"I believe you confessed to me because you still don’t trust the women in your back," she said quietly. "You feel they will behave the same way as your former girlfriend. But you need to forgive yourself and move on. And you can still check out other packs if that is what you really want and pick a mate from there. Luke, you need to move on. There’s more to life than what has happened."Her words hung between us, heavy with meaning. I didn’t know what to say, but a part of me wanted to argue, to tell her it wasn’t that simple. But I didn’t. Instead, I just stared at her, trying to process what she was saying. She was being so… open.Lyra gave a soft chuckle, as if reading my thoughts. "I’m not asking you to forget your past, Luke. It’s just… don’t let it steal your future. Don’t let it steal what could be."I swallowed, feeling a lump in my throat. "And what’s that supposed to mean? You want me to forget everything just like that?""No." She shook her head firmly. "I’m saying don’t li
The stone steps of the dungeon felt colder than usual, the chill creeping through my boots as we descended into the depths of the keep. Lyra walked beside me, her face set with determination, but I could see the tension in her jaw and the tightness around her eyes that suggested something deeper.I didn’t know what to expect when we saw the prisoner, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into something far more complicated than either of us realized. The prisoner had been quiet ever since he was brought here, his fate uncertain. We reached the steel door of the holding cells, and the guard standing outside nodded to us as he unlocked the gate. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on the walls, illuminating the grim stone floor and the narrow, damp hallway. I glanced at Lyra, but she was already stepping forward, her steps measured.Inside the cell, the prisoner sat against the cold wall, his arms chained to a rusted iron ring bolted into the stone. He looked mo
Lyra“Samson,” he answered. “Please don’t let them execute me. I don’t want to die.”I didn’t say anything but turned round and started walking out with Luke following behind me. The prisoner was still crying and calling for me.Silence fell between us like a heavy curtain as we walked out of the dungeon. I felt the weight of the words we just heard pressing down on me. My father? I mean, I know he doesn’t like me, but… I was frozen in place, the color draining from my face. Luke moved toward me, but before he could reach me, my knees buckled.“Lyra?” he called as he caught me just in time, pulling me against himself as my breath hitched, my eyes wide with shock.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head slowly. “No… it can’t be.”The guard stepped aside, clearly startled by my reaction.“What’s wrong with her?” he asked, but Luke didn’t answer him. Instead, he gently guided me up the steps and into the open air. The cold hit us both like a slap, but it didn’t seem to shake me out of my st
“What? Your half-brother?” Luke asked.I nodded slowly and whispered, “Yes.”“But, how come he doesn’t know you? And why will he come here to kidnap your son? Why…” Luke’s face hardened, and I saw the realization hit him just as it had struck me. He leaned back, his eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "Wait. He doesn’t know you are related?”I shook my head, feeling utterly lost. "No, he doesn’t know. It seems my father hid him from everyone. That’s why I didn’t recognize him the first time he was brought in here.”“So, how did you know he is your half-sibling?”I exhaled loudly. “I’m not 100% sure, but …”“Lyra.” Luke looked straight at me. “What do you mean?”I leaned into the chair and started my story. “Some years ago, my mother found out that my father was cheating on her. When she tried to confront him, he told her that since she couldn’t give him a male child, he was going to get it outside. According to my mom, she noticed that there was a time he was spending more
LukeI was silent for a moment, running a hand through my hair. Then, I turned to face Lyra, my lips pressed into a thin line. “I… don’t know. He might have. But even if he hasn’t, we can’t risk acting on our own right now. The only thing we can do is wait until he gets back.”She let out a shaky breath, nodding slowly. “If alpha Jaxon had already told him about me and Leo, then …” She said. “Who knows what he is planning right now. My father can be quite unpredictable.”“Don't worry, Lyra,” I told her, my expression softening. "I think its best we wait for Jaxon. We should wait for the Alpha to return and then tell him everything. He’s the one who can help us make sense of this. Besides, he has more power than either of us." “Okay,’ she said with her head bowed. Her voice trembled with the fear that had been gnawing at her ever since we heard the prisoner’s words.“Maybe I should call him,” I said, bringing out my phone. But I stopped midway, because I remebered that the alpha and
I noticed that the Luna was there as well. She must have missed her husband a lot. However, Jaxon likes her to stay in the office during some of our meetings. Her wise counsel has helped us on many occasions. I nodded to her in greeting, then turned to my alpha.“Jaxon, you are back,” I greeted him.“Yes, Luke. I trust there was no problem while we were away.”I shook my head, and he nodded. “Good. I have a task for you, but we’ll talk later.”After saying that, the Alpha’s piercing blue eyes locked onto Lyra. “Welcome back, Alpha Jaxon,” Lyra greeted him in a low voice.“Lyra, how are you and the baby?”“We are good, alpha.”His presence was commanding, as always, but his tone was unexpectedly warm. “Lyra,” he began. “You’ll be returning to Axelland soon.”His words hit Lyra like a punch to the gut. She froze, her breath catching audibly. Then the tears came, streaming down her face as sobs wracked her body. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, I can’t go back. Please, don’t
