They couldn't say it to the kings because they were powerful and had every right to go wherever they want. But for me, even under their protection, I was still the omega they could oppress. The council members have been around for years. Even before the great war. They were not a fan of kings as they believe themselves to be royalty and the goddess right hand, so they do not care. The only thing that mattered as their well maintained white hair. I closed my eyes to calm myself. My goodness.This was so fucking harsh.I sat there, breath caught in my chest, as their words rolled over me like knives dipped in ice. My heart pounded—not from fear. Not from sadness. From fury.“You’re going to punish my children—my seven-year-old kids—because I live with men you don’t like?” I spat, my voice shaking now, not from nerves but from the effort it took to stay in my seat and not scream the place down. “Are you even hearing yourselves?”Ama didn’t flinch. Neither did Maura. They just watched
I screamed.Only…Only I didn’t.Because I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. I was trapped in my own skin, paralyzed by some invisible current dragging me down.Then—I gasped awake.Pain flooded my skull. My eyes were wide open, staring at the sky, my chest heaving. The gravel bit into my back. Kieran was crouched over me, his hands on my shoulders, panic flashing in his silver eyes.“Briar? Hey—hey! Can you hear me?”I blinked. My lips parted, but no sound came. Just breath.“What the fuck was that?” he asked, almost to himself. “You were fine…” he stopped himself taking a deep breath, then continued, “one second you were fine—then you just dropped.”I grabbed at his arm, fingers tightening. “I… I saw…”But the words didn’t form.All I could hear now was the song.Still humming. Distant.Calling to me.It slipped between my ribs, into my blood. A pull—no, a demand. The hum grew louder. It wasn’t just a sound anymore. It had weight, pressure. It filled my throat, tickled my tongue, and
The battlefield was a wasteland. Bodies, both fresh and decaying, were strewn across the ground. A thick, unnatural fog hovered over the earth, masking the stench of death, but not enough to hide the horrors from anyone still standing. Still fighting for this war that had gone for more than a week. "Hold the line!" Marcus's voice boomed across the clearing, his silver hair matted with dirt and blood. His piercing blue eyes darted from one corner of the field to another. "Don’t let them break through!"To his left, a Lycan tore through a vampire’s throat with a savage snarl. Blood splattered across his chest, the vampire’s body falling limp before hitting the dirt. The Lycan grunted, his yellow eyes flaring. "This is getting worse, Marcus. They’re faster. Stronger than normal. We can’t keep up."Marcus spat on the ground, his jaw clenched. “We don’t have a choice, Jax. We either fight or die. You wanna run? Then go. But I’m not going down without tearing a few more apart.”Jax wiped
Years later…Briar's POV"Congratulations, Luna Briar, you are officially carrying the Alpha's heir."The words should have filled me with joy, but instead, they felt hollow. I sat on the edge of the hospital bed, staring at the nurse as she recorded the results in her clipboard without so much as a smile. Her tone was flat, indifferent, as if my news was nothing special.It should be though. The alpha's heir. It was great news. But not for the people of Crimson Pack. It was a nightmare and a weakness."Thank you," I said, my voice quiet.She didn’t bother to look up.No smile. No warmth. Just a curt nod. I wasn’t surprised. As far as the pack was concerned, I was just an omega who had lucked out. The Alpha’s mate, sure, but still an omega. And an omega carrying the Alpha’s child was an inconvenience to most.Here in the crimson pack, mates weren't taken seriously. They had expected their alpha to get another wife, to rule, whereas I would just be a mistress. But he never did. He
I woke up in the hospital feeling empty. Like a void. The sterile scent of antiseptic burned my nose as the fluorescent lights hummed overhead. My throat was dry, lips cracked, but none of that mattered. My hand instinctively went to my stomach, trembling fingers pressing against the soft skin there. It felt empty. "No... no, no, no," I whispered, my heart pounding as the memories flooded back. The fight. Slade’s rage. His fists. Zaya’s mocking laughter. And then the pain—so much pain.And blood. A nurse must have heard me because the door swung open, and she hurried over. Her face was sympathetic, so different from the hate I was used to. “Luna Ashford…”I flinched at the title. Luna. That wasn’t me anymore. I was nothing.“Don’t call me that,” I rasped.She hesitated before nodding. “I’m sorry. You need to rest.”Rest? How could I rest? My baby…our baby… was gone. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the reality that was clawing at me, threatening to consume me whole.“I’m
I remembered the first time I had come here. I was eighteen. Young and foolish. Happy to have been released from the orphanage. Lizbella and I had come here to celebrate. Our hands were calloused, we smelt of oil, we had begged for money so we could buy a drink.We didn’t care that night. We just wanted to party and enjoy life.We were eighteen meaning we could leave this pack and stopped working in the mines or as slaves. And I had met him. Alpha Slade and he had been my mate. My love. The moment I became Luna, Zaya tried to replace Lizbella, and I let her, now she ruined me. I was stupid. Still am it seems. I ordered a drink and stared into the glass, my reflection distorted in the amber liquid. Who was I now?“Looking for company?” a deep voice asked.I didn’t bother turning around. “Not in the mood.”“You look like you could use someone to talk to.”I sighed, finally glancing over my shoulder. The man standing there was tall, his dark eyes studying me with far too much interest.
