The next morning brought with it a topic I thought we had dropped the night before. Not going to lie, my heart sank as when I realized Lin had no intention of dropping his unexpected decision to homeschool our children. It felt like the ground beneath my feet was slipping away, and a wave of worry washed over me. However, I knew that arguing with Lin at that moment would only lead to more tension between us.Resigned to the idea, I nodded slowly. "Alright, Lin. If you believe it's best for their safety, then I will trust your judgment," I said, my voice tinged with a mix of acceptance and concern. I mean, I got the idea, the whole reason why. But Emily and Ethan needed friends, did they not? Having an alpha for a father already made making friends kind of tough, and they would be homeschooled too? What? Would they be outcasts now?Nevertheless, I understood the security concerns so the only thing I could rationally do was shut up and accept it, and if by some weird working of fate it

A week had passed, and the anticipation for our mating ceremony continued to build. The preparations were in full swing, and I couldn't help but feel nervous about the whole affair. But I took comfort in the fact that Lin seemed to have everything under control. He had arranged for guards to secure the borders of our territory, ensuring our safety from potential rogues. My heart raced as our wedding day approached, a whirlwind of nerves and excitement coursing through me. Weeks of planning and anticipation were finally coming to fruition. The thought of marrying Lin, the love of my life, filled me with a profound sense of joy and fulfillment. It was kind of a kill joy that my mother refused to come and see the wedding. She knew who Lin was - she'd seen him and approved - but she refused to come for our mating ceremony.As the sun bathed the morning of our wedding in a warm glow, a hint of unease lingered in the back of my mind. Two days earlier, I had received a mysterious message

As we made our way back home, the weight of the revelation lingered in my thoughts, but I was more worried about my children. Lin seem to be in deep thought too. The revelation that Emily and Ethan turned out to be his too had him shaken up pretty bad.I was somewhat relief that my kids now have a father even though Lin had already made himself one before realizing he actually was. But their disappearance was something anyone can explain.As soon as we got home. I made a decision to go ask my mother for help. I was capable of entering the dream fabric without totally going to sleep. That kind of made me a pseudo walker of sorts, since technically I was only daydreaming. It was hard to do so, but my anxiety could not allow me to put my head to my pillow and do things the easy way.I was lucid when I awoke in mother's 'lobby', thankfully. When I did, though, I remembered clearly the last time I was here. The monsters, the chase, the fact that I had been kicked out; everything.My anxiet

As I stood at the base of the grand staircase, my gaze locked with Jessica's icy stare. The air crackled with tension, and it was clear that we were about to engage in a battle of words.A smirk tugged at the corners of Jessica's lips as she looked down at me, her voice dripping with condescension."Well, well, if it isn't the pathetic ex-wife," Jessica sneered, her words laced with venom as she leaned upon the marble banister. "I must say, you've managed to make a real mess of things, haven't you?"My jaw clenched, my fists tightening at my sides. I refused to let Jessica's taunts weaken my resolve. For all her posturing, Jessica was rather weak willed and easily riled up. I would know - she was my best friend for years."At least I had the courage to walk away from a toxic relationship," I shot back, my voice infused with a quiet strength. "Unlike you, who willingly stepped into the role of Zack's rebound."Jessica's eyes narrowed, her expression growing even more malicious."Reboun

I barged into the room where Meghan should be only to find it empty.The room was quiet, the silence almost suffocating, and Rachel, the one I had entrusted to look after Meghan, was fast asleep on the couch.Fury surged through my veins as I stormed towards Rachel, my voice filled with a mix of disappointment and rage. "Rachel!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the empty halls. "How could you let this happen? I specifically asked you to watch over Meghan, to keep her safe!"Rachel stirred from her sleep, and her eyes went wide with surprise and guilt as she sat up, struggling to comprehend the urgency in my voice. The weight of my anger settled upon her as I continued, my voice laced with venomous words."I cannot believe your incompetence," I spat, my words cutting through the air. "You had one job, Rachel. One job! And you failed miserably. How could you be so careless? So fucking negligent?"Rachel shrank back, her expression filled with shame and remorse. "Alpha, I... I'm sor