All Chapters of Against All Odds: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

* Zeina * I was standing on the balcony of our room, gazing out at the horizon where the golden hues of the setting sun kissed the tops of the distant hills. The sky was painted in a warm blend of orange, pink, and violet, a breathtaking display that would have made my heart flutter under any other circumstance. But tonight, it served as a quiet reminder of the days that had slipped by three long days since my mate, Alpha Robert, left to conquer the enemies threatening our border in the West. He had always been strong, brave, and resilient. I never doubted him for a moment. Deep inside, I could feel our bond stretching but never breaking, a tether that told me he was alive, that he was coming back to me. The guards had informed me earlier that the mission had been successful and they were on their way home. Since then, I had barely moved from my place on the balcony, eyes fixed on the winding road in the distance that led to the Alpha house. It was the farthest point my eyes could r

* Zeina *I woke up feeling the empty space beside me cold, silent, untouched. My hand instinctively reached across the bed, searching, hoping to find the familiar warmth of Alpha Robert still lingering beside me. All I could feel was the fading heat from where he'd once laid, and the subtle, masculine scent of him that clung to the pillow like a ghost refusing to leave. It was enough to make my heart ache.With a heavy sigh, I pushed the soft sheets off of me and sat up. The antique wall clock ticked steadily above the headboard, its delicate golden hands pointing precisely at three thirty in the morning. Too early for him to be gone. Far too early. My brow furrowed as a ripple of unease settled over me."Honey?" I called out softly, my voice echoing eerily in the quiet room. It bounced back at me, unanswered. I tried again, a little louder this time, my eyes glancing toward the door of our en suite bathroom. Maybe he was just inside, freshening up. Maybe he'd had trouble sleeping.

* Cerberus *I summoned my Beta, Kael, and five of the most capable warriors in our pack to my office just as the sun began its descent. The plan I had conceived had to be executed by dawn, and there was no room for hesitation. The objective was simple in words, but dangerous in action, to infiltrate the dungeons of the Western Pack and rescue Celine. Not out of mercy or loyalty, but because she had taken something from me, something I needed back before I could deal with her betrayal properly.The heavy oak door creaked open as Kael entered first, his sharp eyes immediately scanning the room. He took the seat across from my desk, while the others remained standing alert, respectful, and silently curious about the urgency I'd hinted at."Good evening, Alpha," Kael began, his tone casual but edged with curiosity. "What is this meeting about?"I took a moment before answering, allowing the weight of my silence to settle over the room. The tavern had just closed early, against the norm b

* Cerberus *We slip past the outer perimeter unnoticed.The wolf guards at the northern gate are distracted, yawning and half-shifting from exhaustion, but my wolves are precise, silent shadows in the dark. No one makes a sound. No one breaks formation. Rhea takes the lead, her massive wolf form gliding just ahead of me like smoke given flesh. I follow close behind, my steps light but sure on the stone path.The scent of moss, rust, and dried blood grows stronger the deeper we go. The dungeons are near. My instincts scream it, my blood thrums with a primal pull, and my heart pounds with anticipation. Wrapped in a thick, rune-woven cloak that suppresses both my scent and aura, I move undetected. Even in my unshifted form, I carry danger in my blood, and that is something I need hidden for now.Rhea halts, her ears perked forward, a low growl vibrating through her chest. She lifts her head slightly, sniffing the air before turning to me with narrowed eyes."Alpha," she hisses through o