Alaina’s POVI never expected Adrian to step in, let alone stand at my side with his gaze locked on Freya, shielding me from the whispers and curious eyes surrounding us.“You don’t understand!” Freya shouted, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. “I put it in the newspaper that she cursed everything around her. You could be cursed too, Alpha! Let me help you before it is too late.”Adrian’s eyes narrowed, his expression tightening with disbelief. “Have you lost your mind?” he asked, each word carrying the weight of a slap. He looked at her like she was something he could not comprehend, a puzzle that made no sense.I drew in a shaky breath, trying to keep my voice steady even though my heart thundered in my chest. “Freya, enough of this nonsense. You can still stop before you cross a line you can’t come back from.”Adrian turned to me, his jaw tightening as disappointment flickered across his features. “So you sti
Alaina's POV“Please, don’t be afraid,” one of the guards told me quickly, trying to sound reassuring but failing miserably. “We have strict orders not to harm you. There will be consequences for us if we do. You’re only needed to address the pack outside, that’s all.”My stomach dropped, a heavy wave of dread flooding me. “Oh no, no, no…”“I’m sorry, but you don’t have a choice here,” the other guard interjected sharply, grabbing my arm with a grip that left no room for protest. They led me forward, my feet stumbling as they dragged me through the stone halls toward the courtyard.Outside, a restless sea of faces and raised voices greeted me. Their accusations and questions tore through the air, each word a blade against my skin.“Is it true? Are you some kind of hybrid? A witch-wolf abomination?”“How could you be so heartless? Did you kill a child?”“Do you feel nothing at all?”The words slammed into me, lea
Alaina – POV"Alaina?" Adrian’s voice carried a fragile yearning that hit me like a wave. His eyes met mine, searching and pleading, asking the question his lips couldn’t frame. Though the scandalous lies in the newspaper sat between us like a chasm, he looked at me as if needing to believe anything but what was printed.My lips parted, but no words came. My thoughts were tangled, my chest tight. I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs. What could I even say?But before I could gather myself, Issac broke the silence. “Alpha, why are you ignoring this?” His tone was sharper now, laced with concern as he stepped forward. “That newspaper… it’s not just gossip. There’s real footage, real clips from that banquet. People are outside. Furious. Demanding answers. You were there.”My body flinched at his words. The pressure in the room mounted like a storm brewing. My stomach turned, and my heart thudded against my ribs. I stood abruptly, emotions boil
Alaina's POVI didn't stop myself from kissing Adrian because I felt weak or lost in the aftermath of betrayal. It wasn't just a reckless impulse. It was something deeper. Something I can't quite name. The pull I feel toward Adrian is irresistible, it's a force that consumes me every time we're close.The mere thought of him kissing someone else sends a sharp pain through my chest. It loops in my mind like a cruel melody, haunting me even when I try to shove it away. I can’t explain it clearly, and truthfully, I don’t want to try. I just want it to stop.I never imagined I would share a kiss with a man who wasn’t destined to be mine. And yet, I let it happen. I let myself fall into that moment, caught in the gravity of his presence, unable to resist the way he makes my world tremble.Do I love him?That question dances at the edge of every thought. What I feel for Adrian isn't the same as what I once felt for Cole. Cole, who shattered my
Cole"What a success," Freya murmured as she sipped her wine, lounging on the couch in her chamber. Her eyes remained fixed on me, heavy with unspoken thoughts that pressed against my chest."I only want what's best for you, babe," she added, her voice soft."Damn it, it didn't help at all," I muttered, running my fingers through my hair. Frustration burned beneath my skin as I paced the room, shaking my head. Freya's eyes followed me, confusion creeping into her gaze."What are you talking about?" She stood abruptly, setting her glass aside as she crossed her arms over her chest, searching my face."You didn't appreciate my suggestion? We cut off their ties with Huntington Pack. It must be hitting them hard right now," she said, her voice gentling as she tried to soothe me.I moved closer, shaking my head. "You're right, but it is taking too long. Dad is watching every step I take. I messed up, Freya. I shouldn't have dragged yo
Alaina POVAdrian’s hand wrapped around mine, his touch warm yet uncertain, like he was testing the weight of what had just passed between us. For a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes, a glimpse of vulnerability that quickly disappeared behind the usual firmness in his gaze.I took a small step back, gently pulling my hand from his grasp, trying to steady my breathing and quiet the chaos in my mind.It was fine, I told myself. I did not need him to like me in that way. I only needed him to trust me as a worker in his pack, nothing more. If he trusted me, I would have a place here, a place where I could finally belong without fear.But it was the lie that stung the most. The way he had looked at me before, the softness in his eyes, the words that had felt like they were meant for me alone, all of it had been nothing but a carefully constructed illusion. And I had fallen for it, foolishly allowing myself to believe that I coul