RyleeI grimace. โA date? Alpha Alvar, you think too highly of me. I'm just an Alpha from a nameless pack. It's already a great honor to have dinner with you; how can this be a date?โAlvar sighs, as if he anticipated my reaction. โRylee, Greenvale pack is not some nameless pack. You donโt have to tease me. I know what I did before wasn't right. Iโm just trying to have a calm conversation with you.โI study his expression and realize Iโm a little overwhelmed by the softness in his gaze. This Alvar is different from the usual demanding Alpha I remember. Instead of snarling in anger, he looks like a wounded coyote, desperately seeking understanding.As I think this over, a nameless flame ignites in my heart. Nina said this was called โgaslighting,โ and his gentleness makes me feel a flicker of shame.โI... Iโm just speaking the truth.โ I unconsciously raise my voice, trying to mask my inner turmoil, but unease seeps into my tone.โI know,โ Alvar replies seriously, his gaze deep. โBut th
CarlSince Alvar goes to Europe, he gets weirder by the day. This guy actually quits drinking! He was an alcoholic for a month, downing drinks like water, so it blows my mind when he says he wonโt touch alcohol anymore. I tell Kristen about it, and she says seriously, โItโs called lovesickness, Carl. What do you know about love when youโre as straight as a rail?โWhat a joke! Who wants to know that much about love? Whatโs so great about love anyway? Look at Alvarโheโs an Alpha who turns into a fool for love! And Cecilia? She gets beaten with twenty lashes for love, thrown out of the mansion, and her father punished. If you ask me, this kind of thing should be as far away from me as possible.Meg tells me that Alvar actually asks for the ring back! The next day, he says, โCarl, get the private jet ready to pick up Rylee.โ I am shocked. โHuh? You just got her back?โAlvarโs face is expressionless, but I can feel his excitement. Instead of answering me directly, he continues, โNo, she wi
RyleeThe strangest thing in the world is seeing your aunt, who isnโt much older than you, kissing your ex-boyfriendโs best friend in front of your whole family.Itโs hard to describe the feeling, but itโs kind of comforting to have someone else embarrassed with me under the porch.As soon as Nina and Carl meet, they shout โMateโ and kiss, making it obvious theyโve found each other.Everyone heads back into the living room. They sit scattered around, except for me and Hera on the biggest couch. Carl and Nina sit across from us, holding hands.Ohh, from the look on Carlโs face, heโs really embarrassed. In all the time Iโve known him, Iโve never seen him look so shy. I can feel Hera and Jason almost scrutinizing him with their eyes.โYou guys are so cold here; itโs really much colder than Malibu!โ After introducing his family and income, Carl rubs his head and makes a silly comment.โThatโs what we have here.โ Nina smiles sweetly, her eyes still glued to Carl. โYouโll get used to it lat
RyleeI wake up before the sun every day and trek through the snowy forest to the packhouse by 6 a.m.From 6 to 9 a.m., I'm stuck cleaning the kitchen and doing hard labor. They wonโt let me handle food because they think I'll make it dirty. Only when Marta, the kitchen manager, is too busy, sheโll let me help make flour for muffins.Greenvale is far up north, so mornings are late here. By the time I finish in the kitchen, itโs just getting light outside.At 9 sharp, I head to the laundry room. Doing laundry in winter is brutal since we donโt have washing machines. The pack's finances are tight, and sometimes our heater doesnโt work. If I want hot water, itโs all about luckโwhich, unsurprisingly, isn't on my side today. Happy birthday to me.I turn on the faucet. Great. No steam. Just icy cold water.I soak my hands in the biting cold and struggle to wash the clothes Alpha and Luna have piled up over the past week. My fingers quickly freeze and turn purple. Other werewolves might not m
