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A Mother's Vigil
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-04-16 02:09:11
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Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Claiming Control
Nyraโs POVI did not sleep. Not even for a second. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw shadows slipping through cracks in the walls, fingers reaching for Auren and voices whispering threats I could not make out.My body stayed firm, remaining on the edge of the bed with one hand curved tightly around the small knife I kept hidden under my pillow.Auren slept soundly, his breathing was even and untroubled, and I was grateful he did not feel the storm inside me.But my eyes never left the door. If someone tried to come through it again, they would not make it out.It was not just Kael I feared now. It was the unknown. Whoever had taken Auren did not want to kill him. That much was clear. They were waiting. For what, I did not know.But I would not wait around to find out. When morning finally came, pale and silent, I moved carefully around the room.Auren stirred, but did not wake. I brushed my hand over his hair and stood, walking over to the bell near the door and pulling it sharply. T
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-17Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Unmasking the Truth
Draven's POVI rested on the edge of my desk, hands placed on the side of the table, my eyes were fixed on the fireplace across the room.My mind had been troubled all night, and this morning, Nyra's request confirmed what my instincts had been thinking for days.This pack was not safe. Not yet. Not for Auren with his innocent eyes that reminded me so much of his mother.Not for her, Nyra, whose return had awakened something I had long thought had been dead within me.And the source of most of the instability, disguised in silk and perfume, was about to walk through my door.I heard a sharp knock, three rapid taps that spoke of impatience. Then the door opened without waiting for permission, as always.Some habits never changed, and respect for boundaries had never been her strong suit.Selene walked in as if she owned not just the space between us.Her midnight silk robe stuck to her body like a second skin, her hair was perfectly brushed, and her glossed lips looked as if she was pr
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-18Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Bitter Rivalry
Nyra's POVI was slicing strawberries for Auren in the small corner of the kitchen I had set up in the chambers we were in when I felt her, before I heard her.That presence, the scent of perfume and false superiority, filled the doorway, suffocating the peaceful atmosphere I had created.The air itself seemed to thicken, heavy with tension and unspoken hostility.I did not bother turning around. "You are not welcome here," I said. My fingers continued their work, pressing the blade through the ripe flesh of another strawberry.Selene's voice snapped through the air. "You arrogant conniving witch." Each word was filled with hatred, over years of resentment.I put the knife down gently, then I wiped my hands on a cloth, and turned back to face her.Her eyes were wild, filled with the faintest hint of redness, whether from tears or lack of sleep, I could not even tell.She stood with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her robe loosened from what I guessed was a hasty and unsuccess
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-19Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Whispers of War
Nyra's POVThe morning light reflected through the stained-glass windows. I had been awake for hours. Sleep has become a luxury since our return to the pack lands. Too many memories, too many threats remained in every corner."Be good, Auren," I murmured as I knelt down before him, fixing the slightly bent hem of his coat.The fabric was rich and thick, bearing the pack's status, a privilege he was only beginning to understand. "Do not run off or cause trouble. And no jumping into striking rings."He gave me an exaggerated eye roll, a gesture he had perfected in recent weeks. His golden eyes, so like his father's own, sparkled with mischief and anticipation. "I will not. Draven said I could try the weighted strike. Just to lift, not throw."My eyes turned to Draven, who stood tall behind Auren, arms crossed and a flash of amusement dancing in his stormy eyes. "Did he now?"Draven raised a brow, pretending to be innocent. The corner of his mouth moved, a smile he was trying to hold. "O
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-20Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Secrets of the Past
Nyra's POVDespite what I overheard, I did not storm in and tear Selene to shreds. Not yet. I held myself back. Barely.Every word that slipped out of her mouth was like oil to the fire burning inside me, but I reminded myself why I came here in the first place: I came to check for threats, and not to get distracted by petty plots.Not that her scheme was petty. I knew Selene well enough, had suffered enough of her manipulations, to know she was not all bark.Behind her face of loyalty and falsification, lays the heart of someone who would burn down kingdoms to get what she wanted. The soft quickness in her voice could not mask the deadly intention behind her words.She could be dangerous, and with the loyal dogs still sticking to her heels, waiting for her command like the obedient pawns they were, I needed to stay one step ahead.To anticipate her next move before she even conceived it. But there would be time for that. A time when she would not see me coming, when her fake smile wo
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-21Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย The Depths of Deceit
