JAYDEN
That morning, I was heading into the bathroom when my phone rang. I grabbed it quickly so the sound wouldn’t wake Catriona. It was Jerome calling. I stepped into my office and shut the door behind me. “What’s up, Jerome?” “Alpha,” he answered. “I’ve done everything you sent me to do, but as the top Alpha, your presence is required at the upcoming Alpha’s meeting.” Jerome was my Beta. I had sent him to another territory to scout the area and arrange the location for the upcoming fight. “I couldn’t find a more suitable spot,” he continued. “If you approve, the fight will happen on their estate’s field. It's set for two weeks from now.” “Alright, Jerome. Return immediately. I need you back here—there’s something else I want you to handle.” I ended the call and headed back to my room to shower. But when I entered, the bed was empty. I assumed Catriona had gone back to her room, so I stripped down and walked into the bathroom. I froze. She was there, already in the shower, water cascading down her skin. She turned in surprise and quickly covered herself. “What are you doing here?” she asked. “I should be the one asking you that,” I replied, raising a brow. “This is my bathroom, and I don’t like sharing it.” “I came in to pee and thought, why not take a shower here before going back to my room,” she said, her voice timid. I stepped closer and gently pulled her hands away from where she was covering. “You don’t have to hide from me,” I said softly. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’ve touched every inch of you—don’t be shy now.” As my hand slipped between her legs, her breath hitched. We ended up having slow, intense sex under the running water, followed by a steamy shower. Afterwards, she returned to her room, and I headed back to my office. --- The Alpha’s meeting was being held in another country. It had already been seven weeks since I hired Catriona as my surrogate. We’d been having sex almost every day, but there was still no sign of pregnancy. Worried, I took her to the hospital to make sure there was nothing wrong with her uterus. The doctor examined her and said everything was fine. Perfect, even. Catriona Havers was everything a man could want—beautiful, curvy, soft, sweet. And now, even as I sat in this meeting, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. “You’re obsessed because she’s your mate.” That was my inner wolf, growling in my head. “She’s our mate, not just a surrogate.” “You knew it the moment you laid eyes on her, didn’t you? And what did you do? You ignored it.” “Shut the fuck up,” I snapped internally. “Alpha, are you okay?” one of the Alphas asked, staring at me. I stood up abruptly. “Let’s pause the meeting. I need some air.” I walked out and headed toward the shoreline nearby. The sea breeze hit my face, but my wolf’s words still echoed inside me. He was right. When I first saw Catriona, I knew—she was my mate. But I turned a blind eye. Why? Because she felt… too soft. Too naïve. I didn’t want a mate like that. I wanted someone strong enough to stand beside me in war, not someone I’d have to shield every second. Still… I couldn’t deny the way she made me feel. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I checked the caller ID—Sandra. “Sandra? Is everything okay?” “Yes and no, Alpha,” she said nervously. “It’s about Catriona.” I tensed. “What happened?” “She passed out and hit her head. It’s not serious, but—” “Where the hell were you when she passed out?” I growled. “I—I was right there with her,” she stammered. “But she asked me for some privacy. I didn’t expect she’d faint.” I let out a slow breath, trying to calm myself. I couldn’t afford to lose control. “Alright,” I said. “How is she now?” “We rushed her to the hospital. The doctor said it’s not serious—she’s okay.” “Good. I’ll be here for five more days. But until I return, don’t leave her side. Even if she wants to go to the toilet—you go with her. I’m dead serious.” “Yes, Alpha.” “One more thing,” she said, hesitating. “What is it?” “She’s two weeks pregnant.”CATRIONA It has been eight months since the pack was attacked and everything that followed. Jayden and I have been able to reconcile, and our love for each other has grown. Ever since Gabriel broke the mate bond with me, he has suddenly disappeared. Until now, I haven't seen him. But I have heard murmurs from pack members that he found himself a mate and made her Luna. Initially, I was hurt because he seemed so determined to be with me but then suddenly ended our connection. However, I feel at ease with everything going well around me. The pack members have accepted me as their alpha's mate, and their affection toward me is growing stronger. My brother's health has stabilised, so we don’t have to visit the hospital as often. Regarding the old spirits, they continue to possess me during times of trouble and fight our battles when needed. However, whenever I attempt to inquire about our relationship, they simply smile and leave me hanging. I have given up on pursuing this topic. Vane
