Arianna walked through the packhouse halls, her cheeks still flushed from the heated moments she had shared with Xavier. The lingering warmth of his touch still tingled on her skin, and she had to remind herself to stay focused. Meeting Alice was supposed to be the main priority right now. Still, the smile on her lips wouldnโt fade, and the butterflies in her stomach kept fluttering from the memory of Xavierโs possessiveness.When she reached the common area, she spotted Alice sitting on a couch, casually sipping from a cup of tea. Aliceโs eyes lit up when she saw Arianna approaching, but they immediately narrowed in playful suspicion when she glanced at the time."Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up," Alice teased, setting down her cup. "I thought we were meeting an hour ago."Ariannaโs face turned an even deeper shade of pink. "Sorry, I got a little... caught up," she mumbled, fiddling with the hem of her shirt as she tried to keep her composure.Alice raised an ey
The packhouse was buzzing with excitement as the evening approached. The grand dining hall was set up for a pack dinner, where members from various ranks would gather, enjoying food, laughter, and camaraderie. Arianna smoothed out the fabric of her dress, admiring the simple yet elegant look in the mirror. She could already hear the lively chatter from downstairs.As she reached for her shoes, she felt a familiar warmth envelop her. Xavierโs arms snaked around her waist from behind, pulling her close. "You look stunning, my love," he whispered into her ear, his breath sending shivers down her spine. Arianna smiled, leaning into his embrace. "Thank you, but weโre going to be late if you donโt let me go."Xavier chuckled softly, his lips grazing her neck. "Maybe I donโt mind being late. Iโd rather have you all to myself."Arianna rolled her eyes playfully, turning in his arms to face him. "Behave, Alpha," she teased, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "We have to attend this dinner."Xa
The moment they entered their bedroom, Arianna spun around to face Xavier, her eyes blazing with frustration. She crossed her arms over her chest, her lips pursed into a thin line as she prepared to give him a piece of her mind."What was that back there?" she demanded, glaring up at him.Xavier, however, only chuckled, his arms folding casually over his broad chest as he leaned back against the door, watching her with that infuriating smirk that made her want to both kiss and slap him at the same time."Back where, love?" he asked innocently, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I have no idea what you're talking about.""You know exactly what I'm talking about," Arianna snapped, taking a step closer. "At the dinner table! Touching me like that in front of everyone. You embarrassed me, Xavier.""Embarrassed you?" he repeated, his grin widening as he pushed off the door and closed the space between them. "I think you liked it more than youโre admitting. If anything, you seemed to enjoy
Andrew stood in his dark study, his expression hardened with determination. His goal had always been clearโArianna, his own daughter, was the key to ultimate power. The fact that she was growing stronger, both as an Lycan and as Xavierโs mate, was making her a threat to his plans. He had to act now before it was too late. The door creaked open, and Lydia, the witch he had been working with, entered the room. Her steps were light, almost gliding as she approached him, her dark eyes scanning him with interest. โYou summoned me,โ she said, her voice low and sultry, though Andrew showed no interest in her tone. โI did,โ Andrew responded coldly, his eyes narrowed. โI need to know if thereโs a ritual that can strip Arianna of her powers. Sheโs becoming too powerful, and I can't allow her to stand in my way any longer.โ Lydia tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. โStrip her powers? You donโt wish to control her?โ Andrewโs jaw tightened. โControl isnโt enough. I want h
The dimly lit room carried a heavy air of conspiracy. Andrew, his eyes cold and calculating, stood in front of Lydia, who was preparing the final steps of a ritual that would allow them to manipulate Arianna. But this time, their pawn was not a victim but a vengeful, cunning woman who hated Arianna with every fiber of her being.Daniella stepped into the room, her head held high, her eyes gleaming with a dark, burning desire. Gone was the grief-stricken widowโthis Daniella was fueled by one thing: vengeance.โIโm ready,โ Daniella said coldly, her voice laced with contempt. โWhat do you need from me?โAndrew turned to face her, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. โYouโve been patient, Daniella. Raymondโs death was... unfortunate. But now is the time to strike back. We both want the same thingโAriannaโs downfall. This time, weโll make sure her power is ours to control, and she will suffer for everything she took from you.โDaniellaโs lips curled into a sneer. โI donโt care
Xavier was sitting in his office, going over the pack's security measures, when one of the patrol guards mind-linked him. His wolf, Gray, instantly grew alert, sensing something was off.โAlpha, weโve found a wounded she-wolf at the border. Sheโs unconscious... and pregnant. Weโre bringing her to the packhouse now.โXavierโs brows furrowed as he stood up abruptly, quickly sending a message to Arianna. His mate was in the training grounds, finishing up her day. He didnโt want to worry her but knew this situation needed her attention.By the time Arianna arrived at the packhouse, Xavier was already waiting at the entrance with a couple of the guards. Her wolf, Aurora, was on high alert, sensing the tension in Xavierโs demeanor."What happened?" Arianna asked as she approached him, her heartbeat quickening at the sight of her mateโs concerned expression.โThey found a pregnant she-wolf, wounded at the border,โ Xavier said, his voice tense. โSheโs unconscious, but theyโre bringing her in.
