Dylan Rich said, โYou donโt look well, Cherry. Maybe I should call Dylan.โ โNo,โ I exclaimed, hearing the note of panic ringing in my tone. โNo, Iโm fine,โ I tried more calmly, but I noticed Richโs expression grow serious, and his eyes widened as he looked behind me. Heโd caught sight of the suitcase on the back seat. Now both Rich and Sam were looking at me strangely. Worriedly, I realized. I steeled myself, and even though I knew they wouldnโt believe me, I said, โIโm fine. Iโll see you later.โ I knew the guards wouldnโt dare stop me. As their future Luna, they respected me too much, but that didnโt mean they wouldnโt inform Dylan. Quickly, I climbed back into the car, started the engine and drove out of Lord Hills. Panic quickened my heart, and sweat dampened my forehead. I felt it slipping down my back beneath my thin T-shirt, as I cursed the narrow lanes that didnโt allow for much speed. As I trundled along, it felt like no time at all before a shape appeared in my rear vi
Dylan I clenched my fists together as I watched Cherryโs red car disappear around the bend. I cracked my jaw as I grasped that sheโd really gone. I felt something rupture inside of me, and my wolf rose within me, howling in desolation. I felt the beast itching beneath my skin as if nipping and scratching to get out. Yet, I knew if I let my primal instinct take over, the beast would bolt after Cherry again. The urge warred within me, and it took all my strength to wrestle the lupine shadow into submission. I wouldnโt let it surface and chase after her. Not after sheโd rejected me so resolutely. Instead, I returned at an ambling human pace, climbing over a gate into a field belonging to Starsmoon. But the vast and far-reaching fields I ordinarily found so full of space and freedom felt empty today. They no longer had Cherry in them. She was gone. The knowledge beat through me again like a quake through the earth. As I walked, the memory of her silver eyes, steely with resolve, made me
Dylan โOh, Dylan, love, Iโm so sorry,โ My mom wrapped her arms around me, but I didnโt squeeze her back, worried that if I did, Iโd shatter completely. I didnโt have the luxury of showing my hurt. I was the Alpha-in-training. I wouldnโt show weakness, not even to my parents. My dad was the first to mention practicalities. โWeโll take care of canceling the caterers, but I think itโll be best if you talk to the pack later.โ Hardening my stare, I said, โThanks. And yes, Iโll tell them later.โ My jaw clenched, and I added, โBut itโs not over. We can talk more about all of this later.โ I didnโt miss the worried look my parents exchanged, which said that there was nothing to talk about. Nothing could be done, not if Cherry had rejected the mating bond between us. But needing space, I left them, stalking down the path to my own house. I realized that it was only now, with my heart feeling like shrapnel in my chest, that I knew what it wanted. It wanted its mate. I wanted Cherry. Iโd fal
Cherry Seven Years Later Afternoon light flooded my art studio as I traipsed up the stairs into the airy space. Maisy, my assistant designer, trailed behind me, slower as she gingerly ascended with a gown draped across her arms as though it were made of glass. โPut it on the mannequin, and you can get on with the alterations this afternoon,โ I said. โSure thing,โ Maisy chirped. My heels clicked over the hardwood floors, and I folded myself gratefully into my desk chair. I didnโt think Iโd sat down all day. My gaze tracked to the dress Maisy was draping over the mannequin. The striking burgundy gown was a bespoke number made for the actress AJ West. Sheโd requested me to make something for the BAFTA award ceremony she was attending as a nominee. It wasnโt for another month, and I was pleased with the fitting weโd just had with AJ and that the final alterations had been agreed on. I slipped one foot out of my heels, massaging its arch with my other foot. The downside to designing
Cherry โCrisis averted,โ I said to Maisy, who was eyeing me with a knowing smile as I got off the phone. โCarlโs getting her.โ โOoo, another dinner date with Carl,โ my assistant said suggestively as she got to work on the dress. I rolled my eyes but couldnโt fight the smile from spreading across my face again. As I prepped the necessary books for the interns, got out samples of material, and set my designs on the long white table weโd be working at, I felt my excitement growing about Carl and the future that was developing. It was seven oโclock by the time I let myself into my apartment. The students had kept me until five, and then Iโd had to check over the takings for my store below before closing up for the evening. As I slipped off my heels in the hall, I felt a sigh of contentment as I stole barefoot down the hall and into the kitchen. Two almost full dinner plates rested on the kitchen table, and I frowned. โCarl?โ Just then, Carl darted into the kitchen, wide-eyed, and hi
