KAREN’S POVThe request hit me like a wave, knocking the breath from my lungs. I knew, deep down, this was part of what would seal the bond between us—what would solidify us as mates, not just in the magic that had drawn us together, but in our hearts.I took a step closer to him, feeling the weight of his words and the heaviness of what I was about to do. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and I could sense his need, his own struggle with the pull between us.I reached for the collar of his shirt, fingers trembling slightly as I pulled it aside, exposing the skin of his neck. He closed his eyes, almost as if surrendering to the moment, to the connection we had both been fighting for.With a deep breath, I leaned in, my lips brushing over the spot where I knew his mark would go. My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the bond between us tug forward, the connection deepening in ways I hadn’t expected.I let my wolf surge forward, my mouth reshaping as teeth shifted into sharp fangs. Then
KAREN’S POVThe hard forest floor was cool beneath my bare skin, unlike the fire Jackson was stoking inside me. My breath hitched as he yanked his shirt over his head, muscles flexing with the motion, and tossed it aside without care.For a fleeting second, I drank in the sight of him—the hard planes of his abdomen, the powerful curve of his arms—before he was on me again, his body pressing me into the floor.His lips crashed against mine, hot and demanding, before trailing down my jaw, his teeth grazing my earlobe. A shiver tore through me, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I arched against him. Gods, his touch. Every brush of his skin against mine sent electric sparks dancing along my nerves, setting my blood ablaze.“Jackson—” His name spilled from my lips in a breathless moan as his mouth moved lower, sucking and nipping at my throat. My nails scraped down his back, earning a low growl from him that vibrated against my skin.His tongue flicked over his mark—my mark—and a sh
ALEX’S POVThe room felt like a prison—too small, too suffocating, the walls pressing in as I paced like a beast trapped in a cage. The wooden floor groaned under the weight of my boots, each creak a sharp echo of my fury. Outside, the sky was still a void of black, but dawn would bleed through soon. And still, no sign of Karen.Where the hell is she?My jaw locked so tight my teeth ached. I dragged a hand through my hair, gripping until the pain shot through my scalp. She was supposed to be here. Mine. Under my control, away from him—that bastard who thought he could steal what belonged to me. Alpha King or not, he had no fucking right to be near what’s mine.I stopped mid-step when I heard it—footsteps. Familiar, hesitant, coming down the hall toward my door.Finally, I thought to myself, a smile pulling at the corner of my lips.The knock came, soft. Too soft. Like the bastard already knew he was about to deliver bad news."Enter," I growled.The door creaked open, and there he sto
JACKSON’S POVThe first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was her fiery red hair spread across my chest. For a second, I just lay there, soaking it in. Last night felt almost like a dream. After I marked and claimed her in the forest, we came back to her place, and I couldn’t bear to leave her side, so I stayed.She’s really mine. After everything—after the fight, the chase, the fear that Alex would take her from me—she was right here in my arms, where she belonged.I reached out, brushing her hair back from her face, my fingers trailing softly over her freckled cheek. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake. I couldn’t keep my hands off her, not even if I tried. I was like a moth drawn to a flame. That’s when I saw them—scars. Faded bruises. Thin, angry lines crisscrossing her skin, as if she’d been whipped over and over.My stomach twisted. What the hell did those people do to her?Suddenly, it all made sense—why she flinched at loud noises, why she hesitated before speaking, why s
JACKSON’S POVThe soft drip-drip of water from Karen’s hair filled the quiet room as she towel-dried it, the scent of lavender soap clinging to her skin. I sifted through her small pile of clothes, wanting to pick something soft, something pretty for her to wear. But the moment my fingers brushed against the fabric, my chest tightened.Everything was worn.Faded colors, threads fraying at the edges, a sweater with a hole near the seam—stitched back together with clumsy, determined hands. My fingers curled around a thin cotton dress, the fabric so delicate it threatened to tear under my grip. The hem had been carefully mended, the stitches uneven but stubborn.This was all she had.A sharp ache cut through me, raw and furious. Karen had been treated like an afterthought in her old pack—given scraps, ignored, hurt. And yet, she’d survived. She was here, with me, still standing despite everything.“Are you sure it’s okay for you to be here right now? I mean, what if your parents are worr
LAILA’S POV“Sarah, wait!” My voice cracked, raw with desperation, but she didn’t stop. She just kept running—faster, harder—as if she could outrun the pain if she moved quickly enough.I finally caught her behind the training shed, where the scent of sweat and the sound of groans clung to the air. Her back was turned to me, shoulders hunched, fingers digging into her own arms like she was trying to hold herself together. The soft, broken sounds of her sobs tore at something deep inside me.“Hey…” I whispered, stepping closer, my voice as gentle as a summer breeze. I reached out, fingertips barely grazing her arm.She turned, and my chest ached at the sight of her. Tears streaked down her cheeks. Her eyes—usually so bright and full of mischief—were red-rimmed and swollen. Her bottom lip trembled, and she bit down on it, as if that could stop the tears.“I know,” I murmured, pulling her into me before she could crumble completely. Her arms wound around my waist, clutching me like I was
