The warm scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filled the air as Georgia sat at the wooden dining table with her triplets. The small cottage, nestled at the edge of the forest, was alive with laughter as they shared stories and enjoyed their meal. Keira, her sharp-eyed daughter, was in the middle of teasing her brothers when she suddenly stiffened. Her bright blue eyes flicked toward the window, her playful smile vanishing. "Mom," Keira said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Someone’s coming." Georgia’s grip on her fork tightened. She turned to her daughter, sensing the tension in her voice. "Are you sure?" Keira gave a firm nod. "Yes. A group of men, warriors, I think." The mood at the table shifted instantly. Kelvin and Kelsey, Georgia’s twin boys, exchanged wary glances, their youthful laughter fading. "Who could it be?" Kelsey asked, setting his cup down. Georgia’s stomach twisted. She had spent five years keeping her children safe, hiding from the past that still h
“Mom!" The scream cut through the air like a dagger, slicing through Georgia’s veins with ice-cold terror. Her breath hitched. Her heart slammed against her ribs. And then she was moving. She didn’t think. Didn’t hesitate. Her feet barely touched the ground as she bolted toward the other room, her pulse roaring in her ears. The walls blurred past her, and panic clawed at her throat. Was it the warriors? Had they dared to lay a hand on her children? "Keira! Kelvin! Kelsey!", Her voice was sharp, almost breaking. She lunged into the room, only to stumble to a halt. The sight before her was not at all what she had braced herself for. Keira stood on a chair, her small frame trembling, clutching her chest like she had just seen a ghost. Kelvin and Kelsey stood frozen beside her, their expressions caught somewhere between amusement and mild concern. Georgia's eyes darted across the room, searching for the threat. Then she saw it. A fat, scruffy rat, its gray fur bri
"Anna!" Georgia's voice cracked as she lurched forward, eyes scanning the dimly lit room, her pulse hammering against her ribs. The warriors tensed, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons. "Where are you? Are you okay?" Georgia's breath hitched. "Talk to me!" Silence. ThenA rustling. A sharp gasp. And then a frantic whisper. "I'm here" Anna's voice came from somewhere close, trembling, barely above a breath. "I'm hiding." Relief crashed into Georgia like a wave, leaving her dizzy. The warriors had lied. They hadn't taken Anna to the palace. But that meantThey were trying to manipulate her. A slow, burning rage ignited in Georgia's chest. "You lying bastards," she seethed, whirling on the warriors. "You wanted me to believe you took her? You played with my mind?!" The lead warrior didn’t flinch. "We needed you to come willingly." "By using Anna?" Georgia's fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. "You’re disgusting." Kelvi
“What’s wrong?” she screamed, her heart pounding as she raced toward the children’s room. The moment she shoved the door open, her breath caught in her throat.Kelsey was thrashing against the sheets, his face contorted in distress. Sweat slicked his brow, his hands clawing at the air as if trying to fight something off."Kelsey!" Georgia hurried to his bedside, grabbing his shoulders and shaking him gently. "Wake up, baby! It’s just a dream. Wake up!"His eyes snapped open with a choked sob, his chest rising and falling in rapid, uneven breaths. Tears welled in his eyes as he threw his arms around Georgia’s waist, his entire body trembling."Mom," he gasped, his voice raw with fear. "I... I cried, but he didn’t let me go."Georgia smoothed his damp hair back. "Who, baby? Who didn’t let you go?"Kelsey swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "A man with a mask. He came in the dark. He grabbed my arm and said I belonged to him. I screamed, but he was too strong. I thought he
“No” Georgia whispered “Expecting someone?” Anna asked again, her voice cautious, her fingers tightening around the handle of a knife she’d been using to chop vegetables.Georgia swallowed hard. “No.”Anna’s brows furrowed as she wiped her hands on her apron and stepped toward the door. “Stay with the kids. I’ll check.”Before Georgia could protest, Anna was already moving. Her stomach twisted with unease as she herded the triplets behind her, her instincts screaming at her to be ready for anything.Anna pulled the door open just enough to see who was on the other side. A tall, broad-shouldered man stood on the porch, his piercing eyes locking onto her with an intensity that made Georgia’s stomach twist.“Liam?” Anna’s voice softened, though it held a note of caution. “What are you doing here?”Georgia felt her breath leave her in a rush. Of course. Liam, one of Jared’s most trusted warriors. If he was here, it could only mean one thing.“He wants to see her, both of you,” Liam said
Caleb’s boot crunched against the shattered glass as he strode into Anna’s house, his sharp gaze cutting through the dimly lit room. Shelves were half-empty, coats missing from the hooks, and the air still carried the lingering trace of her scent. "Where is she?" His voice was low, dangerous. "She must come with me to Alpha Jared now." Georgia had run. His jaw tightened. He turned, his piercing eyes landing on Anna, who stood stiffly by the wooden table, her fingers gripping its edge. "Where is she?" Anna’s heart pounded against her ribs, but she forced herself to remain still, meeting Caleb’s piercing gaze with unwavering resolve. She knew fear would only fuel his dominance, and she refused to give him that satisfaction. "Gone," she said, her voice steady despite the tightness in her throat. "Hours ago." She took a slow breath, her fingers curling against the edge of the wooden table behind her. "You won’t find her." She saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes, brief but th
The room fell silent the moment Jared's fist slammed against the heavy oak table. The impact sent a sharp crack through the air, and every man standing in the room stiffened."She thinks she can run from me?" Jared's voice was dangerously low, a quiet fury that sent chills down spines. His eyes, burning with rage, swept over Caleb, daring him to confirm the news again.Caleb met his Alpha’s gaze with unwavering resolve. "She's gone. She planned this escape for months. She knew exactly what she was doing."Jared’s nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply, his patience hanging by a thread. "And you let her go?"Caleb clenched his jaw but remained silent. He knew better than to argue when Jared was like this. The Alpha rose from his chair with slow, deliberate movements, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the room."Listen carefully," Jared growled, his voice carrying the weight of his authority. "I want her found. Every second she is out there, she defies me. That will not stand.
