LOGINShare
|c.4|
Last Updated:
2024-11-13 00:58:54The tension in the room was suffocating as Channary stared her father down, her heart hammering against her ribs. His words echoed in her ears—cruel, unforgiving, and final.
“You’ve been nothing but a stain on this family’s name,” Roman spat, his eyes like shards of ice. “Your actions on the Blood Moon have brought shame to our entire pack. You’re not my daughter anymore.”
Channary flinched, but only for a moment. Her jaw tightened as she forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to let him see her break. Her voice, though trembling, carried a quiet, simmering rage.
“You never wanted me, did you?” she asked. “Not really. You only tolerated me because I was your firstborn.”
Roman’s nostrils flared, and for a moment, she thought he might deny it. Instead, he crossed his arms, his silence damning.
“You wanted a son,” Channary continued, her voice gaining strength. “That’s why you’ve been trying outside of your mate, isn’t it? You think I didn’t know? You think the pack didn’t know?” Her laugh was bitter, sharp. “They all know, Father. And they laugh at her for it—at Māmā. At the Luna who couldn’t give you what you wanted.”
Her mother’s gasp was soft, barely audible, but Channary heard it. She turned her head slightly, catching the look of wounded disbelief on her mother’s face.
“Don’t you dare,” Roman growled, his voice low and menacing, “drag your mother into this.”
“She’s already in it!” Channary snapped. “You put her in it. All those whispers, all those pitying looks she gets—it’s because of you. You humiliate her, and for what? For a son? For an heir?” She shook her head, her voice breaking. “You don’t care about this family. You only care about your legacy.”
“That’s enough!” Roman roared, his wolf bleeding into his voice, his eyes flashing with fury. “You don’t know anything about what it means to lead a pack.”
“No, I don’t,” Channary retorted, her voice trembling with rage. “Because you never let me. All my life, you told me I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t strong enough. I wasn’t—” Her voice broke completely, but she pushed through it, glaring at him with tear-filled eyes. “I wasn’t him. The son you’ve been trying to replace me with since the day I was born.”
Roman’s jaw tightened, his lips pulling into a thin line. “You’ve done nothing to prove me wrong,” he said coldly. “And now, you’ve sealed your fate by embarrassing this family in front of the entire pack.”
Channary laughed again, the sound hollow. “Embarrassing the family? That’s rich, coming from you. How many illegitimate pups have you sired now, Father? Three? Four? Or have you lost count?”
Roman’s hand twitched, his wolf barely held at bay. “You have twenty-four hours to leave this territory,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “If you’re still here by sunrise tomorrow, I will treat you like any other traitor. You’ll be hunted down and eliminated. Do you understand me?”
Channary’s heart sank, but she refused to let him see her fear. “Fine,” she said, her voice cold. “I’m better off without this pack. Without you.” She turned toward the door but paused, glancing back over her shoulder. “Uncle Keaton is on his way to get me. I told him everything.”
Roman’s face darkened, his wolf rising to the surface. “That rogue doesn’t belong here,” he growled. “If he steps foot on my land—”
“What?” Channary cut him off, her voice mocking. “You’ll fight him? We both know you’ve never been able to handle Uncle Keaton.”
Roman’s fury boiled over, his growl reverberating through the room. “Get out of my sight,” he snarled.
Keaton’s truck pulled into the driveway as the moon hung low in the sky, its silvery glow illuminating the tense scene. Channary stood on the porch, her bag clutched tightly in her hands. Her mother lingered just inside the doorway, her face pale and drawn, while Roman stood at the edge of the porch, his posture stiff with barely contained rage.
Keaton stepped out of the truck, his presence commanding. His sharp eyes scanned the scene, taking in Roman’s tense stance, Channary’s trembling hands, and his sister’s haunted expression. His gaze softened briefly when it landed on Channary, but the moment was fleeting. He turned his attention to Roman, his expression hardening.
“Roman,” Keaton said evenly, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of steel. “Throwing your own daughter out? Really? Even for you, that’s low.”
“She’s no longer my daughter,” Roman replied, his tone clipped. “She’s disgraced this family and this pack.”