Cherry I hurried off to the cash register to serve the next customer. It was Saturday, so I was doing overtime in my store. It had taken me the last year to find and train Nina and Kendra, my two sales assistants, to my satisfaction. But Kendra was expecting her first baby now and had asked for the weekends off. I was in the process of interviewing for a new sales assistant for the weekends and to cover Kendraโs maternity leave, but until I found someone suitable, I had to cover it. By five oโclock, Iโd left Nina to lock up and returned home. With fantasies of stripping out of the tight black dress and heels I wore, ideas about dinner zipped through me. Deciding I was too tired to cook, I pictured the excitement on Fernโs face when I told her weโd order in. As I traipsed up the stairs to my second-floor apartment, a grassy, woody scent filled my nostrils. The aroma tugged at something deep inside me, conjuring up long- buried memories: lush farmlands with hedgerows. I stopped dead on
Cherry Still dazed but obviously feeling flustered about zoning out, my nanny readily agreed. But Fern stomped her feet, point blank, refusing to go to her room. It was only when I suggested they make some chocolate milk and have a tea party with her teddies that she submitted. I also had to agree to her demand that once Bert and I had talked business, Iโd let her say goodbye to him. Once again, I scowled at Bert, annoyed that heโd somehow managed to get Fern to like him in one brief meeting. Thoughts about how impossible it had been to get my daughter to warm to any of my past suitors made me even more angry with him. Finally, safely coaxed into her room by Lara, and with the door shut, I was left to confront Bert. Shrugging off my jacket and slipping out of my heels, I padded into the living room. My hands settled on my hips. โYou know, itโs rude to barge into someoneโs house uninvited.โ He shrugged. โKinda gave up on ever getting invited after the first five years.โ My face b
Cherry As Bert and I broke apart, my friendโs easy-going grin triggered a matching one on my face. โWhat?โ I asked. โSooo, Fernโs a fire-cracker, ainโt she?โ I chuckled but reminded myself I still needed to tread carefully. I gestured to the sofa, inviting Bert to sit down and using the moment to get a grip on my anxiety. I thanked my lucky stars that Iโd taken the precaution to conceal Fernโs shifter scent. Iโd gone to a witch in Berlinโs Mitte district, whoโd given me medicine to block my daughterโs scent to others with unnatural abilities. But I knew I mustnโt reveal any nervousness before my friend about my daughter, or heโd get suspicious. โShe certainly keeps me on my toes,โ I started. Bertโs keen blue eyes took me in, and he didnโt ask, but the silence filled with the unasked question about where Fernโs father was. Knowing it was important for me to broach the subject first before my friend could ask whether she was Dylanโs, I leaped into the topic. โI met Fernโs dad, a hu
Fern's PerspectiveMy heart skipped a beat, and I immediately opened my eyes."...Fern..."His voice was faint, like the wind, yet it pierced my ears clearly. I jerked my head up to meet a pair of long-lost eyes.In an instant, my world collapsed.I threw myself into his arms, tears spilling uncontrollably, and finally let out a sob.—You're back."You're awake!" I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I nearly cried out, my tears already slipping down my cheeks.The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, a weak but warm smile forming. "Why... are you crying?""You were unconscious for so long... I thought..." I covered my mouth, unable to stop the sobs. All the strength drained from me in that moment, and I could no longer hold back. I jumped into his arms."I'm here..." he murmured weakly, gently stroking my back. "I'm back..."Giovanni's awakening shocked everyone. The pack received
Fern's PerspectiveHe's such a proud man. He's given so much to protect Daniel and me. He wouldn't just give up, would he?I forced myself to calm down, taking a deep breath before lifting my head with resolve."I want to see him."The hospital room was unnervingly quiet.He lay on the clean, white hospital bed, his face pale and bloodless. His chest rose and fell slowly, heavily. His once strong and powerful body was now covered in gauze and medical instruments, losing its former majesty.I slowly walked toward him, reached out, and gently held his hand. It was still warm, which reassured me, if only slightly."Can you hear me?" I murmured, my voice so soft it almost seemed to be swallowed by the wind.There was no response.I pressed my lips together, tears welling up in my eyes."You asked me to forgive you before, and I promised… so you can't just leave me like this." I choked out, my v
Fern's PerspectiveI rushed to catch up with Daniel in my arms, my heart pounding wildly, terrified beyond measure.He can't be okay… He can't be okay…The light in the hallway was dim and cold.Giovanni was wheeled into the emergency room, and the door slammed shut in front of me. I stood there, frozen, as if I had lost all strength."Mommy…" Daniel sobbed, tugging at my hand. Only then did I slowly snap back to reality, pulling him close and gently patting his back to soothe him. But my own body trembled slightly.Would he wake up?Would he open his eyes and look at me?I held Daniel tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. I can't break down. I can't let myself fall apart. But—"Fern," Tobias's voice rang out. He stood in the doorway of the emergency room, his gaze heavy with unspoken emotions."He…" My voice cracked. "He's going
