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Id	Vlad	Saved	Scrape Time	Status	Scrape Result	Title	Body	Cta Type	Link Url	Page Name	Page Profile Uri	Page Like Count	Enddate	Cta Text	Caption	Display Format	Link Description	Link Url	Creation Time	Page Profile Picture Url	Page Entity Type	Current Page Name	Startdate	Actions
2,706,802	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Unlock Peak Brain Performance	🌿 "This Ancient Superfood is Fuel for Your Brain…" For centuries, monks and scholars used this rare natural ingredient to enhance focus, memory, and mental clarity. Modern science is now confirming what ancient civilizations always knew—this brain-boosting formula can help unlock your true cognitive potential. If you've ever felt mentally foggy, distracted, or low on energy, this could be exactly what you’ve been missing. Click the "Learn More" button to discover how this powerful ancient compound is changing lives today.	LEARN_MORE	https://ancientmindelixir.com/	Sacred Rituals Revived	https://www.facebook.com/61570904579376/	1,389	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	ancientmindelixir.com	VIDEO		https://ancientmindelixir.com/	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/477014350_1693329464921235_4440735587164997559_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c9egUwH0hR0Q7kNvgFK5yhd&_nc_oc=AdjGK4jXL9stY0eXd6hh2H8MpLrDF6fAnxiIp2MpUNKKYF7-g-aoVClgIZV_33gM7GtqLgYvh90LkGCcqze2f1ZJ&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ALOajKZLPt-NU1eE5gETryv&oh=00_AYDal301Snfz6PP5q4bM5rC1T8nzELD652oSR-PqluAr1w&oe=67C7363C	PERSON_PROFILE	Sacred Rituals Revived	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,845	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706433}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	¡Solo $49 por un Examen Quiropráctico Completo!	🌟 ¡Siéntete Mejor y Vive Bien con Duong Chiropractic Inc! 🌟 ¡Hola Dublin, CA! ¿Te enfrentas a dolor y malestar continuos? Problemas como la neuropatía, problemas de discos o ciática pueden detenerte de disfrutar la vida. No estás solo, y estamos aquí para ayudarte a encontrar un alivio real. ¡Este mes tenemos una oferta especial para ti! Obtén tu Examen Quiropráctico Completo por solo $49. No es solo cualquier examen; es una revisión completa para tu salud: 🔹 Consulta quiropráctica inicial y revisión completa de tu historial de salud 🔹 Examen exhaustivo de tu caso actual 🔹 Evaluación de tu postura y recomendación del doctor para un plan de cuidado personalizado, si es necesario ¿Por qué elegir Duong Chiropractic Inc? A nuestros clientes les encanta cómo los tratamos de manera personal. Un cliente satisfecho dijo: "El Dr. Duong y su equipo realmente se toman el tiempo para conocerte y escuchar tus problemas." Nos enfocamos en lo que necesitas, así solo recibes los tratamientos adecuados. Esta oferta es más que una solución rápida. Se trata de iniciar un camino hacia una vida más sana y sin dolor. Usamos métodos avanzados como descompresión y terapia láser para atacar la causa de tu dolor, no solo los síntomas. 🌿 Esta oferta estará disponible por tiempo limitado, ¡así que no te esperes! Haz clic en 'OBTENER OFERTA', llena el formulario y haz una cita hoy para aprovechar esta oferta especial y comenzar tu camino hacia una mejor salud. 👉 ¡No esperes más—toma el control de tu salud y siente la diferencia de Duong Chiropractic hoy! Nota(s): VÁLIDO SOLO PARA NUEVOS PACIENTES.	GET_OFFER		Duong Chiropractic Inc	https://www.facebook.com/100090454687955/	45	1969-12-31 18:00	Get offer		VIDEO			1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481042996_1171237581267746_7968483440371639470_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NyhjhqNkJJ8Q7kNvgEDJ2pP&_nc_oc=AdiUfhM5k8rgu-LUsipZ9keOwP5H25o7U_tSWqnNUXc1GKX5EF_NuHSPHN27QZJ-3xI3-MIlIoYkneB0sFGIDuPN&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AY2iNOEeoBFCVckcfBVMoQW&oh=00_AYCgdSDEn_p1QHF-26CznpaZwbftqKZIG5CEJDqvjkLsRw&oe=67C70E80	PERSON_PROFILE	Duong Chiropractic Inc	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,269	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Tons of great short dramas, updated daily. 💥Download the app now!💥	Tons of great short dramas, updated daily. 💥Download the app now!