Keaton’s laugh was short and humorless. “Disgraced? You mean you’ve disgraced this family. Everyone knows what you’ve been up to, Roman. Half the pack’s pups could be yours for all we know.”
Roman’s wolf surged forward, his growl deep and menacing. “Watch your mouth, Keaton.”
“Or what?” Keaton stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous low. “You’ll fight me? You’ll try to chase me off your precious land?”
Roman’s wolf responded instinctively, and within seconds, the two men collided. The sound of their clash echoed through the night, their growls and snarls tearing through the tense silence. Channary stumbled back, clutching her bag, while her mother cried out in alarm.
“Keaton, stop!” her mother screamed, rushing toward them. “Please, stop!”
Keaton had Roman pinned against the porch railing, his arm pressing into his throat. “You’re a pathetic excuse for an Alpha,” Keaton snarled, his voice filled with contempt. “You don’t deserve this pack—or your family.”
“Keaton!” her mother begged, tears streaming down her face. “Please, let him go!”
With a growl of frustration, Keaton released Roman, shoving him away. He turned to his sister, his expression one of disappointment and disgust. “You chose this, Mia,” he said, his voice cold. “You chose him over your own daughter. Don’t come crying to me when it all falls apart.”
Mia reached out, her hands trembling, but Keaton stepped back, shaking his head. “You’re on your own now,” he said.
He turned to Channary, his expression softening. “Let’s go, kid.”
As they drove away, Channary stared out the window, the familiar landscape blurring into darkness. Silent tears streamed down her face, and her chest ached with the weight of everything she was leaving behind.
Keaton glanced at her, his grip steady on the wheel. “We’ll figure this out,” he said softly. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”
Channary didn’t respond. Her voice was lost, swallowed by the overwhelming grief and fear that threatened to consume her. All she could do was nod, clinging to the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, this new beginning wouldn’t be the end of her.
Related chapters
Beneath the Moon |c.5|
The sound of tiny feet racing across hardwood floors echoed through the modest house Channary had worked so hard to make a home. The twins, Sienna and Elara, were bundles of boundless energy, their laughter ringing out like chimes. Channary, now twenty-five, stood at the kitchen counter, rinsing paint brushes she had used to restore a faded piece of art she had picked up from the local flea market. Her long hair was pulled into a messy bun, strands sticking to her neck as the late afternoon sun streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow.“Mama!” Sienna cried, bursting into the kitchen. Her dark curls bounced as she waved a drawing in her hand. “Look! I made a wolf!”Channary dried her hands on a towel and leaned down to examine her daughter’s work. The crude crayon drawing did indeed resemble a wolf, though its proportions were cartoonish. “That’s amazing, baby,” she said, ruffling Sienna’s hair. “You’ve got real talent.”Sienna beamed, but her twin, Elara, peeked
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Beneath the Moon |c.6|
The classroom buzzed with the cheerful chaos of children at play. Laughter rang out as the twins, Elara and Sienna, darted between their classmates, their silver-streaked hair catching the light like liquid moonlight. Ms. Claire DuPont watched them closely, her wolf stirring with a strange, aching sadness as it always did when the girls were near.She couldn’t understand it. Who were these children, and why did they tug so insistently at her instincts?Throughout the day, Claire found herself watching them more than usual, taking note of the subtle but telling mannerisms they shared: the way they seemed to mirror each other without effort, the unspoken connection that made them move and react as if tethered by an invisible string. Something about them struck a chord of familiarity, though she couldn’t place where she’d seen it before.It nagged at her through math lessons, coloring time, lunch, and even during the brief moments of peace when the children napped. Claire tried to push t
Last Updated : 2024-11-24Beneath the Moon |c.7|
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Channary. Laughter echoed around the dining table, stories were shared, and the twins were doted on by Claire’s parents, who seemed genuinely enchanted by them. Yet, Channary couldn’t fully immerse herself. Her thoughts remained tethered to the eerie resemblance her daughters shared with the late Elena DuPont, the silver-haired twin who had captivated the family’s hearts even in death.The connection didn’t end there—Channary herself felt it, an inexplicable pull that left her unsettled. She was drawn to the warmth and familiarity of the DuPont family, as though she belonged among them. It was a sensation she couldn’t shake, no matter how much she tried to distract herself with polite conversation or the twins’ innocent chatter.By the time they arrived home, the girls were yawning and rubbing their eyes, their energy from the eventful evening finally spent. Channary moved on autopilot, guiding her daughters through their bedtime routine. Sh