JACKSON’S POVThe rest of the day slipped by rather slowly—like sunlight filtering through an autumn sky. Karen stayed by my side, her fingers occasionally brushing against mine, as if she needed the constant reassurance that this moment between us was real and not some dream she might be forced to wake up from.Every time someone called her sister or daughter, her eyes flickered with something fragile—wonder, disbelief, a quiet ache for all the years she’d been denied this. It made my chest tighten.Dinner was the usual chaos—plates clattering, voices overlapping, laughter ringing off the walls. Laila had returned from training without Sarah. I’m guessing she went home. Whatever happened earlier with her was still a mystery to me, but I sure as hell had every intention of finding out what went down with Laila. Much later, though. For the moment, I had to focus on dinner.Laila, ever the mischievous one, kept sneaking pieces of steak from Liam’s plate, her smirk sharp as a blade. He p
JACKSON’S POVKaren slipped back inside, her fingers lingering against mine like the last warmth of a fading fire. For a heartbeat, she held my gaze—those deep blue eyes filled with unspoken words, fear and trust tangled together. Then, with a slow exhale, she let go.The door clicked shut behind her, but I stayed rooted in place, breathing in the night air—still thick with the ghost of her scent. Vanilla and honey, something soft and warm, like sunlight on skin.All mine. The words burned through me, fierce and possessive. But the peace didn’t last long. A floorboard groaned behind me.I didn’t need to turn to know who it was."Jackson." My father’s voice was calm, but beneath it ran the steel of command—the same tone he used when assessing a warrior before battle.I turned.He stood on the porch, arms crossed, the light from the ceiling carving sharp lines across his face. His eyes locked onto me, unblinking. Searching. Always searching."What did the intruder want?" It was a simple
KAREN’S POVThe wooden banister glided beneath my fingertips, smooth and cool, as I followed Laila up the stairs. My heart hadn’t stopped its frantic rhythm since Jackson’s lips had last touched mine—since his hands had traced my skin like I was something precious.Laila moved ahead with a bounce in her step, turning her head back toward me with a mischievous grin. “Come on, don’t walk like you’re being led to a dungeon. Jackson’s room isn’t that messy.”I smiled softly, trying to hide how nervous I actually was. “I’m not worried about the mess.”She raised a brow. “Oh? Then what are you worried about? The bed creaking too loud?”My face flushed instantly. “Laila!”She just laughed and pushed open a door at the end of the hallway. “Here it is. Welcome to the Alpha’s den—surprisingly neat, thanks to Mom always nagging him about cleaning up.”The room smelled like him. The moment I stepped inside, it wrapped around me like a warm blanket. The space was simple: dark walls, heavy wooden f
JACKSON’S POVKaren slipped back inside, her fingers lingering against mine like the last warmth of a fading fire. For a heartbeat, she held my gaze—those deep blue eyes filled with unspoken words, fear and trust tangled together. Then, with a slow exhale, she let go.The door clicked shut behind her, but I stayed rooted in place, breathing in the night air—still thick with the ghost of her scent. Vanilla and honey, something soft and warm, like sunlight on skin.All mine. The words burned through me, fierce and possessive. But the peace didn’t last long. A floorboard groaned behind me.I didn’t need to turn to know who it was."Jackson." My father’s voice was calm, but beneath it ran the steel of command—the same tone he used when assessing a warrior before battle.I turned.He stood on the porch, arms crossed, the light from the ceiling carving sharp lines across his face. His eyes locked onto me, unblinking. Searching. Always searching."What did the intruder want?" It was a simple
JACKSON’S POVThe rest of the day slipped by rather slowly—like sunlight filtering through an autumn sky. Karen stayed by my side, her fingers occasionally brushing against mine, as if she needed the constant reassurance that this moment between us was real and not some dream she might be forced to wake up from.Every time someone called her sister or daughter, her eyes flickered with something fragile—wonder, disbelief, a quiet ache for all the years she’d been denied this. It made my chest tighten.Dinner was the usual chaos—plates clattering, voices overlapping, laughter ringing off the walls. Laila had returned from training without Sarah. I’m guessing she went home. Whatever happened earlier with her was still a mystery to me, but I sure as hell had every intention of finding out what went down with Laila. Much later, though. For the moment, I had to focus on dinner.Laila, ever the mischievous one, kept sneaking pieces of steak from Liam’s plate, her smirk sharp as a blade. He p
