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32 Eavesdropping Part 1
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2024-12-27 23:47:35
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Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   33 Eavesdropping Part 2
Adasha Thinking it over, I realized it was more convenient for him this way. A relationship without deep ties, with someone who was already matedâsomeone who wouldnât ask for much or demand any form of lasting attachment. I was convenient. I could understand why Kai preferred it, but understanding didnât make it hurt any less. A sharp sting settled in my chest, and I blinked back the tears threatening to fall. Standing frozen in place, I debated whether I should turn and leave or walk in and face whatever awaited. âIâll be taking this up with the Alpha Council,â the man inside declared, his voice filled with fury. âJust because youâre the Regional Alpha doesnât mean youâre above the laws. We have rules, Alpha Malachi, and even Regional Alphas must abide by them! I wonât stand by while you disrespect my daughter and cheat her out of her rightful place. She is the Luna of the East and South. You will comply, or there will be unrest in our regionsâsevere unrest!â There was a pause,
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-27Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   34 An Agonising Week
Randy I had never felt such consuming rage as I did this past week. The searing pain on my mark was relentless, a fiery torment that flared at the worst moments. Iâd be in the middle of a meeting, and suddenly the burn would sear through me, hot and unforgiving. Why would Adasha do this to me? I had never subjected her to this kind of betrayal, never imagined she was capable of such cruelty. Was this why she left? To be with her lover? Was Jason lying about their conversation to mislead me? Confusion and hurt churned inside me, a storm I couldnât escape. I caught my reflection in the mirror. My face looked haggard, my eyes shadowed with exhaustion. Rest felt impossible, not with the pain of Adashaâs infidelity gnawing at me, night after night. Damn her. Anger surged, and before I could stop myself, my fist crashed into the mirror. Glass shattered, fragments falling around me like a reflection of my broken life. "Why, Adasha? Why would you do this to me? Was my love not en
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   35 Itâs Your Fault
RandyPamelaâs red, swollen eyes brimmed with fear, and Jacob instinctively stepped in front of her, his stance protective but wary.âWhere is she?â I demanded, my voice low and venomous, each word laced with seething rage.âRandy, calm down. No one knows where she is,â Jacob said, his tone placating. He was trying to de-escalate the situation, but his words only fanned the flames of my fury.âYou think Iâm sick? You think I need help? Is that what you believe about meâyour Alpha?â I stepped closer, glaring at Pamela. âWhere did you send my wife, Pamela?ââAlpha, please, calm down,â Jacob interjected, his voice firm but trembling at the edges. âI promise Iâll help you find her. JustâĶ spare Pamela. It wasnât within her control.âHis words only deepened my sense of betrayal. âMy own Beta conspired against me!â I snarled, fists clenching tighter.âDonât say that!â Jacob began, his voice pleading, but I cut him off, unwilling to hear his excuses.âI shouldnât say that?â I hissed, my tone
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   36 You Donât Know
RandyI sighed deeply, the weight of the moment pressing down on me like a boulder. Jacobâs defiance was unwavering, but I couldnât let his perception of me go unchallenged.I needed to defend myself, to make him understand the reality he didnât see.âPeople are after her, Jacob,â I confessed, my voice low but intense. âThatâs why I kept her hidden. You donât know the half of itâor who she really is. Do you think I just wanted to lock her up and keep her from the world? Those bastards who sold her to meâĶ they did it to save their own skin. She isnât safe out there. How could you do this to me?âJacobâs expression shifted, a flicker of shock crossing his face. I realised too late Iâd said too much. Adashaâs precarious situation wasnât something he needed to knowâit wasnât his business. But the fear coursing through me, the sheer terror of not knowing where she was, had cracked my composure.I took a steadying breath, forcing myself to refocus. âIt doesnât change what your mate did,â I
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   37 Find Her
RandyI was still trying to figure out how else I could find Adasha when Jacobâs voice came through the mind link."Another way to find herâ is to publish her image and offer a handsome reward for her," Jacobâs voice came through the mind link, steady but tinged with hesitation.I could feel the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. He was trying to redeem himself and his wife, to salvage the damage theyâd done. But the betrayal still burned.They had let me down, and I didnât plan on letting that slide."That should be the last resort," I responded curtly. "Like I said, she isnât safe out there. Her past might catch up with her.""Itâs the only way to broaden our search," Jacob shot back, his tone resolute. I growled under my breath, knowing he was right. This course of action would stir more trouble than I cared to handle, but what choice did I have?"Fine," I said reluctantly. "If you think itâll work and wonât drive her into deeper hiding, then go ahead. But I want this nightm
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   38 The Pressure
KaiThe day had been going smoothly, and I didnât anticipate any disruptionsâuntil my aunt arrived with Austin in tow.The sight of them was enough to sour my mood. Iâd finally found peace, a chance to live in the moment, but of course, he had to show up and start making demands.It was infuriating.Iâve always been upfront with people when it mattered, and Iâd been honest with Austin, spelling out my intentions. But the lure of power? It was too much for him.He chose ambition over his own daughterâs happiness.Yes, Iâll admit itâmy father had struck a deal with Austinâs father.That much wasnât a secret.Austinâs father had always been pragmatic, driven by the goal of avoiding conflict and ensuring the South had strong leadership. And truth be told, I understood why Austinâs father made the choices he did.He didnât trust Austin to lead the South properly, and with the death of Austinâs brother, there werenât many options left.The man had to look elsewhere to secure his people and
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   39 Out Of Control
KaiIndeed, Aunt Ingrid had contested the position with me, citing every possible reason why she deserved to be next in line. But her arguments had been futile.Succession wasnât up for debate. It was a lineage thing, and as long as my father had an alpha-bred heir, she was automatically out of the running.It didnât stop her bitterness, though.âCould it be possible sheâs doing all this to prove my incompetence?â I asked aloud, the thought cutting through my frustration.âIf she can convince the South that Iâm not a man of my word, that I canât handle my responsibilities, itâd be easy for her to get them to throw their support behind her. Sheâd frame herself as the stabilising force they need.âDarius and Gabe exchanged a look but said nothing. Their silence wasnât from disbeliefâit was from the uncomfortable truth that they were thinking the same thing.Finally, Darius spoke, his voice calm but measured. âAll I can say is that you should still try to reach out to Laura. Even if it f
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   40 Where Is It Coming From?