It had been two days since Daniella had been brought into their pack, and though Arianna had tried to stay cautious, something was gnawing at her heart. Raymondโs chosen mateโor rather, his widowโwas still in the packhouse, recovering under strict supervision. Every part of Arianna screamed to be wary of her, but a small partโthe part that cared for innocent lifeโwas conflicted. The sound of soft footsteps behind her broke her thoughts. She turned to see Daniella standing at the door of her room, looking pale and weak, her baby bump more pronounced in the light of the room.โArianna,โ Daniellaโs voice was fragile, barely above a whisper. โCan I talk to you?โArianna's first instinct was to send her away, to tell her she didn't trust her, but something in the way Daniella clutched her stomach made Arianna pause. Aurora, Ariannaโs wolf, stirred within her, sensing the vulnerability in the air.โSpeak,โ Arianna said, her voice cold but allowing Daniella to enter.Daniella took a few sl
Over the next few days, Daniella wasted no time making herself seem indispensable around the packhouse. Despite the growing tension between her and Xavier, and the ever-watchful eyes of Alice, she played her role flawlesslyโacting the part of the repentant and vulnerable she-wolf, desperate to protect her unborn child.โLet me help with that, Arianna,โ Daniella offered with a warm smile, reaching for the basket of laundry Arianna was carrying.Arianna hesitated for a moment but handed her the basket, her eyes scanning Daniellaโs face for any sign of deception. โYou should be resting, Daniella. Youโre pregnant, after all.โDaniella sighed dramatically, one hand resting protectively on her bump. โI appreciate the concern, but I canโt just sit around doing nothing. It helps keep my mind off... everything.โArianna nodded slowly, though her instincts told her to remain cautious. โJust donโt overexert yourself.โAlice, who was leaning against the kitchen counter nearby, narrowed her eyes s
Hey Readers! So here we are done with the book. Thanks for all the love you guys gave to the book. Thank you so much! Love you all!
Ariannaโs POV โCome on, Uncle Ben! Auntie Alice! Letโs goooooo!โ Amaraโs high-pitched squeal of excitement echoed through the hallway as she tugged impatiently at Benโs hand. Her little face was lit up like it was Christmas morning, her blue eyes shining with mischief and anticipation. Ben chuckled, ruffling the soft curls on top of her head. โHold your horses, princess. Weโve got all day.โ โAll dayyyy!โ Amara mimicked him, bouncing on her toes as she swung their intertwined hands back and forth. โMommy said I can get whatever I want!โ Alice laughed as she slipped on her jacket. โDid she now? Well, weโre going to have a lot of fun spoiling you, then.โ Amara grinned wide, already envisioning the mountains of toys and dresses she would collect. โIโm gonna get all the toys, Auntie Alice! And maybe a unicorn!โ โWell, letโs see what we can find,โ Alice said, smiling down at her favorite little niece, the one who had everyone in the pack wrapped around her finger. โMaybe we can
Ariannaโs POV"Xavier!" I shouted, hands on my hips as I surveyed the mess in the kitchen. Flour was everywhereโon the floor, the counters, and even the ceiling, for goddessโs sake. In the center of it all stood my three-year-old daughter, Amara, her chubby cheeks smeared with frosting, holding a wooden spoon like a sword. And beside her, just as guilty, was my mate, my supposedly mature husband, Xavier, looking way too proud of himself.Amara turned to me with her big innocent eyes, the same brilliant blue as her fatherโs, and giggled. "Mommy, we made a cake for you!"I couldnโt help but sigh. "This looks more like a cake explosion, sweetheart.""Itโs... a work in progress," Xavier said, trying to stifle his laughter as he wiped flour off his brow. "We were just... experimenting."I gave him a hard look, crossing my arms. "By 'experimenting,' you mean turning the entire kitchen into a disaster zone?"Amara beamed up at me. "Daddy says it's called 'creative freedom'!""Creative free
Xavier's POV "Look at her, Arianna," I whispered, completely in awe of the tiny figure bundled up in my arms. Our little Amara, our princess, was finally here. Her soft, pink cheeks and tiny fingers wrapped around mine, and I couldnโt believe how small and perfect she was. She looked so peaceful, her little face relaxed as she slept. Arianna smiled at me from the bed, exhaustion still evident in her eyes, but I could see the love and pride in her gaze. "Sheโs perfect," she murmured, her voice soft. "I canโt believe, She's finally here," Arianna finished, her voice filled with wonder. She reached out, and I carefully passed Amara into her waiting arms. Watching them togetherโmy strong, fierce mate holding our tiny, delicate daughterโsomething inside me melted. "Sheโs everything," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Arianna. "I never knew I could love someone so much, and yet here we areโwith her." Arianna smiled as she gazed down at Amara, her fingers brushing o
