RayneThe last six years had been... good. Or, at least, that’s what I told myself on most days.Taking over as Alpha after my father’s passing was the smoothest part of it all. No power struggles. No opposition. Everyone knew I was next in line and respected that. I’d spent years preparing for the role, watching every move my father made, even the ones I swore I’d never repeat. Especially the ones I swore I’d never repeat.One of the first things I did as Alpha was pass a law—one that shocked the Pack Elders, rattled the conservative Council, and nearly made my mother drop dead with fury. I legalized same-sex unions. Outright. No conditions. No loopholes. No back-alley whispers. A law that said, plainly and publicly, that two Alphas could love each other. That an unconventional couple like us could marry. That love didn’t have to follow some archaic formula just because the older wolves couldn’t stomach the idea of change.And then I married Reed.Reed fucking Smith.To say the Pack
RayneI didn’t expect the day to go sideways before lunch.Alpha Caspian of the Stonebrook Ridge Pack arrived exactly on schedule—black SUVs lined up like a damn parade in front of my residence. He stepped out in his signature navy overcoat, flanked by his warriors and his daughter, Tessa.I’d met Caspian a few times over the past six months. We’d been working together on a joint security project—a cross-border initiative to fortify both our Packs and introduce a shared intel network. It was ambitious. Forward-thinking. The kind of thing that would secure our region for decades.And it had taken six whole months of negotiation to get him this far.The plan was simple: tour our territory, go over the final draft, sign papers.Easy.What I didn’t plan for was Reed.And definitely not Tessa.The moment they stepped into the banquet hall, the tension hit me like a cold slap. Tessa was... beautiful. Delicate and poised, with warm brown skin, large honey eyes, and silky curls cascading down
RayneThe word divorce hit harder than a punch.I stood there, frozen, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and panic. It echoed in my head like a gunshot in an empty room.“I want a divorce.”No warning. No pause. Just the nuclear option.And then he was gone—walking away like I hadn’t just fought the entire world for him.“Reed!” I called, voice hoarse. “Don’t walk away from me!”He didn’t even flinch.He stormed up the stairs, every step a thunderclap, every movement filled with finality. A door slammed seconds later, loud and cruel.I didn’t move.Couldn’t.Divorce.That word didn’t belong in our story. Not after everything we’d survived. Five years of marriage. Longer than that if you counted all the stolen years before. The sneaking around. The lies we told just to be together. The sacrifices.The hate. The opposition. The nights we clung to each other because no one else would understand.I’d gone to war with my own Pack for him. I changed laws for him. I turned my back
RayneThe road stretched ahead like a vein through the forest, dim and endless. The Packlands were mostly quiet this time of night, just a few scattered lights in the distance and the whisper of wind slithering through the trees.I rolled the windows down.Maybe the cold air would sober me up.Maybe it wouldn’t.Didn’t matter.My foot pressed harder on the gas pedal. The trees blurred at the edges of my vision, headlights carving two sharp lines through the dark. I wasn’t aiming for a destination. Just away.Away from the house.Away from Reed.Away from my mother’s voice, still ringing in my skull like a curse.“You let your dick make your decisions.”“You’re the Alpha with Beta-sized balls.”“Your father would be ashamed.”I gritted my teeth, trying to push it all out.But her voice twisted with Reed’s.“You still love her.”“You held back with me.”“You’ll never be free of her.”Amber.Always Amber.I slammed my palm against the steering wheel, letting out a harsh growl.I hated ho
AmberIt had been exactly one week since Ian and I started working at Hunter Valley Hospital.Seven days.And somehow, despite everything I expected—despite every instinct that told me I’d crumble the second I stepped foot back into this territory—I hadn’t.In fact, I was settling in.The hospital itself was nothing like the sterile, cold boxes I had imagined growing up. It was sleek, modern, alive with activity. Sunlight streamed through its wide glass windows in the mornings, and in the evenings, the place glowed softly under warm LED lighting that somehow made even the emergency room feel less terrifying.More importantly, the people were… kind.Not just fake-nice, not polite out of protocol. Genuinely kind.It shocked me.I hadn’t expected kindness—not in Hunter Valley, not as an Omega, and certainly not as someone with a scent still delicate enough that some wolves could pick up the remnants of trauma on it.But the nurses greeted me with smiles. The residents helped when I asked
AmberThe night shift had always been my favorite.Fewer people. Less noise. More space to think.But tonight wasn’t like the others.Today had already been long—I was working a double shift, which included the current night rotation. I’d been on my feet for most of the day, moving from ward to ward, checking in on post-ops, reviewing charts, helping consults.Dr. McQuoid, our Head Surgeon, was away in London for a medical conference, and many of the others had already gone home after their shifts. Ian included. He’d passed me in the hallway a few hours ago, yawning into the crook of his elbow, and tossed a lazy “Good luck surviving the night shift alone,” with that usual boyish grin before heading out.The only other doctor who was supposed to be on call had to rush out last-minute—something about a family emergency—and so, just like that, I was the only surgeon left in the entire building.Technically, I wasn’t alone. A few nurses floated through the halls, checking charts, organizin
