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All Chapters of The Alpha's Bounty: His Runaway Luna: Chapter 1
- Chapter 10
81 Chapters
1. Arrangement
Aella21 Years Old / Alpha Heir(Pronunciation: Ay-lah)The door to my father’s office creaks open, the sound warning me that my life is about to change. The study is a warm space filled with dark wooden bookshelves that reach towards the ceiling like ancient trees. The room smells of aged leather and paper; a scent I’ve always associated with wisdom and guidance.Usually, being summoned here means I’m in for a new learning experience with my father since I am his only Alpha heir. Maybe a discussion about pack politics or perhaps a lesson on the importance of our history. Today though, the air feels different—dense.My eyes catch sight of a stack of formal papers neatly arranged on my father’s mahogany desk. Official pack seal… That can’t be good.“Aella, come in,” Father’s voice reverberates from behind the desk, where he sits with his usual composed demeanor. He’s Alpha and Capo of Chicago; an Italian mafia sect that controls the city.“You wanted to see me, Father?” I say, moving c
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2. Sacrificial Lamb
AellaI shut my bedroom door behind me, leaning against it as if it could barricade me from the life my father had just dictated for me. The room, once my sanctuary, now feels like a cage—luxurious but suffocating. My eyes scan the plush carpet, the ornate dresser filled with knick-knacks and makeup, and the lavish canopy bed. All these luxuries, yet I feel like a bird in a gilded cage.With shaking hands, I grab my phone from the nightstand and dial my best friend, Lily’s, number on a secured line reserved for our pack. She’s the youngest daughter of my father’s Beta and the only one I trust.She picks up after the second ring. “Aella, hey! What's up?” Her voice, always full of optimism, has never sounded so different to me.“Lily, I can’t… I don’t even know how to say this! He’s making choices for me and setting me… He’s setting me…” My voice wobbles, and I’m disgusted with myself for it. I’m a future Alpha, for heaven’s sake; I should be stronger than this!“Whoa, slow down. Wha
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3. Expectations Outweigh Needs
AellaMy father’s limousine pulls up, sleek and black, designed to impress. He glances at me, an unspoken order in his eyes: Smile. I don’t need to be told; I’ve played this game many times before. There’s a time to charm, a time to foster good relations and a time to throw it all to the wayside. Alphas don’t show their weakness; they can’t.So, putting on a smile for show, I get out with my father at my side and walk inside to meet the vultures. Marcus, Lily’s eldest brother and my guard, walks next to me as a silent watchman.This is supposed to be one of the most important moments of my life. The grand hall of our pack mansion is so elaborately decorated, it could rival a royal wedding. Crystal chandeliers glisten above, casting warm light on fresh flowers and flowing drapes. I should be lost in the splendor of it all, but instead, my senses are dulled. My heart feels heavy in my chest.I’m not here because I want to be, but because I have to be. The man I am to marry will not be
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4. Broken Link
Aella My room feels different tonight, like it’s aware of the secrets it’s holding. The house is quiet, not even the creak of a floorboard or the distant murmurs of nocturnal pack members going about their business. It’s as though even the walls are holding their breath, complicit in my defiance and aware of my plans. The moon is my only companion, casting a pale glow through the curtains and onto the floor.It has been three weeks since I started hatching this plan, and now I am putting it in place.Moving carefully, I pull the hidden duffel bag from the depths of my closet and start to refill it with essentials—a change of clothes, some toiletries, and a few snacks. I reach under my bed and pull out a hidden stash of cash I’d been saving for emergencies. This feels like an emergency. Shoving the cash into a small purse, I place it next to a knife in the bag. The cold steel feels heavy in my hand before I let it go, a grim promise of the threats that lie ahead in the world I’m s
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5. The Only Choice She Never Had
AellaMy escape from the pack feels like a dream, a vivid haze of adrenaline and fear. After three days on a bus with strangers, none the wiser about my origins or my destination, I find myself in Seattle. The city greets me with its iconic skyline, each building a monument to human ingenuity and defiance. For a moment, as the bus nears its final stop, I marvel at how different this concrete jungle is from the natural terrains of my previous life.As I disembark, I pull my hood over my face to ensure that I remain anonymous. The sheer amount of smells in the atmosphere is causing my wolf senses to be overwhelmed, with a blend of gasoline and grease, as well as the sea-salted air. My eyes catch on a grunge band poster, its vibrant colors a contrast to the dull grays and browns of my old world. This is not just another chapter in my life; it’s an entirely different book.I head straight to the hotel I had booked two days prior. The lobby is nondescript, a mix of burnt amber and creams
