LOGINWesley POV I gripped the railing and stared out at the water, toward the city beyond. The afternoon breeze brushed the healing welts across my back, making them sting.I tried to breathe through the anger, the humiliation, the helplessness twisting inside me.Charlie's footsteps came from behind me. I didn't turn around. I didn't tell him to leave either. None of it was his fault, but seeing him still soured my mood.He was everything I wanted to be. Grandpa Kieran handed him the Alpha title four years ago. His wolf was stable. No fortnightly beatings or treatments. He'd stepped into the life he'd been raised for. The only thing we had in common was that neither of us was married or had pups yet. Beyond that, we were worlds apart.Charlie leaned against the railing a few feet away, his eyes on the water instead of me, giving me room to breathe. He always seemed to know when silence worked better than words."It's just tiring," I admitted. "Look at the guys we went to Alpha Academy wi
Wesley POVSweat pooled down my neck as my body burned with fever, my wolf pacing beneath my skin. Mom's absence made everything worse. This time, I was tied to a rough mat that smelled faintly of piss, the smell turning my already unsettled stomach. Dad rested a hand on my shoulder, but unlike before, he didn't tell me to be strong. Maybe he knew hearing those words now would only irritate me."He's worked up," Charlie said, rolling his sleeves up. "Can we just get it over with?"Charlie never looked at me with pity. He always looked at me the same way, as if to say, We've done this before. You survived it.One of the healer's daughters, a bald woman whose hard features looked almost masculine, stepped forward carrying the cowhide cane. It was thick, dark, and scarred from years of use.The moment I saw it, every muscle in my body locked.My wolf always knew what was coming.They held me down because whenever my wolf became this restless, it stopped fighting the world and started tea
Isabella POV My stomach tightened, like someone had reached in and twisted a knot around my ribs. Walking into the office of someone who'd openly admitted she liked me would have been awkward enough under normal circumstances. I smoothed my skirt, trying to look as professional and unapproachable as possible.I'd expected Anita's office to look a little chaotic like her wardrobe. Instead, it was the complete opposite.Nothing was out of order.Anita wasn't just a rich Alpha's daughter playing at business. She ran the Trade Union, and it carried real responsibility, just like Emma's and Wesley's. Every member of the family managed part of the Alpha's affairs."Come in."Anita looked up and smiled warmly.It wasn't the flirtatious smile I'd expected. It was friendly. That made me even more nervous.She gestured toward the chair opposite her desk.I sat."I know I've probably scared you with whatever this has looked like," she said. "And I know it isn't appropriate workplace behavior t
Isabella POVI left the door unlocked because Maverick was still outside.His laughter drifted through the window as he played. Grandma Cassidy always insisted I shouldn't keep him cooped up in the bedroom. Most people living here were adults anyway, and she believed he needed every chance to socialize.I leaned against the door, breathing hard after retreating to the only place that felt safe.My face burned as the scene replayed in my head.Grandma Cassidy had walked in at the worst possible moment, just as everything between Wesley and me reached that unbearable point. His kiss swept away every rational thought. I forgot we were in a public space. I groaned and buried my face in my hands, pure secondhand embarrassment burning through me. She probably saw me as nothing more than a desperate, shameless gold-digging whore, throwing myself at the future Alpha, ready to spread my legs and claw my way into his pack just to secure an easy, free ride for the rest of my worthless life.Thi
A/N (To Alexandra)Dear Alexandra, thank you for reading and for your comment about not dragging Part Two. I hear you. I don’t plan to stretch this out unnecessarily.I actually didn’t plan a sequel at all. I’d have ended it with the first generation, but I was worried people wouldn’t stick around. Still, I’m keeping long-time readers in mind and moving the plot forward.On mobile platforms, daily updates, votes, and front-page reviews are what keep a book visible. The algorithm rewards consistency, so I can’t mass-release chapters or it’ll tank. I know you’ve helped with that, and I’m grateful.I hope you understand. I don’t take your support or anyone else’s for granted.Wesley POVThe sight of Grandma Cassidy made me feel like a mischievous little boy caught with his hand in the cake everyone had been warned not to touch until it was cut.Isabella, however, looked completely mortified. She couldn’t even stand there for another second.“I... excuse me.”She practically fled the kitc
Isabella POVWesley was talking about sex.I'd been around lewd men long enough to recognize that look they get when all they want is sex. It was a far cry from what my wolf felt every second she stood near him."There's something about you that makes me forget every reason I should keep my distance."The more he spoke, the more confused and certain I became.None of this made sense. He wanted me and was admitting it, so why did it feel like we were having two completely different conversations?And why wasn't he mentioning the bond?"That's too bad," I said. "No woman deserves to be cheated on."A restrained laugh escaped him. "You really think that's what this is?""What else am I supposed to think?""You're looking at me like you're trying very hard not to give in, yet you worry about how my partner feels."I turned away. Tears blurred my vision before I realized they were falling."It's really frustrating, you know. If you don't want me..." I whispered, "...say it.""Say it, and I
“How much longer are they going to keep us waiting?” James asked.We were at the family court, waiting for the elders inside the chamber. More than two hours had passed. James paced the hallway while I sat on the bench. Even with the doors closed, their authority pressed into the air.The presiding
LisaMy mom talked nonstop the entire ride back to the safe house, her voice filling the car. She kept turning her head toward the windows like she still couldn’t believe she could see, pointing out everything passing outside.“Street signs. Look at that shop. Oh, the traffic lights are so bright.
LisaCameron walked in, and my thoughts scattered so hard I couldn’t even remember why I was standing there. He didn’t belong in this room with fluorescent lights and plastic chairs; he looked like something I had imagined too many nights in a row. I didn’t know where to put my eyes or what to do w
CameronI avoided Evangeline for the rest of the evening, not out of pettiness, but because I dreaded saying something that would make things worse.I shut myself in the study and opened my laptop, stacking files across the desk so I had something to focus on. My coffee had gone cold beside the key