Fern's PerspectiveHe should have been unconscious, but in that moment, he was like a demon returning from hell, furiously tearing through every enemy in his path. His body was still drenched in blood, with deep gashes on his back, exposing bone, yet he ignored the pain and ran toward me with single-minded determination.My heart raced in my chest, and once again, tears slipped down my face."Fern—!"He roared, throwing the last of the black-clad men aside and enveloping me in his arms. In that instant, it was as if I had truly come to life.But before we could catch our breath, Elena's laughter echoed in our ears."You really moved me, but…"She slowly raised the remote control in her hand, her eyes gleaming with twisted malice. "The game ends here."My pupils dilated in horror."Bomb countdown activated."Red lights blinked to life, and a sharp alarm blared from inside the warehouse
Fern's Perspective"Spare them..." His voice was low and raspy, as if the breath had been squeezed from deep within his throat—fragile yet firm.Elena laughed softly, her dagger at some point in her hand. The sharp tip of the blade gently slid down his cheek, leaving a fresh trail of blood on his already scarred skin. She leaned in close to him, whispering in his ear, "You really make me sick to my stomach, to have fallen this low. Didn't you always despise me? What now?"He didn't respond. He just opened his gray-blue eyes and gazed deeply into mine.My heart trembled.He was saying goodbye."No!" I struggled desperately, attempting in vain to rush toward him. But the man in black behind me held me down in an unrelenting grip, a cold gun barrel pressed against my back.Elena stood and turned to the henchman beside her, her tone chillingly calm. "Show him what humiliation truly means."Before I could reac
Fern's PerspectiveThe pungent stench of blood filled the entire warehouse, mixing with the rusty scent in the damp air, creating a nauseating atmosphere. My hands were bound behind my back, my knees sunk deep into the cold concrete floor, and my body had grown numb from the prolonged position. But the pain in my heart was unbearable, as if it were being scorched by an unrelenting fire, so intense that it stole my breath.Elena stood nearby, her heels echoing sharply on the ground like the bells of a death knell. She smiled, her narrow eyes glinting with the playful satisfaction of a victor, while several black-clad bodyguards behind her held Daniel down in a deadly grip. His mouth was gagged, and his eyes were wide with terror.But my gaze was fixed on the man before me—him, my MATE, my Alpha, the man I thought I'd never forgive in my life. Yet here he was, kneeling before Elena.I had never seen him so disheveled.His black
Fern's PerspectiveHowever, at that very moment, a loud bang shattered my thoughts—"BANG!" The warehouse door was viciously kicked open, sending dust flying and filling the air with a pungent, decaying smell. I instinctively opened my eyes, only to see a tall figure step through the doorway, standing frozen in the intersection of light and shadow, as if emerging from hell, radiating an unmissable aura.That figure was all too familiar to me—it was Giovanni.My heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed with a mix of surprise and pain. I hadn't expected Giovanni to be here, and even though I had long accepted that there was no going back to the past between us, seeing him in front of me still made my heart race and left me momentarily breathless.Elena clearly hadn't anticipated this turn of events either. My face immediately darkened, my gaze fixed on Giovanni like a viper's, and I drew a pitch-black pistol, aiming it menacingly at my
Fern's PerspectiveNight had fallen, and the air felt heavy with humidity, making it suffocating and uncomfortable. My heart raced faster than usual, and every step I took felt like it weighed a ton. My grip on the car keys tightened, and my eyes locked on the deserted warehouse ahead. I knew instinctively that nothing was going to be easy tonight, but there was no turning back. I didn't even let myself consider it.I tightened the collar of my jacket and took a deep breath, feeling a wave of suffocating pressure. Daniel's silhouette kept haunting my thoughts—the one closest to my bloodline, the one child who still didn't know who he truly was. I instinctively knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I couldn't allow Daniel to be harmed.The doors to the warehouse were closed, and a disconcerting silence hung in the air. I knew Elena had anticipated my arrival. As I approached the door, I gazed at the faded iron gate, hearing the bea
Fern's PerspectiveThere was a strange tension in the air when I got home. The moment I opened the door, a gust of icy wind hit my face. The house seemed unnaturally quiet, and the air felt thick and heavy. I couldn't shake the growing sense of unease rising in my chest.The place was a mess. Papers were scattered across the table, a few books had been knocked off the bookshelf, and shoes and clothes were strewn across the floor, suggesting that something had happened here. My heart sank as I quickly scanned the room, my eyes darting to every corner of the living room, searching for the one person I was most familiar with—my son, Daniel."Daniel?" I called out, my voice sounding weak as it echoed through the empty house, but there was no answer. My heart began to race, and my brow furrowed as I hurried through each room, checking every detail. The kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms—everywhere was empty. There was no sign of Daniel.