Alethea
Fear coils tightly in my chest as Asher tells me to shift into my wolf.
I know he’s right-we need to move fast if we want to save our son, my wolf… she’s a risk.
If the enemy realizes what I am and what I carry in my blood, I could become their target.
Still, I push the fear down and focus.
We race through the thick forest, dodging trees, our paws barely making a sound against the damp earth. But the moment Asher orders me to shift back, I feel relief flood through me.
He senses the danger too.
I obey instantly, shifting back into my human form. And when he crouches down and tells me to climb onto his back, I don’t hesitate.
Even in this moment of urgency, I can’t help but feel something deep, electric, and undeniable when he holds me steady.
But then I see her.
That conniving, two-faced bitch.
Maya.
My body goes rigid the second she steps forward, a smug smirk curling on her lips.
“Welcome, Asher. I’ve been expecting you.”
Her gaze flickers at me, and her smirk widens.
“And look at what we have here.”
Every instinct in me screams to attack. To rip that disgusting smirk off her face. To make her suffer the way she’s made me suffer.
I hate her.
Not just because she stole my mate. Not just because she manipulated him and tried to destroy him.
But because she’s here. Because she’s involved in this. Because she has my son.
My heart races violently as my worst fear takes shape, playing stepmother to my child.
My fists clench so tightly my nails dig into my palms, my jaw locking as rage pulses through me.
I want to slap her. I want to hurt her.
“Don’t.”
The voice is soft, almost pleading.
Asher.
His voice stops me, but only for a second.
Then Maya laughs.
“Alethea, the pathetic, wolfless omega,” she taunts, her voice dripping with mockery.
Every word is a knife to my chest.
“Not wanted by her father. Given up as a breeder. Desperate to be seen, to be accepted, always so desperate.”
Something snaps inside me.
I lunged at her.
I move so fast she doesn’t see it coming, and my fist connects with her face.
The satisfying crack of the impact sends a sharp thrill through me.
Maya stumbles back, stunned.
She thought I was still the same weakling she bullied back at Bloodmoon Pack. The same girl she forced to run away.
But I’m not.
I’m not that girl anymore.
Maya’s shock quickly turns into rage. Her eyes darken as she lets out a furious hiss.
“You stupid, woofless fool!” she shrieks.
She spins to the men behind her, her face twisted in fury.
“Seize her! Take her to the dungeon!”
My stomach drops.
No. No, I can’t let this happen.
I scramble to my feet just as bulky, towering men start moving toward me, their eyes locked on me like I’m prey.
Oh, my goddess.
They’re coming for me.
I barely have time to think, but I wish-just wish-that the bastards running at me would trip and fall.
And as if the universe itself is on my side, I hear a loud thud followed by a heavy vibration rippling through the ground.
They’ve fallen.
A small smirk tugs at my lips. Nice one.
I used to do this back in Redwood Pack when I was Zoe when I was just trying to survive. But now? I’ll use it to fight for my son.
Before the fallen men can regain their footing, Asher launches himself at them.
He’s pure deadly force, tackling one to the ground with bone-crushing strength. The other warrior struggles to get back up, shaking off the impact of his fall.
I see it happen in slow motion-he swings his elbow, aiming straight for Asher’s back.
Not happening.
My eyes dart around for something-anything-I can use as a weapon. Then I see it.
An iron rod.
Without thinking, I grab it with both hands, lift it, and swing it as hard as I can.
It connects with his skull with a sickening crack.
He staggers, letting out a deep groan as he collapses to the ground, clutching his head.
But Asher-he’s ruthless.
Fueled by fury and the need to get our son back, he doesn’t hesitate. He snaps the neck of the warrior he tackled, dropping him like dead weight.
The one I hit with the iron rod groans and tries to get up.
But Asher isn’t letting him.
With a sharp, brutal kick to the ribs, the man stumbles back down, gasping for air.
Asher moves toward him, his stance radiating pure, unfiltered rage. He’s relentless-ready to finish him.
But then I notice something.
Maya.
She’s gone.
Oh, my goddess-where is she?!
I whirl around, searching. She has my son.
Without a second thought, I sprint toward the abandoned building nearby, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. I shove through the door, my breath coming in quick gasps as my eyes scan the dark space.
“Declan,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding in my chest.
I strain my ears, listening.
Nothing.
My hands shake as I rake through the debris, my mind racing. Is this a trap? Did she just lure us here to get us alone?
I feel A sharp, violent wave of fury.
“I swear to the fucking goddess, Maya-if you’ve hurt my son, I will end your miserable existence.”
Then I hear it.
A small, faint heartbeat.
I freeze.
And then I hear another.
The second one is louder, heavier, and filled with emotion.
Asher. He’s behind me.
My instincts scream at me to move.
I race forward, following the sound down a narrow hall, my feet barely touching the ground. The hallway opens into a large, dimly lit room, and that’s when I see her.
Maya.
Standing in the center of the room.
And in her hands, son.
“Declan!”
His name rips from my throat as I run toward him, reckless, desperate-
Throwing all caution aside.
I know Maya won’t let him go without a fight.
But I don’t care.
I will fight her.
I will tear her apart if I have to.
Because nothing keeps me from my son. My heart pounds violently in my chest as I lay eyes on my son.
He looks terrified- his small frame trembling, his wide eyes darting between Maya and me.
What has she done to him?
Did she hurt him? Did she starve him? Did she poison his mind with lies about me, about Asher?
The thought alone makes something snap inside me.
Without thinking, I lunge forward.
And then-pain.
A sharp, crushing impact slams into my skull.
A deafening ringing fills my ears.
My vision blurs as I stumble, my knees buckling beneath me.
What the hell just happened?
The scent of Alpha Asher rushes over me-strong, familiar, impossible to mistake.
My heart clenches painfully.
It was him.
Asher hit me.
I feel a fresh wave of shock and betrayal, and my stomach twists violently.
No-why?
We’ve been through so much together.
We’ve fought for this moment to find Declan, to bring our son home.
I know how much he loves Declan. I know he wants us to be a family.
Then why?
I don’t even get the chance to make sense of it.
A powerful force shoves me down, pressing against my back and crushing me.
My chest slams into the cold, hard ground.
The last thing I hear is Declan screaming my name-
Then-darkness.