The storm broke loose over the land as Rina’s pain began. Rain battered the windows in heavy sheets, and thunder shook the walls, while lightning lit the room in harsh flashes. Inside, her cries rose against the storm, trembling with agony. Her hands clutched the bedding, knuckles white, as wave after wave of labor tore through her body. Sweat rolled down her face, mixing with tears, and fear filled her eyes.
“I am scared, Beatrice,” she sobbed, her voice breaking as she gripped harder. “What if I die? What if my babies die with me?”Beatrice rushed to her side, calm and steady in the midst of chaos. She touched Rina’s shoulder, her voice low but firm. “You will not die tonight. Your babies will not die. Breathe. Fear will not help you, but strength will. In and out. Trust me.”Rina gasped for air, trying to obey, but another contraction seized her and she screamed, her body trembling. “It burns,” she cried. “I cannot do this. My body will break.”It was a cold morning at the Sauna pack. Alpha Glint had been gone for three days, and though the pack still wore sorrow on their faces, Leah’s heart had already turned in a different direction. She sat in her father’s office, her fingers tapping the table slowly, her eyes sharp and restless. She had given the orders again for Mara, who was sure their primary suspect for the murder of her father, to be caught and brought back.Leah was smart. She knew she was not going to only think about the death of her father when there were big mountains to climb.The guards standing by the door waited quietly, unsure of what she would say next.Leah stood up suddenly. “You two,” she said, pointing to the nearest guards, “you will travel to the Crystal pack and run a special errand for me. Both guards looked at each other with wonder, but when her expression changed, they quickly bowed and came forward. Leah continued talking without acting like she
The human city was slowly becoming home for Rina. The smell of roasted corn by the streets, the laughter of children playing near the corners, and the sound of the trams as they moved past the tall buildings — she was getting used to it all. Every morning she woke up, fed the twins, and prepared for work. Beatrice always watched her with quiet pride. She often said,“You’re not the same girl who came here bleeding and broken. You’ve grown, Rina.”And she truly had.Weeks passed since Rina began her job. Her hard work was noticed. She had a quiet determination that made people trust her. Her colleagues admired her kindness and focus, and her supervisors liked how she never complained. She was not like the others who wanted quick rewards. She worked carefully and patiently, always making sure she did things right.One afternoon, as she sat at her small desk in the corner of the office reviewing reports, her supervisor called her in. “Rina,” he said,
The Crystal Pack was slowly finding its balance again. Without an Alpha to lead, confusion had filled the air for many days, but Kendrick had begun to take charge. He did not call himself Alpha yet. He simply gave orders, fixed what was broken, and made sure every member of the pack had something to do. The warriors trained again, the farmers went back to the fields, and the traders began to move goods in and out of the borders.Each morning, Kendrick stood at the edge of the training ground, watching as the younger wolves practiced. His voice was calm but firm when he spoke, his authority quiet but heavy. Everyone obeyed him because they trusted him more than anyone else.Even the elders, who once stood behind Rowland, had begun to turn toward Kendrick. They saw strength in him, and they knew the pack needed that strength now more than ever.But Rowland was not happy. He stayed mostly in his quarters these days, thinking and planning. He still had a few l
The first light of dawn had only begun to stretch across the sky when the guard on duty walked past the Alpha’s chambers. Everything was quiet, the same as it had been all night. He was about to move on when he noticed that the door to the Alpha’s room was slightly open. He frowned. The Alpha never left his door open. Not at night.He hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door wider and stepped inside. The smell hit him first—something metallic and heavy in the air. Then his eyes caught the sight before him. Alpha Glint was lying on the floor beside his bed, lifeless, his body in a dark pool of thickened blood.The guard froze, unable to breathe. His hand trembled as he reached for his sword, but there was no one there. Only the silent, horrifying scene before him.“Alpha…” he whispered in disbelief. Then his voice broke into a shout. “Guards! Guards!”Within seconds, others came rushing in. The room filled with gasps and murmurs as they took in
Mara clenched her hands together until her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were red and heavy with tears she refused to shed. For so long, she had given herself to Alpha Glint, body and soul, believing that he would one day make her his mate, that she would stand beside him as Luna. But now, she was nothing more than a shadow, something he could discard without thought.Her heart burned with humiliation. Every time he had called her into his chambers, every time he had whispered lies into her ears, she had believed him. And now, he would replace her with Doria. It didn't matter to him that she was the girl Leah hated. She was simply perfect to him. “No,” Mara whispered to herself, shaking her head slowly. “The Alpha can't be this cruel to me. I won't allow it.”The tears finally fell, sliding down her cheeks, but there was no softness in her heart anymore. Only anger. Anger that twisted and grew with every breath she took.She rose to h
Rina stood in front of the small mirror in Beatrice’s living room. The reflection that stared back at her looked tired but determined. Her hair, still long and dark, had lost some of its shine, and her face was thinner than before, but her eyes carried a calm strength. The twins were asleep in the corner, their tiny breaths soft and steady. Beatrice sat beside them, knitting, but her gaze often moved to Rina, her expression full of quiet concern.“Beatrice,” Rina said softly, still staring into the mirror, “I think it’s time I go out there and find a job.”Beatrice looked up, frowning. “You’ve been working enough. Child, you only gave birth a few weeks ago. Your body is still weak. You need rest, not stress.”Rina turned, a small smile on her face. “I’ve rested enough. I feel strong now. I can’t keep depending on you and the little my menial errands bring in. You’ve done more than enough for me and the babies. I need to take care of us.”Beatrice