THE ALPHA WANTS ME BACK

KOOKIE:Today is the day my life changes.I recently turned eighteen, and there is no mate in sight, which gives me hope that Alpha Prince Levi is my mate.Today is my induction—the day I finally step into my role after years of studying werewolf medicine abroad. My pulse races as excitement fills me, but mostly because I get to see Levi again after three years.I exhale shakily, smoothing my dress as I stand before the mirror, staring at my reflection. The silk fabric clings to my figure, the deep blue color complementing my pale skin. Luna sent it days ago as a congratulatory gift for passing my final exams. The thought makes me smile because I know Levi must have picked it out—blue is his favorite color on me.Levi has been my best friend for years, and we practically grew up together with my father being Beta. As kids, we always believed we were meant to be mates. Even our parents believed it, and Luna used to joke that if I wasn’t Levi’s mate, she’d exile our mates so we could be

KOOKIE:I wake up with the worst bellyache, and I already know what it means. It has been a month since that night with Levi, and as a doctor, I do not need a test to confirm that I am pregnant, but I find myself in front of the bathroom mirror, clutching the pregnancy test kit in trembling hands, praying I am wrong.Peeing into a cup, I dip the stick in and wait, my heart hammering against my ribs. The seconds stretch endlessly, and when I finally gather the courage to look, my stomach drops as two bold lines glare back at me.My legs give out, and I crash onto the floor with my hands still clutching the stick. Tears spill down my cheeks as I beat myself up for not taking a pill. I was too shaken after that night to even think of taking one. But this is worse, and I wish I could go back to prevent it.Maybe he will change and call off the engagement when he hears this. The thought slithers into my mind, and I try to shake it off, but the reality of raising a child alone as an eightee

SIX YEARS LATERDR. SAGE (KOOKIE):Six years of pain, and I am finally living a bit of my dream life in a small pack with my daughter—the only light in my world. She sits in the backseat, swinging her tiny legs, humming along to the soft melody of Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off, playing from the car speakers. I smile as I sing along with her, my heart swelling with warmth.The road ahead is clear, with the morning sun streaming into the car, and for a fleeting moment, everything feels perfect.Suddenly, we come to a halt in front of the school, and Blue claps her hands excitedly.“We arrived before Charlotte, yay!” she cheers, bouncing in her seat. I glance out the window to see her friend’s father pulling up a few meters away.“Yay,” I echo softly.I reach for the door handle, but before I can unlock it, her tiny voice stops me.“Mommy?”I look into the rearview mirror, meeting her beautiful golden eyes—eyes that remind me too much of him.“Will I ever see my daddy?”A sharp pang crosse

KOOKIE:Levi stares at me without words, and I cannot tell if regret is sinking in. But I doubt it—anyone who did what he did to me six years ago cannot have a heart, let alone feel.“What’s the problem? Cat got your tongue?” I ask, trying to sound brave to mask the hurt in my heart. After all these years, I still want to know why he hurt me.Even when I ask, he doesn’t say a thing.“Oh, I forgot. Your body must be buckling. Look at you—you can’t even walk.” His lips curve into a smirk as I say this, and it makes me feel like I’m losing control.He lets out a sigh, then speaks. “Thank you for coming, Dr. Sage.”He extends a hand for a handshake, but I do not take it. Even though he is properly clothed, I cannot risk touching him and infecting myself or Blue.“Keep your hands to yourself!” I bite out, cradling my baby tightly to my chest. He lowers his hand.“Very well then, we’ll go straight to the point,” he says, and my brows furrow.“You must have received the mail we sent. We need

LEVI:From my window on the second floor, I see it all. The way Donald smacks her and the guard who rips her daughter from her arms. It eats deep into my chest, wounding me more than I already am.My grip on the wheelchair tightens, my knuckles paling. My wolf growls angrily at what it has witnessed. How could he? I want to hit Donald, but I know I cannot because my body is weak, and I hate it, but at the same time, I love it. This is because the Moon Goddess granted my last wish. All I asked was to see Kookie before dying, and now that I have, I do not mind dying.I should leave her a detailed note on what happened, I say to myself. But first, I have to make Donald pay for touching her. A part of me wishes I could live so I could give her the protection I couldn’t provide years ago because I was a foolish boy who allowed my mate to go so easily.As I watch Donald sling her over his shoulder, I manage to wheel myself back to my bed, where I slump onto it as more pain courses through m