JAYDEN I froze in place when my so-called vampire brother burst out of the pack house, somehow managing to get his hands on Catriona. "I’ve had enough, little brother," he said. Everyone paused, including Gabriel, waiting to see whom he was referring to as his brother. Gabriel was quick to react, glancing from me to the vampire. His face turned red with fury, and I could tell he wanted to charge at my brother and break him in half. As satisfying as that would be, it was also impossible. Doing anything foolish would put Catriona in danger. My brother approached me confidently, exuding an air of satisfaction. He sniffed Catriona’s neck and then turned to me, remarking, “She smells good.” He twirled his bloody tongue over his fangs. Gabriel’s voice echoed angrily in my mind, demanding, “Who is this bloodsucker to you, Jayden?” His wolf paced restlessly around him while bombarding me with questions. “Let her go. It’s me you want,” I said, but instead, his smile grew wider, as if he
GABRIEL After ensuring Catriona’s safety indoors, I ventured out to mediate the conflict between the witches and Jayden’s enraged wolves. I never anticipated being struck by the witches’ wrathful magic, which was originally intended for Jayden. The impact left me clutching my chest tightly, as if it might burst open. I remained on the ground for several minutes, groaning in pain. Although the temptation to shift and violently retaliate was strong, I knew I had to remain calm. Feeling frustrated, I took a deep breath and confidently approached the wolves and witches, positioning myself between them with a dominant demeanour. “You all need to calm the fuck down,” I assertively stated. Surprisingly, everyone except Jayden stopped. He angrily trotted over to me, snarling in my direction… “You dare bring unknown witches to my house and give orders to my pack? Who do you think you are?” he said, his voice guttural. “Trust me, I wouldn’t mess with bringing witches to either pack. They’
CATRIONA I gazed wide-eyed, still processing what had just happened as I hurried over to Jayden, who appeared to be in pain. My love and concern for him compelled me to reach out, but instead, a powerful gust of wind blew through me, separating us. I stumbled backwards, my heart pounding in my chest. Fortunately, Gabriel was behind me and caught me before I hit the ground. His strong arms wrapped around me, providing a sense of stability amidst the chaos. I clung to him, grateful for his presence in this bewildering moment. Without hesitation, I turned to face the witches, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. “Did you do this? Are you responsible for what just happened?” I demanded, my eyes narrowing as I awaited their response. The witches exchanged glances, their expressions filled with surprise and confusion. One of them, with silver hair, stepped forward, her voice gentle yet resolute. “No, we had nothing to do with it,” she replied. My mind raced, trying to mak
JAYDEN I froze in my tracks, my heart pounding in my chest. The weight of my wolf’s words hung heavily in the air, leaving me speechless. Breaking the mate bond was an unthinkable act, a betrayal of the deepest kind. It was a bond meant to be eternal—unbreakable. That is the best thing we can do for Catriona. She’ll be free. And safe from being hurt by the man she loves. Even though my wolf said this, I could feel the sadness in his tone and the beating of his heart, which told me he didn’t truly mean it. I knew he was trying to punish me for everything I did to him—especially to Catriona. Fuck me, I wasn’t in my right damn mind. However, it doesn’t mean that I don’t love Catriona. I genuinely love and care about her to the extent of giving my life for her. Despite my wolf’s warning, I disregarded him and headed into the house. "Did you hear what I said?" His voice echoed loudly in my head, making it hard for me to think straight. "I heard you loud and clear, beast." We need to
CATRIONA I stared wide-eyed at the saliva rolling down my bare skin, fear flooding in as the memory of Jayden's nearly lifeless body came rushing back. What is going to happen next? Am I going to end up in the same half-dead state as Jayden was? How many days will it be? And what about the child inside me? I instinctively touched my belly, filled with trepidation at the thought of my unborn child facing the same fate as me. How unlucky am I? Gabriel was immediately by my side, attempting to communicate with me, but his words were incomprehensible—though I could sense his anxiety and anger. I'm scared he will kill another person. Based on Gabriel's account of what the saliva did to Jayden, I expected an immediate reaction when it came into contact with me. However, it took longer for the effects to manifest. Gradually, I felt my larynx becoming blocked, making it difficult for me to breathe. Desperately gasping for air, I clutched at my throat. Gabriel's grip was strong, and his