Quickly, my breath seized in my throat. I hadn't anticipated finding him in his room, let alone finding him like this– NAKED! "Maybe I'll come back later. I'm sorry," I said, tension strangling my voice. "No, please. Stay!" He said in a calm tone. I looked at him hysterically, and, like he had just recognised his own nudity, he smiled confidently. "I'll just put on something if you're uncomfortable." "Uncomfortable?" I scoffed, trying to sound assuring. "No, I'm not uncomfortable. I've seen a lot of naked boys." He shot a glance at me, sending a thrill running down my chest. "Boys?" He asked, closing the distance between us. He grabbed my left hand and placed it on his hard breast, his heart beating steady, a stark contrast to mine, which raced like an antelope running from a predator in a jungle. "Well... I've seen a lot of naked boys, but not a naked man..." I whispered softly, gazing and feeling lost in his starry eyes. ******************* Reina Grayson, the wolf-less Alpha's daughter, harbours a dangerous secret: she possesses a silver wolf. If her Pack discovers this, she'll be killed. When Alpha Van Killian, whom she was forced to marry, rejects her for her step-sister, Reina is poisoned and dies. Gifted a second chance by the Moon Goddess, she is reborn as Narah Smith. On her eighteenth birthday, she uncovers her true identity, but she had lost her wolf. She returns to her hometown, now living among her enemies as a common maid. As she navigates her past, she forms a bond with Alpha Van, who believes she's his second chance mate despite being married to her step-sister. But with a vengeful heart and a determination to uncover the mysteries of her death, Narah must choose: embrace her fated mate or accept Alpha Zander's proposal? Can she seek revenge on those who wronged her, or will she remain forever in the shadows?
REINA'S POV
Six years, I counted. Six long, agonizing years I held this secret from everyone. It was consuming me and now, I had made up my mind to tell.
As I approached my father's office, I saw Beta Daphne, a chubby looking woman with short blonde hair, storming out of his office, her face red with anger.
"Beta Daphne is my father in?" I asked firmly. She looked back at the door with a stern look and hesitated before responding.
Yes, he is," she murmured with her head low, avoiding my gaze before exiting the gloomy hallway.
It probably wasn't a good time to see him, but I couldn't care less. My gaze fell upon the door as my heart raced, contemplating if I should tell him my secret or not. My thoughts were waging a war against me.
"Reina, please don't, they'll hunt us if they know." My wolf, Minsi, begged as I sluggishly approached the door.
Through the years, I had learned to suppress my wolf, allowing me to maintain the charade: the wolf-less Alpha's daughter.
"My father is the Alpha, Minsi," I reminded her, "There's no way he'd let anyone hurt me."
She moaned quietly and grew silent. I strongly doubted my own words too. My father, Alfie Grayson of the Moonlight pack, would probably be the first in line to hang me.
Six years ago, when I first shifted, Minsi had told me to keep her a secret. I couldn't even dare to breathe a word about her to anyone.
Her silver fur that glistened under the moonlight and deep blue eyes that shined brightly in the dark sent my heart pounding out of my chest the first night I saw her reflection in the lake.
Silver wolves were a rare breed bound by an ancient prophecy. I read once in the worn out pages of a book, that they were cursed and brought damnation to their pack. This led to their execution.
How was I to tell my pack that I was a silver wolf? But today, I wagered my life in the name of love, just so I could be with Arthur.
I confidently pushed the creaky door open and the pungent smell of old books and furniture hit me.
My father was sitting quietly, going through his cellphone. He didn't even bother to look at me, just like he never bothered to renovate his office.
"I do not accept giving me away just for a truce," I confronted him, disrupting his quiet. "This isn't the old days. The old ways have been forgotten."
"Reina, you had been forgotten," he raised his head slightly, staring blankly into my eyes. He continued, "Until the truce was formed, you had been forgotten."
I felt a sudden bone-crushing realization hit me; my father didn't love me.
"And this marriage is the only way to unite our Packs?" My voice inquired, almost giving way to violent sobs.