LAILA’S POV“Sarah, wait!” My voice cracked, raw with desperation, but she didn’t stop. She just kept running—faster, harder—as if she could outrun the pain if she moved quickly enough.I finally caught her behind the training shed, where the scent of sweat and the sound of groans clung to the air. Her back was turned to me, shoulders hunched, fingers digging into her own arms like she was trying to hold herself together. The soft, broken sounds of her sobs tore at something deep inside me.“Hey…” I whispered, stepping closer, my voice as gentle as a summer breeze. I reached out, fingertips barely grazing her arm.She turned, and my chest ached at the sight of her. Tears streaked down her cheeks. Her eyes—usually so bright and full of mischief—were red-rimmed and swollen. Her bottom lip trembled, and she bit down on it, as if that could stop the tears.“I know,” I murmured, pulling her into me before she could crumble completely. Her arms wound around my waist, clutching me like I was
JACKSON’S POVThe soft drip-drip of water from Karen’s hair filled the quiet room as she towel-dried it, the scent of lavender soap clinging to her skin. I sifted through her small pile of clothes, wanting to pick something soft, something pretty for her to wear. But the moment my fingers brushed against the fabric, my chest tightened.Everything was worn.Faded colors, threads fraying at the edges, a sweater with a hole near the seam—stitched back together with clumsy, determined hands. My fingers curled around a thin cotton dress, the fabric so delicate it threatened to tear under my grip. The hem had been carefully mended, the stitches uneven but stubborn.This was all she had.A sharp ache cut through me, raw and furious. Karen had been treated like an afterthought in her old pack—given scraps, ignored, hurt. And yet, she’d survived. She was here, with me, still standing despite everything.“Are you sure it’s okay for you to be here right now? I mean, what if your parents are worr
JACKSON’S POVThe first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was her fiery red hair spread across my chest. For a second, I just lay there, soaking it in. Last night felt almost like a dream. After I marked and claimed her in the forest, we came back to her place, and I couldn’t bear to leave her side, so I stayed.She’s really mine. After everything—after the fight, the chase, the fear that Alex would take her from me—she was right here in my arms, where she belonged.I reached out, brushing her hair back from her face, my fingers trailing softly over her freckled cheek. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake. I couldn’t keep my hands off her, not even if I tried. I was like a moth drawn to a flame. That’s when I saw them—scars. Faded bruises. Thin, angry lines crisscrossing her skin, as if she’d been whipped over and over.My stomach twisted. What the hell did those people do to her?Suddenly, it all made sense—why she flinched at loud noises, why she hesitated before speaking, why s
ALEX’S POVThe room felt like a prison—too small, too suffocating, the walls pressing in as I paced like a beast trapped in a cage. The wooden floor groaned under the weight of my boots, each creak a sharp echo of my fury. Outside, the sky was still a void of black, but dawn would bleed through soon. And still, no sign of Karen.Where the hell is she?My jaw locked so tight my teeth ached. I dragged a hand through my hair, gripping until the pain shot through my scalp. She was supposed to be here. Mine. Under my control, away from him—that bastard who thought he could steal what belonged to me. Alpha King or not, he had no fucking right to be near what’s mine.I stopped mid-step when I heard it—footsteps. Familiar, hesitant, coming down the hall toward my door.Finally, I thought to myself, a smile pulling at the corner of my lips.The knock came, soft. Too soft. Like the bastard already knew he was about to deliver bad news."Enter," I growled.The door creaked open, and there he sto
KAREN’S POVThe hard forest floor was cool beneath my bare skin, unlike the fire Jackson was stoking inside me. My breath hitched as he yanked his shirt over his head, muscles flexing with the motion, and tossed it aside without care.For a fleeting second, I drank in the sight of him—the hard planes of his abdomen, the powerful curve of his arms—before he was on me again, his body pressing me into the floor.His lips crashed against mine, hot and demanding, before trailing down my jaw, his teeth grazing my earlobe. A shiver tore through me, my fingers digging into his shoulders as I arched against him. Gods, his touch. Every brush of his skin against mine sent electric sparks dancing along my nerves, setting my blood ablaze.“Jackson—” His name spilled from my lips in a breathless moan as his mouth moved lower, sucking and nipping at my throat. My nails scraped down his back, earning a low growl from him that vibrated against my skin.His tongue flicked over his mark—my mark—and a sh
KAREN’S POVThe request hit me like a wave, knocking the breath from my lungs. I knew, deep down, this was part of what would seal the bond between us—what would solidify us as mates, not just in the magic that had drawn us together, but in our hearts.I took a step closer to him, feeling the weight of his words and the heaviness of what I was about to do. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and I could sense his need, his own struggle with the pull between us.I reached for the collar of his shirt, fingers trembling slightly as I pulled it aside, exposing the skin of his neck. He closed his eyes, almost as if surrendering to the moment, to the connection we had both been fighting for.With a deep breath, I leaned in, my lips brushing over the spot where I knew his mark would go. My heart pounded in my chest as I felt the bond between us tug forward, the connection deepening in ways I hadn’t expected.I let my wolf surge forward, my mouth reshaping as teeth shifted into sharp fangs. Then