Anna sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the dim light creeping through the cracks in the window. Sleep had been impossible. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Georgia, scared, exhausted, running. The weight of her father’s ultimatum pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.She had to find Georgia. But how?Anna closed her eyes, thinking through every possible hiding place. Georgia had planned this escape carefully, which meant she wouldn’t go somewhere obvious. She was smart and resourceful. Anna's mind raced, tracing their past conversations, recalling the places Georgia had mentioned in passing. Somewhere out of Jared’s reach. Somewhere safe for the children.Then it hit her. The old barn. A place barely standing, forgotten by most, yet deeply etched in their past. For five years, it had been their sanctuary, shielding them from the world’s cruelties. Hidden in the thick woods beyond the town’s edge, it was far enough to avoid suspicion yet close enough for
All that happened last night felt like a dream… or maybe a nightmare. Jared jolted awake, his heart pounding as he noticed the empty space beside him. Georgia wasn’t there. His eyes darted around the room, the reality of the morning crashing in. She was gone.“No,” Jared muttered under his breath, his mind racing. How could she leave after everything that had happened? After all the promises, after all the pain he’d fought through to get here, to get them back together? The silence felt suffocating.His body froze, a sudden noise breaking through the stillness. He could hear something, footsteps, soft whispers. And then a child’s laugh.Jared’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized the voices. Georgia. The kids.Without thinking, he sprang from the bed, his muscles still stiff from the battle the night before. He quickly moved toward the source of the sounds, his bare feet making almost no noise on the cold wooden floor.“Why?” Georgia’s voice was low, almost trembling with disbelief,
Thought for 5 seconds“Mum… who are you talking to?” Keira’s small voice trembled in the heavy silence as she stood in the doorway, her blue eyes wide with curiosity and fear.Georgia’s breath caught. She swung around, her wolf‑sense snapping back into place. Before her, in the dim glow of the cabin, stood not only Jared but two more children: Kelsey, clutching a ragged stuffed fox to her chest, and Kelvin, arms folded, eyes fierce with hurt.“Keira,” Georgia whispered as if the name itself were fragile. She turned fully, heart pounding. “This is…” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard. Then she squared her shoulders. “Kids, this is Jared.”Kelsey’s grip on her fox loosened as she peered at Jared. “Daddy?” she asked, hope and confusion warring in her tone.Kelvin’s scowl deepened. “You made Mum cry,” he accused, voice low but shaking with anger.Jared’s chest tightened. He knelt slowly, placing his coat gently on a nearby chair before rising again. “Kelvin,” he said, voice soft. “
Jared had made his decision, he would go see them, no matter the storm waiting for him. His wolf paced inside him, restless, agitated. It had been too long. The bond he once tried to bury now clawed at his chest, demanding resolution.He summoned Caleb with a low growl in his tone. “You’re in charge of the pack until I return. No one disturbs me unless it’s war.”Caleb gave a firm nod, sensing the shift in Jared’s aura, the Alpha was on edge.By the time Jared reached Georgia’s territory, the moon had begun to rise, casting silver light over the forest path. Her scent hit him first, wildflowers mixed with fury. It tightened something deep in his core.He stepped out of the vehicle and barely took two steps before the door to her cabin burst open. Georgia stood there, her posture rigid, eyes glowing faintly gold. Her wolf was close to the surface.What are you doing? Here? I never asked you to come “You think you’re the only one who’s been hurt?” she spat, voice low and trembling with
Jared woke up before dawn, the faint light of morning creeping through the cracks in the windows. He couldn’t shake the feeling of her touch on his shoulder the night before, the way she had looked at him, her voice both soft and firm, a promise wrapped in uncertainty. It’s not forgiveness, Jared. Not yet. But you’re here. You’re not gone anymore.He had never felt a glimmer of hope so fragile yet so powerful.When he left Georgia's home, the weight of his past still hung heavy around his neck, but it was lighter than before. He wasn’t sure if it was her quiet acceptance of his presence or the faintest hint of something more in her eyes, but it was enough. It was a thread he could grasp onto.The sun hadn't yet fully risen, and Georgia’s village was still asleep when he saddled his horse. Her words echoed in his mind: “Don’t get too comfortable. I haven’t forgiven you.”But that was okay. He hadn’t expected forgiveness. He never had. Not immediately, at least. All he wanted was the c
