LIAMS POVThe flight back to New York felt longer than it should have. Paris had been exhausting, not because of the city itself but because of Matilda. She had been insufferable, whining about how I wasn’t paying enough attention to her, complaining about how I still hadn’t marked her, and bringing up Daniella’s name far too many times for my liking.I had thought a lavish trip, designer shopping sprees, and five-star dining would pacify her—like it always did. But this time, she was relentless. The moment we landed, I wanted nothing more than to return to my penthouse, pour myself a drink, and have some goddamn peace.As soon as the car pulled up to my estate, I stepped out without offering Matilda so much as a glance. I could hear her irritated huff behind me, but I didn’t care. But the second I stepped into my home, that small desire was shattered.Sitting in my living room were my mother, my sister Jessica, and two of the eldest members of the pack’s council—Elder Harrington an
I was now sure that their was a gang up against me because as soon as my mother and her entourage left, my phone rang. The moment I saw Alpha Seth’s name flashing on the screen, a deep sigh left my lips. I had expected this call. The man had been pressing for an official mating between Matilda and me for years, and after the Paris trip, which had been more of a test of patience than a vacation, I knew he wouldn’t wait much longer.I considered ignoring it, but I knew better. Alpha Seth was not the kind of man who took silence as an answer. With a clenched jaw, I swiped to accept the call and put the phone to my ear.“Alpha Seth.” My voice was calm, and measured.“Liam,” his voice boomed through the speaker, all pretense of pleasantries discarded. “I assume you’re back from your little vacation with my daughter.”I closed my eyes briefly, exhaling slowly. “Yes, we are back in the city.”“Good. Then I take it you’ve finally come to your senses and are ready to mate Matilda and make her
LIAM'S POVThe decision had already been made. No matter how much it frustrated me, no matter how much my gut twisted in protest, I had made my choice. The pack came first. Always.As I stepped out of my car in front of the grand new jewelry store, I let out a slow breath, collecting my thoughts. The city was alive tonight, filled with flashing cameras, the hum of conversations, and the steady beat of luxury and wealth converging on one of the most anticipated store openings of the year. The brand had already built an impressive reputation, known for exquisite craftsmanship, rare gemstones, and unparalleled elegance. I wasn’t the type to indulge in such events, but attending tonight served a purpose.It was the kind of event Matilda would have insisted on attending, and for a fleeting moment, I was glad she had been too preoccupied with something else to accompany me.The evening air buzzed with anticipation. There were flashes from photographers, murmurs of admiration from guests dre
LIAM’S POVI moved through the lavish space with a practiced indifference, my eyes scanning the crowd as I sipped from my glass of whiskey. The moment I spotted her standing alone by one of the tall windows, my body tensed. It had been years since I had seen her up close, and damn if Daniella Thornhill didn’t look as effortlessly stunning as ever.I approached her silently, my steps measured and deliberate. She was lost in thought, her gaze focused on the city lights beyond the glass, her figure poised and elegant. I stopped just behind her, close enough to let my presence be known, and when she finally turned, my lips curled into a smirk.“You look good,” I murmured, my voice dripping with the same arrogant confidence I had always wielded around her.Daniella didn’t flinch, nor did she let any surprise cross her face. Instead, she met my gaze with cold, unreadable eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Garvalle,” she replied smoothly, her tone formal, distant.The polite address sent an immediate fla
LIAM’S POVI stood frozen in place, fists clenched at my sides as I watched Daniella walk away, her back straight, her posture unwavering, as if our exchange hadn’t affected her in the slightest. My jaw tightened, and my wolf snarled in frustration.Daniella Thornhill.She was infuriating.That cold, detached tone. The way she had called me “Mr. Garvalle,” as if I was nothing more than a stranger. The condescending smirk on her lips before she turned her back on me. It was like she was deliberately mocking me, rubbing salt into wounds I didn’t even realize I had.I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair. My pride was bruised, my patience worn thin. My entire body hummed with anger, my wolf restless beneath my skin, itching to lash out.She had slapped me.She had actually slapped me.And I had let her.I should have put her in her place. I should have said something to cut through her icy indifference. But instead, I had watched her walk away like some defeated fool.I reach
Daniella’s POVA surreal feeling so overwhelming filled me as soon as I stepped into my boutique, my heart pounding with excitement and nervous anticipation. Tonight was the night—the grand opening of Joshill Jewelers, my dream brought to life. Everything was perfect—from the elegant golden chandeliers casting warm light over the polished glass display cases to the soft classical music playing in the background. The staff moved around with precision, making last-minute adjustments, and outside, I could already hear the growing murmur of the guests arriving. This was it. I had worked for this moment. I had bled for this moment. And yet, standing here, dressed in an elegant champagne-colored gown, my fingers grazing the delicate necklace I had designed myself, I felt the familiar tug of the past creeping in. New York. The city I had fled from. The place where I had once lost myself—where I had loved a man who never loved me back.The memories hit me even though they were u
