The morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of Austin's study as he paced behind his mahogany desk, his wolf restless beneath his skin. Three days had passed since the pack gathering, and he couldn't shake the memory of her—the human girl who had somehow ignited every primal instinct he possessed."Alpha?" Beta Alex knocked before entering, carrying a steaming cup of coffee. "You called for me?"Austin stopped pacing, his stormy grey eyes meeting his Beta's concerned gaze. "I need you to investigate something. Discreetly."Alex raised an eyebrow. "The human girl, my wife?""How did you—" Austin's jaw clenched."Your scent changes every time someone mentions her. Plus, you've been prowling around like a caged wolf for days." Alex set the coffee down and crossed his arms. "What do you want to know?"Austin ran a hand through his dark hair, the scar on his jawline catching the light. "Everything. Her real parents, who they are?, He paused, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisp
The door opened slowly. Rosemary quickly hid behind Austin's big chair in the corner of the room. Her heart was beating so fast she thought everyone could hear it.Maya and Alex stood ready to fight whoever came in.But when the door opened all the way, it was empty. Nobody was there."What the hell?" Alex whispered.Then suddenly, a hand touched Rosemary's shoulder from behind the chair.She screamed as loud as she could."It's me! It's Alex!" Alex said quickly, putting his hands up. "I came around through the window!"Rosemary was shaking. "But... but you were just standing by the door..."Alex looked confused. "No, I climbed up from outside. Maya told me that someone was trying to get in."Maya was staring at the spot where Alex had been standing before. "Then who was that?"They all looked at each other with fear.Before anyone could say more, Austin's voice came from Alex's phone."Alex, I need you to come now. One of the pack members saw Ariana. She's hurt and needs help."Alex
Rosemary stood up from her bed when she heard a strange sound outside her door. Something was not right. The sound was too quiet, too careful. Like someone was trying not to be heard.She walked slowly to the door and put her hand on the handle. "Hello?" she called softly.No answer.Her heart started beating faster. Something inside her told her to be careful. But she needed to know what was happening.She opened the door just a little bit to look outside.A strong hand grabbed her face, covering her mouth before she could scream. Another arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her out of her room."Mmph!" She tried to make noise but the hand was too tight over her mouth.The person was strong. Much stronger than any human. They dragged her down the hallway, keeping to the shadows. Rosemary tried to fight but it was no use.Footsteps were coming from the other direction. The person dragging her quickly pulled her around a corner and pressed her against the wall. They waited in the d
As Austin was about to lead Rosemary, Ariana, and Lydia out of the hospital building, a nurse rushed up to him.“Alpha Austin,” the nurse said, slightly out of breath. “The doctor wants to speak with you. It's urgent.”Austin turned to Rosemary, Ariana, and Lydia. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.”Lydia, arms crossed, rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Just hurry. It’s hot outside.”Austin left them and walked briskly back down the hallway to the doctor’s office. The doctor stood waiting, a serious expression on his face.“Alpha Austin,” the doctor said, handing him a file. “I just finished reviewing your wife's lab results.”Austin opened the folder and scanned the pages. “What’s wrong?”“Nothing is wrong exactly,” the doctor explained. “But there’s something… strange. Rosemary’s body is healing faster than any normal human. Her strength, her temperature, her reflexes—they’re all changing. I believe she might regain all of her memory within the next few days.”Austin looked up sharply
Rosemary stood by the door of her hospital room, confused and weak. She didn’t recognize the faces around her. Her head pounded with questions she couldn’t answer. Who was she really? Why did she feel like a stranger in her own life? Still wearing her hospital gown, she quietly pushed the door open and stepped into the hallway. She didn’t know where she was going—she just needed to get away. But before she could leave, someone grabbed her arm. “Oh, my sweet sister,” a cold voice said. Rosemary turned around and looked at the woman. Lydia. Her stepsister. Lydia was dressed in fancy clothes, hair perfect, nails sharp like claws. She smirked. “Running off already?” Lydia asked. “Don’t tell me you’re sick. You know we need money. And don’t you dare say you don’t have any.” Rosemary blinked, confused. “Who are you? And why are you asking me for money?” Lydia froze for a second. Then she laughed. “Oh wow. My dear sister is playing hide-and-seek with her brain now, huh?” Rosemar
Before Austin or Rosemary could react, a voice came from outside the door.It was Maya.“You two are spending the night together,” she said firmly. “No running off, Austin.”Rosemary froze, her heart skipping. Austin turned his head toward the door and frowned. Maya’s voice held no room for argument. She wasn’t asking. She was ordering.Neither of them spoke for a moment.Then, with a sigh, Austin walked back to the bed and sat beside Rosemary. He didn’t say anything at first. Just sat there, quiet, thoughtful. Rosemary’s fingers fidgeted with the hem of the blanket, unsure of what to say or how to feel.“I don’t know why she locked us in,” Rosemary whispered.“Because she knows I always run from things,” Austin replied quietly, looking at her. “Especially things that scare me.”Rosemary looked up slowly, and for the first time in a while, there was no wall between their eyes.“You scare me, Rosemary,” he said.She blinked, confused. “Why?”“Because you make me feel things I shouldn’t