Mrs. Garvalle stood at the threshold of the room, seething in anger as she watched her son, Liam, hovering over Matilda with concern written all over his features. Matilda, lying dramatically on the bed, clutched at her stomach, her cries sharp and pitiful. The sight of her wailing as though she were at death’s door ignited a deep resentment in Mrs. Garvalle’s heart.“Lie down,” he ordered, his voice taut, betraying the storm of emotions brewing beneath his otherwise stoic facade.Matilda, cradling her stomach, whimpered dramatically. “It hurts, Liam! It hurts so much!”Mrs. Garvalle scoffed under her breath. It was all a ploy, a charade played to perfection. There was no doubt in her mind that Matilda had turned the situation to her advantage. The way she collapsed, the manner in which she clutched at her stomach only after Liam had entered—it was too precise, too deliberate. The slap had been warranted. The insolent girl had defied her, insulted her authority, and now she dared to
Liam sat in his study, his mind reeled, unable to comprehend what had just happened. Matilda had miscarried. The words echoed in his mind, hollow and unrelenting. He had barely processed it himself before he was forced to inform his mother.Mrs. Garvalle looked up in surprise when he burst in unannounced, his face a mask of anguish and barely controlled fury. Jessica was sitting beside their mother, elegantly sipping her tea and pressing her phone at the same time."She lost the pup," Liam announced, his voice raw.His mother paled. "What?" she whispered. "She was pregnant? No one told me."Liam’s jaw clenched. "Apparently, she was. And now she isn't. She said she had miscarried because of what had happened last night. Because you pushed her."Mrs. Garvalle stiffened, her nostrils flaring. "I pushed her? That is a lie. I slapped her, yes, because she had the audacity to defy me in my own home, to speak to me as if I were beneath her. But push her? Never. That girl is spinning tales ag
The day of Liam’s mating ceremony passed like any other for Daniella. Or at least, she tried to convince herself it did. She had been expecting it. The news had spread like wildfire through the country with every newspaper carrying the story of the wedding between of Alpha Liam and Matilda. The story of him finally taking Matilda as his Luna, sealing their bond in a grand ceremony attended by the most powerful werewolf families. The announcement had not shaken her as much as she had thought it would. Perhaps, after everything, she had grown numb to pain.She went about her day as usual, keeping herself occupied with work at the store. The orders needed to be organized, shipments checked, and invoices reviewed. Daniella buried herself in the mundane, determined to let the day pass unnoticed.But fate was not so merciful.It happened so suddenly that she barely had time to brace herself. A violent, tearing sensation ripped through her chest as if invisible claws had sunk into her heart
The drive home was made in silence as Daniella leaned her head against the glass, totally exhausted. The pain had passed, but a strange hollowness remained, as though something had been ripped from inside her, leaving her feeling raw. When they arrived at her house, he quickly moved around to open the passenger door. “Come on,” he murmured, offering his arm. She took it without protest, her limbs feeling heavier than they should.Inside, the house was eerily quiet. Daniella had earlier informed him that her daughter, Sophie, and her nanny were away at Grace’s family farm. Dalton helped her onto the couch, watching as she sank into the cushions with a sigh."Are you okay?" he asked softly, kneeling beside her as she sank into the cushions.Daniella exhaled slowly. "I think so. Just… weak."Dalton frowned. He had never seen her like this before. Daniella had always been strong, even when life had treated her cruelly. Seeing her collapse today had shaken him more than he cared to admit
Dalton had not intended to fall asleep. He had planned to stay only long enough to ensure that Daniella was settled and feeling better before heading home. But exhaustion had crept up on him—perhaps from the uncertainties that beseeched the day or simply the comfortable warmth of the couch. The last thing he remembered was Daniella curled up beside him, staring at the screen in weary silence as the muted hum of the television filled the room. His body ached slightly from the way he had been slumped on the couch, and when he stirred awake, the first thing he noticed was Daniella's eyes on him. She sat on the armchair across from the couch, her legs tucked under her, her gaze steady and contemplative.He blinked, momentarily disoriented, then sat up, rubbing a hand over his face."How long have you been awake?" his voice was hoarse with sleep."Not too long," Daniella replied softly, offering him a small, almost apologetic smile. "I didn’t want to wake you."Dalton stretched his arms
It was late afternoon when the sound of a car engine hummed to a stop in the driveway. Almost immediately, a cacophony of children's voices filled the compound, their excitement echoing through the crisp air. Daniella barely had time to brace herself before she saw a small figure racing towards them, pigtails bouncing with each hurried step."Uncle Dalton!" Sophie shrieked, flinging herself into his waiting arms.Dalton caught her effortlessly, lifting her off the ground in one smooth motion. He grinned, holding her close as she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck."Missed me, huh?" he teased, pulling back slightly to look into her wide, joyful eyes."Yes!" Sophie declared with conviction.Dalton chuckled. "How much?" he prompted, already anticipating her response.Without hesitation, Sophie stretched her arms as wide as they could go, her fingers wiggling. "This much!"Laughter rang through the air as he playfully swung her around, eliciting a delighted squeal from the little girl.
