Mag-log in“You mean just like yours is haunting you now? So lonely you don’t even have a pack member? All that power and betrayal for this? Fucking pathetic Elijah”. Isaac shook his head, his words filled with mockery. Anger flashed in Elijah’s eyes like a struck wire. One heartbeat later he was gone from his seat and at Isaac’s throat, his hand a cold, unyielding clamp that slammed the Alpha against the stone wall. The sudden movement left no time for reaction. Isaac’s head snapped back, boots skidding on the floor as breath left him in a ragged rush.“Say that again,” Elijah hissed, voice low and close enough that the words seemed to scrape the skin.Isaac’s fingers clawed at the hand choking him, nails scraping uselessly. “Why—why did I hit a nerve?” he managed, words forced out between choked breaths. Pride fought with panic. He had faced threats before, but the grip around his neck felt like iron and winter both.Anna stumbled forward, reaching out. “Elijah—please—” Her voice broke before
Elijah lounged lazily on a throne-like chair, one leg draped over the other as he plucked a grape from the bunch and popped it into his mouth. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, his eyes glinting with amusement that didn’t reach the darkness behind them.“To what,” he drawled, his tone rich with mockery, “do I owe this… displeasure?”The sound of dripping water echoed faintly in the distance, the only other noise apart from the faint crackle of firelight illuminating his throne.He turned his head slowly toward the two uninvited intruders standing at the edge of the hall.“Well, if it isn’t my dear brother’s best friend and his lovely wife.” His grin widened, sharp and cold. “Alpha Isaac… It's been a long time.”Isaac straightened, jaw tight, his Luna hovering close beside him. Anna’s fingers curled into the fabric of his sleeve, but he didn’t shake her off.“We need your help,” Isaac said, his voice low, steady, but edged with unease.Elijah chuckled. “Help?” He leaned forward slightl
Alpha Isaac paced around his office, tension rolling off him in waves. Two days. Just two days until his sons came of age, and the thought alone made his chest tighten. “She can’t be their mate,” he muttered to himself. “She mustn’t be their mate.” He had sacrificed too much to get here—his title, his status, his power. Everything he built could vanish because of one twenty-two-year-old girl. A girl for that matter. “I can’t let that happen”. “Isaac?” His mate, Luna Anna, walked in quietly and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. He didn’t turn to look at her. “I’m scared.” “I know,” he whispered, rubbing her arm gently. “What if the curse takes—” “It won’t,” he cut him off. “I’ll make sure she’s not their mate.” Kissing her cheeks gently, Isaac relaxed slightly against her touch, though his thoughts stayed dark. Anna believed he was afraid for their sons. She was wrong. He didn’t care what happened to them, only that nothing, not even a cursed mate, would take his position awa
A small, shaky laugh slipped out of me. “I really do appreciate this…” I whispered, my fingers brushing the edge of the portrait. “But my mom died on my birthday. Why do you think my father hates me?”Zayn didn’t answer right away. He just watched me, his expression unreadable, before finally speaking. “Lyra… that’s not what happened.”I looked up sharply.“I once walked in on my father talking to my mother,” he said quietly. “And that day I overheard some part. Your mother, Sarah, didn’t die giving birth to you.”My breath lodged in my throat. “W-what?”“She died when you were two.”The room tilted slightly. My fingers tightened around the frame as if it were the only thing holding me upright. “But he always said—he always made it sound like—”“That’s the problem,” Zayn cut in gently. “Your father’s drunk because today is the day he lost her. Not because of you. Not because of your birth.”I stared at him, unable to form words.He exhaled softly, leaning back a little as if trying to
LYRA’S POV.But instead of pain, all I heard was a sharp crack—glass shattering and a low grunt above me.Someone was standing over me. I lifted my head slowly, terrified of what I would see, and my breath broke in my throat.“Zayn…?”He was in front of me, shielding me with his entire body. His hand—his bare hand—was dripping with blood, tiny shards of glass glittering against his skin.My vision blurred. “Oh my God—are you okay? Why would you do that?” My words came out broken, shaking.I reached for him desperately, but my fingers hovered uselessly in the air, trembling. I didn’t know where to touch without hurting him more. Panic crawled up my throat, tightening everything.“Zayn…” I gasped, my breaths turning sharp and shallow. “I—I can’t—”“Hey.” He shifted, using his uninjured hand to gently cup the back of my head, guiding my forehead to his chest. “It’s okay. I’m fine. Look at me, Lyra.”I tried. Goddess, I tried.“Breathe,” he murmured, lowering his face to mine, his voice s
LYRA’S POV.“Did the triplets ask you to cut your hair?” Michelle asked, wrinkling her nose like the thought physically offended her. She didn’t try to hide the discomfort in her voice.But I was too happy to care. My father smiled at me. A real smile. I could still feel it warming my chest. He even teased me, goddess I must have done something good in my past life. Maybe he’s finally liking me, I’ve been good. He doesn’t know I’m still talking to the triplets. If it means getting him to like me, I am more than willing to cut ties with them. Can I though? Choose one over the other? I can’t lose my father, not after he started showing me some affection and the triplet? They’ve been with me for so long. “Did you win the lottery or something? Why are you this happy today?” she pressed.“I won more than a lottery,” I said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the salon. “Trust me.”She stumbled a little, trying to keep up. I didn’t care. My feet felt too light. I won a sliver of af







