Alpha Richard Brown.I never imagined I would kill her. Not like this. Not in front of everyone who mattered.“She’s not good enough to clean my boots, let alone be my Luna,” I had said about my real mate many times.But Amelia? Amelia had been everything I wanted. Strong, fierce, and beautiful. The perfect Luna for an Alpha like me.Now she lay dead at my feet. My claws, still slick with her blood, trembled as the reality crashed over me.I had torn out her throat right there in the grand hall, witnessed by every Alpha in the territory. Her lifeless eyes stared up at me.Everyone just stared. No one moved. No one even breathed. They were too scared. The beast inside me had taken over, and everyone could see it.“WHY?” I screamed at the air, my voice breaking. “Why did you kill my mate, Parker? TELL ME WHY!”My wolf’s voice slithered through my mind, cruel and mocking. “Your mate?”His laughter was like shards of glass in my skull. “Did you really just call her your mate, Richard? She
Alpha RichardThe sound of high heels clicking on the marble floor told me Amelia was coming. She didn’t knock—she never did.She walked into my office like she owned it, wearing a tight red dress that showed off her body.“Hello, darling,” she said in a sweet voice that made me want to growl.I didn’t look up from the territorial reports spread before me. “You knock before entering my office. Always.”“Oh, Richard.” She laughed, a sound like tinkling glass that grated on my nerves. “Surely I don’t need permission to see my own mate.”The word ‘mate’ from her lips made my jaw clench. I set down my pen and looked at her with cold eyes.“You are not my mate, Amelia. You’re just a deal. Something useful. Just because I gave you the Luna title doesn’t mean you earned it.”Her smile cracked for a second. Pain flashed in her eyes before she hid it. “Of course, Alpha. I just meant—”“I know what you meant.” I leaned back and stared at her like she was nothing. “And that’s exactly why you’ll
JaneHis smile revealed perfect white teeth, and I felt my knees go weak. “I’m Vishal,” he said, extending his hand. “I don’t think we’ve met. What’s your name?”The simple gesture—his hand reaching toward mine—sent electricity shooting up my arm when our skin touched.I had to force myself to focus on his words instead of the way his touch made my entire body come alive.“I’m Jane,” I managed, trying to keep my voice steady. “And I should probably be asking if you’re new here, since I’m one of the pack’s female warriors.”His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and something that looked like respect flickered across his features. “My apologies—I should have known better.”He ran a hand through that golden hair, looking almost embarrassed. “I’ve been away for extended Beta training. I’m Vishal—the future Beta of this pack.”My stomach dropped to my feet. Beta. Future Beta. Which meant...“You’re Ella’s brother,” I breathed, the pieces clicking into place. “She talks about you constantly.”O
JaneThe phone felt heavy in my hands. Months had passed since I’d last spoken to Mom, and the guilt gnawed at my chest. I’d been so consumed with training, with proving myself, that I’d let our relationship slip through my fingers.My thumb hovered over her contact. What if she was angry? What if she’d given up on me?Taking a shaky breath, I pressed the call.“Pick up, Mom,” I whispered to myself.On the third ring, her familiar voice filled the silence. “Hello?”“Hi, Mom.” The words came out smaller. “How are you?”“Jane! Oh, my darling daughter.” The warmth in her voice nearly broke me. “I’m fine, sweetheart. How are you doing? I’ve been so worried.”I could picture her now—probably sitting in her favorite chair by the window, the one where she used to read me stories. Despite what I’d told myself, she wouldn’t have aged that much in these few months.Mom had always been beautiful, with the kind of timeless grace that made people stop and stare.But I knew she’d been lonely. Befor
Amira.“You are already strong, Jane. You have fought with the strongest pack warrior, and you have won,” I muttered. My voice cracked with how much I believed this. “You’ve proven yourself a hundred times over. Please take a break from this everyday training, and stop punishing yourself like this.”“I don’t think so. What if I meet a stronger one? One that is stronger than my current self? Someone who can break me as easily as he did with words? Then what should I do? Should I wait and get myself killed? Should I let myself be destroyed again? I understand you, Amira,” she uttered.“I know you’re looking out for me, Amira. But I want you to try to understand me as well. If I don’t train, I will get killed by a powerful enemy. If I don’t become unbreakable, the next person who wants to hurt me will win.”Her reason was reasonable, but it was built on fear that broke my heart. I could see it now. She wasn’t training to become stronger. She was training to become immune to pain.She was
AmiraJane was trying to hide who her mate was. The silence between us felt heavy and thick. I could see the walls she had built around herself. These walls were made of secrets and shame.Every part of me wanted to break through those walls. I wanted to shake the truth from her lips. But I couldn’t do that.I wouldn’t become another person who forced her to speak. I wouldn’t become another voice asking for pieces of her soul when she wasn’t ready to give them.I didn’t want to force or bully her into telling us, either. I didn’t want her to hate me or stay away from me. But I couldn’t shake off the curiosity that ate at me like a living thing. The unease followed close behind. It whispered terrible things in my mind.From the little Jane had shared, he had sounded dangerous and cruel. He had sounded like a nightmare that came to life. The kind of monster who would look at someone as pure as Jane and choose to destroy instead of love.I worried about the impact he had had on her. I wa