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6. A Latte, And Your Name
AellaLife has a way of becoming mundane, a dull routine of getting up, going to work and coming back home. Two years since my escape, two years since I severed all ties with my past, with the responsibilities that once threatened to suffocate me. Now, I live in a small town far away from my pack, my family, and most importantly, from Roman, the man who believed he owned me just because he is an Alpha.Each day bleeds into the next, a swirl of lattes, bagels, and forced smiles. I work at “The Corner Café,” a place small enough that it’s never crowded but just popular enough to keep afloat. I made one friend, Sam, at the cafe where I work. He’s a gorgeous Greek God of a man who also happens to be exceptionally gay, much to some of the female patrons’ dismay.But no one knows me here, not really. They know my face, my voice, even my schedule. But not me—not Aella. And I prefer it that way.I still look over my shoulder everyday, though; I haven’t let my guard down at all. When I walk
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7. Dirty Laundry
AellaHe’s here. The guy from the café, standing in front of a dryer and pulling out a T-shirt. Our eyes meet, and the world seems to halt, all sounds muffled, all thoughts obliterated by the shock of the moment.“Evening, beautiful,” he says in that rough drawl, shooting me a wink. “Fancy meeting you here.”“What are you doing here?” The words spill out before I can stop them and immediately regret the words as they come out. Great going, Aella!He grins, that same earth-shattering smile from earlier. “Doing my laundry. What about you?”I shake my head, disoriented. Of all the laundromats in all the towns, of all the apartment buildings, what are the chances? “I can see that, but what…” I trail off, scoffing and feeling a blush rising into my cheeks. This man does not owe me any explanation, but I immediately slam those walls back up. This can’t be a coincidence. I refuse to believe that.“Same,” I manage to say, my voice sounding far away, as though coming from someone else. I wal
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8. Time's Up, Little Bird
RomanI can’t stop the smirk from forming on my face as I walk away from Aella, knowing I’ve already wormed my way into her thoughts. That look on her face when she saw me again told me everything I needed to know; just one smile from me and I had her.Ah, she’s still as feisty and cunning as the day she disappeared, and that’s what makes this whole charade thrilling. I relish in it—the chase, the hunt, the eventual capture.Reaching for my phone as soon as I step into my apartment, I dial Kaden’s number. He doesn’t take long to answer, either.“It’s me. The plan’s in motion. She’s taken the bait,” I say, and Kaden’s laughter rumbles through the speaker.“Seriously? That easily? You sure she doesn’t suspect anything?” he asks. “Relax. She has no idea. I’m Jay now, the charming neighbor. Besides, you know as well as I do, she wouldn’t recognize me. No one outside the family has ever seen my face.” I say, falling down on my bed and sighing.“Right, the mysterious Alpha, ruling from the
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9. Five Days
AellaFive days. It’s been five long days since I last saw him. I’ve been counting—counting the days, the hours, even the minutes since he last walked through the café door. Five days. How did five days without seeing him turn me into this... this ball of confusion? One minute he’s all flirt and grin, making my insides do weird somersaults. The next, he’s cold and distant, as if he’s a different guy. What’s his deal?I have to admit that it terrifies me how much I look forward to seeing him. I know I shouldn’t, right? The only thing I know about him is his name and how he likes his latte.Now I’m at the laundromat again, daydreaming about God knows what, when the door creaks open. I don’t need to look up to know it’s him; I can sense him and that rugged scent always clinging to him. But when I do look up, my face flushes. God, he looks divine. His shirt is unbuttoned, carelessly open, revealing an impeccably chiseled chest. It’s not just a chest; it’s a masterpiece, an altar of lean
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10. Sometimes You Don't Get A Do-Over
AellaOkay, I finally understand what people mean when they say their stomachs get twisted in knots.The entire day felt like some weird version of emotional roulette. I dressed up, even watched a stupid makeup tutorial on how to get that ‘natural, but like, also hot’ look. I went through my closet three times, wanting to wear something nice but not too desperate-to-impress kind of nice. I was so nervous the whole day. Like, the kind of jittery that has you overthinking everything. I tried doing my laundry, but even the noise of the washing machine seemed to mock me, drowning out the tick of the clock that was going way too slow. Hell, I even scrubbed the kitchen counters like they had offended me or something.Also, I stared at my phone a bunch of times, hoping he’d text. You know, something like, “Looking forward to tonight.” But nothing. It was as if my phone was on a strike, refusing to bring me any good news.My stomach was doing flips, so eating lunch was a no-go. I just kind
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