As the second man pressed against me, his lips grazing the sensitive skin of my neck, I let out a low moan, my body arching into his touch. My breath hitched as the pleasure went through my veins, both of their hands on my body, igniting sensations I hadn’t felt in years—or maybe ever. I was no longer thinking, just feeling. The heat between us swelled, growing more urgent with every touch, every kiss. The second man’s fingers traced along the curve of my back while the first one pulled me tighter against him, his movements hard and insistent.I felt lips on my hardened nipples, I almost screamed from the pleasure.My heart pounded in my chest, my mind slipping further away from reality, giving in completely. They kissed me everywhere—lips, neck, chest. There was nothing but them, nothing but the feeling of their hands, his hands on my clit, their lips, the heat of their bodies pressing into mine. My mind was spinning, the alcohol still swirling in my veins, making everything feel
Seven years later…The early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the small room. I stretched, careful not to wake the two small bodies nestled on either side of me. My twins, Finn and Luna, slept soundly, their little faces peaceful in the morning light. Watching them, I couldn’t help but smile. Life was different now. It had to be. After that night, the night I left everything behind, I promised myself that I would never look back.And for seven years, I hadn’t. I had built a life here, in the Lycan territory, far away from the pain of the past. I was no longer the broken woman who had stumbled into that motel room. I was Briar Ashford—mother, therapist, survivor.“Mama,” a small voice murmured, breaking into my thoughts. Luna, her big brown eyes still heavy with sleep, reached out to me. Her tiny hand clutched at my shirt as she blinked up at me with a smile that could light up the darkest day.“Morning, sweetheart,” I whispered, pressi
I screamed.Only…Only I didn’t.Because I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. I was trapped in my own skin, paralyzed by some invisible current dragging me down.Then—I gasped awake.Pain flooded my skull. My eyes were wide open, staring at the sky, my chest heaving. The gravel bit into my back. Kieran was crouched over me, his hands on my shoulders, panic flashing in his silver eyes.“Briar? Hey—hey! Can you hear me?”I blinked. My lips parted, but no sound came. Just breath.“What the fuck was that?” he asked, almost to himself. “You were fine…” he stopped himself taking a deep breath, then continued, “one second you were fine—then you just dropped.”I grabbed at his arm, fingers tightening. “I… I saw…”But the words didn’t form.All I could hear now was the song.Still humming. Distant.Calling to me.It slipped between my ribs, into my blood. A pull—no, a demand. The hum grew louder. It wasn’t just a sound anymore. It had weight, pressure. It filled my throat, tickled my tongue, and
They couldn't say it to the kings because they were powerful and had every right to go wherever they want. But for me, even under their protection, I was still the omega they could oppress. The council members have been around for years. Even before the great war. They were not a fan of kings as they believe themselves to be royalty and the goddess right hand, so they do not care. The only thing that mattered as their well maintained white hair. I closed my eyes to calm myself. My goodness.This was so fucking harsh.I sat there, breath caught in my chest, as their words rolled over me like knives dipped in ice. My heart pounded—not from fear. Not from sadness. From fury.“You’re going to punish my children—my seven-year-old kids—because I live with men you don’t like?” I spat, my voice shaking now, not from nerves but from the effort it took to stay in my seat and not scream the place down. “Are you even hearing yourselves?”Ama didn’t flinch. Neither did Maura. They just watched
The moment Kai rolled to a stop in front of the council building, I nearly jumped out of the car just to cool off my face. The place looked older than sin—dark stone, tall columns, the kind of structure that made you feel watched even when no one was looking.Kylan’s car pulled up second. He stepped out first, slamming the door harder than necessary. “Remind me again why we couldn’t take one car like normal people?”Kai didn’t look at him as he shut his own door. “Because you’re not normal people. And respect yourself.”Kylan scoffed but didn’t reply, already adjusting his shirt like someone who lived to be petty. He looked fine. Handsome, even. Annoying.Kieran joined us last, the classic car purring to silence behind him. He had that lazy, amused grin already tugging at his mouth as he walked toward us. “Mood swing much?” he asked Kylan under his breath.“I will key your car,” Kylan muttered.“Try it,” Kieran said, still smiling.Kai ignored them both and moved ahead. Like always, I