💥	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramawave-endless-re	Dramawave-vip	https://www.facebook.com/61558684041879/	21,099	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	apps.apple.com	VIDEO		https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dramawave-endless-reels/id6670430706	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481236010_549664261465548_1247340054152140515_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KKDM4E6i98UQ7kNvgHcWeLt&_nc_oc=Adjy4XjtsVU8ICeyFrH8MVIRYVFX4zul-Wi6w0uZbVWIQ_xE5fT6NrNE3qJdgQIZ5lm6317TQ3sc14de3BbSzNJl&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AyjbXEE3J6IwnrgXBE-aFBT&oh=00_AYDpox1q-9HNCMi66guD27yjkrN2QpdtC97kFrAjeN392A&oe=67C71AA9	PERSON_PROFILE	Dramawave-vip	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,673	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706664}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🏆Enter to Win!🏆	🎉The New Lune Giveaway is Here!🎉 We are giving away a box with a collection of our pain relief products for neuropathy & joint pain! And there's not just 1 winner, but multiple, which means you have many chances to win! Each box comes with a 30-day supply for you, we are more than happy to help you find the relief that's right for you. Enter to win today!	SIGN_UP	https://www.luneusa.com/pages/lune-box-save-50	Lune	https://www.facebook.com/100085237752848/	839	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign Up	luneusa.com	DCO	Free U.S. Shipping	https://www.luneusa.com/pages/lune-box-save-50	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481255503_898428215573438_4069431915573860055_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z2c5R7oq5kEQ7kNvgGnwVt4&_nc_oc=Adh_2HDzqJ67hfFUWYLvCbZx7R2xr8w8XdFIqeh4AaF6h7w1eDz9bGBVi-FARNjFYWhvkuPTUHmU93mcPox_Y9-X&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A0SwgjL7NfKzTQ-ba33p35s&oh=00_AYBszTnEbgUgBJYBOa-zkq5bG14kcoyUQd0vzyXHoInpPw&oe=67C7105C	PERSON_PROFILE	Lune	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,463	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707166}'	No	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	😍Click to continue reading	I never thought I’d see him again. As I step off the bus, the scorching sun beats down on me. The heat here is unbearable, with not even the slightest breeze to offer relief. I already miss the places I've come to call home over the years. Grabbing my suitcase from the driver—who’s been eyeing me with a mix of disinterest and impatience—I flash him a polite smile, take my bag, and turn away without another glance. The bus station is smaller than I remember. I push through the crowd, scanning the faces around me, searching for my aunt. I’ve moved around more times than I can count—first with my mother, and then, after she passed away, with my aunt, who took me in along with her mate and daughter. Constantly relocating wasn’t a choice; it was a necessity. Someone was always after me. My aunt was insistent that I return to this town, though I still don’t understand why. This place holds nothing but bad memories for me—especially since he is here. I refuse to say his name. He abandoned my mother and me when I was just ten years old. I watched her heart break a little more each day, while he never once looked back. He was too caught up in his pack, too in love with his own life to remember the daughter he left behind. So why did my aunt want me back here? She and my cousin Eleanor have settled in this place, but I made it clear—I would only return if it was a matter of life and death. And now, I’m back, trapped in a town that will no doubt become my personal hell. “Sierra, OVER HERE!” I hear her before I see her. Turning to my left, I spot my aunt waving frantically, bouncing on her toes to get my attention. I force a smile and start making my way toward her. As I walk, my senses sharpen. I can feel the weight of several eyes on me, curious and assessing. This town is a werewolf town. There are humans here, but my aunt told me they’re aware of the supernatural. Two packs live on the outskirts of town, sitting on opposite ends. One of them is his pack. And from what I’ve heard, they roam freely here. This is going to be interesting—a panther shifter living in the middle of werewolf territory. “Auntie,” I greet her with a smile, stepping closer. She groans at the word, her expression shifting immediately. “Sierra, you know I hate being called that.” I chuckle. “Sorry, Raven.” I pull her into a hug, feeling some of the tension ease from my body. “How