Last Updated : 2025-01-19Beneath the Moon |c.8|
The moment Claire stepped through the door of her cozy apartment, she kicked off her black heels with a groan, each step echoing faintly against the hardwood floor. The familiar scent of cinnamon and worn leather wrapped around her like a hug, but it did nothing to ease the tight coil in her chest. She grabbed her phone off the entryway table, her fingers dialing Colton's number almost before she thought about it. The line rang and rang, each pulse stirring her irritation until finally—"Well, if it isn’t my dear sister," Colton drawled, his deep voice layered with amusement and just a hint of exhaustion. "To what do I owe the pleasure this late?"Claire scoffed, kicking her purse onto the couch. "Cut the crap, Colt. Why didn’t you show up to dinner tonight?"There was a beat of silence, too long, too telling."I got caught up with some pack business," he said finally, the excuse flimsy even to his own ears."Pack business, my ass," she snapped, flopping onto the worn leather armchair
Last Updated : 2025-01-20Beneath the Moon |c.9|
The drive to Channary’s house was thick with a silence so charged, it buzzed in the air between Colton and Claire. The late afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the narrow country road. Claire stared out the window, her fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against the worn denim of her jeans. Her mind spun with unanswered questions.Colton gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather creaking beneath his fingers. His jaw was locked tight, every muscle in his body coiled and restless. The closer they got, the more his wolf stirred beneath his skin, pacing, pushing—hungryfor something he couldn’t name. Yet.When they finally turned onto Channary’s street, Claire unbuckled before the truck even came to a full stop. She swung the door open and hopped onto the gravel driveway, her boots crunching in the crisp autumn air.Colton remained seated, frozen, as a scent wrapped around him like a vice—warm, soft, sweet—a scent he hadn't smelled in years yet had
Last Updated : 2025-01-20Beneath the Moon |c.10|
The second Claire was safely back at her classroom to pick up her car, Colton had already pulled out his phone and messaged his beta—his best friend and the only person who truly knew the secrets Colton carried.Logan had been with him the night of the Blood Moon. He was the one who had found Colton afterward, bloody, confused, and broken in the sacred Grove, swearing up and down that someone had drugged him. Logan was the only one who had believed him, the only one who had kept the truth tucked away all these years.Now he was the only person Colton trusted with this new, fragile truth:Channary was his mate.The twin girls—those tiny sparks of life—were his daughters.And they were missing.It had been two full days since Channary and the girls had disappeared. Two days of gnawing silence. Two days of sleepless nights and pacing like a caged animal. He had Logan keeping an eye on their small, cozy house nestled at the edge of town, but no lights ever came on, no car pulled into the
Last Updated : 2025-04-27Beneath the Moon |c.11|
"Wait… what did she mean by she thinks?" Colton's mind reeled, the words echoing louder than the pounding in his chest. Keaton's grip around his throat slackened, and the room fell into tense, suffocating silence. The air was thick with unease, every breath heavy as the reality of the situation settled like dust in the air.Keaton's eyes darted between Colton, Channary, and the girls—his nieces. His expression, typically carved from granite, was unreadable for once. Claire was a damn fool for not noticing it before. Those girls were spitting images of Colton. The same stormy grey eyes, the same stubborn jawline, even the way they tilted their heads when confused—it was all him. Yet, they were softened by their mother’s beauty, their moon-kissed traits glowing faintly in the afternoon light pouring through the windows.The twins stood huddled behind their mother, clutching her legs tightly. Their wide eyes flickered between the men in the room, registering the danger, the chaos—and now
Last Updated : 2025-05-04Beneath the Moon |c.12|
