Chapter: 40After he left I returned to work, unable to stop smiling. The rest of the afternoon was productive meetings and planning sessions with my team. By the time I closed the office at six I felt accomplished and exhausted and completely satisfied.At home I found Eudora in the kitchen with wedding magazines spread everywhere."Perfect timing," she said. "Calliope sent over dress options and we need to narrow them down.""Now?""Yes now. The wedding is in three months and you haven't even tried on dresses yet."She was right. Between launching the office and dealing with Margaret's drama, wedding planning had taken a backseat."Fine. But I'm changing out of work clothes first."An hour later we sat surrounded by magazine cutouts and printouts from bridal websites. Eudora had opinions about everything."No ball gowns. You're not a princess.""What's wrong with princess?""Nothing if you're marrying Prince Charming. You're marrying my dad. You need something sophisticated.""So mermaid cut?"
Last Updated: 2026-04-18
Chapter: 39Building FoundationsBRONWYNThe morning of the grand opening I woke with butterflies in my stomach. Today my Pinehaven branch officially opened for business, and half the town would be there to see if I could succeed on my own merit or if I was just riding Trenton's coattails."You're going to be amazing," Trenton said, watching me change outfits for the third time."What if no one shows up? What if everyone thinks this is just a vanity project funded by my rich fiancé?""Then they'd be idiots." He stood and pulled me close. "You earned this. The lease, the clients, the team. All you.""You introduced me to half my contacts.""I made introductions. You closed the deals." He kissed my forehead. "Now stop spiraling and let's go open your office."The space looked incredible. Sadie and the two other employees I'd hired had spent the week setting up furniture and hanging artwork.By ten the place was packed. Local business owners, marketing professionals from surrounding towns, reporters
Last Updated: 2026-04-18
Chapter: 38MY WOMANTrenton's POVAfterward she lay with her head on my chest, tracing patterns on my skin."Feel better?" she asked."Much." I kissed her hair. "Thank you for talking me off the ledge.""That's what partners do." She yawned. "Though you owe me for dealing with your spiral.""Name your price.""Ice cream. The good kind from that place downtown."I laughed. "Deal."My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Jericho.*Need to discuss prenup before wedding. When can you meet?*I showed Bronwyn who wrinkled her nose."Do we really need a prenup?""Probably." I set the phone down. "I want to protect you financially.""Or protect yourself from me taking your money in the divorce?""We're not getting divorced." I pulled her closer. "But if something happened to me, I want to make sure you're taken care of. The prenup ensures that.""I don't need your money, Trenton.""I know. But you're going to have it anyway." I kissed her forehead. "Let me do this. It's not about doubting you. It's about pro
Last Updated: 2026-04-11
Chapter: 37OVERTHINKINGTrenton's POVInside, Bronwyn was in my study working on her laptop. She looked up when I entered."How did it go?""About as well as expected." I poured myself a drink despite it being barely noon. "She thinks I'm having a midlife crisis.""She's wrong.""Is she?" I drank half the scotch in one swallow. "I'm forty seven years old marrying a woman twenty two years younger. That's pretty textbook midlife crisis behavior.""Trenton—""And maybe she's right about the rest of it too. Maybe I am just trying to escape grief, to feel young again, to avoid facing my own mortality."Bronwyn closed her laptop and stood. "Do you actually believe that?""I don't know what I believe right now." I sank into the couch. "All I know is that my dead wife's sister thinks I'm dishonoring Isolde's memory and maybe she's not wrong.""She is wrong." Bronwyn sat beside me, her fingers tracing lines on my bare arms in a way she knew would comfort me. "You're not dishonoring anything. Isolde wante
Last Updated: 2026-04-11
Chapter: 36Ghosts of the PastTRENTONI woke to an empty bed and the sound of voices downstairs. Bronwyn must have already gotten up. Ichecked my phone and saw it was almost nine, later than I usually slept.The engagement party had run until two in the morning thanks to Margaret's dramatic exit. I'd stayed up even later with Bronwyn, both of us processing the confrontation. I'd reassured her again and again, telling her that Margaret could never be the reason why we both broke up.I put on a clean pair of shorts and went downstairs, maybe Bronwyn was making breakfast and I wanted to help her in any way possible. I knew that she must have been stressed out from yesterday's party and catering to all those guests. However when I went downstairs, I didn't see Bronwyn, but I found Calliope and Fionn cleaning up the last remnants of the party.They greeted me and I nodded absentmindedly. "Where's my wife?" I asked, still groggy from sleep. Fionn nodded to the kitchen and I saw Bronwyn sitting at the
Last Updated: 2026-04-11
Chapter: 35MY SISTER'S WIDOWERBRONWYN'S POVI gripped the edge of the desk as his mouth found me, his tongue working magic while our engagement party continued just down the hall.The risk of being caught made everything more intense. I had to bite my lip to stay quiet as he brought me to the edge and over, my body shaking with the force of it.He stood and kissed me, letting me taste myself on his tongue. Then he turned me around, bending me over the desk as he entered me from behind."My fiancée," he growled in my ear. "Soon to be my wife.""Trenton—""Say it. Tell me you're mine.""I'm yours." I pushed back against him. "Only yours."He gripped my hips and drove into me harder, both of us chasing release. When it hit we came together, his hand covering my mouth to muffle my cry.Afterward we straightened our clothes and fixed our hair, looking semi-presentable before rejoining the party."Think anyone noticed we were gone?" I asked."Probably." He grinned. "Don't care."We slipped back into
Last Updated: 2026-04-11
His to Claim: Alpha
He marked her like property. Then completely turned on her.