Lyra“What is it?” Jaxon asked and I turned to look at Luke wondering what he was talking about.“It's about the prisoner,” Luke said. “We are not sure yet but he may be related to Lyra.”I told Jaxon all I know about my father’s son based on what my mother told me. Based on what the prisoner narrated, it’s likely that he is the same person, Luke told him. The alpha listened calmly to our story and then made his decision.“He will not be executed,” he said and I heaved a sigh of relief. “For now. For all we know he may have heard that story from your real half-brother. Anyway, since we would be collaborating more with your pack, we will surely know the truth in the coming days.”“Okay,” I said, understanding why he said that. Truth be told, I am not entirely sure that he is my relative as I have never met him before nor have my mother. “I have to go now alpha. I have to check on Leo.”“Okay, Lyra,” Jaxon answered. “Remember what I said. Anything at all, you let me know.”“Thank you a
I smiled to myself, closing my eyes and letting Uru’s words wash over me. For the first time in months, I felt at peace. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, and the room was warm and inviting. My thoughts drifted to the future, to the life I was about to reclaim. I pictured Damien holding our son for the first time, his eyes softening in a way I’d only seen a handful of times before. I imagined him smiling at me, not with duty, but with genuine affection and pride.“We’ll get there,” I whispered, more to myself than to Uru. “One step at a time.”Sleep pulled at me, and I didn’t resist. Later in the night, I have a chaotic dream about meeting Damien. First, he was happy to see us. He was smiling broadly as he came close to me. Then his face turned gloomy, and he frowned while looking at me as if he was not happy to see me. What could this dream mean?****JaxonThe room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the crackling fireplace. I leaned over the large oak table
Luke was finishing up his conversation with some men from our pack, laughing softly at something one of them said. Even from here, I could tell he was trying to be diplomatic. It seems he doesn’t really like these kinds of events. I knew he was just counting down the minutes until he could see me.When he caught sight of me, his entire face lit up.He dismissed the men with a respectful nod and made his way toward me, swift and sure.“I was beginning to think you’d abandoned me,” he teased, his voice low and warm.I smirked, stepping into his space. “Hardly. I had to get away as Elder Marcus tried to interrogate me about you.”He raised a brow. “Elder Marcus? Interrogate you about me?”“Mhm. He saw you and started acting like he’d seen a ghost. Keep asking where you’re from, your name, your pack.” I leaned closer. “It was honestly kind of hilarious.”Luke frowned, but only slightly. “Do you think he knows me?”“I doubt it. He hasn’t met you before, so he can’t possibly know you,” I sa
I saw Denise beside her and they both looked lovely but I wanted to spend some time with my wife.I walked up to them and complemented Denise but she seemed to see through me.“You look lovely Denise.”“Just tell me you want to spend time with your wife, I’ll understand.”“Come on Denise. Can’t I compliment my sister again? And I told the truth about your dressing.”Lyra was just laughing. “Well, thank you brother. But I’ll leave you guys alone and go look for my own man,” she winked at Lyra and left the stage.I shook my head and turned to Lyra. “That girl.”“She’s happy,” my wife said. Her hand slid into mine, her warmth grounding me. I nodded and didn’t say anything. I don’t want to think about her and her mate right now.“You’re brooding,” Lyra said softly, her eyes searching mine.“Observing,” I corrected, giving her a small smile. “Your father... he’s been acting strange.”She tensed slightly, the change so subtle most wouldn’t notice. But I knew her too well. “He’s probably
“Good. Now you need to call your nanny to carry Leo, so you will have time to dance with your man. You need to show off that slit more and show that b*tch that you are in charge.”I smiled but I agreed with her. I haven’t really shown my husband my beautiful outfit so I looked towards the nanny and motioned for her to come. She came and carried Leo while I continued chatting with Denise. Soon Damien rejoined us.“You look lovely Denise,” he complimented his sister.***Damien’s povWhile I greeted the guest I saw Luke and his warriors and I went to them and thanked them specially for all they have for my wife and I. I also thanked them for staying for the ceremony and wished them safe travels tomorrow.I clasped Luke by the shoulder and took him a little way out from his people.“I hear that you are my sister’s mate.” “Yes, Damien. I just found out too and as you can imagine I am just as surprised.”“But I hear you are already making plans.” I looked dead in the eyes.He didn’t cower