was the trip?” she asks, taking my bag from me as we head toward the exit. “It was fine. First a plane ride, then a twelve-hour bus ride. There were a few stops along the way, so I got to stretch my legs. But I didn’t mind—I’m used to it. I also made sure no one was following me,” I add, glancing over my shoulder. That’s when I notice the bus driver handing off his keys to another driver. Both of them are staring right at me. I sigh. “If one more person keeps staring, I swear I’ll rip their throats out,” Aria growls in my mind. She’s my panther counterpart—always on edge, always ready for a fight. My mother was a panther shifter, just like me, just like Raven and Eleanor. “Why is everyone staring at me?” I mutter, uneasy. Aria steps forward in my mind, scanning the area through my eyes. Raven smirks. “Well, it’s not every day a stunning twenty-year-old woman rolls into town.” I snort. “Yeah, right. There must be plenty of girls here. But you know what I mean.” I catch two elderly women watching me. The moment I meet their eyes, they quickly look away—but one of them seems to be mind-linking someone. “I bet she’s telling her Alpha that someone new is here,” Aria muses, stretching lazily before retreating to the back of my mind. Raven studies me, lowering her voice. “Be careful when Aria comes forward. Your eyes shift color slightly.” I nod. “We’ll talk more in the car.” We exit the bus station and head toward the parking lot, Raven leading the way to her small Toyota. Just as we approach, a black Mustang screeches to a stop right in front of her car. Raven groans. “One Alpha too many,” she mutters under her breath. “Be nice, Sierra.” The driver steps out first, his gaze flicking to me before he opens the rear door. Two young men climb out, looking to be around my age. Then it hits me. A familiar scent—one I haven’t smelled in years. I stiffen as a low growl escapes me before I can stop it. I know that scent. He’s not my father. But he smells just like him. Which means... He must be his son. Chapter 2 Sierra I have a brother—or at least, someone who seems to be my age. "You must be Raven’s niece, Sierra. My name is Dane. I’m the Beta of the Dark Valley Pack, and this here is Caleb, our Gamma. We wanted to introduce ourselves," Dane said. I stared at him, unimpressed. His Alpha was either too busy or just didn’t care enough to find out who I was. "Yeah, that’s me. Now, can you move your car so we can leave?" I said through clenched teeth. Raven looked like she wanted to slap me but managed to restrain herself. "Sierra," she warned. "My apologies, we didn’t realize this was your car," Dane said, clearly lying. Raven had been living here for months, and they had to know. "Cruz, could you move the car to a parking spot, please?" The driver, Cruz, nodded, got back into the car, and drove it into a space on the opposite side of Raven’s vehicle. "Better?" Dane asked with a smug smile. "Yeah, I guess," I said with a hint of irritation. "Raven, can we go now? I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours, and I’m exhausted." I let out a fake yawn for emphasis. Raven smirked, knowing full well I was just trying to get out of this conversation. "Of course, Sierra. Beta, Gamma, was there anything else you needed?" she asked while placing my bag in the back seat and loading my suitcase into the trunk. Both men looked at me, and I noticed Caleb seemed to be mind-linking someone. "He’s linking the Alpha," Aria, my wolf, murmured from the back of my mind. She had been watching everything unfold through my eyes, clearly amused. After a few seconds, Dane turned back to us, his expression unreadable. "No, nothing else. Oh, actually—one thing. We’ll be stopping by the café later to pick up the cakes we ordered for the ceremony." "No problem. They’ll be ready by the time you come to collect them. I hope the new Alpha has a great welcome-home party," Raven said. "Oh, he will," Dane replied with a cocky grin. I shuddered, my thoughts immediately going to all the crude things he could be implying. But then he caught me off guard. "You two should come," he said. Raven glanced at them before shaking her head. "I don’t think so. Sierra needs to rest after her long journey," she said. I knew exactly why she was acting this way, and my blood boiled. I knew who would be at that party. "Well, the invitation stands," Dane said. Caleb looked at me