RyleeTelevision is a blessing, and I love watching it. The main character in the TV show has everything I dream ofโschool, hot water, a washing machine, air conditioner, mattress, her own bowl...And, most importantly, equality and freedom.Life is hard, and it's nice to daydream once in a while.Marta wonโt let me talk about TV shows. She says human stuff is bullshit. Hierarchy is innate; wolves have to follow the rules of their bloodline.She told me to watch less crap made up by lower beings.But I really want to ask her: the refrigerator, microwave, and oven are all man-made, and I donโt see you using them any less. Of course, I donโt ask. Iโm not stupid. I donโt want to get beaten up.By the time I get to the kitchen with my basket, itโs lunch time. The whole place smells like roast chicken.Itโs my birthday today. I have to watch the hit TV show Alpha's Runaway Bride while I eat.I drop the clothes on a line and drape them around the stove. Then I grab a couple of potatoes from
RyleeThe packโs prison is an old warehouse that used to be a chicken pen. It still smells like chicken poop and feed. My hands are tied behind my back, and whip marks cover my body. They dumped me on a stiff, musty pile of hay. Tiny stalks of grass dig into my skin, stinging and bleeding.I want to scream, but I donโt. Iโm pretending to be unconscious.In Greenvale pack, thieves get 40 lashes, executed by Gamma. Anto, that brutal dog, loves to play dirty. I fainted and woke up in pain several times during the torture. At the 35th lash, I thought I was going to die. But then I saw Syd rush over and pull Antoโs whip. He got another 10 lashes for that.Thanks to Syd, I survived. Then I thought pretending to be unconscious was a good idea. Anto likes to see the look on my face when he tortures me. If I donโt react, he might give up sooner.โGo see if sheโs dead,โ I hear Anto say to his men. Footsteps approach me, and I hasten to make my breathing soft and even. A hand comes up to my nose
RyleeSyd sits frozen, as if rooted to the ground. Silence spreads under the moonlight.Every werewolf gains the ability to sense their mate on the day they come of age, and I was no exception. This morning, the moment I saw Syd, I felt our mate-bond. But it was weak, and I couldnโt smell Syd.My wolf hasnโt come yet.Syd came of age six months ago. He should have known I was his mate, but he never told me. I can guess the reason easily: my status embarrasses him.I am the packโs slave, and he is the future Beta.We donโt trust each other; we donโt accept each other. Thatโs why our mate-bond is so weak. Thatโs why I canโt smell him.Syd suddenly jumps to his feet. โWhen did you know?โ he asks, his breathing fast. โWhat... what are you going to do?โWithout waiting for my answer, he paces anxiously. โNo, this isnโt the time for discussing that. I need to get you out of here first.โ He crouches down, trying to pick me up. โI heard them talking about selling you, and the buyer is... Alva
RyleeI used to wonder what "fated" meant. How can you fall in love without knowing each other and stay together forever? Now I get it. It's a soul-deep pain, like a part of you is being ripped away.I have to stuff straw in my mouth to stop myself from screaming. Syd looks in worse pain. He can't stay human, shifts into a wolf, and collapses. The brown wolf convulses, his mouth opens wide, looks about to cry, but he only whimpers silently. After ten minutes, he stumbles up, giving me a deep look. Then, he turns and disappears into the darkness.I breathe a sigh of relief, wipe my tears, and collapse onto the haystack.It's over.Great, one step closer to leaving this pack.Syd is tall, handsome, capable with a pretty-boy face. We grew up together. Heโs the only one who cares about me. If I wasn't Rylee Green, I might fall in love with him so easily and deeply. But our bond is doomed. He has a bright future, and I'm the pack's sinner.18 years ago, my birth took away my high-blooded m
RyleeThe strangest thing in the world is seeing your aunt, who isnโt much older than you, kissing your ex-boyfriendโs best friend in front of your whole family.Itโs hard to describe the feeling, but itโs kind of comforting to have someone else embarrassed with me under the porch.As soon as Nina and Carl meet, they shout โMateโ and kiss, making it obvious theyโve found each other.Everyone heads back into the living room. They sit scattered around, except for me and Hera on the biggest couch. Carl and Nina sit across from us, holding hands.Ohh, from the look on Carlโs face, heโs really embarrassed. In all the time Iโve known him, Iโve never seen him look so shy. I can feel Hera and Jason almost scrutinizing him with their eyes.โYou guys are so cold here; itโs really much colder than Malibu!โ After introducing his family and income, Carl rubs his head and makes a silly comment.โThatโs what we have here.โ Nina smiles sweetly, her eyes still glued to Carl. โYouโll get used to it lat