Cecelia was never meant to survive the bond, she was just meant to bleed for it. Chosen for her pack, used for an alignment, discarded when she became inconvenient. Zeke took everything from her: her freedom, her future, and something she never meant to give; her heart.
But she didn’t die.
She learned.
Now she’s back, unrecognizable, with poison in her smile and vengeance stitched into her skin. His mark still burns on her body. But the girl he broke is gone.
And the woman she’s become wants nothing to do with him.
She doesn’t want his love.
She wants him to break,
And this time, she’ll make sure he stays broken.
Read
Chapter: 50CECELIA'S POVWe sat in comfortable silence while I processed everything. A real mating ceremony, becoming Luna officially, raising Golden together as a family. Three months ago this would have seemed impossible while now it felt inevitable like this was always where we were meant to end up."I want more children," I said suddenly while the thought had been building for a while. "Not right away but someday. Golden should have siblings."Zeke's arm tightened around me while through the bond I felt his immediate agreement. "How many are we talking?""Two or three more maybe?" I suggested while tilting my head to look at him. "Enough that Golden isn't lonely but not so many that we're completely overwhelmed.""I like that," Zeke said while his hand moved to rest on my stomach like he could already picture me pregnant. "Golden would be a good big brother.""He would," I agreed while imagining our son helping with a baby. "Though we should probably wait until his wolf emergence situation i
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 49Cecelia's POVGolden had been asleep for an hour while Zeke knocked softly on our bedroom door. I'd been reading in the chair beside Golden's small bed watching him breathe peacefully when Zeke poked his head in."Come with me," he whispered while gesturing toward the hallway. "I have something planned."I stood carefully while not wanting to wake Golden. He'd had a good day today, his color was better while the blue light under his skin had barely flickered at all. The doctor said the Alpha essence treatments were working while Golden's body was stabilizing.Zeke took my hand while leading me through our quarters to the private balcony I hadn't used much since moving back in. When he opened the door my breath caught because the space had been transformed.Candles covered every surface while their warm glow made everything look soft. A small table was set with real plates and silverware while covered dishes sat waiting. A bottle of wine was already open while two glasses sat beside it
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 48Cecelia's POVThe hospital corridor felt too bright while I pushed Golden's wheelchair toward the visitor room where Layla waited to say goodbye to Cameron. Golden sat quietly wrapped in a blanket while his small hands gripped the armrests. He was finally strong enough to be out of bed for short periods which the doctor said was good progress."Why are we going to see her?" Golden asked while looking up at me with those big eyes that reminded me so much of Zeke."Because she needs to say goodbye to her son," I explained while keeping my voice gentle. "And Daddy thought it might help you understand what happened if you see that even bad people have families they care about."Zeke walked beside us while his hand rested on my shoulder. I could feel his tension through the bond while he wasn't happy about this visit either but had agreed it was necessary for Cameron's sake.We entered the room while Layla sat in a chair with two guards standing nearby. She looked smaller than I remembered
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 47We reached the main level while I headed for my vehicle. The drive back to the hospital gave me time to process everything Layla had confessed. The depths of her delusion and manipulation were staggering while I couldn't believe I'd missed the signs for so long.But dwelling on that wouldn't help anyone while I needed to focus on the future with Cecelia and Golden instead of the past Layla had poisoned.The next morning I stood before the pack council while Layla was brought in wearing restraints. She looked smaller somehow while all her defiance from yesterday was gone. The council members watched her with expressions ranging from disgust to disappointment while many had known her for years."Layla Winters, you stand accused of conspiracy to kidnap, child endangerment, and treason against the Alpha's family," the head councilman read from the formal charges. "How do you plead?""Guilty," Layla said quietly while not looking at anyone.Murmurs went through the council while they'd exp
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 46Zeke's POVGolden had been stable for twenty four hours while the doctor said Cecelia could maintain contact with him for short periods now. Her touch wouldn't suppress the wolf emergence like mine did but it would keep Golden calm and comfortable while I handled pack business that couldn't wait any longer."Are you sure about this?" Cecelia asked while looking nervous about being left alone with Golden even though the doctor and nurses were right outside."You'll be fine," I assured her while leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Just keep your hand on his chest like I've been doing. If anything changes the monitors will alert the medical staff immediately.""How long will you be gone?" she asked while her hand replaced mine on Golden's small chest."A few hours at most," I said while hating to leave them but knowing this couldn't be put off. "I need to handle Layla's interrogation personally."Cecelia's expression hardened while anger flashed in her eyes at Layla's name. "Make her suf
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
Chapter: 45CECELIA'S POVI didn't argue while knowing he wouldn't change his mind anyway. Instead I just stayed close while taking turns with Zeke sleeping in short bursts. When I was awake I watched them both while my heart felt too full and too broken at the same time.During one of my shifts staying awake, I looked at Zeke asleep in his chair with his hand still pressed to Golden's chest. His large hand completely covered Golden's small torso while the size difference was almost funny. But seeing them connected like that while father and son bound together, made something settle in my chest that had been restless for three years.I never stopped loving him while I realized with sudden clarity. I'd been angry and hurt and determined to move on but under all that I still loved Zeke with the same intensity I had during our marriage. Maybe even more now while seeing him with Golden showed me the man he could be when he let his walls down.The thought scared me while I didn't know if I was ready t
Last Updated: 2025-12-04
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