AmberThe silence after the nurse’s final words was louder than her shouting.Do you really want his death on your conscience, Dr. Queen?I gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles bone-white, my pulse thudding in my throat like a warning bell. My entire body still felt like it was vibrating—nerves, anger, disgust, fear… it all crashed into me at once, a tidal wave I couldn’t outrun.I didn’t move. Didn’t speak.Olivia stood there, arms folded, jaw tight, waiting.I closed my eyes.Images flickered behind my eyelids. His blood. His body. His scent. The mark on my neck that I scrubbed so raw it bled when I was eighteen. The heat. The rut. The rejection. The shame.Rayne Hunter was the worst thing that ever happened to me.And now he was on my table.Dying.And I was the only one who could stop it.I wanted to say no.Goddess, every part of me wanted to say no. Wanted to scream that he deserved it. That this was karma, destiny, justice. That whatever was happening to him now was only a fr
RayneWaking up felt like drowning in molasses.Everything was thick. Slow. Heavy. Like my body was underwater and my brain was a full ten seconds behind every breath I took.The first thing I noticed was the sound.Beeping.Soft. Steady. Mechanical.The next thing was the pain.Not sharp, not screaming—but everywhere. Deep, aching pressure that pulsed through my body like a warning siren. My skull throbbed as if a drumline had set up camp inside. My abdomen felt tight, bandaged, heavy. And my leg—when I shifted slightly—shot a bolt of pain so intense I almost passed out again.I hissed, biting down a groan.Machines were attached to me. I could see the IV in my arm, feel the leads taped to my chest. The sheets smelled like bleach and latex. Cold. Clean.Hospital.What the hell happened?I tried to sit up, but my muscles screamed in protest. A sharp sting tore through my midsection. I looked down—thick white gauze wrapped around my lower abdomen, stained faintly pink at the edges. My
AmberI heard gasps. Felt every stare pierce through me.Robert didn’t wait.“And there you have it!” He announced triumphantly. “She admits it. Out of her own mouth. She denied a child her father. She let her grow up without the emotional support, the discipline, and the presence of a stable Alpha figure—because her pride was hurt. This wasn’t protection. It was punishment.”He stepped forward. “Miss Queen’s selfishness has already damaged this child. And now she wants the court to let her continue the damage unchecked? At what cost to Evalie’s development? Her future? Her identity?”I wanted to scream. To cry. To collapse and disappear.But Ichika squeezed my hand.I looked down. Her grip was firm. Unshakable. You’re not alone, it said.Robert sat back, oozing victory.Ina rose again.“Your Honor,” she said, her voice like flint, “I request permission to speak.”“Granted.”Ina faced the court like a queen facing her people.“Miss Queen had good reason to withhold Evalie’s identity f
AmberThe courtroom wasn’t what I expected.It was colder. Quieter. A looming silence, only broken by the shuffle of papers and the creak of benches as people took their seats. High ceilings. Fluorescent lighting. A lone judge perched behind the bench, half-obscured by the mahogany podium before him.We took our place on the left side of the room—Ina, Evalie, and I. Ichika, Ken and Ian sat quietly behind us, their presence a fortress of calm I didn’t know I’d need until this moment.Across the aisle sat Rayne and Reed.Rayne looked like stone, his jaw locked tight and his hands folded, knuckles white. Reed, by contrast, looked like he belonged in a different kind of arena—like he was auditioning for an award instead of preparing for legal war. That smug little smirk never left his face.I focused on Evalie, who sat quietly beside me with a coloring book Ichika had brought along to keep her busy. Her small hands moved the crayon slowly across the page, completely unaware of the storm g
AmberThe air felt heavier than usual this morning.I’d barely slept, caught between nerves and the ache behind my ribs that always came when Evalie clung to me in her sleep. Her tiny hand still rested over my stomach as I lay there for a moment longer, memorizing the shape of her breathing.Today, everything could change.I slipped out of bed carefully, tucking the blanket around her. Her blond curls splayed against the pillow, the same soft shade as Rayne’s. I pushed the thought away.The house was already buzzing. I could hear Ichika clinking something in the kitchen—probably forcing Ken to eat breakfast even though his stomach was just as twisted as mine.I went to the bathroom and stared at my reflection. I didn’t recognize the woman looking back. She looked…braver. Or maybe more resigned. I wasn’t sure which one I needed more.By the time I stepped back into the bedroom, Evalie was sitting up, rubbing her eyes.“Morning, pumpkin,” I said, keeping my voice light.Evalie blinked,