CarlSince Alvar goes to Europe, he gets weirder by the day. This guy actually quits drinking! He was an alcoholic for a month, downing drinks like water, so it blows my mind when he says he wonโt touch alcohol anymore. I tell Kristen about it, and she says seriously, โItโs called lovesickness, Carl. What do you know about love when youโre as straight as a rail?โWhat a joke! Who wants to know that much about love? Whatโs so great about love anyway? Look at Alvarโheโs an Alpha who turns into a fool for love! And Cecilia? She gets beaten with twenty lashes for love, thrown out of the mansion, and her father punished. If you ask me, this kind of thing should be as far away from me as possible.Meg tells me that Alvar actually asks for the ring back! The next day, he says, โCarl, get the private jet ready to pick up Rylee.โ I am shocked. โHuh? You just got her back?โAlvarโs face is expressionless, but I can feel his excitement. Instead of answering me directly, he continues, โNo, she wi
RyleeI grimace. โA date? Alpha Alvar, you think too highly of me. I'm just an Alpha from a nameless pack. It's already a great honor to have dinner with you; how can this be a date?โAlvar sighs, as if he anticipated my reaction. โRylee, Greenvale pack is not some nameless pack. You donโt have to tease me. I know what I did before wasn't right. Iโm just trying to have a calm conversation with you.โI study his expression and realize Iโm a little overwhelmed by the softness in his gaze. This Alvar is different from the usual demanding Alpha I remember. Instead of snarling in anger, he looks like a wounded coyote, desperately seeking understanding.As I think this over, a nameless flame ignites in my heart. Nina said this was called โgaslighting,โ and his gentleness makes me feel a flicker of shame.โI... Iโm just speaking the truth.โ I unconsciously raise my voice, trying to mask my inner turmoil, but unease seeps into my tone.โI know,โ Alvar replies seriously, his gaze deep. โBut th
RyleeAlvar really does have a good eye. The ambiance of this restaurant is breathtaking.The gorgeous crystal chandelier softly sheds its light, gilding the entire dining room with a dreamy glow. Classical French paintings adorn the walls, and the table is covered with a snow-white tablecloth. Silver cutlery glistens in the candlelight. A faint aroma of vanilla and lemon fills the air, mingling with the melodious piano music drifting from afar. As I step through the restaurant door, I feel as if I've entered another world.A flicker of regret washes over me. Am I dressed too casually? This is my first time eating at such a fancy place, and my simple outfit of bland jeans and a knit shirt seems out of place here.Luckily, the restaurant is empty, and no one makes fun of me for being a hick redneck. The only other guest isโฆ Alvar.He wears a well-tailored black suit, with a tie hanging loosely across his chest, revealing a hint of casual elegance. That suit makes him look even taller a
RyleeThe cell phone in my hand feels like itโs burning, so I shake it away in a hurry. I touch my flushed face, unsure why I react this way.Even though weโve been apart longer than we were together, seeing his message signed Your Mate floods my mind with his face and that familiar knitted smile."His wolf is just as shameless as him," Flash says disdainfully. "How disgusting. Tell him if he sends it again weโll blackmail him."I change Alvarโs note. I just can't face the words Your Mate directly.I type: [Flash says to tell Blade to stop sending hairs. Otherwise I will block you.]In no time, he replies: [Okay. Iโll send you something else.] He follows it up with an aggrieved wolf head emoji.I canโt believe he uses such a cute emoji. Before I can throw my phone away, another text pops up: [Iโll give you a gift.]I almost type a firm no, but another message comes through: [I have the Greenvale guys here. I can give them back to you, but I have a condition.]Okay, I take back calling
