The Alpha's Mute Mate

I stare at my reflection in the old antique mirror of Moonlight Books, tilting my head to the side as I check myself out. Biting my bottom lip, I wonder what Kevin would think of my outfit. Marie, my wolf, says it's cute and he'll love it, but I still have my doubts. My boyfriend tends to make me feel like I'm wearing rags even when I have on my nicest clothes. Of course, he doesn't say it to my face, but I can still tell when he thinks crap of my outfit. It's always written all over his face.Looking away from the mirror, I consider if I should run home and change before meeting him at the party. But a glance at the clock on the wall makes me wince. 8:45 PM – fifteen minutes past closing time. I'm already running late.My fingers fly across my phone's screen as I type out a quick message to Kevin."Sorry, running a bit behind. Be there soon! ❤️"I pocket the device without waiting for a response and turn my attention to the task of closing up the bookstore. The smell of old paper and

Pain. Searing, all-consuming pain is the first thing that registers as I drift back to consciousness. My eyelids feel heavy as I force them open, taking in the stark white walls that seem to close in around me. The sharp smell of disinfectant burns my nostrils, making my already churning stomach flip. Fluorescent lights buzz overhead, casting a harsh glow across the standard-issue cream curtains and medical equipment surrounding my bed.I'm alive. The thought hits me like a physical blow. The memories of the attack flash through my mind in violent bursts – claws, teeth, blood. So much blood. By some miracle, I survived, but as I try to shift in the scratchy hospital gown, every muscle screams in protest.The steady beeping of monitors fills the silence as I strain to make sense of my surroundings. This isn't our pack hospital – the layout is wrong, the equipment too advanced, even the air feels different. Unfamiliar voices drift through the closed door, their muffled conversation setti

The Alpha's words echo in my head, each repetition feeling like a physical blow. "They were after you." The phrase bounces around my skull, mixing with the lingering scents of vampire and blood that permeate the pack house.I stumble backward until my back hits the wall, needing something solid to ground me. Everything feels surreal, like I'm trapped in some horrible nightmare. Just twenty-four hours ago, my biggest worry was being late to meet Kevin at that party. Now...Now my aunt is gone. Taken. Because of me.My hands shake as I raise them to sign, but I can barely form coherent gestures. How? Why? What did I do? The questions tumble from my fingers in a desperate rush, even though I know most of the pack members watching can't understand them.Alpha Marcus steps closer, his expression grave. "We don't know all the details yet, Evelina. The vampires were... specific in their attack. They weren't just causing chaos. They were searching. House by house, they were looking for you."

The next morning, I wake with a million thoughts swirling in my head, but one stands out above the rest—what my mate said last night. Why would he say that? What did he mean?After freshening up, I head downstairs. As I reach the bottom step, I stop short, spotting a stunning brunette standing in the hallway.“Good morning, Luna,” she signs with a warm, soft smile.“You can sign?” I ask, my brow furrowing. Then I add quickly, “And I’m not your Luna.”Her smile widens. “Yes, I can. I used to be unable to hear, but that changed once I found my mate.” Her hands pause briefly before continuing. “And you are our Alpha’s mate, which makes you our Luna.”I gesture toward my neck, tilting my head slightly to the side to make my point clear. "Yes, I am his mate, but he hasn’t marked me yet." My hands move fluidly, the signs sharp and deliberate. I hold her gaze, waiting for her response.Her eyes flicker briefly to my neck, then back to my face. “Even so,” she says with a shrug, her tone confi

Days drag by like years in this mansion, and the ice between Anton and me only grows thicker. The afternoon sun streams through the tall windows, casting long shadows in the hallway as I make my way to his study. I need to ask him about getting a phone to call Chloe. God, I miss her. She was the sunshine in our pack, the only one who took the time to learn sign language when I first lost my voice. While others whispered and stared, she'd sit with me for hours, her fingers fumbling through signs until we could talk about everything and nothing.The heavy wooden door to Anton's study looms before me, intimidating in its grandeur. Through the crack beneath, I can see warm lamplight spilling out – he's working from home today. My heart pounds against my ribs as I knock softly.The scent of coffee and old books wraps around me as I enter. Anton sits behind his massive mahogany desk, his broad shoulders hunched over stacks of papers. His dark hair falls across his forehead, and his crisp wh