Ariannaโs POV"Xavier!" I gasped, clutching my stomach as a sharp pain rippled through me. It felt like someone had taken hold of my insides and twisted them. I stumbled against the doorway, my breaths coming in shallow pants. This wasnโt just a regular painโthis was the moment weโd been waiting for ever since the gender was revealed. Xavier rushed to my side in an instant, his eyes wide with concern. "Arianna? Whatโs wrong? Is itโ""Itโs time," I managed to breathe out, gripping his arm for support. "The babyโฆ sheโs coming."His face transformed from shock to determination in a split second. Without hesitation, he scooped me up in his arms, cradling me gently against his chest. "Hold on, love. Weโre going to the hospital. Iโll make sure everything is okay."I could only nod, trying to focus on my breathing as the pain came in waves. My body felt heavy, but I knew I had to stay calmโfor the baby, for Xavier, for both of us.The journey to the pack hospital felt like a blur. Xavier mo
Xavierโs POV "Xavier! Whereโs my ice cream? You said youโd bring it hours ago!" Ariannaโs voice echoed through the halls of the palace, a mixture of impatience and frustration lacing her words. I sighed, a smile tugging at my lips as I hurried down the corridor with a large bowl of her favorite chocolate ice cream. Pregnancy had brought out a side of Arianna that was both fierce and demanding, and yet, seeing her this way only made me love her more. She was carrying our pupโour future. The thought made my chest swell with pride. "Iโm right here, love," I called out as I entered the bedroom. Arianna was sitting in bed, her swollen belly accentuating her radiant glow. Even though she looked frustrated, I could see the excitement in her eyes when she spotted the ice cream. She was a force of nature, a queen in every sense of the word, and even though her pregnancy had come with mood swings, cravings, and exhaustion, she handled it all with grace. Well, most of the time. "Itโs about ti
Arianna's POV The air between us felt charged the moment we entered the room, and I could feel the intensity radiating off Xavier. His eyes darkened, filled with a hunger I knew all too well. My pulse quickened as he closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the quiet space. The only sound left was my heartbeat, racing in anticipation. Without a word, Xavier crossed the room, his gaze never leaving mine. He moved with that lethal grace, a predator watching its prey. Xavier crossed the room in a matter of seconds, his presence looming over me like a storm waiting to break. His eyes, dark with desire, pinned me to the spot as if I couldnโt move even if I tried. I didnโt want to. His raw power and intensity were magnetic, pulling me closer, and the bond between us hummed, alive with emotion and need. โXavierโฆโ I breathed, barely able to get the word out as my throat tightened with anticipation. He didnโt say a word as he reached for me, his hands firm but gentle a
In the days that followed, Arianna and Alice worked tirelessly to implement new training programs for the warriors, emphasizing unity and teamwork among the packs. They organized drills that showcased the unique strengths of each group, fostering camaraderie and respect.Arianna often found herself reflecting on her newfound role. As the Lycan Queen, she felt a deep sense of responsibility, not just to her own people but to all the beings in their realm. She was determined to honor Claraโs memory by ensuring that no more lives would be lost to betrayal and violence.One evening, as Arianna sat in her chambers, reviewing plans for the upcoming training sessions, she was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Alice stepped in, her expression contemplative.โArianna, can we talk?โ she asked, closing the door behind her.โOf course, Alice. Whatโs on your mind?โ Arianna replied, setting her documents aside.โIโve been thinking about Daniella,โ Alice began. โWhile I know we must keep a cl
Arianna took a deep breath, steadying herself against the wave of emotions crashing within her. โYouโre right, Xavier. We need to handle this delicately. Iโll address the packs and reassure them of our commitment to justice and order.โโLetโs gather the council again,โ Alice suggested. โWe need to ensure that everyone is informed and on the same page.โWith a firm nod, Arianna stood and led the way to the council chamber, Xavier and Alice following closely behind. As they walked through the grand hall, the weight of the impending announcement hung heavily in the air. Once inside the chamber, the atmosphere was tense. The council members exchanged worried glances, their voices hushed as Arianna took her seat at the head of the table.โThank you for coming on such short notice,โ she began, her tone firm yet compassionate. โI have urgent news regarding Alpha Henry. He has been found dead in his cell under suspicious circumstances.โThe room erupted into murmurs of disbelief, and Arianna