carefully. "You should come to the packhouse—" "I don’t think so," I cut him off before he could finish. "You both know my father is part of your pack. I will not—no, I will never—step foot in your packhouse. So why don’t you two go do whatever it is you need to do before I throw up all over those nice shoes of yours?" I snapped. I turned to open the car door but hesitated for a second, looking back at Caleb. "Oh, and do me a favor—say hi to my father. I doubt he’ll show his face anytime soon, especially since it’s been ten years since he last saw me. So enjoy your little party, but don’t ever come near me again." Without another word, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. "Stupid wolves," I muttered under my breath. I sat there, waiting for Raven to get in. Glancing through the window, I saw the three of them standing there, speechless from my outburst. I hated that man. I never wanted to see the person who abandoned me. "I apologize for Sierra," Raven said as she walked to the car, opening the driver’s side door. Dane had recovered from my outburst and gave me a smug smile. "I hope she changes her mind. We don’t want any trouble," he said. Without another word, the three of them turned and walked off. Raven and I watched them go. "Stupid wolves," I muttered again. "Sierra, you need to be careful with what you say," Raven warned as she started the engine. We pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, driving in silence for a while. Finally, I broke it. "Raven, why did you want me here?" Chapter 3 Sierra "Raven, why did you want me here?" She sighed. "Because I wanted to see you. You’re my niece." I studied her face. I believed her, but I also knew there was more to it. "And?" I pressed. She was quiet for a moment. "Your father came into the café a few weeks ago when I first moved here. One of his pack members told him I was in town. He wanted to know how you were… and if you were coming back to live here," she admitted, stealing a glance at me. "He wants to get to know you, Sierra." I laughed dryly. "Yeah, sure. He hasn’t cared for ten years. Why now?" She shrugged. "I don’t know. I understand why you hate him for what he did to your mother and for abandoning you. I hate him too. But when I told him you’d never want to see him again… he seemed genuinely hurt." I didn’t respond. I knew Raven would let me make my own choice about this, but as far as I was concerned, that man was dead to me. "Sierra, you don’t know the full story of why he left," she said softly. I turned to her, my expression blank. The problem with that? I did know why he left. And I knew exactly what had made him do it. Either Raven didn’t know, or she believed whatever lies he had told her. Trying to change the subject, I asked, "Who’s the new Alpha? Why are they throwing a welcome-home party for him?" She hesitated before answering. "His name is Damon. He’s the Alpha’s son. He’s been away for the past few months, training with neighboring packs," she said. "Before he left, he came into the café every day. You’ll probably see him around soon enough." I didn’t want to see anyone—especially not an Alpha. I let the conversation drop and turned to stare out the window. The town was surrounded by dense forest, but the houses were built close together. After a few minutes, Raven pulled into the driveway of a small terraced house. It looked normal enough. The houses were near the forest, making it easy for wolves to shift and run freely. "We need to shift soon. It’s been too long," Aria murmured in my head. As I stepped out of the car, I suddenly felt like someone was watching me. "Aria, do you sense anyone?" I asked, keeping my back straight. "I don’t know, but I don’t like it here," she admitted. "Something feels… off." I agreed. There was something unsettling about this place. Raven must have felt it too because she glanced behind me, her expression unreadable. "Let’s get you inside. I need to head to the café to close up," she said, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the house. Once inside, I glanced around. The living room and kitchen were open-plan, and a staircase led upstairs. Raven hesitated before locking the front door. "Everything okay?