RYDEN โWhat the fuck is wrong with you?โ I glared at Nora. I was pissed off since morning she kept calling my phone while I was dealing with the issue at the lodge and trying to reach out to my allies for possible signs of wraiths sightings. Yet, there she was, giving me headaches because she was being childish. My mother was right. I should have ended it too soon before she got greedy and asked for more, for something I could not give. โSince she arrived, youโre distracted and busy.โ I huffed out a frustrated and irritating breath. โI am busy. Always busy. Iโm not just running a pack. Iโm running businesses to feed these people who are under my protection, to provide a roof over their heads and a safe haven. I donโt have time for any social life right now, Nora. What you want from me is something I canโt give. From the very beginning, I was straightforward with you. Thereโs no relationship between us. We screw, and thatโs it.โ She flinched. โNo. You changed.โ โPeople changed. P
AMELIA โRyden!โ With my heart jackhammering, I rushed to him as he fell on the floor still gripping the sword. I felt its power blasting across the room, spreading throughout the house, sending vibrations everywhere like the effect of an EMP. Even the lights flickered off and turned it on after. Iโd never seen an effect like this. It didnโt burn Ryden, but somehow it activated its power in his hand. โRyden, let it go!โ Ren came to us to help, but Ryden couldnโt hear us anymore. With his eyes wide shut, and his mouth hanging open, it scared the hell out of me. I realized just now that we were playing with an extensive power that we hadnโt explored yet. Now Ryden could be paying the price. I wrapped my hands around his to suck the power of the sword out of him. The last thing I knew was hearing myself gasping. The surge of energy rushed through me. One moment I was inside his office, and the next thing that happened was brought me to a vast uninhabited land caused by drought. I co
RYDEN โThat was something back there.โ I slumped my ass on my chair. I felt energized and tired at the same time. I wasnโt sure what was going on, but I started learning something. I just talked to their Sensei minutes ago, and that meant something. Magic was not new to me after meeting Califf and Knight and fighting that son of a bitch Cyrius. In our world, it shouldnโt be a surprise anymore, but being involved in something hard to explain, sometimes screwed up a human brain. โWhat happened, Alpha Ryden?โ Ren asked, his gaze shifted between me and Amelia. It was only fair that he had to know, considering they had just lost their own mind link. โHey. Iโm sorry about the link between you, two, Ren.โ โNot a problem. I know this will happen eventually. After what happened this morning, this is for the better for both of us.โ I stared at him for a moment before I turned to my mate who just put her sword back to the handle. โWhat happened this morning?โ Ren smiled, like teasing Amel
AMELIA For the first time since we arrived at Tahoe City, we finally got a chance to go out and see some tourist spots. The view from the gondola was spectacular.โDid you know Ryden came looking for me that night?โ โYes,โ Ren answered with certainty. I stared in disbelief. So, Ryden was telling the truth. โDo you expect an apology from me for wiping off the trail and your scent?โ โHell no. Thanks.โ I kissed him on the cheek. โThis is actually amazing,โ Theia said as she enjoyed the view. โYup, it is.โ โSo, are you going to talk to Ryden and treat him nicely?โ โI treat him like an alpha, Theia. He deserves it. Heโs a good alpha and doesnโt take advantage of people.โ โExceptโโ Ren elbowed her who was typing something on his phone. โWhat was that for, Kazeshi?โ she complained. โIf youโre referring to his wild nights with Nora, yes, I know. Honestly, it hurts knowing they had a thing before I can even kiss my mate.โ โBut youโre his forever, and that should count. You shoul
RYDEN โYou know the rules. No weapons, no clawing, and this is a sport. No personal grudges. You only get one warning, or you lose. Understood?โ Everyone, young and old, and all genders gathered at the ground for our fighting events. The area was a small football field with benches and lights, just located in the backyard of the pack house. I could feel the excitement and anxiousness coming from the fighters for tonight. I didnโt compete anymore since I became an alpha. It would be unfair to my opponent. โNow letโs welcome our guests from White Moon and Night Stalker tonight.โ Everyone applauded. Amelia and her friends were also present. It was not new to her. In fact, she had seen her brother fight before, and she knew the rules. Women category had less time than men. โAll fighters are posted on the board. Our first fighters for tonight. Reede and Landon.โ The excitement and cheers were off the roof. โYou can start betting before we start, guys. The bet is just for fun. This
AMELIA Iโd been humiliated in the worst way possible, bullied for my features, and my body size, but Iโd never let someone punch me on purpose just to hide who I was. One thing my Sensei taught me I wished he never did was not to show off what I was true. Let them be surprised, but right now, I still couldnโt surprise Nora. It was frustrating. One of the few rules of fights in this ring was not to use the power or shift and claw someoneโs eyes out. So I took her punches. It hurt so fucking much. I heard gasps from the crowd and grunts of satisfaction that their betted fighter got the best of me. โGet this bitch.โ Yes, we didnโt use a mouthguard because it wasnโt necessary. It could get bloody sometimes, but everyone knew when to stop unlike Nora here who expected me to lose tonight, which was not surprising because I barely threw punches and kicks. I was thrown down to the ground with a thud. Gasping, I arched my back. My wolf was in chaos inside me, urging me to wolf out. I kne