Nyraโs POVThe dusty scent of the old library was still on my fingertips as I made my way back down the corridor.Despite the heavy truths whispered in that isolated room, Selene's threats, their conniving plans, and the mean slander against Auren, had not let my anger overtake me.Not yet. I needed to be smart and calculated. Continuous anger would only serve their purposes, not mine.I had to speak to Draven quickly. But first, I had to check on my son. Auren. That name alone fixed me, made me to purpose when everything else threatened to turn into chaos.The training grounds were in the opposite direction, but I felt the familiar stir in my chest. Or maybe it was just fear. I sensed something that was not right, but I did not know what it was.My steps quickened, boots barely making a sound against the stone floor. The hallway stretched on endlessly, like the walls were trying to trap me.I turned to the corner, heading toward the exit that led to the southern field, the scent of f
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-22Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย A War for Survival
Nyraโs POVI did not know how I would make it to the training grounds without tearing down half the pack house in my anger. My wolf clawed under my skin, desperate to seek revenge for the humiliation we had endured.Every breath burned in my chest like fire. Every step felt heavier than the last one, my skull pounding where they hit me so hard. But none of that mattered.I needed to see Auren, to confirm with my own eyes that my son remained untouched by the hatred that had entrapped me.The late afternoon sun had moved down behind the ancient trees, reaching shadows across the southern fields.From my position on top of the hills where the old stone path curved, the same path I had run along as a child, I could see the outline of the warriors training below.Steel clashed with steel, grunts rang out, and occasional laughter echoed in the air, so casual and ordinary. And there he was.Auren stood in the middle of it all, his golden hair looking so bright in the sunlight. He was not fi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-23Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Threads of Deceit
Nyraโs POVThe morning air was cold when I stepped out, the sting of last night's threats was still fresh on my skin.My head was still hurt where they had hit me, and this was a reminder that I was not just fighting shadows from my past anymore. Now, I was fighting ghosts with faces I knew. Faces hidden behind masks, but voices that nagged at my memory like bad dreams I could not quite remember.But I would not rush in without thinking. Not yet. My anger wanted me to act now, but I knew better.Before I did anything, before I confronted Draven, or turned Crescent Moon upside down looking for answers,I needed to know what we were up against. The Blood moon Plague. A name that has scared wolves to their core for generations. I had heard it mentioned, whispered by the elders, stories meant to scare pups into behaving, but I never thought it would come back, especially not now, when Auren had finally found some peace. When I had finally started to hope again.I did not go to the libr
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-24
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Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Auren's Dreams and Dangers
Nyra's POVThe hallways were quiet when Draven and I got back. The kind of quiet that settles thick and heavy after a storm. The silence hung in the air.I moved like a shadow. Silent. Invisible. Careful not to draw any more attention. I needed to see him.No, I ached to see him. To hold him. To remind myself that he was still here, still mine. Every step toward his room felt both too slow and too fast.The door was slightly opened. I saw Lydia walking towards me with a warm smile that showed the corners of her eyes."He is an amazing kid," she said, her voice soft with genuine affection. "I monitored him as he made his food that evening. He is brilliant."Her words warmed my heart. Someone else saw what I had always known. "Thank you for looking after him while we were gone," I told her.She gave me a knowing nod, then she excused herself for the night. Her footsteps faded down the hallway as she walked.I shut the door gently behind me. Just enough to step inside without waking him.
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย The Battle Within
Nyraโs POVThe door had not even shut behind me before I felt Draven's presence moving in like a storm.โNyra,โ he said, with his voice low and controlled in a way that only spelled trouble. โWho is Zaira?โI did not answer. I kept walking, pushing past the wooden corridor toward my chambers. Toward Auren. Toward anything but this.But Draven was not the type to let go easily. His hand was placed gently and firmly around my wrist, making me face him. His golden eyes were filled with too many questions."Don't," I said sharply, putting my arm back. "Not here, Not now.""Then when, Nyra?" His voice cracked, as if he was barely holding himself together."You called her name like a bomb in the middle of everything, and you really expect me to just forget it?"I placed my arms over my chest, grounding myself. "It does not concern you.""It concerns Auren, that means it concerns me," he said.My heart twisted violently. Damn him. Damn his ability to always hit the parts of me that were alre
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย When Truths Collide
Nyra's POVThe forest was more quiet on our way back, almost unnervingly so. Draven walked beside me this time.There was a tension between us now, filled with unspoken words, like the words we did not say were looking for a way out.None of us spoke for a while. The silence stretched between us for a while. Maybe it was because we were both wrapped up in what the seer had said, or what he had not said.Her cryptic words stuck to my mind like a stubborn fog, impossible to grab yet impossible to ignore.You already know. You only lack the sight to recognize it.I kicked a small rock down the path with more force than necessary, watching it roll into the underbrush."I hate riddles," I whispered under my breath, putting my hands deeper into my pockets.Draven let out a low tone of agreement. "She has always been that way. Never straightforward."His voice was soft. It made me wonder how many times he had walked along this same path, looking for answers from a woman who seemed incapable
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย The Darkness Within