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Yeah… Let me show you to your room. You can shower and rest while I head to the café," she said quickly. She led me upstairs, showing me my room—which had its own bathroom. "I had this installed last week, knowing you’d be visiting. Now that you’re staying, it’ll be useful," she said with a smile. I nodded. The room was small but cozy—a far cry from sleeping on the ground or in trees. "I got everything you might need. If you need anything else, we can go shopping tomorrow. Also, do you want to work some shifts at the café?" she asked. "Yeah, sure," I said, just as my stomach growled. She chuckled. "I’ll make you some sandwiches. You should eat, then sleep." I yawned. "Thanks, Raven." As she left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I was too exhausted to dwell on it. Within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, sleep pulled me under. Chapter 4 Raven I can’t believe Sierra is back. I’ve missed her so much these past two years. She wanted to travel, and who could blame her? After everything she’s been through in the last decade, she deserved it. I knew the lavender and sage in her room would knock her and Aria out cold. I needed her to rest, but more than that, I needed her to be safe. He’s been outside, lurking in the shadows, watching her return home. I step outside and lock the door behind me. I know he’s still there, watching, waiting. He wants to see her. But she hates him—loathes him—for abandoning her and for what he did to her mother. As I walk down the driveway, I spot him standing to my right. “She looks just like Eden,” he murmurs. I shoot him a cold, hard glare. No matter that he’s Sierra’s father—what he did was unforgivable. I don’t like him either, not after everything he put my sister through. “You shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t want to see you,” I say flatly. “By the way, she met your son. He wanted to come to the party tonight, but she shut that down real quick.” My voice drips with venom. “I heard she takes after Eden—same fire in her spirit,” he says. I bare my teeth at him. “Stop saying my sister’s name. You lost the right to speak it a long time ago.” I push past him, my blood boiling. He looks wounded. “Raven, please… you know what happened,” he says, guilt thick in his voice. “I didn’t have a choice.” I whirl around, facing him head-on, my panther stirring beneath my skin, itching to tear him apart. “You have some goddamn nerve saying that. I wouldn't be surprised if Sierra knows more about what really happened than you think,” I snap. “And listen to me carefully—you need to stay away from her. She despises you. As for your so-called son, she doesn’t know him or that daughter of yours. So if I were you, I’d keep them far away from her.” He stares down at me, expression unreadable. “Raven, please... I just want to know my daughter.” I sneer, his name like poison on my tongue. “Kieran, back the hell off. I’m warning you. You, your mate, your children, and that old Alpha you chose over your own flesh and blood—stay the hell away from her. You have no idea what she’s been through.” I realize too late that I’ve said too much. His brow furrows. “What do you mean? What has she been through?” His shock is evident, though he quickly masks it. Shit. That’s not my story to tell. I turn on my heel and keep walking. The café is just around the corner from my place. “Raven, tell me, please,” he calls after me, still following. I push open the café door. It’s closing time—we’re shutting early for the ceremony. Eleanor stands behind the counter, a warm smile on her face when she sees me, but the moment she spots Kieran, her expression hardens. She hates him too. “Raven,” he says, stepping inside, “you can’t keep this from me. She’s my daughter.” I’ve had enough of this bastard. He hasn’t given a damn about Sierra for ten years. The only reason I’m even living here again is because I have to be. I spin around to face him, my patience gone. “Listen up, you worthless piece of shit. You were never in her life. I don’t owe you a damn thing. You never came back for her—not once—even after all the messages I sent you. You are not, and will never be, her father,” I hiss. “I had to raise her and Eleanor on my own, you jackass, with no help from you. You want to know Sierra? Then come here and talk to her yourself. Or better yet, wait until she actually wants to talk to you—which, let me tell you, will be never.” I can feel the shame radiating off him, but before I can lay into him further, the door