AUTHOR’S POVEzra's heart pounded in his chest as he raced across the field on his horse, his eyes fixed on the struggling figure of his father on the ground. The sickening sound of fists striking flesh reverberated in his ears. As he drew nearer, he could see the twisted smiles on Apollo and Ryder's faces as they relished in the torment they were inflicting on his father."Enough!" Ezra's scream tore through the air, his voice quivering with anger. He lunged towards them, stopping his horse close by and then leaping down to rush to them."Stay away from my father!" he yelled, pushing Ryder forcefully, causing him to fall a few inches away."What the hell do you think you are doing, kid?" Apollo demanded in irritation. But Ezra paid him no attention and rushed to his father's side. He dropped to his knees beside James, who lay on the ground, his face pale and streaked with blood. James coughed violently but managed to meet Ezra's worried gaze."Kill... them," James choked out, blood t
AUTHOR’S POV THREE YEARS LATER, The bright sun beat down mercilessly on the crowd gathered outside the grand university hall on graduation day. The excitement was evident in the sea of students, all dressed in wine and yellow graduation gowns. August, Lucas, Henry, and Sophia were eagerly anticipating receiving their well-earned certificates. However, there was a problem – Violet was nowhere to be found. August scanned the mass of graduates, sweat trickling down his forehead. Worry began to gnaw at him as their turn to receive their certificates neared. Lucas and Henry stood behind him, equally concerned, searching for their missing friend. Sophia, the most anxious among them, couldn't stand still. She paced back and forth, her face etched with worry. "Where the heck is Violet?" August muttered, his fists clenched. "We can't leave without her." Lucas's frustration was evident in his voice. "I have looked everywhere. She is not in the crowd or the hall. I don't understand. What c
I was suffocating in the confines of my own home, trapped by my mother's relentless pressure to marry the Alpha of our pack—a man three times my age. I tried reasoning with her, pleading for the freedom to choose my own path, but she remained deaf to my words."Why can't I have a say in my own future, Mom? Why am I being forced into this?" My voice trembled with a blend of frustration and anxiety."Tradition, Zelda. It's what's expected of you as an omega," she snapped back, her words like an iron grip on my spirit.I couldn't believe what I was hearing. All my life, I had been raised to stand up for myself, to speak my mind. But now, it felt like my mother was snuffing out that fire within me. I felt the weight of lost independence and a fading sense of self."You know what? I don't care about tradition! I refuse to marry some aging Alpha just because he holds that title!" My outburst echoed through the room, a wave of frustration and anger bursting forth.My mother's eyes widened in
The world spun as I opened my eyes, my head throbbing with a dull ache. My surroundings were unfamiliar, and it took me a moment to realize that I was in a hotel room. As I sat up in bed, I noticed a note and a large sum of money on the nightstand. "I had a good night, whore," the note read. My anger boiled over at the insult, but I couldn't even remember who I had been with. The memory loss only added to the humiliation and guilt that I felt.I quickly showered, trying to wash away the shame and regret that clung to my skin. As I got dressed and left the hotel, I was met with the cold rain and gray skies of the morning. It was as if the weather was reflecting my mood.When I arrived home, Nicholas, the Alpha King, was waiting for me. My heart clenched at the sight of him. I didn't want to marry him, but my parents had arranged the union without my consent. "I don't want to marry you, Alpha Nicholas," I said, glaring at him. "I don't care what you want," he replied, his voice cold a
I woke up in a sterile hospital room, my head throbbing with pain. The harsh fluorescent lights burned my eyes as I tried to adjust to my surroundings. I felt a weight on my chest and looked down to see a drip connected to my arm. The medicine flowed into my body, numbing the pain and making me feel drowsy.As I looked around the room, I saw my parents sitting in plastic chairs by the window. Their faces were stern and unforgiving, and I knew that I was in trouble. They started scolding me the moment they saw me wake up."How could you do this to us, honey?" my mother exclaimed, her voice filled with disappointment. "Getting pregnant out of wedlock? What will people say?"I felt my heart sink. I had always been the perfect daughter, following all the rules and making my parents proud. But now, I had messed everything up by getting pregnant by the Alpha's son, and I wanted to marry him."How could you blow a golden opportunity to get married to Alpha Apollo!? I heard he just came back
Tracy showed up at my house unannounced, surprising me as I was packing my things. "Hey girl, you need some help?" she asked, grabbing one of my suitcases. I nodded gratefully, feeling a lump form in my throat.As she carried my luggage to her car and put it in the back truck, she tried to lighten the mood. "This is like a road trip, except we're not coming back," she joked. I forced a smile, but the reality of the situation was weighing heavily on me.Tracy noticed my mood and put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Hey, it's gonna be okay," she said. "You're always welcome in my house, no matter what your parents say."I felt grateful for her words, but also a little guilty for imposing on her. "Are you sure it’s, okay?" I asked. "I don't want to be a burden."Tracy shook her head. "You're not a burden, Zel. You're my friend, and I'm here for you." Her kindness made me feel a little better, but I couldn't shake off the sadness of leaving everything behind.As we drove away, I couldn'
As I walked along the deserted road, my thoughts consumed me, and I found myself cursing my mate and the moon goddess for all my misfortunes. After spending a month at the shelter, I was kicked out when Apollo found out I was there. My baby bump was huge down and I was getting tired just walking. I had nowhere else to go, so I decided to go to my ex-boyfriend's place. I was lost in my thoughts and didn't realize I was walking in the middle of the road.I heard the sound of a car approaching, and before I could react, a man appeared out of nowhere, pulled me off the road, and saved my life. I was startled and turned to look at him, but his face was hidden in the shadows."What the hell were you doing in the middle of the road?" he asked, his voice sharp. That was when I realized it was Alpha Ryder.I tried to compose myself before answering. "I...I was just walking. I had nowhere else to go."The Ryder’s tone softened when he saw my distress. "Get in my car. I'll take you somewhere saf
Apollo’s POVI released Ryder, who was pinned to the wall with my claws digging into his skin. He coughed up blood and glared at me, but I ignored him. My attention was on Zelda, who was packing her clothes as I had instructed her. I couldn't bear to look at her. She had become pregnant by another man and was pretending to be innocent. I despised women like her.I had been trying to break her, to make her beg for my forgiveness on her knees, just like her parents wanted. But she was still resisting. She was afraid of me, and that pleased me.Without wasting a moment, I took out my car keys and grabbed her hand tightly. She fought back, but a single glare from me was enough to make her calm down. The warriors and servants watched as we left the packhouse. They respected me, for I was the soon-to-be alpha of my pack.We entered the garage, and I dragged her towards my car. She struggled, but I held her firmly. I opened the door and pushed her inside. She fell onto the seat, and I got in