Daniella’s POVThe night had been perfect.The grand opening of Joshill Jewelers had exceeded my expectations. The boutique was filled with influential guests, business moguls, and high-profile clients, all marveling at the craftsmanship of our designs. I had spent the evening moving from conversation to conversation, gracefully accepting compliments, and basking in the success of everything I had built from nothing.This was my moment.My rebirth.But then, he came.Liam Garvalle.I felt his presence before I even saw him.It was an unsettling thing, how my body still reacted to him, how my senses recognized him even before my eyes landed on his tall, commanding figure. He hadn’t changed. If anything, he looked sharper, crueler. The crisp black suit molded to his powerful frame, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd with an arrogance that hadn’t dimmed in the slightest.I swallowed hard and turned away, pretending I hadn’t seen him.Not tonight.Not when I had fought so hard to move pa
Roy’s POVThe night was supposed to be Daniella’s.She had worked hard, sacrificed everything, and built herself back up from nothing. This store was more than just a business; it was proof that she had survived, that she had taken the shattered pieces of her past and turned them into something beautiful.And then Liam Garvalle had to go and ruin it.I had watched it unfold in real-time, standing helplessly as Daniella’s world crumbled again. The second that bastard dropped to one knee and pulled out that ring for Matilda, the air had been sucked out of the room.I saw the way Daniella froze, the way her fingers trembled around the champagne glass she had been holding. Her lips had parted slightly, but no words came out. Her entire body locked up like she had been transported back in time, forced to relive all the pain he had put her through.She had been so strong.She had smiled through his cold rejection, endured his indifference, and when she had finally, finally moved on, he had
Liam stood rooted to the ground, the smile he’d worn moments ago stretched tightly across his face like a mask too brittle to hold. Daniella’s retreating figure moved with quiet resolve, her back straight, her shoulders squared against the world. She didn’t glance back—not once. That alone gutted him more than anything else.He swallowed hard, something bitter clinging to the back of his throat. It felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and thrown into the wind, left to scatter in pieces he’d never gather again. The ache in his chest wasn’t sudden—it had been there for a while now, like an infection he’d ignored until it became impossible to ignore. But now, watching her walk away with that same quiet strength that once kept him afloat, Liam realized the finality of it. She was no longer his. Maybe she never had been.He blinked fast, furious even at himself, when he felt his vision blur. It was ridiculous. He wasn’t the kind of man who cried. He’d trained his whole life
A waiter handed Grace and Daniella a flute of sparkling wine. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile so much. Careful now. Your face might just get stuck like that.” Daniella let out a soft laugh, her eyes fixed on the dance floor where Dalton twirled Sophie around like she was made of air and starlight. The little girl’s laughter rang out, bright and unrestrained, her hands clasped tightly around Dalton’s as he spun her again.“Look at them,” Daniella whispered, her voice barely audible above the music. “He adores her.”Grace followed her gaze and smiled. “And she adores him right back. She hasn’t stopped laughing all evening.”A soft warmth bloomed in Daniella’s chest, almost too much to bear. Her heart swelled as she watched her daughter shriek with joy, her little shoes tapping against the polished wood as Dalton guided her gently, protectively, like she was the most precious thing in the world.A perfect moment.And yet…For the briefest flicker of a second, a shadow moved acros
It was already past noon when the wedding ceremony ended, and it was time for the reception. The garden outside shimmered under a thousand golden fairy lights, casting a warm, dreamlike glow over the venue. Music floated through the air, soft and romantic. Laughter rippled among the tables, clinking glasses, and heartfelt banter among the guests.At the heart of it all stood Dalton, tall and regal in a dark tailored suit that made his eyes gleam. Beside him, Daniella, radiant in another gown she changed for the reception. The gown was made of moonlight lace and soft pearl, and her hair was adorned with tiny blossoms. She smiled with trembling lips as the band shifted melodies."Ladies and gentlemen," the emcee announced with so much enthusiasm, "please turn your attention to the floor for the bride and groom’s first dance as husband and wife."Applause erupted as Dalton stepped forward and extended his hand to Daniella, bowing slightly. She placed her hand in his, her touch feather-li