AMELIAโWeโre having a party right now. Come on.โ He gestured towards the door. โWhat? Really?โ I asked in disbelief. โItโs Theiaโs idea when she heard Nora was going to celebrate for punching you.โ โOh, I see. Be careful with her. She might be small, but sheโs dangerous.โ I walked out of the washroom. The party hadnโt started but the DJ had already assembled his equipment. โHow did you pull this off?โ โWe got friends from the rage and free booze from Knight and Califf.โ Within thirty minutes, the dance floor was filled with raging and horny werewolves. The music was too loud, but everyone seemed to have fun. โAm!โ Theia called me from the center. She had Ren, Maddie, Seven, and Walker with her. โCome over here and dance with us!โ โLook at her, sheโs already making friends.โ I couldnโt help but smile. โYou owe me a dance, Amelia!โ Walker yelled even if he didnโt have to. Werewolves had enhanced hearing than humans. โIโm gonna hang him to a tree,โ Ryden said. I didnโt know if
RYDEN My heart jackhammered in my chest. My eyes started glowing, and I almost shifted. โWhat the fuck!โ I jolted up to the loud siren in my ears. Then my bed shook as if someone jumped on it. I groaned in annoyance as the sweet fruity scent assaulted my senses. โWakey wakey, Alpha! Your masters are here!โ โWhat the hell are you doing, Amelia?โ I growled, covering my sensitive ears with the pillow as the siren continued. It must be coming from her phone. โShut that fucking thing off.โ Everyone knew I could be aggressive and feral if I didnโt get enough sleep, and nobody had ever tried to piss me off by waking me up unless it was a matter of a life-and-death situation. โHey! Your training starts now. Do you want to save the world? Then get up and start with your punctuality, Alpha!โ She raised her voice, clearly annoyed. โFuck! I barely slept.โ โEveryone didnโt get enough sleep after the party you threw. So do I, but here I am. Ren and I woke up an hour earlier than you. So you
AMELIAThree years laterEnochian Institute โOkay, bud. Are you ready?โ Ryden towered at his son as he tried to prepare him for his first day of school. โNo, Dad. Please, donโt call me buddy or bud anymore. Iโm six years old. Alex is fine.โ I looked at them and tried hard not to grin. When Ryden saw my smile, I looked away. โYou will always be my boy, so I can call you bud or buddy until you get a girlfriend or have kids on your own.โ โMom, I need help here. I want to be like every kid at the institute.โ When he gave me this puppy-eyes look, the same look he gave me when he wanted to be with his Uncle Ren or Uncle Drak. I knelt before him as I fixed his coat. Alex was carrying a blue backpack. I looked right into his blue-green eyes. Every time I looked at him, he always reminded me of his father. โMy love, listen to me. You grow up so fast. Me and your dad still see you like our two-year-old boy. Thatโs why Dad still calls you buddy, and itโs actually cool that you and Dad ar
AMELIA I still cried whenever I felt alone. I still cried to sleep knowing he was gone because he wanted me to live. The feeling of losing someone I loved hit differently. It felt like I lost a part of me, a part of my soul. I woke up to the blinding light streaming from the opened window. Or at least I felt like I just woke up when the image of my father appeared before me. โDad?โ I sat up on the bed. I was still sleeping in the same bed I shared with Lucius. โWhy did you let it happen? Why did you accept his deal? Now Iโm all alone.โ โYouโre not alone, Amelia.โ I wiped the first tear that fell on my cheek. โI died twice. You should have let me die. I canโt. I canโt take it anymore. Lucius was a good man. He had a lot of things to live for.โ โAnd you donโt?โ he asked me calmly. โI know life isnโt fair, but I donโt deserve another chance. I would have swapped places with him. These people need their alpha.โ โAmelia.โ He stood before me. โHe accomplished his mission in life. H
RYDEN The moment I received a call from Drak, I knew something terrible had happened. He couldnโt hide the sadness in his voice. I quickly asked help from Zarah to send me to the Blood Moon Pack. Every last member of Luciusโ pack was around. His compound was crowded with the people who loved him, who believed in his cause, and the people he saved and had given a second chance. As I entered the house, a howl of mourning echoed from the forest. It was heart-wrenching. I didnโt only feel extremely sad about losing a great alpha, but he was also a savior and a hero, and I was proud to call him a friend. โThis is so unfair.โ Amelia ran into me. She looked like sheโd been crying. She really looked like a mess, with wet cheeks, and red eyes and nose. โThis canโt be happening.โ โIโm so sorry, my love.โ I took her in my arms. I knew my presence wouldnโt help the fact that Lucius was gone, but I was hoping I could somehow help ease the pain in her chest. โHeโs gone, Ryden. Heโs gone.โ She