Late afternoon, Grace and Ethan prepared to leave. Grace sighed, adjusting the strap of her handbag on her shoulder.“I hate driving in the dark,” Grace muttered, pulling her jacket tighter around her as she gave Daniella a firm hug. “I swear, these roads turn into a horror movie set the moment the sun dips.”Daniella laughed, though she felt a small pang of sadness as her friend prepared to leave. “I’d tell you to stay the night, but I know Roy would come banging on my door, demanding to know what I’ve done with his wife and son.”Grace smirked. “He’s hopeless without me, and we both know it.”Dalton, who had been standing beside the car with Sophie clinging to his hand, chuckled. “That’s the price of being indispensable.”Grace rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. She leaned down, planting a kiss on Sophie’s forehead. “Be good to your mum, okay? And stop terrorizing Ethan.”“I do not terrorize Ethan!” Sophie protested, but Ethan, standing behind Grace, made a face that said otherwis
The next morning, Daniella drove Sophie to school. The drive to school had become a comforting routine, a pocket of time in which mother and daughter shared silly jokes and favorite songs. The little girl sat in the backseat, swinging her legs, her tiny fingers playing with the hem of her school skirt. There was a thoughtful silence between them, one that Daniella had grown to recognize. Sophie was thinking, which meant questions were coming.“Mummy?” Sophie’s voice was soft, hesitant, yet filled with the natural curiosity of a child.“Yes, sweetheart?” Daniella glanced at her through the rearview mirror, offering her a gentle smile.Sophie hesitated, her little brows furrowed as she toyed with the straps of her backpack. “Who is my daddy?”Daniella sucked in her breath, she knew sophie would ask the question someday but she never expected it to be so soon. Her hands tightened around the steering wheel as her heart pounded against her ribs. She had always known this moment would come,
Mrs. Garvalle turned to Liam, placing a firm but elegant hand on his forearm. Her voice was clipped, refined with years of social grace, but it left little room for debate.“Liam, it’s time,” she said, eyes flitting across the lavish ballroom toward the dais where Daniella and Dalton stood surrounded by well-wishers. “We should go and present our gift now.”Liam exhaled sharply through his nose, his jaw tightening ever so slightly as he followed her gaze. There they were — Daniella and Dalton — standing side by side beneath the soft golden lights, their heads bent close as they laughed quietly at something shared between them. The sight of Daniella smiling like that, not at him but at another man, twisted something low in his chest.His hands, buried in the pockets of his tailored coat, clenched into fists.He turned his eyes away, unwilling to let his expression betray the turmoil roiling inside him. “No,” he muttered finally, voice low and gravelled.Mrs. Garvalle turned to him, bro
Once adorned with steaming platters and fresh-baked bread, the long table now lay scattered with used linen napkins and half-full wine glasses. At the head of the hall, Daniella sat with Sophie nestled at her side, the child still clutching the handmade cloth doll Grace had given her during dinner. Sophie’s cheeks were rosy from all the affection and attention, but her eyes darted occasionally toward the door, as if still fearing this was all a fragile dream that might vanish.Dalton, seated next to Daniella, reached under the table and gently squeezed her hand. She turned to look at him, her smile weary but grateful. Then the sound of a wooden staff striking the ground once, then twice, reverberated through the hall. All eyes turned toward the ceremonial steward standing near the hearth.“May I have your attention?” the steward declared in a deep, commanding voice. "Tonight, we don’t only celebrate a reunion, or even survival. We celebrate love, loyalty, and the unwavering ties of b
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