WEDDING DAYThe sun rose that morning with a golden brilliance, casting its warmth over the Garvalle estate and bathing everything in a honeyed glow. There was a pulse in the air—a quiet buzz of anticipation that seemed to stretch into the trees, shake the birds from their nests, and awaken every wolf in the pack with a shared thought:Today was the day Daniella and Dalton were getting married.The pack had begun preparing days ago, but this morning, everything snapped into focus. The pack house, usually a center of training and council, had been transformed overnight into something magical. Banners in silver and deep forest green—the Hollow pack colors—fluttered gently in the breeze. Strings of delicate fairy lights were wrapped around the towering pine columns that lined the courtyard, and clusters of white roses were being fastened to every banister, doorframe, and post with painstaking care.In the great hall, pack members bustled with purpose, laughter echoing off the walls as fi
A DAY BEFORE THE WEDDINGThe grand hall of the Pack's estate buzzed with anticipation. Sunlight streamed through the towering stained-glass windows, casting vibrant mosaics of gold, crimson, and indigo across the polished marble floor. The scent of lavender and pine—blended with the faintest trace of ceremonial incense—drifted through the air, adding a sacred hush to the magnificence of the space.At the arched entrance beneath the crest of the Crescent Moon, Alpha Reid stood tall in a dark, ceremonial coat lined with silver embroidery. Beside him, Luna Maeve wore a flowing gown of midnight blue, the fabric catching the light like liquid stars. Her long auburn hair was pinned back with silver combs shaped like crescent moons, echoing the pack’s symbol and legacy.Reid adjusted the cuff of his jacket, casting a sweeping glance across the ballroom. His normally impassive face showed a rare flicker of uncertainty.“They’re all coming,” he said, his voice low but edged with tension. “Alph
PRESENT TIME (SOPHIE AND DANIELLA)Life didn’t snap back to normal the moment they walked through the front door, but little by little, Sophie and Daniella found their rhythm again.The mornings, once quiet and still, began with the familiar hum of the kettle and the comforting scent of chamomile and cinnamon. Daniella would wake before Sophie, padding through the house in her slippers, letting the silence settle around her. It helped her breathe—helped her remind herself that they were safe now.Sophie, once hesitant to leave her mother’s side even for a minute, slowly began venturing back into her own room, her laughter gradually returning. At first, she trailed behind Daniella like a shadow—silent, watchful—but eventually, she returned to her books, her sketches, the odd habit of humming while brushing her hair.They kept things simple in those first few weeks. Grocery runs were done together, hand in hand. They cooked meals with music playing in the background—sometimes jazz, some
Alpha Czar sat in his high-backed leather chair, a sealed ivory envelope resting in his palm. His fingers traced the wax seal embossed with the sigil of the Riverdale Pack—a howling wolf curled beneath a crescent moon. The letter had arrived just before dawn, hand-delivered by a warrior.Curiosity had flickered in his chest when he first opened it. Now, as his eyes scanned the invitation again, something strange unfurled in his chest—something old and aching.Together with their families, Alpha Dalton of the Riverdale Pack and Daniella Thornhill cordially invite Alpha Czar of the Emerald Pack to celebrate their union in marriage. The ceremony will be held under the full moon on the 14th of August, at twilight, in the sacred glade of Riverdale. A reception will follow under the stars. Your presence would honor us.Czar read it twice. Then a third time. He had received a personal invite, out of respect and a longstanding alliance with Alpha Reid, Dalton’s father.As his eyes
FIVE YEARS AFTER HIS LOSSAlpha Czar stood at the edge of the valley with his hands clasped behind his back. The scent of pine and frost filled his lungs, but it brought no comfort—not tonight. Not after all this time.He had come here on the same night every year for the past five years. A ritual of sorts. A silent vigil in the hope that the wind would change, that the earth would stir and return what had been stolen from him.His mate. His daughter.The memory still struck him with sharp, unforgiving clarity. One moment he had held her in his arms, his tiny daughter wrapped in her mother’s scent, warm and cooing softly against his chest. The next, there had been chaos—blood everywhere, screams in the darkness, and an aching silence that had never truly left him.He had searched every region, crossed every territory, called in every favour he was owed. Elders, seers, witches—he had begged them all. But each trail ran cold. And now… he was done.“I can’t do this anymore,” Czar murmure
The first thing Daniella remembered was warmth.After weeks—perhaps months, she couldn’t be sure—of cold stone, rough rope, hunger, and fear so constant it felt like a part of her skin, the heat of the blanket around her was a shock. Her eyelids fluttered as light seeped through, soft and golden, nothing like the oppressive dimness of the place she’d been held. For a moment, she didn’t move. She was afraid that if she opened her eyes, the illusion would shatter and she would find herself back in that place again, chained to fear.But then came the sound of gentle voices—real voices, not threats or barked orders. The lilt of care, the rhythm of kindness. And something else… laughter. Childish, light, and echoing through walls that didn’t drip with damp or desperation.Daniella's eyes snapped open.She sat up too quickly, and her ribs protested with a sharp ache. The pain was grounding, almost reassuring. She was real. Alive.The room was simple, but clean and cozy. Pale cream walls, a