Aira’s POV
I woke up, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest.
Turning my head, I saw him—Alexander.
The sight of him made my heartbeat race even more, not from excitement, but fear.
Panic gripped me, and my thoughts scrambled. Without wasting another second, I hurriedly grabbed my clothes and other belongings. Every move I made felt loud in the silence of the cabin, but thankfully, he didn’t wake up.
Once I managed to slip out, leaving behind the place where he had brought me, a sinking realization hit me.
What happened between Alexander and me—it was a mistake. Or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself over and over.
Deep down, I knew the truth. A part of me had wanted it. Maybe it was the crushing loneliness that had consumed me. Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter now. It shouldn’t have happened. I couldn’t face him, not after this.
With my chest tight and my thoughts racing, I wandered aimlessly, unsure of where to go. My first instinct was to return to the village, my old pack—my previous life.
But as I thought about it, I asked myself, Why am I even going back there? That place was the very reason I had run away in the first place. My father had treated me as nothing more than property, planning to sell me off to an old man.
I had left to escape that life, yet here I was, heading back.
The irony of it stung. I had thought Alexander might help me, but instead, we had crossed a line we shouldn’t have.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus.
What if nothing has changed? The thought chilled me. What if they still saw me as a trade, something to swap for their benefit?
When I finally reached the outskirts of the village, I froze. My feet refused to take another step. A small part of me dared to hope that things might be different now, that maybe they had changed. But the moment I stepped into the village, that hope began to crumble.
Standing outside the house were my parents, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The second they saw me, they rushed toward me.
Before I could react, they pulled me into an embrace. Their sudden show of affection caught me completely off guard. I stood stiffly in their arms, unsure of how to respond. They held me as if they truly cared, as if they had missed me all this time.
“Mom, Dad… What’s going on?” I stammered, my voice shaky.
My mother pulled back, her eyes filled with what seemed like worry. But something about her expression felt off—forced. “We’ve been looking for you,” she said, her voice trembling just enough to seem genuine.
My father sighed heavily, his words laced with regret. “Aira, I was wrong. I should’ve never treated you that way. I’ve been struggling to fix my mistakes ever since.”
Their apologies sounded rehearsed, and the way they exchanged glances made my stomach twist. I wanted to believe them, but a nagging feeling told me something was wrong.
Even though I couldn’t shake my restlessness, I forced a small smile at my parents. Taking a deep breath, I decided to share something I wasn’t sure I’d regret later or not.
“I’ve found my mate,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervous lump forming in my throat.
“What?” my mother blurted out, her eyes snapping toward my father. Her expression shifted from disbelief to something unreadable, her gaze narrowing slightly.
“Your mate?” she repeated, as though she hadn’t heard me right the first time.
I nodded. “Yes. I met him after I ran away,” I admitted, my words hesitant. “But…I don’t know if I should go back to him.”
The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment. Mom tilted her head, her curiosity sharp. “Why not?” she asked, her tone probing but not unkind.
I hesitated, my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “Because I barely know him,” I finally said. “I only know his name.”
Her reaction was swift. Her brows furrowed in frustration, and I caught the flicker of irritation in her eyes before she smoothed her expression.
She stepped closer to me, gently running her hand through my hair. The gesture, meant to comfort, only sent a shiver down my spine. Something about it felt unnatural.
“If he’s your mate, you should be with him,” she said softly, though her tone carried a hidden edge. “Have you considered that he might be looking for you? What does he look like? What’s his rank?” Her questions came one after the other.
I opened my mouth to respond, but a deep, commanding voice interrupted, slicing through the tense air.
“May I have a word with you?”
We all turned toward the source, startled. Standing at the entrance of our home was Alpha Chris, the alpha of the pack. His presence was like a thunderstorm—heavy and impossible to ignore. My parents stiffened immediately, their posture shifting to one of respect and fear.
“Of course, Alpha,” my father stammered, his voice nervous as he stepped forward to greet him. He gestured for Alpha Chris to enter the house, but the alpha raised a hand, stopping him.
“Not here,” he said, his tone cold and authoritative. “At the grand hall.”
A sinking feeling settled in my chest. Whatever this was about, it wasn’t going to be good. Despite my reluctance, we had no choice but to follow him. My stomach twisted with unease, and every step toward the hall felt heavier than the last.
When we arrived, the grand hall was packed. Warriors, omegas, and pack members of all ranks stood in attendance, their eyes sharp and full of judgment as they landed on me. Their gazes burned into my skin, making me feel exposed and small.
Alpha Chris strode to the front of the room, his aura commanding absolute silence. When he turned to address the crowd, his voice boomed like thunder.
“Our omega here,” he began, pointing directly at me, “will be leaving us. The alpha of another pack has been searching for her.”
I froze.
The words struck me like a blow. My breathing hitched as I tried to process what he’d just said. Leaving the pack? My mind raced, a chaotic whirlwind of questions and dread.
I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to face whatever lay ahead.
Before I could say a word, a figure stepped out from the shadows.
He was tall, with broad shoulders and an aura that demanded attention. His mere presence seemed to fill the room, making the air heavier. His sharp features, piercing eyes, and the way he carried himself sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Every step he took toward me was deliberate, calculated.
In his hand was a scroll. Without a word, he extended it to me. I hesitated, my fingers trembling slightly as I reached out to take it.
Unrolling the parchment, my eyes scanned the neat handwriting. The words made my heart race.
‘We are inviting you to join our pack.’
“Alpha Alexander has been searching for you since you left him.”
The breath hitched in my throat. My mind whirled with questions, but before I could ask, the man spoke, his deep voice steady and resolute.
“I am his Beta,” he said, his gaze fixed on me. “My name is Lucius, and I’m here to bring you back.”