swings open. His son, Dane, walks in with the new Alpha, Damon. Both of them take in the scene, Dane immediately sensing the tension. “Dad, what are you doing here?” he asks, glancing between me and Kieran. Kieran straightens, his jaw tightening. “Raven, what’s going on?” Damon asks, his tone authoritative. I roll my eyes. Stupid wolves. “She was just telling this asshole to get lost and never come back,” Eleanor chimes in, stepping up beside me. A low growl rumbles from Damon’s chest. “Show some respect, cat, or I’ll put you down myself,” he grits out. Eleanor lets out a soft growl of her own. “You may be the Alpha, and I may be part of this pack, but you don’t get to tell my mother what to do—especially when it doesn’t concern you,” she snaps. I don’t want her getting into trouble, but I hold Damon’s gaze. “I’m asking Kieran to leave. Now isn’t the time for this,” I say firmly. Kieran and Dane stand on opposite sides of Damon, but I have one last thing to say. “Here are the cakes for the ceremony. Take them and go,” I grind out. “And Alpha, if you ever speak to my daughter like that again, you’ll see exactly what a cat can do.” He stares at me, momentarily taken aback. I rarely let my anger spill over like this—and he knows it. He knew me before he left to train the packs. “Raven, I’m going to be the new Alpha soon. Please,” he says, as if that means a damn thing to me. I glance at Kieran and Dane. “Neither of you are welcome here when Sierra is around. You hear me?” My panther snarls, my fury barely contained. “I mean it. If you come in here and upset her, I’ll rip you apart myself.” “You can’t stop me from seeing my daughter,” Kieran says stubbornly. But before I can reply, the café door swings open again. The scent that fills the air makes my stomach drop. Kieran stiffens. Oh, hell. She’s pissed. Chapter 5 Raven "YEAH, SHE CAN," a voice snaps from behind him. I can tell she’s pissed. How the hell is she still standing after being awake for 24 hours? Kieran spins around, and his face goes pale when he sees the daughter he once knew. She’s no longer the little girl he left behind. Sierra glares at him, but before she can say anything, a low growl fills the room—"MATE." All of us turn to look at Damon. His eyes are locked onto Sierra. Oh, shit. This is not going to end well. Sierra meets his gaze briefly before striding towards Kieran and Dane, her face unreadable. “You need to back off,” she snarls. I can feel Aria trying to break through. The energy radiating from Sierra is overwhelming. Eleanor glances at her cousin and smirks. "Don't talk to—" Dane starts, but Sierra cuts him off with a guttural growl. Her eyes shift from their usual blue to a striking, glowing green. "You wouldn’t want to piss me off, brother." We all freeze, stunned. Eleanor and I have heard Aria and Sierra speak in unison before, but seeing it now is still something else. I glance at Damon, but he’s still fixated on Sierra—his mate. "What? You thought I wouldn't figure out who you are?" Sierra challenges Dane. "I recognized your scent at the station. You smell just like him." Then, she turns to Kieran. "And don’t think for a second that acting like the father I should have had is going to work. You abandoned me for ten years. So why the hell would I want you in my life now?" Kieran looks wounded. But what did he expect? I told him Sierra wanted nothing to do with him. She didn’t even know about Dane—let alone the sister she’s yet to meet. Sierra steps closer, eyes locked onto them both. Aria is close to the surface, her power amplified by Sierra’s rage. If we can feel it, I wonder if they can, too. "You’re going to listen, and you’re going to listen well," she says, voice deadly calm. "I don’t want anything to do with you or your new little family. You left me alone to survive for a decade, and guess what? I did just fine. If you ever come back, I’ll let my panther out. And trust me—she’s a hell of a lot less friendly than I am." She bares her teeth. "Now take whatever you came for and go." She strides between them and heads straight toward me. That’s when I realize—she’s still in her Minnie Mouse pajamas. She must have sensed him outside earlier. Damon hasn’t taken his eyes off her. Before anyone else can speak, Sierra turns to him. "Oh, and Alpha—I don’t want a mate." Damon lets out a deep growl. "You don’t mean that," he says, barely keeping himself and