RyleeJason shushes me along the way. He says he can always drag Oliver and Zen down to teach Alvar a lesson if I get upset. Zen doesnโt agree with him. He insists that he wonโt go. He believes that even combined, he and Jason are no match for Alvar, and Oliver is also a piece of cake.I shake my head weakly. I say thereโs no need fighting him. Carl should have relayed my words to him by now. And Zen's men are still captured by him. I think soon he and I will meet. We need to talk.We return to the airport in Riverside, then back to Europe. Once home, I collapse into bed and sleep for the rest of the day and night. Flash wakes me with her voice the next day, saying she smells a hint of MATE and urges me to come downstairs to see whatโs happening.Thinking itโs Alvar, I nervously gather myself and head downstairs, only to find a package delivered. Inside is the same cell phone he gave me earlier (the one he gave me in Dark Moon pack) and... a handful of black hairs that Flash claims sm
AlvarTaking down the Greenvale pack doesnโt take long. The packโs population is mostly old, sick, with few armed men. Syd's group puts up a fight, but theyโre outnumbered and quickly defeated. I don't waste time on this manโhe's not worthy of being my enemy. Once I have him under control, I find Anto on the east side, standing with the Luna of the pack and the Alpha's son beside him. They are preparing to escape.I ask Joanne where Steve is. Sheโs scared out of her wits, clutching her son and insisting she doesnโt know.Anto challenges me to a duel. As Greenvaleโs Gamma, he has decent strength, but he weakens midway. He says the Alpha is dead, the leadership of Greenvale has changed, and heโs no longer the Alpha's Gamma.I glance over at the kid shielded in Joanneโs arms. Is he the new Alpha? I'm ready to rip out his throat, but Joanne drops to her knees and begs me. She says the boy's name is Sion and that heโs hers and Anto's son, not Steveโs. She pleads for his life.Hah, I canโt
RyleeSteve growls, โNo way! Itโs never possible! How can an omega be an Alpha?โHe clings to his ridiculous theory, but he looks like a clown now, oblivious to how pathetic he appears.The challenge takes effect, forcing Steve to shift. Heโs much larger than Flash, with sharper teeth. But despite his size, he's neglected his workoutsโfat and weak. Anto and Syd are both stronger than him. They probably never challenged him because the Alpha of Greenvale can only be from the Green family. Relying on this, Steve thought he was secure in his Alpha position, never expecting his own daughter to challenge him.Oliver and Zen retreat, one to the window and the other to the bedroom door. Flash bends her body, ready to attack.Steveโs tail tucks between his legs as he tries to escape, but heโs trappedโboth the window and door are guarded.I've been training under Jason this past month. As a Royal Knight, he taught me a lot of fighting techniques. I share all my memories with Flash. She moves s
RyleeSteve's face pales instantly, his pupils dilating in fear. He denies what I said right away. "What? What are you babbling about? Of course your mom died giving birth to you."Oliver's voice is laced with anger. "Rylee, let's kidnap him. Jason has ways of making him spill the truth."I shake my head. As much as I want to, as much as I hate him, Steve is still the Alpha of Greenvale. The people here still need him. I can't drag innocent people down with meโthey deserve to live.Steve shudders at the mention of Jason, the man whoโs usually all smiles with me but clearly terrifies Steve. "You... you found the Deweys," he says incredulously.I offer a false smile. "More than that. I'm living with them." I gesture for Zen to snatch his backpack away. Steve fights for a moment but loses."Okay... fine." He cringes. "I'll tell you."I hold my breath, watching as his eyes dart around. "Your mom found out about Joanne and me and got mad. She fell down the stairs by accident, so she had a