For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of his words settling over all of us. My parents exchanged shocked glances, their disbelief written plainly on their faces. My mother was the first to break the silence.
“Your mate…is an Alpha?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. After everything that had happened, after all the doubts and mistakes, he was still searching for me. The realization was both comforting and terrifying.
Lucius stepped closer, his movements deliberate but non-threatening. His expression remained unreadable, but his tone carried a certain weight.
“The Alpha is waiting for you, Aira,” he said firmly. “He is expecting your return.”
His words hung in the air, their meaning heavy and unavoidable. My pulse quickened as the room around me seemed to blur, fading into the background. All I could focus on was the letter in my hand and the implications it carried.
Alexander wanted me back.
Aira’s POVI watched Ezekiel quietly as he rested, recovering from the healer’s treatments over the past few days. His face was still pale, and the faint traces of pain lingered, but he looked better than before. I felt a mix of relief and worry as I observed him in silence.He had fallen asleep before the healer came back. He had regular check-ups to make sure his wounds were healing properly. My eyes stayed on him, but for some reason, a heavy feeling weighed down on me as I stared at his still form. The healer stood up and turned to me, giving me a reassuring glance.“His condition looks good now,” she said. “Just call me if the pain worsens or if the ointment doesn’t work.”“Thank you, always, for your help,” I replied to her. She nodded and left without a word.Once she was gone, I sat by the edge of his bed, unable to take my eyes off him. All I could do now was wait for him to wake up. But it wasn’t long before I felt my eyelids growing heavy. I could barely keep them open.“I
Aira’s POVI turned my back on him; however, he shouted.“Aira, no!” Alexander’s desperate voice broke through the chaos. I winced as his hold tightened, the intensity in his eyes begging me to listen.Then, to my shock, he fell to his knees.“Please, you need to believe me!” he yelled. “Aira, we were finally getting somewhere—why is everything falling apart now?” His voice cracked. Panic was etched into his face.But I was done listening. Fury clouded my thoughts, drowning out reason. I yanked my wrist free, “Get lost!” I shouted, my voice trembling from the rage surging through me.I turned to Ezekiel, ignoring Alexander’s broken expression as I reached out to help him. Ezekiel grunted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip.“I don’t ever want to see you again,” I spat, my words aimed at Alexander like daggers. My pulse raced as I watched his expression crumble.Alexander’s eyes widened, disbelief washing over his face. For a moment, he was utterly still, the weight of my rejectio
Aira’s POV‘Aira…help!’I jolted awake, my heart racing. My breathing was ragged as I struggled to shake off the remnants of sleep. Blinking rapidly, I realized I had fallen asleep on one side of the couch in the mansion’s living room. I quickly sat up, rubbing my face, and turned to look at the clock. It was already late at night.Ezekiel.A sudden wave of unease washed over me. I glanced around, searching for him, but he was nowhere in sight.“E-Ezekiel? Are you here?” My voice came out shaky as I pushed myself up.I moved carefully, my hands instinctively cradling my lower abdomen. I had to be extra careful for the baby. Taking a deep breath, I turned on the lights.The moment the room illuminated, my breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened in horror.Drag marks.Dark, disturbing stains smeared across the living room floor, forming a trail that led deeper into the mansion. My stomach twisted painfully.“What the hell is this?” I whispered to myself, my heartbeat hammering again
Ezekiel’s POVI wasn’t surprised when I woke up and found myself in a dark, damp underground garage. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, and the cold concrete beneath me. And then I felt it—a sharp blade pressed against my throat.My breath hitched for a brief second, but I quickly regained my composure. My life hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of that very blade. Yet, I refused to show fear.The wielder of the weapon? None other than him.“Alexander,” I muttered, my voice steady despite the lethal situation. Our gazes locked.His expression was cold, his eyes brimming with restrained fury. But me? I smirked. I refused to let him see me waver.“What brings you here, huh?” I taunted, my voice dripping with amusement. “I knew I caught a familiar scent while I was resting. Let me guess—after Aira and I fell asleep, you made sure to drag me here, down to this underground pit, away from her eyes.” My smirk widened. “You didn’t want her to see what you’re up to, d
Ezekiel’s POV“Where is Aira now?” I asked the moment I returned to the mansion."She's upstairs, Alpha Ezekiel, in her room. Just reading her book," the maid replied respectfully."Does she ever leave? Has she disobeyed me?" My voice was firm, searching for any sign of defiance.The maid quickly shook her head. "No, Alpha. She never tries to escape. Ever since the security around the mansion tightened, she hasn't stepped outside. She stays in her room most of the time. When she does move around, it's only within the mansion—often visiting the nursery and the study room."I nodded, absorbing the information. Good. At least she was staying within bounds.Without another word, I ascended the stairs to the third floor, where Aira’s room was located—the place I always left her. My fingers curled tightly around the small velvet box in my hand. Inside it was a necklace—a gift for her. Whatever her reaction would be, it didn’t matter. I had already decided.Standing before her door, I knocke
Amelia’s POV“I need to leave. There is something I needed to take care of.”I didn’t wait for Alexander’s response, nor did I need his permission. I turned my back on him and walked away without a second thought.Something about him felt off. I had a nagging feeling that Alexander was lying to me. But if he was lying, he wouldn’t get away with it. I knew him too well. I had spent enough time by his side to recognize when he was hiding something.So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.I had been watching her closely, waiting for a moment when she’d let her guard down. And that’s when I caught her.I overheard her speaking in hushed tones, her voice laced with urgency."I need to go to the pirates," Cassandra said.I edged closer, careful not to make a sound. My breath hitched as I strained to hear every word."Tell me, who were the people that came from the pirates?" she demanded.A maid stood before her, shifting uncomfortably. She looked nervous, her hands fidgeting with