"She’d heard it all, his broken vow whispered into the shadows, his desperate promise to bring Georgia back. Her heart leaped at the mention of her favorite lady, but doubt clawed at her chest. Could words fix what betrayal shattered? Could a king truly undo the past? Swallowing her nerves, she stepped into the flickering torchlight, ready to face him.""Do you think words will be enough? That she’ll just forgive you because you finally grew a spine and remembered you have a family?"The voice came from behind him. Sharp. Unexpectedly.Jared turned, his body tense, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his dagger. But it wasn’t an enemy.It was Mara, one of the palace maidens. Young, barely past twenty, but known for her sharp tongue and loyalty to Georgia. Her brown eyes held a storm he hadn’t expected."You were listening," he said quietly, not as a question, but a statement."The whole palace heard your voice, my Lord," she said. "Maybe you were trying to make sure we did."H
“Let’s take a break? No, Serafina, I'm done.”Jared's voice was cold, each word slicing through the thick silence like a blade. “You’re exhausted… pathetic.”Serafina froze.“What?!” Her voice cracked like lightning splitting the sky.She stormed toward him, fury burning in her eyes. “Are you being serious right now, Jared?”“You’re not listening to me, Serafina! You never listen!” he snapped, fists clenched at his sides.Her lips curled. “Oh, I’m listening now. I’m listening to the man who once swore I was his destiny suddenly acting like I’m the burden. How convenient.”“I heard you,” Jared said, voice low and hard. “But this... whatever this has become between us, it’s toxic. It’s done. It should’ve ended a long time ago.”The silence that followed wasn’t calm.It was the kind of silence that came before something exploded.Serafina took a slow step back, her chest rising and falling. “You think you can walk away from me? After everything? After me?”“Yes,” he said simply, stepping
"She’s unfit for her role, you know," the maid whispered, her voice sharp as broken glass. As they gossip about serafina.Serafina froze behind the corner, her fists tightening until her nails carved red moons into her palms."Mad," another murmured. "Dangerous."Their words swirled through the stone halls like smoke, curling around her throat, choking her.She should step forward.She should slap the girl so hard her descendants would feel it.Her body trembled with the urge, raw, hot, violent, but she didn’t move.Not because she couldn’t.Because they weren’t worth it.Serafina turned on her heel, her boots clicking sharply on the marble. She didn’t look back, didn’t let them see the wildfire rising in her chest. She marched past them like they were less than dirt.Her face, cold as winter.But inside?Inside, she was crumbling, screaming, clawing at the walls of her own ribs.They dared.They dared.She shoved through the palace doors and into the open courtyard, the evening sky b
"Do it clean," Serafina said coldly, her eyes never leaving the horizon. "Yes, my Lady," Kae murmured, already melting into the shadows like smoke.She stood there for a long moment, fists still trembling, feeling the sting of broken skin and broken trust. The air was thick, hot, like it could swallow her whole.She turned, cloak swirling, and stalked back through the palace gates. The guards didn’t dare meet her gaze.Good. Fear was easier to command than loyalty.Each step she took echoed loudly, bouncing off the cold marble walls. She didn't slow down. She didn’t look back. Her blood pounded in her ears, louder than the roaring whispers of servants scrambling to get out of her way.She didn’t care.She didn’t care about their looks, their mutterings, their prayers.She had a storm inside her chest, and it needed somewhere to go.By the time she reached her quarters, Serafina was breathing hard, her chest heaving. She threw the heavy doors open and let them slam behind her.Sile
"Where is he?" Serafina’s voice sliced through the humid morning air like a blade. No one answered. The soldiers in the training yard froze mid-swing, the clang of steel against steel dying in the tension. A few exchanged glances, daring each other to speak. She stormed forward, barefoot still, blood dried around her knuckles, her once-glorious nightgown hidden now under a dark cloak she had grabbed from her closet. Her hair was wild, her eyes two burning embers that promised nothing but ruin. "I said—" she roared, fists clenched at her sides, "WHERE IS HE?!"A young squire, no older than fifteen, pointed a trembling finger toward the center of the field.Caleb.He stood with a training sword in hand, mid-spar with another knight. His back was to her, unaware of the storm about to crash into him.Serafina didn't walk to him. She charged."CALEB!" she screamed, her voice cracking the air like thunder. The boy turned, confused, then his eyes widened in horror.It was too lat