LOGINThe following sunrise, Chloe Bennett woke to a hollow bed and an even emptier heart. She scrambled downstairs, her eyes searching the shadows for any sign of Ethan.Patricia Bennett looked up in surprise. "I’ve been tending the lower hearth since dawn, and the Alpha has not descended!"Chloe froze. "He’s not in the master suite. I only came down because he vanished from the room."Patricia’s face paled. "Heavens! Master Ethan is in no condition to go roaming!"The head servant hurried upstairs, her heart racing. She and Chloe scoured every chamber on the second level, but the Alpha was nowhere to be found.Chloe broke down, the tears falling fast. "It’s my failure... I was so exhausted from the watch that I didn't feel him leave the bed at all..."Patricia rushed back down and said, "I’ll query the perimeter guard. If the Alpha crossed the boundary, there will be a trace in the logs."The report came back moments later: Ethan had never breached the outer gates. Patricia gathered the h
It was barely five in the evening, so Uncle Daniel should have been deep into his shift at the archives, but I was surprised to find him bustling around the hearth of our small lodge."Daniel, did you abandon the pack records early today?" I asked, kicking off my snow-caked boots and setting the two pots of winter lilies on the rough-hewn table.Daniel stepped out from the cooking area, his expression a mix of sheepishness and resignation."Collins, I’m no longer overseeing the archives," Daniel explained quietly. "The High Elder’s kin brought in a younger, more 'connected' specialist to manage the digital transition.""Daniel, don't let their politics darken your spirit," I murmured, pulling my favorite uncle into a supportive embrace.He gave a soft chuckle, patting my shoulder. "I’ll survive... but why have you brought the scents of spring into this blizzard?"I glanced around the modest, weathered space we rented and shrugged. "I was passing the market on the way back from the tec
"Alpha Carter, is this the wolf you were hunting for?" the lead technician asked.Ethan gave a curt, shallow nod. "My thanks."The technician bowed and left us in the shadows. Ethan moved toward me, his eyes looking dull and sunken, yet they still held that terrifying intensity. "We need to speak.""Speak? I thought we were done with words," I said, my tone as sharp as a jagged ice floe.Ethan didn't argue. He reached out with a large, fever-warm hand and gripped my bicep, pulling me away from the prying eyes of the tech crew. He led me through the corridors and into a soundproof VIP lounge, slamming the door shut.His voice was a hoarse, gravelly rasp. "Collins, break your trail with Charles. Regardless of what he’s promised you, he is a snake in the grass. He will only lead you to ruin."I met his burning gaze. "Is this about my safety, or is it because you’re still trying to starve me out so I’ll sell the firm to Silvercrest?"Ethan’s throat worked as he swallowed hard. But before
The frozen arena was a coliseum of ice and innovation, a sprawling stage for a massive exhibition of technological mastery. Charles Whitaker had secured a pair of front-row tickets and invited me along; I had accepted without a second thought. I hadn’t ventured much into the world of mechanical advancement before, but the prospect of the "Ice-Brain" robotics display intrigued my inner wolf.The event kicked off at 2 p.m.Earlier that morning, Charles had escorted me to a high-end lodge for a meal. For the past several sunrises, I had humored his every request—whether it was a trek through the frost-valleys or dining in the upper-tier districts. Our dialogues were always polished, yet I could sense Charles felt the distance between us. My gaze remained flat, devoid of the spark of genuine attraction he was hunting for.Regardless, the Whitaker heir was patient; he was a hunter who knew how to wait for his prey.As we waited for our plates, the conversation turned to business. Charles s
"True. I hope this doesn't freeze the merger.""Unlikely. Master Whitaker is the primary architect of this deal, and he is determined to see the Parker legacy under his banner," the Whitaker man noted.The Parker team let out a collective breath of relief. "That’s all that matters."The night air hit me with a jagged chill as I stepped out of the glacier. I felt the true, piercing bite of the Valerian winter. With my hair damp, the wind felt like tiny needles pressing into my scalp.It had started raining at this exact time last night. Then the storm had mutated into a monster, howling through the dark for hours. I felt a sudden, sharp ache in my chest. It must have been excruciating for Ethan to stand out there in that sub-zero darkness.A transport pulled into the lot. The doors slid open, and Tyler and Isabella stepped out. But before they could reach me, another vehicle cut them off.It was Tyler Dawson."Tyler," Jun greeted (Wait, I noticed the name 'Jun' was used in the original
Right as the tension reached a boiling point, the pack’s physician descended from the upper level of the Carter den."How’s the Alpha holding up, Doc?" Tyler asked, his voice strained with an unusual gravity."The fever remains locked in his system," Dr. Daniel Harris replied, his expression grim. "If his internal temperature doesn't drop soon, he’s at high risk for a severe lung infection. I’ve already detected early signs of congestion. I advised moving him to the central medical facility, but he refuses to leave the territory.""We can't just let him burn out," Patricia Bennett said, her voice trembling as she clutched her apron. "I’ll try to reach Master Collins again. Master Ethan has never respected anyone's word but his."Tyler’s brow furrowed into a deep V. He turned on his heel and moved toward the exit.Brandon Hayes trailed close behind him, his footsteps heavy on the stone floor. "What if the line remains dead, Tyler?""I'm going to track him down myself," Tyler said, his
"He isn't the monster you’ve painted him as, Collins," Natalie said, catching my wrist. "The rain is turning into a deluge. Do you truly feel no empathy for him at all?""What about empathy for me?" I asked, setting the tea down with a sharp click. "He’s never treated me with an ounce of respect. N
Isabella was almost swayed by the sheer, ridiculous confidence in his voice."Ethan treats his mate with more protection than the rest of the pack combined. Wouldn't your heart melt if a wolf was willing to sacrifice a mountain of wealth just to clear your family’s debts?" Tyler asked, his eyes sea
Isabella: [Don’t buy into the act, Collins! Ethan Carter is the one hunting for Parker Tech! It’s been Ethan all along!]I felt the buzz against my thigh and subtly checked the screen. My heart constricted into a tight, painful knot. I looked up, my gaze turning like ice as it landed on Tyler. "Did
At the morning feast the next day, I found myself tracing the lines of Ethan’s face with a deliberate, lingering intensity. The more I studied the dark arch of his brows, the predatory smolder in his eyes, and the lethal curve of his mouth, the more his raw magnetism seemed to pull at my senses. I