KaiTurning on my heel, I left her standing there, unwilling to waste any more energy on the confrontation.I made my way to Adashaâs room, eager for some reprieve. When I reached her door, I knocked, but there was no answer.A flicker of unease settled in my chest. Against my better judgment, I opened the door and stepped inside.The state of the room stopped me in my tracks. It was a messâchaos everywhere.On the floor, I spotted a canvas.Curious, I bent down to pick it up, and the sight made my breath hitch. It was a painting of me. Sheâd captured me perfectly, making me look even more handsome than I thought possible.But the fact that it was on the floor? That struck me.Why was it discarded like this? My gaze swept over the disarray, my mind racing.Had Ingrid said something to her? Or worse, had Randy found a way to contact her? The possibilities gnawed at me.âAdasha!â I called, my voice sharper than I intended. From the bathroom, I heard the sound of running water stop, fol
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-01-02
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Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   Your Input Is Needed
I'm so glad you all enjoyed this story! ð As an adventurous writer, I'm excited to try something newâand Iâd love your input! âĻ I have two stories in the works, but I can only write one at a time: Vampire Book A WEREWOLF BOOK These stories donât follow the usual popular tropes, but I truly believe youâll enjoy them just as much (if not more!). Please let me know which one you'd love to read first. Your feedback means everything to me! ðïļððŽ
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   246 Happy Birthday, Redwolfs
AdashaThe sun was already high when the first cars pulled up the drive, tires crunching against the gravel.I stood near the front steps, Michelle balanced on my hip, Ethan clinging to Kaiâs hand beside me.The soft hum of laughter and voices rolled in from the yard where balloons bobbed in the breeze and long tables were set with food, drinks, and gifts wrapped in all colors of the rainbow.One by one, they stepped out of the vehiclesâand my heart swelled with something I couldnât quite name. Gratitude, maybe. Or just the deep, overwhelming warmth of seeing people you love all in one place, safe and smiling.Randy was the first to appear, looking more relaxed than Iâd ever seen him.Olivia walked beside him, glowing in a flowing dress that barely disguised her growing belly. He had one hand protectively resting on her lower back, the other carrying a stuffed bear nearly the size of Ethan.âDonât say anything,â Randy said with a mock glare as he saw me smirking.âI wasnât going to say
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   245 Two Years Later
AdashaTwo Years LaterThe war with Tamara and Edmond felt like a lifetime ago.Now, the only battles Kai and I fought were over who had diaper duty or who could make the twins laugh harder.Our twins were turning one, and the house buzzed with energy as we prepared for their birthday celebration.Weâd been wrapped in a bubble the past yearâbusy, blessed, and exhausted. Life had shifted. Priorities changed. And in that quiet, weâd drifted from everyone we once fought beside.This party was more than just a celebration for the twins. It was a reunion. A chance to gather everyone who meant something to us. To laugh. To remember. To feel like a family again.So much had changed.Randy had ended up fated to OliviaâUncle Jamesâ daughter.They were mated now, and from what I heard, completely inseparable.They were expecting their first child, and I couldnât wait to meet the little one when the time came.Randy had softened, grown into himself, and it showed. I was genuinely happy for him.
