FANGS OF FATE: THE ALPHA'S SECRET HEIRS

SELENE"You have exactly five minutes to get yourself down here!" My mother's voice sliced through the walls like a blade. She didn't need to yell, I was already running like my life depended on it."I still don't know why we have to wait for her," my sister Tamara huffed from the hallway."I will not be late for the biggest celebration of the pack because of you," my father growled as he stormed toward the family vehicle. The tension in the house was suffocating and it felt like I was losing myself day after day.Shoes in hand, dress half-zipped, and hair a frizzy mess, I stumbled down the stairs. No time for makeup or any attempt to beautify myself. I looked like a child playing dress-up in her mother's closet, but it didn't matter. If I hadn't left with them, I wouldn't have been allowed in, and walking meant punishment. I was not ready to endure that level of punishment, especially today.We piled into the car. I slid into the far-right corner behind my mother and tried, in vain,

SELENEI walked aimlessly, the hospital behind me, and nothing but questions ahead. The bar, I ended up there again. I couldn't go inside. My heart pounded in my ears. What would I even say? "Hi, did anyone here sleep with a crying stranger five nights ago?"So I watched. Watched the door open and close. Watched strangers laugh and forget their problems in a haze of alcohol. Watched people who belonged somewhere. I didn't belong anywhere.After hours of loitering, I gave up and drifted. I crossed the Concave Moon pack's border, technically trespassing, but I no longer cared. My body ached, my shoes were worn down, and hunger chewed at my insides. That was when I found the tree.Fruits hung low. My vision was blurry, but I reached for them, biting into one like my life depended on it because it did. I barely had time to catch my breath before angry voices erupted around me."You there! Step away from the goddess's tree!"Three towering men closed in on me. I tried to speak but could ba

SELENEI stared into Tamara's eyes, and for a terrifying heartbeat, I forgot how to breathe. Her lips curved into what could've passed for a polite smile, if not for the sharp, assessing gleam in her gaze. It was the kind of smile predators gave when they recognized another predator… or prey."I had a sister named Selene," she said slowly, stepping around the vehicle with a grace that was too controlled to be casual. Each footfall was deliberate, the way a wolf circles something it isn't quite ready to pounce on. "You look… familiar."A cold prickle crawled up my spine."Do I?" I murmured, tugging Jaycen closer and lowering my chin, not enough to show fear but enough to shield him.Jax stood behind her, confusion wrinkling his forehead."Is there a problem?" he asked, glancing between us.Tamara didn’t look away from me. Didn’t even blink."Not at all."Anna shifted beside me, tension radiating off her like heat. Her smile was bright, overly sweet, the kind you give when you’re hiding

SELENETamara didn’t move from the doorway.Neither did I.The kitchen suddenly felt too small, the air too thin, like the walls were listening. Anna’s hand hovered over the counter, her knuckles white. I could feel her fear bleeding into mine.Tamara’s smile widened slowly, deliberately.“What threat?” she repeated, tilting her head. “You sounded so certain.”I forced my shoulders back. “You have a habit of eavesdropping.”Her eyes flicked to Anna. “And you have a habit of hiding things.”The silence that followed was sharp enough to cut.Anna straightened. “Breakfast will be ready shortly. If you’ll excuse us”Tamara lifted a hand, stopping her. “I wasn’t speaking to you.”Her gaze slid back to me. Calculating. Cold.“Five years,” she said lightly. “You vanish without a word. And now you return with secrets spilling out of your mouth before the sun is even high.”“I don’t owe you explanations,” I replied.She laughed softly. “Oh, Selene. You never change. Always pretending you’re st

SELENENight settled over the Concave Moon Pack like a held breath.I lay awake between my children, listening to the rhythm of their sleep, memorizing it the way mothers do when they sense something fragile approaching. The room was dark except for moonlight spilling through the curtains, painting silver lines across the floor.Dawn felt too far away.I had agreed to stay until morning, but every instinct screamed that I had made a mistake.A soft knock came at the door.Once.Then again.My body went rigid.Anna stirred from the chair beside the bed. She met my eyes, already alert. I carefully slipped out, motioning for her to stay with the children.When I opened the door, Jax stood there alone.No guards.No Alpha posture.Just a man who looked like he hadn’t slept in days.“I won’t come in,” he said quietly. “I just need to talk.”I hesitated, then stepped into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind me.“What is it?” I asked.He leaned against the opposite wall, hands loose