Lyra’s pov“So I called you here to celebrate,” my husband continued talking. “Celebrate with us, celebrate with my family, celebrate with our pack as the goddess has blessed us greatly. No matter the worries or challenges we may encounter in our country, we are not consumed. Rather, we have been winning and will keep winning. I urge you all to enjoy yourselves tonight, as there is a lot to eat and drink.”The crowd erupted in joy and happiness as the cheers and clappings got louder. I’m glad our people are happy to be here and are receiving this news with joy. I was a little apprehensive that many of them may wonder why we hid the news of my return and rather prepared a feast to reveal. But it seems I have nothing to worry about at all as they don’t mind at all. Damien raised his hands, and they quieted down.“You will all agree with me that our goddess has been blessed, and it is evident in the good news we are celebrating today,” he said, pointing at me and Leo.A ripple of agreeme
Damien’s povThe soft hum of classical music greeted me as I entered the grand hall, my polished shoes clicking against the marble floor. The lightning decorations above bathed the environment in a warm golden glow, casting delicate patterns on the grounds. Guests were scattered throughout, sipping on champagne and mingling in groups. Everyone was dressed to impress, as they always were at these events.I adjusted the hem of his tailored caftan with matching pants against my skin. I scanned the room, my sharp gaze catching familiar faces. The room buzzed with excitement and curiosity—my invitation had been vague, after all. I had called it a “special celebration” without revealing the true purpose of the night. That, of course, was deliberate. Let them speculate.I looked around the venue. By this time the last of the guests were seated, the ceremonial grounds were packed. Rows upon rows of chairs stretched out before the grand dais, which was adorned with cascading white flowers and t
“I hope they checked around the area for others. Anyway, Tobias knows his job.”“Yes, he does. He said they checked thoroughly, and there was no other wolf around.“Probably stray rogues,” Rowan chuckled. “Nothing to worry about. Still, we have tight security.”My lips twitched with a ghost of a smile at Rowan’s words. Rogues are already considered stray wolves as they have an allegiance or loyalty to any pack. So he calls these ones stray rogues, and it's just him having a run of words.“You used the elite warriors we trained for security tonight, right?” I asked for another confirmation from him. I’m sure he will understand why I am asking for reassurance. This note might be nothing, or it might mean something huge.He nodded. “Like we planned. This place is highly secured.”“However, tell our warriors to be on alert, as we don’t want any surprises.”“Sure, alpha,” Rowan said and pointed at me. “Now you need to go and dress up. You will soon be called for your address.”I slapped hi
She’d said she was happy, and I believed her, but something about the timing felt off. Why now? Why did she seem so eager to leave the packhouse and follow him back to his territory? I shook my head. Maybe I’m overthinking this.I shook off the thought, forcing my focus back to the task at hand. I didn’t have the luxury of distraction tonight.“Alpha Damien,” a familiar voice called out, pulling me from my reverie. I turned to see Tobias, my Gamma, approaching with a grim expression. Tobias was tall and broad, with a sharp, no-nonsense demeanor that made him indispensable to me and this pack.“What is it?” I asked, my voice low.“There’s been... a situation,” Tobias said, lowering his voice further. “One of the scouts reported movement near the northern border. It might be a rogue.”My jaw tightened, my instincts sharpening instantly. Rogues. They were a persistent problem, always testing the boundaries, looking for weak points to exploit. Normally, they wouldn’t dare approach on a n
“I want you to be happy, Denise. But I need to know you're not rushing into something because it feels right at the moment. Luke might be a good man, but remember, a mate bond isn’t just about feelings. It’s about trust and understanding as you would be getting married soon.”“I know, I know,” she replied, her voice slightly exasperated but still gentle. “I’m not a child anymore, Damien. I can make my own decisions.”I smirked, my protective instincts easing for a moment. “Of course, you're an adult now. But I’ll always be your brother, and I’ll always look out for you.”I paused, watching her for a moment. My heart softened as I realized just how much she had grown up in the past few years, though my protective instincts still ran deep. She is not the same young lady I sent to the human world to school.“Are you happy, though?” I asked softly.She met my gaze and smiled. “Yes. I am. I didn’t think it was possible to feel like this with anyone, but he makes me feel safe. I think that’
I left his hand as soon as we got close to the doors. I wouldn’t want them to see me with my hands in his for now. When we are properly introduced, then I can hold his hand all I want. Luke seemed to agree as he just smiled at me. The moment Luke pushed the doors open, the room erupted into cheers.“Beta Luke!” one of the men shouted, his voice booming. Several others surged forward, clapping Luke on the back and shaking his hand. Their joy was palpable, and it warmed something deep inside me to see how much they respected him.“It’s good to see all of you,” Luke said, his voice carrying over the noise. He raised a hand to quiet them, and the room fell silent almost instantly. “I know there’s been a lot of confusion, but I want to assure you that everything is resolved. What happened was a misunderstanding, and it’s been handled.”The men exchanged glances, nodding in approval.“What about back home, Beta?” one of them asked. “Is everything secure there?”Luke smiled faintly. “I’ve he