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Between Duty and Conscience

Author: Sable Thorne
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-26 06:22:17

I wash the blood from my hands in the icy stream, watching as crimson swirls dissolve into clear water. If only the stain on my conscience could be so easily cleansed. The tribute. A sterile word for a monstrous practice—sacrificing a newborn cub to the Slavers each year to keep our pack safe. A tradition older than I am, passed down through generations of Alphas, each bearing the weight of this terrible choice. Until now, I've convinced myself it was necessary. Unavoidable. The price of our continued existence. But Lyla's voice echoes in my mind, challenging everything I thought I knew. Everything I've done in the name of duty.

The cold water numbs my skin, but does nothing for the hollowness spreading inside me. Four young wolves dead because I hesitated. Because I listened to the doubts that have been growing since Lyla discovered the truth twelve months ago.

The memory of that night is seared into my mind. Lyla had been tracking unusual movements at the borders of our territory, c
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  • Stolen by the Alpha   Own her Heart

    KalenI’m scared that I can’t hold onto her. That the curse in my blood will chew through my marrow and leave her with nothing but another scar for her collection.I force a laugh. “You want to see scared, Blackwood? Wait until you see what Cassie does to my pride if I show up on her doorstep without your pulse in my pocket.”She snorts, then props herself up on one elbow, the sheet sliding down to expose her breast. “The healer?”“Yeah.” I keep my eyes on hers, ignoring the distraction. “If anyone can help me break the Nightshade line’s losing streak, it’s her.”A beat of silence. She doesn’t ask why I’d need help. She knows the stories—every pack does. The madness, the bloodlust, the way Nightshade Alphas are always the last ones standing after every civil war.“You want to fix yourself before you break me.” Her tone is more observation than accusation.I shrug. “I’d prefer not to savage my mate on our first Blood Moon together. Call me old-fashioned.”That earns a soft laugh. “You’

  • Stolen by the Alpha   Scared of Myself

    KALENAs the moonlight wanes and we emerge from the cave, the chill of reality settles over me like a shroud. Lyla walks beside me, her wild hair tousled by the night breeze. I keep glancing over at her as we make our way back to my cabin, astonished at how much changed between us in so little time. The euphoria of claiming her lingers in the air between us, but with each step away from that sacred place where I made her mine, it fades into the shadows of our burdens."You're quiet," I say, my voice cutting through the rustling leaves around us. "What’s on your mind?"Her eyes meet mine briefly before she looks ahead again. Her lips press together. "I'm thinking about what comes next," she admits, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability beneath its usual strength. "There’s so much uncertainty now... and I can't help wondering if we’re ready for all of it."Her honesty hangs between us, grounding us in this moment despite the unknowns that lie ahead. I want to ease her fears, but be

  • Stolen by the Alpha   The Witness

    Ana steps into the clearing, her expression confused as she takes in the scene before her—me, standing tensely by a bundle on the offering stone. Her light hair is pulled back in a simple braid, her clothing practical for a night run. She must have been patrolling near the border, though this area isn't on the regular route."Alpha?" she calls softly, her brow furrowed. "What are you doing out here so late?"Panic floods through me. She can't be here. Not now. Not when the Slavers are due to arrive any minute. If they find her witnessing the handoff, they'll kill her without hesitation. Or worse—take her too."Ana," I say, fighting to keep my voice calm while every instinct screams at me to grab her and run. "You need to leave. Now."But it's too late. Her enhanced hearing has already picked up the soft sounds coming from the bundle behind me. Her eyes widen, and she takes a step closer."Is that... a baby?" The confusion in her voice gives way to disbelief. "Ethan, why do you have a

  • Stolen by the Alpha   A Meaningless Apology

    The forest looms before me, a wall of black broken only by occasional patches of starlight filtering through the canopy. I need to move quickly, to reach the eastern clearing before dawn. The Slavers will be waiting, and they don't tolerate tardiness—especially not after sending such a brutal reminder of their power.I consider shifting, but discard the idea immediately. My wolf form would be faster, but I can't carry the cub safely that way. So I set off on foot, sticking to the shadows, my enhanced vision allowing me to navigate the familiar paths with ease.The cub stirs against me, making small sounds that aren't quite cries but tug at something primal within me nonetheless. My arms tighten around him instinctively, protective even as I carry him toward his doom."I'm sorry," I whisper to him, words he can't understand. "I'm sorry this is happening to you. I'm sorry I'm not strong enough to stop it. Not yet."The apology is meaningless, a salve

  • Stolen by the Alpha   The Precious Bundle

    I head toward the healer's den. Serena’s cub will be healthy, strong—perfect for the tribute.The thought makes my stomach turn, but I push the revulsion away. This is what it means to be Alpha. To make the hard choices so others don't have to. To bear the weight of those choices alone.And yet, Lyla's words ring in my ears. "You have the power to change things."Do I? Could I end the tribute without bringing the wrath of the Slavers down on my pack? Is there another way to satisfy them, to keep my people safe?I reach the healer's den, a small cabin set apart from the main lodge. Inside, the air is warm and thick with the scent of herbs and birthing mothers. Rosemary meets me at the door."Alpha." She greets me with a respectful nod. "You've come about the tribute?""Yes," I say, the word bitter on my tongue. "Is she close?"Rosemary nods, her expression carefully neutral. "Any moment now. The mother doesn't know, of cour

  • Stolen by the Alpha   The She-Wolf's Time Is Now

    The weight of the Alpha mantle sits heavy on my shoulders. I pace the length of my quarters, my wolf restless beneath my skin, craving the freedom of the forest. But freedom is a luxury I can't afford, not when the entire pack is watching me right now.The Elders' warnings about the tribute echo in my mind. Lyla called it barbaric—she made that much clear. But what choice do I have? The pack comes first. Always.I stop at the window. The new moon hangs invisible in the night sky, its absence a fitting mirror to the hollow feeling in my chest. Two days have passed since the meeting with the elders. Two days of funeral rites for our fallen young. Two days of waiting for the birth that will bring both life and death in the same moment. I watch the dark tree line, my body tense with anticipation and dread. Any moment now, Rosemary will come with news that Serena has gone into labor. Any moment now, the countdown to my most hated duty will begin.The pack has s

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