stand there, gathering himself.Then the Queen broke.The moment her eyes fell on Victoria, she collapsed into tears, her cries filling the room as she rushed forward. "Take my blood! Take my blood and save my baby!" she pleaded, her voice trembling, every word filled with desperation.The Alpha King stepped in quickly, catching her before she could fall completely. One arm moved to steady her, but his attention never left Victoria. His expression darkened as he took in her condition, anger rising fast and hard. It burned in his eyes, sharp and dangerous, barely held back."Check whose blood is compatible. Mine or the Queen’s," he ordered, his voice low but firm. "And I want a full assessment of her condition." His gaze then shifted, landing on the two men who had come with Jayden. "As for you
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 43: The right decision"She’s dying," the healer said, his tone grim as he placed his glowing hands over Victoria’s chest and poured his energy into her. "Her heart is under too much strain. She has lost a dangerous amount of blood, and it is barely circulating what little remains."The Royal Doctor stepped in immediately, his voice rising as he gave out orders to everyone in the room."Move! Check her blood type right now, we need a transfusion immediately! Her wolf is not responding, so her healing is far too slow. Her body is not producing blood fast enough, and if this keeps up, her heart will stop!"That was when the others truly understood how serious it was.While the healer focused on keeping her alive, the doctor began examining the rest of her injuries. His expression grew darker with each passing second."My God… this child," he said under his breath. "How is she even still alive? These fractures alone should have killed her, and these wounds on her back… were they caused by silver whips?"His vo
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 42: Follow meHe followed that voice like it was the only thing keeping him alive, tearing through the forest without slowing down, cutting down anything that got in his way. Branches snapped under his weight, the ground shaking beneath every step as he pushed forward, chasing something he could not afford to lose. By the time he reached the clearing where Jayden and the others had been just moments earlier, he was too late.They were gone.All that remained was a faint trace of her presence, barely there but impossible to mistake. It clung to the air just enough for him to feel it, and with it came a sharp, crushing pain.Another wave hit him, stronger than before, like something breaking apart inside his chest. He could not tell if it was the rejection or something deeper, something heavier that he had no name for. It did not matter. The pain was too much either way.His heart could not take it.And then everything went dark.When Carlisle opened his eyes again, it did not happen all at once. Awa
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 41: No escape next time"I’m Jayden, a mage..." the elder said, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his tone. His eyes moved over the surroundings as if he had just arrived without fully understanding how or why. Confusion crossed his face, and for a brief moment, he seemed lost in his own thoughts. Then his attention returned to Victoria, his gaze settling on her as if trying to confirm something he could not yet put into words.Before anyone could question him further, another roar tore through the forest. This one was closer, louder, filled with a kind of fury that made the air feel tight in their lungs. It was followed by sharp, pained screams, and the wind carried the unmistakable smell of fresh blood.The two men standing before Jayden reacted immediately, their expressions tightening as they caught the scent. Even the one holding Victoria glanced back, his jaw set as unease crept in.They all understood what that meant. They did not have time.Carlisle was getting closer, and the force of his p
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 40: Run IIThat same truth was the reason Victoria had made her choice earlier. The moment she rejected her mate bond and cut ties with the pack, she had acted without hesitation. As long as she remained connected, Carlisle would always be able to find her. There would be no escape.So she severed it.She became a rogue.With the scent-masking spray and the bond broken, she had erased every trail that could lead back to her. Carlisle no longer had a way to track her. If he wanted to find her now, he would have to search blindly, with nothing to guide him.A thunderous roar tore through the forest.Roque’s voice carried across the land, raw and violent, sending a wave of fear through anyone close enough to hear it. The sound seemed to shake the air itself, pressing down on everything in its path.Even the men carrying Victoria faltered, their steps slowing as they instinctively turned toward the direction of the roar."Hurry up! We need to get out of here, now! If that beast finds us, if we are c
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
Chapter: Chapter 39: RunAfter Carlisle lost control and went completely feral, there was no longer any line between ally and enemy in his mind. Anything that moved became a target. His blood-red eyes burned with a single image, fixed and unchanging. Victoria.At the same time, Roque’s massive body tore through the forest with unstoppable force. In the middle of his charge, he slammed straight into a thick tree, the impact splitting the trunk with a sharp, cracking sound that echoed through the woods. The tree groaned as it gave way and slowly began to fall, but Roque did not slow down. If anything, he pushed harder, driving himself forward with even greater speed as branches snapped and leaves scattered in his wake.Then it hit him. The scent of his Beta.A low growl rose from deep within his chest, dark and dangerous.Marcus felt it too. The shift in the air. The threat closing in.He did not hesitate. He turned and ran.No matter how desperately he tried to call his wolf, nothing answered. It was as if tha
Last Updated: 2026-04-26
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