Okay, got my brooch. Hair down or hair up?I had an oval face, sharp at the chin, soft around the cheeks. Hair down usually gave me the wild, mysterious look. Hair up? Elegance. I needed something in between, so I twisted it into a low knot and let a few strands fall loose. Not too polished. Not too undone. Just enough to say: I don’t care what the elders say, but I’m going to look flawless while they say it.The dress I chose was simple, but unfairly flattering. A midnight blue wrap dress with a plunging neckline I pretended not to notice. The fabric hugged my waist, fell to my calves, and moved like water when I walked. I paired it with black heels sensible ones, but with enough point to make a vampire rethink lunging at me.And of course, the brooch. An old piece I never wore. It was given to me by the council as a good member of the pack that contributed good things. Well not so much. I’m a demon in their eyes. Silver, crescent-shaped, worn down at the edges like it had survived
Kylan was back from dropping the kids at school. I felt bored over not doing anything.Also I was starving but I was just too lazy to prepare anything. Maybe Kai could. I looked at him, he was busy typing something into his laptop."Are you...working?" I asked.He hummed."Are you busy?"He hummed again.Gosh, how do I ask him when he keeps on humming like that? Especially in that deep baritone voice that's making my body shiver in the wrong way. .I crossed and uncrossed my legs, cleared my throat. Maybe if I go through this way it would work."What type of business...do you do? Like does the three of you run it?" I asked.Kai shook his head. “We have separate businesses. Mine just needs me on-call more often.”I raised an eyebrow. “You mean you’re not just brooding and glaring for a living?”That earned me a faint smirk. “Tempting career path, but no.”I let out a short laugh, then glanced toward the kitchen. “I’m starving.”“Then eat,” he said without looking up.“I would, but I’m l
The images were still there.I didn’t know if they were true or just a fragment of my imagination—some cruel trick of my mind or something far more ancient and terrifying. Or a memory? I couldn’t shake them off my mind, it just stuck like glue. The little girl’s voice. Her blood-stained dress. Her red eyes.I hugged myself tightly, my arms wrapped around my waist as though that could hold me together.Kylan’s voice came softly from beside me. “Looking at you, I remember what Mom used to say?”I looked up at him, my lips parting, but no words came out.He crouched down to my level, his blue eyes softer than I’d seen them in a while. “She said… you can see things in the water because the water remembers. It holds onto everything. Emotions. Memories. Blood. Magic.”I hummed. True. Kai said that just now. His hand hovered over mine before he pulled it back. “And you… Briar, you’re connected to it. To the water. That’s why it’s easier for you to see.”I stared at the moonlit stream, my
“A ritual,” I repeated slowly. “Should I be worried?” “No,” Kieran answered, coming up beside us. “It’s something we do after a run. Our mother used to do it. She’d look at the reflection of the moon in the water. Said it kept us from forgetting where we came from.” I frowned softly. I had never seen it that way “That’s… kind of beautiful. Your mother seems like a beautiful soul.” Kylan grinned. "She was. Calm. Collected and the only one who was able to handle us with all our disastrous character. L" We all chuckled at that. Kai glanced at his brothers, then back at me. “It was her quiet way of saying goodbye to the beasts inside us. That even after all the blood, there’s still peace.” I nodded. I wonder what's their story, the story of their beast. Maybe that would be a question for another time, we kept on walking with each other side by side. We walked in sil
I laughed at their suggestion. “What are you guys? Babies?”The Lycan kings chuckled like I had just thrown down the gauntlet.“Oh, she has jokes,” Kylan said, already stretching like he was warming up for a marathon. “But you’ll be the one begging for a break in five minutes.”Kieran cracked his knuckles, his expression far too smug. “She clearly doesn’t know what kind of game she just agreed to.”Kai just smirked. “Three Lycans. One human. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?”I raised a brow. “Didn’t realize you were afraid of losing.”That did it.Kylan’s eyes glinted, his smirk widened into a grin. “You’ve got sixty seconds, Red. Better start hiding.”And just like that, I ran.I darted through the trees, heart racing—not from fear, but the thrill of it. The moon was high, casting silver light through the branches as I pushed through the underbrush, trying to gain some distance.But it was impossible to tell where they were. No footsteps. No rustling. Just wind.Too quiet.Then—A sudden
The sun had barely begun to dip when I heard the familiar patter of feet and the squeak of the front door opening.“Mummy!”I turned just in time to catch Luna barreling toward me, her backpack slipping halfway off her shoulder.“Hey, sweetheart.” I knelt, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. She smelled like crayons and a bit of outside air. “Did you miss me today?”She nodded against my neck, clinging tighter. “A lot.”Finn wasn’t far behind. He stood at the doorway for a second before quietly shutting it behind him. His backpack was zipped neat and high on his back, his expression more cautious.“Finn,” I said gently, “come here.”He came — slower, more controlled — but when he finally wrapped his arms around me too, I held them both like I’d never let go.For a long minute, we just stood like that.“I wanted to talk to you both,” I said as I pulled back and led them to the couch. “About everything that’s been happening lately.”Luna frowned. “Is it because you were sick?”I nod