Nyra's POVThe forest was stretched out ahead of us, a never-ending puzzle of dark green and dry earth.The tall trees covered the light, and every snap of a twig underfoot echoed through the air.Draven walked ahead, silent and annoyingly composed, like he had not just dragged me away from my son with only a half explanation.I followed him, boots stamping on the ground, my heart was pounding with every step we further took away from the pack.I looked at the back of his head, willing for him to turn around. "Are you going to tell me where we are going, or do you just enjoy hearing me walk after you like some lost child?"He did not answer. Of course, he did not. "Draven," I said again. "This is not funny, I left my son there, you owe me some answers." Still nothing.The path we went along was not the one we used to take. It twisted and changed into parts of the forest that felt older and heavier.The trees were thicker here, twisted and dark with age, their branches pointing at the
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย In the Name of Safety
Nyraโs POV"I have to take Auren along," I said immediately, my voice sounding low and urgent. "I am not leaving him alone, Draven."His eyes became wide, the tension in his body tightened. I could see the way he was trying so hard to maintain his composure."Where we are going is not a place for children," he said, his voice clipped.I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, the documents from his desk were still burning my mind.The names, the dates, the secret locations, all of it spells out betrayal. Distrust coiled around my heart like a living thing. "I do not care, I do not trust anyone here, I can not risk anyone.""You will have to," he simply said, with patience that only made me more angry. He stood there, without moving, his hands placed behind his back. "Not everyone here is against you. Some are still loyal and some are still good."I gave a short and bitter laugh that scratched my throat. "Forgive me if I am not eager to gamble my son's life on your judgment."The words
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Between Secrets and Promises
Nyra's POVI swallowed thickly, throat dry as parchment. My fingers were still pressed onto the pages, as if letting go would somehow make this entire moment disappear.I looked up at him, he was caught in the act, he had no lie to cover up quickly, no excuse was clever enough."I uh!" My voice caught in my throat, it was embarrassingly weak. "I was just..."Just what, Nyra? Snooping? Breaking the one unspoken rule between us? He stared at me, without blinking. Waiting."I should not have," I finally admitted. Draven did not move. He stood still looking so guilty."I am sorry," I added, even though I was not really sure if I was. The truth was that I was angry too. No. Scratch that. I was furious.The guilt that had gripped me was clear. Because why should I feel bad? He had kept this from me.The deaths. The drought. The fractures in the land are magic. He had known all along. And he did not say a word.I stood up slowly from the chair, every inch of my body tensed as I looked at me.
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Caught in the Crossfire
Nyraโs POVThe scent of sizzling eggs and roasted herbs filled the air, warm and familiar. I was not the best cook, but after everything Auren had been through, I figured he deserved a real breakfast. Something made by me. Something that said, you are safe now.The kitchen has become something of a sanctuary these past few days. The simple act of cracking eggs into a hot pan, watching the whites spread and solidify while the yolks remained perfect golden circles, brought me a peculiar peace that had been absent elsewhere in our lives. I seasoned the eggs with dried herbs I had found in ceramic jars lined neatly on the shelfโrosemary, thyme, and a pinch of something unfamiliar but pleasantly aromatic. The woody scent mingled with the richness of the eggs, creating a homely atmosphere that seemed almost foreign after weeks of survival mode.I arranged the food on mismatched plates I had discovered in the cupboardsโsimple ceramic dishes with faded blue patterns around the edges. They we
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย The Council's Call
Dravenโs POVThe knock on my door resembled a striking ram. I jumped to my feet in seconds.Survival instinct activated immediately, only for me to discover that it was my Beta, Jareth. He was standing there, breathing heavily, as if he had run across the entire compound.His normally composed behavior had vanished, replaced by an urgency that instantly put me on alert.The muscles in his neck were tensed, his posture was rigid despite his obvious effort. Whatever brought him here before dawn could not wait."The Elders' Council awaits you in the Great Hall," he said briefly. "They indicated that it was urgent." Naturally they did.The Elders Council rarely assembled before sunrise unless something threatened our territory.Their summons carried the weight of generations of tradition, a call that no Alpha could ignore regardless of personal inconvenience.I looked towards the window where the first hints of daybreak painted the sky in muted colors.I ran my fingers through my hair, h
Alpha Draven's Regret: The Return of His Rejected Mateย ย ย Echoes of a Dark Prophecy
Nyraโs POVCold sweat clung to my back, and my hands shaked as I tightly held the sheets. And then. Warmth.Soft breath against my arm. A tiny hand was placed around my nightshirt. Auren.I turned to the other side to find him beside me. He was still asleep, his little chest was rising and falling in a gentle rhythm.I pulled him into my arms, holding him near to me, hiding my face in the curve of his neck as I tried to slow down my heart, which was beating fast.He is safe. He is here. But the dream. No. The nightmare.Even till now, I could still smell the burning wood and feel the pack house shaking under my feet.I could still hear the distant screams, the sound of wolves falling one by one under the attack of something that is unnatural.And then her. Zaira Blackthorn. A name I did not recognize. A face carved into my memory like a curse, long black robes that billowed like smoke, eyes silver and bottomless, her voice a lullaby soaked in poison.She moved through the destruction