The afternoon sun had long dipped below the horizon by the time Channary and Colton emerged from the haze of the past. For hours, they sat on the old gray couch in the living room—its cushions worn soft by years of bedtime stories and rainy day cuddles. The scent of lavender and the faint aroma of cookies lingered in the air, a gentle reminder of the life Channary had built here.The house was modest but warm. Family pictures—just the three of them—lined the walls. Crayon drawings were pinned to the fridge with mismatched magnets, and a stuffed bunny with a missing ear lay abandoned near the hallway. The girls’ laughter had echoed through these rooms for seven years. But today, it had been quieter—more reflective.Colton sat hunched forward on the couch, his elbows on his knees, brows drawn in concentration. Channary, across from him in the armchair that used to belong to her uncle, held a steaming cup of chamomile tea she hadn’t taken a sip from. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun,
Last Updated : 2025-05-04
Latest chapter
Beneath the Moon |c.12|
The afternoon sun had long dipped below the horizon by the time Channary and Colton emerged from the haze of the past. For hours, they sat on the old gray couch in the living room—its cushions worn soft by years of bedtime stories and rainy day cuddles. The scent of lavender and the faint aroma of cookies lingered in the air, a gentle reminder of the life Channary had built here.The house was modest but warm. Family pictures—just the three of them—lined the walls. Crayon drawings were pinned to the fridge with mismatched magnets, and a stuffed bunny with a missing ear lay abandoned near the hallway. The girls’ laughter had echoed through these rooms for seven years. But today, it had been quieter—more reflective.Colton sat hunched forward on the couch, his elbows on his knees, brows drawn in concentration. Channary, across from him in the armchair that used to belong to her uncle, held a steaming cup of chamomile tea she hadn’t taken a sip from. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun,
Beneath the Moon |c.11|
"Wait… what did she mean by she thinks?" Colton's mind reeled, the words echoing louder than the pounding in his chest. Keaton's grip around his throat slackened, and the room fell into tense, suffocating silence. The air was thick with unease, every breath heavy as the reality of the situation settled like dust in the air.Keaton's eyes darted between Colton, Channary, and the girls—his nieces. His expression, typically carved from granite, was unreadable for once. Claire was a damn fool for not noticing it before. Those girls were spitting images of Colton. The same stormy grey eyes, the same stubborn jawline, even the way they tilted their heads when confused—it was all him. Yet, they were softened by their mother’s beauty, their moon-kissed traits glowing faintly in the afternoon light pouring through the windows.The twins stood huddled behind their mother, clutching her legs tightly. Their wide eyes flickered between the men in the room, registering the danger, the chaos—and now
Beneath the Moon |c.10|
The second Claire was safely back at her classroom to pick up her car, Colton had already pulled out his phone and messaged his beta—his best friend and the only person who truly knew the secrets Colton carried.Logan had been with him the night of the Blood Moon. He was the one who had found Colton afterward, bloody, confused, and broken in the sacred Grove, swearing up and down that someone had drugged him. Logan was the only one who had believed him, the only one who had kept the truth tucked away all these years.Now he was the only person Colton trusted with this new, fragile truth:Channary was his mate.The twin girls—those tiny sparks of life—were his daughters.And they were missing.It had been two full days since Channary and the girls had disappeared. Two days of gnawing silence. Two days of sleepless nights and pacing like a caged animal. He had Logan keeping an eye on their small, cozy house nestled at the edge of town, but no lights ever came on, no car pulled into the
Beneath the Moon |c.9|
The drive to Channary’s house was thick with a silence so charged, it buzzed in the air between Colton and Claire. The late afternoon light filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows across the narrow country road. Claire stared out the window, her fingers tapping an anxious rhythm against the worn denim of her jeans. Her mind spun with unanswered questions.Colton gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather creaking beneath his fingers. His jaw was locked tight, every muscle in his body coiled and restless. The closer they got, the more his wolf stirred beneath his skin, pacing, pushing—hungryfor something he couldn’t name. Yet.When they finally turned onto Channary’s street, Claire unbuckled before the truck even came to a full stop. She swung the door open and hopped onto the gravel driveway, her boots crunching in the crisp autumn air.Colton remained seated, frozen, as a scent wrapped around him like a vice—warm, soft, sweet—a scent he hadn't smelled in years yet had
Beneath the Moon |c.8|