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   244 I Accept
RandyâWell, are you just going to stand there?â Her voice snapped me out of the trance.I blinked. She was staring right at me, arms crossed, like Iâd kept her waiting too long.âIâĶ I thought you wereâ I was justââ I stammered, completely unprepared.She laughed. Soft, amused, but laced with something that curled in my gut.âNow that my familyâs free, you thought Iâd leave?â she asked, eyes locked on mine like she was reading every thought Iâd tried to bury.I couldnât answer. Because yeahâĶ part of me had.She saw it. Smirked. And then, without a word, grabbed my hand and pulled me into the room.Before I knew it, I was sitting on the edge of her bed, heart pounding like Iâd just run ten miles.She stood in front of me, the wickedest smile tugging at her lips. Then she slid the sheer robe from her shoulders and let it fall.I forgot how to breathe.The lingerie underneath was designed to kill. Lace. Skin. Confidence. Everything about her said mine, and she wasnât asking for permissio
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   243 Homecoming
RandyI didnât stick around in Bridewood after the council hearing. There was no point. My business wasnât hereâit was back home.And after everything weâd seen, everything weâd nearly lost, I wasnât about to waste another second.The universe had given us a rare gift: survival. A second chance. That kind of mercy doesnât come often, and it sure as hell doesnât come twice.I had someone waiting for me. A sharp-tongued, stubborn woman who challenged me at every turn and still somehow made my world make sense. Olivia.Sheâd crashed into my life like a storm, and Iâd spent too long pretending I didnât want to get caught in it.No more second-guessing. No more keeping her at armâs length because I thought it was the ârightâ thing to do.I was done holding back.Adasha was smiling again.That look in her eyesâthat lightâI hadnât seen it in years. And if she could forgive me, then maybe it was time I started forgiving myself too.So we packed up. Jacob, Thompson, and I hit the road back to
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   242 A Fight For Balance
Kai"So what are you trying to suggest, Alpha Bouras, Alpha Olsen?" William asked.Draco didnât blink. âI say we abolish the law against the Moonchildsâand give them a seat among the Twelve. Itâs rightfully theirs.âThe room froze. Then exploded.Voices rose like a storm, clashing over one another. Some shouted in disbelief, others in anger. No one talked about making the Twelve into Thirteen. That was the part that made them really uncomfortable.Draco stood steady, calm in the storm.He didn't care.And neither did Randy.âI strongly support Alpha Bouras,â Randy said, rising to his feet. âWhen Edmond crossed the line, it wasnât the Twelve that stopped him. It was a Moonchild. When everyone else fell, she stood. Itâs time we stop punishing a bloodline and start honouring it. This is what justice looks like.âThe murmuring dropped, volume shifting as some heads nodded reluctantly.I stood next.And I didnât sugarcoat it.âI agree,â I said. âI donât care what anyone in this room thinks
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   241  The Sentencing
KaiIt explained everything.Adashaâs blood would have completed the serum. Stabilised Edmondâs mutation. Kept his eyes from bleeding, his mind from fracturing, his body from falling apart.Without it, he looked like something from a nightmareâa shell of a man, straining to contain power not meant for him.But what I still didnât understand was why. Why go this far?Why betray the very council he sat on? His family had power. He had influence.So why?And still, Edmond refused to speak. Sat silent in his silver cage, eyes dull with defeat. Or delusion.Tamara wasnât much betterâexcept she wouldnât stop crying.But not for her victims.Not for her daughter.Not even for the madness she helped unleash.No.She kept looking at Austin, pleading, weeping like the betrayal hadnât even happened.âI never cheated on you, Austin,â she said, loud enough for the entire hall to hear. âI justâĶ I wanted more for us. For our daughter. The Redwolfs were going to cheat our family. I couldnât stand by
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   240 Still In The Hall
Kai"You have a big heart, Malachi," Abraham said, his voice low but warm.It pulled me back from watching Adasha and Austinâthe quiet reconciliation unfolding in a single conversation.I gave him a faint smile. âA foolish one, too.âHe shook his head. âNo. You acted based on what you had. I must say, you three are wise. I had no proofâonly suspicion. And yet you gave me the benefit of the doubt.âHe looked around the council hall, his expression sobering.âItâs all in the past now,â he added. âAnd know thisâI bear no grudge.âI nodded, and for once, I felt the weight ease a little.Thatâs when the room shifted.The side doors opened, and Gregory walked in, flanking a man I didnât need to be introduced to.Tall, weathered, lean from hardship but still standing with dignity.The resemblance to Gregory was uncanny. But it was the eyes that told me who he truly was.James Moonchild.Adashaâs uncle.Michelleâs brother.One of the most hunted, most whispered-about survivors in our entire w
Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow   239 The Next Big Moment
KaiWe talked over the final details of our trip to the council, and thatâs when I learned Austin had insisted on joining usâeven though he hadnât fully recovered.But I understood.He needed to be there.Not just as a witness, but as a man with something to put right. His presence was required, and maybeâĶ so was his redemption.As for Lauraâshe was out of danger, physicallyâbut her path was clearer than ever.She would be returning to Rivercreek.Did Tamara ever tell her the real plan? Or was she just another pawn? Another disposable piece to be sacrificed for her motherâs social climb?I couldnât say.And maybe it didnât matter.I didnât feel sorry for her.I hoped sheâd be better. That sheâd choose better. But deep down, I knew Iâd dodged a bullet.If fate hadnât intervenedâif Adasha hadnât come into my lifeâI couldâve ended up just like Austin. Bound to someone who wore the name but none of the heart.There was no way Laura didnât carry some of Tamaraâs venom. It was in the way sh
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