AmberEvalie blinked up at me, visibly confused, the way kids often get when something doesn’t click right away. Her little brows scrunched, and I could almost see her mind turning the words over like puzzle pieces that didn’t quite fit—yet.I smiled gently and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.“You know how the other kids in your school have two parents?” I asked, voice soft, steady, though my heart pounded like a drum. “Well… that man from earlier—he’s your other parent. He’s your daddy.”She went very still.The silence that followed was thick. Not heavy exactly—just full. Like the air was holding its breath. I braced myself for her confusion, maybe even tears or questions I wasn’t ready to answer. My stomach clenched. I shouldn’t have waited so long. I should’ve told her sooner, eased her into it. But there was no going back now.Evalie’s lips parted slightly as she processed it… and then—without warning—her entire face lit up.“Really?” she whispered. “I have a daddy?”Be
AmberIt was happening. No more delays. No more hiding.Tomorrow at 10 a.m., I’d walk into that courtroom and face Rayne for the first time in seven years—not as a broken Omega begging for mercy, but as Evalie’s mother fighting for the right to keep her child safe.The weight of it settled over me like a thick, scratchy blanket I couldn’t shake off. After Reed’s impromptu and unpleasant visit last week, the house had been blessedly quiet. No more knocks on the door. No more unwelcome Alpha energy polluting my space. Just peace—and tension so sharp it made my spine ache.Still, I had done what needed to be done. I’d contacted Ina like Ian suggested.From the moment she heard the details of my case, Ina had been all in. It didn’t take much convincing. The second I mentioned Rayne’s name and the pack he was from, she was intrigued. When I explained what I’d been through—the assault, the threats, the power imbalance, and Evalie being the child in question—Ina’s voice grew tight with purpo
AmberReed’s face twisted with rage, eyes flashing like a cornered animal. I saw it— the mask crack. The real him bleeding through.“You slut,” he hissed, venom coating every syllable. “You fucking whore. You always were. Pretending to be some innocent little victim when you’ve been spreading your legs for whatever Alpha shows the slightest interest. Don’t act high and mighty with me.”I said nothing.“You think I don’t know how you got where you are?” He sneered, stepping closer. “You fucked your way through med school. Slept with the right people. Used that pathetic Omega allure of yours to get whatever you wanted. That’s what you do, isn’t it? It’s all you’re good for.”Still, I said nothing. But my hand was tightening on the doorframe so hard my nails were digging into the wood.He leaned forward, eyes dark. “You think this little war you’ve started is noble? That you’re some kind of martyr? You’re not. You’re just a selfish, bitter bitch who can’t handle the fact that she lost. R
AmberI had just gotten off the phone with another lawyer Ichika had managed to reach out to. So far? Things weren’t looking good.They acknowledged I had a solid case—on paper. But in reality, not many lawyers were willing to go up against the literal Alpha of the Pack. Alpha Rayne Hunter. The man had too much influence, too much reach. “It would be bad for business,” one of them said. “Dangerous even.” Another admitted, “Our reputation could suffer long-term if we cross the wrong people.”Their voices blended together into a nauseating chorus of fear and cowardice. It stung. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but the sheer number of rejections was exhausting. And the ones who did consider the case? They were even worse.There was one woman in particular—an Omega, like me. I’d thought that would make a difference. I’d thought she would understand. I don’t know what I expected—compassion, maybe? Solidarity? But what I got instead was gall.The nerve.She had the audacity to chastise me. To
AmberI didn't want Evalie to grow up without me, to ever think for a second that she was unloved and unwanted. I knew exactly what that felt like— I had been abandoned by my own father and brothers—and I would never wish it on my worst enemy.I squeezed my eyes shut, a sob ripping from my chest.This couldn’t happen.I couldn’t let it happen.I almost gave in to the panic, to the devastation — but then a warm, steady presence unfurled inside me, strong and unyielding.Irma.My wolf growled low in my chest, fierce and protective, wrapping around me like an unbreakable shield.“No,” she whispered, her voice a steady thrum in my head. “We are Evalie’s mother. We raised her. We protected her. He cannot take her from us.”She released bursts of endorphins and they washed over me like waves, calming me down and reminding me of happier times. I had flashes of truth — Evalie's little arms around my neck, her sweet giggles filling our home, her sleepy "I love you, Mummy" whispered against my
AmberRayne had been quiet since his abrupt visit, and it was unsettling.I wasn’t sure what I had expected after that day — maybe for him to show up at the hospital, lurking by the emergency entrance like some stubborn shadow. Maybe he'd camp outside the house, demanding to see Evalie. Maybe he'd blow up my phone with calls or texts, shouting accusations. I even thought he'd try to contact Evalie somehow.But he didn’t.Not a call.Not a visit.Nothing.Just silence.And while a small part of me was grateful for the peace, I knew better than to trust it. I knew it was too early to celebrate, too naive to hope that it was over.This — this eerie stillness — it felt like the proverbial calm before the storm.A heavy, loaded quiet that pressed against my chest like a hand waiting to shove me under when I least expected it.I tried to shake the feeling, tried to convince myself I was just being paranoid — that maybe Rayne had gotten the closure he needed. Maybe seeing Evalie, even from a