The moment Claire stepped through the door of her cozy apartment, she kicked off her black heels with a groan, each step echoing faintly against the hardwood floor. The familiar scent of cinnamon and worn leather wrapped around her like a hug, but it did nothing to ease the tight coil in her chest. She grabbed her phone off the entryway table, her fingers dialing Colton's number almost before she thought about it. The line rang and rang, each pulse stirring her irritation until finally—"Well, if it isn’t my dear sister," Colton drawled, his deep voice layered with amusement and just a hint of exhaustion. "To what do I owe the pleasure this late?"Claire scoffed, kicking her purse onto the couch. "Cut the crap, Colt. Why didn’t you show up to dinner tonight?"There was a beat of silence, too long, too telling."I got caught up with some pack business," he said finally, the excuse flimsy even to his own ears."Pack business, my ass," she snapped, flopping onto the worn leather armchair
Beneath the Moon |c.7|
The rest of the dinner passed in a blur for Channary. Laughter echoed around the dining table, stories were shared, and the twins were doted on by Claire’s parents, who seemed genuinely enchanted by them. Yet, Channary couldn’t fully immerse herself. Her thoughts remained tethered to the eerie resemblance her daughters shared with the late Elena DuPont, the silver-haired twin who had captivated the family’s hearts even in death.The connection didn’t end there—Channary herself felt it, an inexplicable pull that left her unsettled. She was drawn to the warmth and familiarity of the DuPont family, as though she belonged among them. It was a sensation she couldn’t shake, no matter how much she tried to distract herself with polite conversation or the twins’ innocent chatter.By the time they arrived home, the girls were yawning and rubbing their eyes, their energy from the eventful evening finally spent. Channary moved on autopilot, guiding her daughters through their bedtime routine. Sh
Beneath the Moon |c.6|
The classroom buzzed with the cheerful chaos of children at play. Laughter rang out as the twins, Elara and Sienna, darted between their classmates, their silver-streaked hair catching the light like liquid moonlight. Ms. Claire DuPont watched them closely, her wolf stirring with a strange, aching sadness as it always did when the girls were near.She couldn’t understand it. Who were these children, and why did they tug so insistently at her instincts?Throughout the day, Claire found herself watching them more than usual, taking note of the subtle but telling mannerisms they shared: the way they seemed to mirror each other without effort, the unspoken connection that made them move and react as if tethered by an invisible string. Something about them struck a chord of familiarity, though she couldn’t place where she’d seen it before.It nagged at her through math lessons, coloring time, lunch, and even during the brief moments of peace when the children napped. Claire tried to push t
Beneath the Moon |c.5|
The sound of tiny feet racing across hardwood floors echoed through the modest house Channary had worked so hard to make a home. The twins, Sienna and Elara, were bundles of boundless energy, their laughter ringing out like chimes. Channary, now twenty-five, stood at the kitchen counter, rinsing paint brushes she had used to restore a faded piece of art she had picked up from the local flea market. Her long hair was pulled into a messy bun, strands sticking to her neck as the late afternoon sun streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow.“Mama!” Sienna cried, bursting into the kitchen. Her dark curls bounced as she waved a drawing in her hand. “Look! I made a wolf!”Channary dried her hands on a towel and leaned down to examine her daughter’s work. The crude crayon drawing did indeed resemble a wolf, though its proportions were cartoonish. “That’s amazing, baby,” she said, ruffling Sienna’s hair. “You’ve got real talent.”Sienna beamed, but her twin, Elara, peeked
Beneath the Moon |c.4|
The tension in the room was suffocating as Channary stared her father down, her heart hammering against her ribs. His words echoed in her ears—cruel, unforgiving, and final.“You’ve been nothing but a stain on this family’s name,” Roman spat, his eyes like shards of ice. “Your actions on the Blood Moon have brought shame to our entire pack. You’re not my daughter anymore.”Channary flinched, but only for a moment. Her jaw tightened as she forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to let him see her break. Her voice, though trembling, carried a quiet, simmering rage.“You never wanted me, did you?” she asked. “Not really. You only tolerated me because I was your firstborn.”Roman’s nostrils flared, and for a moment, she thought he might deny it. Instead, he crossed his arms, his silence damning.“You wanted a son,” Channary continued, her voice gaining strength. “That’s why you’ve been trying outside of your mate, isn’t it? You think I didn’t know? You think the pack didn’t know?” Her