AMELIAIf this was the last day we had together, then I would make the best of it. I couldnโt fathom a life without him, my hero, who sacrificed everything so I could live another day. He was the true savior, not me. He was the true leader, the greatest alpha Iโd ever met. He deserved that recognition, yet, here he was, waiting until he let go of his last breath and succumbed to death.It was unfair. Life was so fucked up and unfair. โMaybe you should give me an heir. I wanna have a mini you, please?โ I wiped my tears away. โFor that, I might be able to forgive myself. Then Iโm going to tell him the story of how amazing and brave his father was, his sacrifices for this world, and how much we love each other, and show him our photos together.โ โI will give you everything, my love. If we have a son, I want you to teach him to be a good man and respect and treat Ryden as his father. If we have a girl, tell her, that her father will always be watching her. Tell them their father loves t
AMELIA Lucius pulled away, looking right into my eyes. โWeโre not doing it again, Amelia. Iโve accepted my fate.โ โWell, Iโm not! You should have told me. I could have done something other than keeping me in the dark. I have every right to know, Lucius. Have you forgotten that?โ โI know that, my love, and Iโm so sorry.โ โSave it,โ I said as I faced Ryden and pointed a finger at his face. โYou, I trusted you. Are you happy now? Lucius had sacrificed his life twice for me so I could be with you. And I only asked one thing. Just one thing from you, and you couldnโt do it. You canโt be honest with me. Why should I stay with you if you donโt value honesty?โ Ryden looked away as pain and agony laced in his eyes. โAmelia, donโt say that,โ Lucius said. โOh, so now youโre his best friend because youโre peas in a pod?โ โAmelia, I know this is hard, but Lucius made his decision. You would have been dead by now and the rest of the werewolves who had fallen that day.โ Shit. Zarah was right
AMELIA It had been three months since that war against The Director ended, and our lives had finally returned back to normal. The pack was going strong. No more sightings of demons and wraiths. No more threats other than rogues on occasion. The mother and son Ryden took in, and some werewolves had become the new pack members. Theia and Bryan were still like cat and mouse, but I could feel how much their relationship had developed, especially when it was built with trust. The two elemental werewolves had begun their training at Elysian. We still talked over the phone, especially with Ryden, since he was one of them. Margaret finally woke up a few days after I went back home. Zarah, Samarah, and her had never been closer, and that made me happy. My Relationship with Ryden had never been strong. I told him everything, and he forgave me. He and Lucius seemed to have formed a friendship, which was weird. Since the day I left the hotel room, I stayed close to Lucius, not as a mate or
AMELIA I joined him in bed and kissed him on the lips, and he scooped me so I could rest on top of him. I curled into a fetal position as he wrapped his arms around me, his fingers tracing my spine. I felt tiny and fragile when I was with him, but powerful at the same time. He sighed again as if something was bothering him. โHow did you find me?โ โYour mate gave me your letter. I supposed you went back from where you started. Did you mean what you said?โ He was talking about the letter. โAll of it.โ โHmm.โ He kissed the top of my head. โHe came to me. Heโs worried about you, sweetheart. You should go back.โ โWhat about you?โ I lifted my head and looked him in the eye. โI always trust what you do that you know whatโs best for you. Like always, I wonโt control you.โ He smiled as he tucked my hair behind my ear. โBut of course, I get worried all the time even though I know you can take care of yourself.โ โHowโs everyone?โ โIโm not telling you anything, Amelia. Itโs about time y
AMELIA โI want you right now, Alexander.โ The moment those words left my mouth, he carried me to the bed in my hotel room. He ripped my clothes from my body until I was naked and exposed. Then he spread my legs wide, and one thing led to another. My ovary was throwing a party as he dipped his head between my legs. A gasp escaped my lips as he pressed the softest kisses on my foot, my leg, and my inner thighs, nipping my skin. Then captured my entire pussy with his hot mouth. โAh!โ My hips bucked, hand came to his head to grab a handful of his hair, shamelessly pushing his mouth to my sex. Then he dragged his tongue from my folds upward to my clit, making my head spin. Tingles ran down my spine as I shuddered in delight. โGoddess!โ I panted, rocking into his talented tongue, stroking my clit. Every muscle in my body clenched, and my legs trembled. Then he glided it in my entrance, thrusting in and out, alternately sucking my sensitive hard nub. Tension instantly coiled in my lowe
AMELIA โSo where are you going?โ Gaia asked. Sheโd been spending some time with Ren and Theia while Nora was trying to fix the broken relationship she had with her father. With Victor in the council jail, there was no threat to Alec anymore. โI donโt know yet.โ I looked at the three of them. โPlease, take care of each other. The greater demon might be gone, but there are still a lot of bad people out there. Maybe the good citizens could use your help.โ โIโm gonna miss you.โ Theia hugged me. โDonโt be gone too long, okay?โ โI wonโt, but you should go and be with the Caltech dropout.โ โI will. Ren doesnโt need a driver anymore. Heโs the monkey king after all.โ She got a groan from Ren. โGaia and he will start a new adventure anyway.โ โI have to go.โ I hugged Ren tight. โThanks for not giving up on me. You always have a place in the pack. I love you, Ren. Iโll see you soon.โ โI love you, too, Amelia. Donโt be a stranger. Visit the Raito house once in a while.โ โOnce I figure out