"What better way than marriage?" I heard my father whisper beneath his breath. Suddenly, he dropped his phone and, with his head high, he walked towards me. "You should be grateful you're my daughter, my flesh and blood. Gina would have been a better choice."
Gina. My step sister, Gina. She was every wolf's dream mate, she wasn't my father's blood, but he sure as hell did treat her like one more than he ever treated me.
Most times, I didn't hold him responsible for this preference. Gina was everything I could only ever dreamed of being.
My head full of unremarkable long gray curls could never compare to her long dark mane that fell down to her waist like waterfalls.
Her piercing green eyes captured the hearts of everyone who gazed upon her.
At just sixteen, her red wolf, Ria, had already emerged, while everyone believed I was wolf-less.
"I have something to tell you," I sighed, with tears threatening to pour from my eyes. "I have...I also have a...," I stuttered.
Why couldn't I say it?
I looked up at my father who was now pacing the office agitatedly, waiting to hear what I had to say.
"Don't say it, Reina. It wouldn't change a thing," Minsi panted, and the wrong words spewed from my mouth.
"I am running away with Arthur."
Coward! Threatening my father with that wouldn't make him call off the wedding, but telling him about my wolf just might do the trick.
Arthur was my first love, my chosen mate, and I was willing to risk it all for him. I had given up searching for my fated mate. I believed Arthur was perfect for me.
I heard my father's laughter echo through the room, making my stomach churn and turn. And then he asked, "Arthur?"
I nodded and he frowned instantly.
"Reina, I know you're weak and blind for love, but I didn't know you were foolish as well."
I stood my ground, not wanting to know what he meant by that. If I had revealed my secret wolf, he wouldn't dare call me weak.
I watched as he walked back to his table and opened a drawer. My eyes followed the movements of his hand, trying to read the contents of the papers and the pictures he pulled out.
"There!" He sent the papers flying towards my direction, scattering as they touched the floor. My eyes scanning the pictures and words, I crouched to get a better view.
"No, it can't be right," I muttered and scanned through the rest.
"Arthur wouldn't," I proclaimed and turned to my father angrily. "You're only showing me this because you want me to marry Alpha Van of the Woodwick Pack."
You see, my pack and the Woodwick's have been sworn enemies for decades, with a deep-seated hatred that had been passed down through our generations like an inherited curse.
Growing up, I was constantly reminded of the rivalry between our packs. The very mention of Woodwick would send shivers down the spines of every member of my pack.
I was only seven when my mother died. Rumors had it, it was a rogue. Not just any rogue, but a stinking rogue from Woodwick's that had split my mother open.
Recently, our pack was facing a serious threat. The scouts reported that rogues from Woodwick were attacking our members at the border.
That's when Alpha Van Killian, the ruthless, offered a truce. A marriage for peace and unity of both packs. And my father chose me.
Tears streamed down my face. My father wouldn't lie to me about this. Actually, Minsi had already suspected Arthur's infidelity, and these papers served as crucial evidence.
"If you're going to think about running away with a man like Arthur, and abandoning your duty to your pack as the future Luna, you better think twice," he said bluntly, his voice void of emotion.
I picked myself up and wiped the tears from my eyes, halting the rest as they threatened to pour. My father's gaze fixated on me, he smirked, shaking his head. I knew he was disappointed, the look on his face wasn't pity.
"If Arthur confirms this to be true. Then I'll accept Alpha Van's proposal and end the feud," I offered with a calm tone.
"You say that like you have a choice. Well, knock yourself out."
I quickly left the office, driven by anger and a deep feeling of betrayal. I needed to see Arthur, he had some explaining to do.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
Rumors said that Lucas married an unattractive woman with no background. In the three years they were together, he remained cold and distant to Belinda, who endured in silence. Her love for him forced her to sacrifice her self-worth and her dreams. When Lucas' true love reappeared, Belinda realized that their marriage was a sham from the start, a ploy to save another woman's life. She signed the divorce papers and left. Three years later, Belinda returned as a surgical prodigy and a maestro of the piano. Lost in regret, Lucas chased her in the rain and held her tightly. "You are mine, Belinda."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?