his wolf in check. Sierra shrugs. "Take it however you want. I’m only here for a few weeks, and then I’m gone." Damon stares at her, saying nothing, though the hurt in his eyes is obvious. I know why she doesn’t want a mate. There are memories—dark ones—she’d rather forget. She hates men in general, and honestly, I don’t blame her. The tension in the air is suffocating. After a long moment, I turn to Kieran and Dane. "I think you all should leave now," I say. "Oh, and don’t forget the cakes on your way out." Dane glances at me and offers a small, grateful smile, mouthing thank you. He looks like he wants to say more, but he doesn’t. Damon still hasn’t moved. He’s rooted in place, staring at Sierra. Dane finally pulls him toward the door, leading him outside to the waiting SUV. Kieran hesitates, looking like he wants to say something, but he just exhales sharply, grabs the boxes, and walks out. Eleanor holds the door open for him. Another SUV pulls up, and Kieran loads the boxes inside before climbing in. Within seconds, the vehicle disappears down the road. Dane lingers a moment longer, stepping back into the café for the last box. Sierra and I watch him from behind the counter. He stops at the door, glancing over his shoulder at us. "I know what our father did. I don’t condone it," he says. "But if possible, I’d like to get to know my older sister." Sierra lets out a low growl. Dane flinches slightly but keeps his gaze steady. "I’m sorry, Sierra," he murmurs before walking out. Eleanor shuts the door and turns back to us. "Well, cuz, I’m so glad you’re here," she teases with a smirk. Sierra walks up to her and smiles, pulling her into a hug. They both turn to look at me, but before either can speak— "How did you know?" I ask Sierra. She studies me for a second before answering. "I smelled his scent outside. It woke Aria up. But the rest? I’ve always known. I just never told you." She exhales sharply, her expression darkening. "I hate him even more now. He never came for me." The bitterness in her voice is unmistakable. I know she’s hurting. And I have no doubt that Kieran is a big reason why she refuses to accept her mate. "Well, let’s close up. You look like you should be in bed," I say with a chuckle. Sierra glances down at herself, and Eleanor notices too. They both start laughing. We move around the café, making sure everything is cleaned up—tables wiped down, chairs in their proper places, all the lights turned off. Sierra yawns. "You need rest," I tell her. She nods. "Let’s go home," she says before turning to Eleanor. "You coming? We could have one of our famous sleepovers." Eleanor grins but shakes her head. I know that’s not happening—Eleanor has a ceremony to attend with her mate. "I can’t, cuz. You need your beauty sleep," she teases. Sierra rolls her eyes, but Eleanor shoots me a knowing look. Don’t tell her about Caleb yet, Mom. I nod subtly. Eleanor only knows bits and pieces of why Sierra refuses to accept her mate, but she’s scared to tell her just yet. She has no idea how Sierra will react when she finds out. Sierra yawns again, making us laugh. "Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Time for bed," I say, leading her out of the café and toward home. Chapter 6 Damon I found my mate. But she wants nothing to do with me. I’m beyond pissed. Why doesn’t she want me? I glance at Kieran. His face is unreadable, but I know he’s hurting. He finally met his daughter, yet she rejected him outright. I don’t know the full story between them, but whatever it is, it’s bad. “I’m sorry, Damon,” he suddenly says, still staring ahead. When I turn to look at him, I notice a small, sad smile on his face. He doesn’t elaborate. “You okay, Kieran?” I ask, studying him. His expression remains blank, but I continue, “I just wanted to say sorry about what happened at the café.” He nods, and I can feel the guilt radiating off him. He’s deeply wounded. After a moment, he exhales heavily. “We need to see your father when we get back to the pack house,” he says. “But I have one request.” His voice is almost pleading. “Don’t tell him about Sierra being your mate just yet.” His words catch me off guard. Why wouldn’t he want me to tell my own father? Especially since my mate is his best friend’s daughter—well, his long-lost daughter. “Why, Kieran? He’d be happy that I found my mate,” I say, but the look on his face tells me there’s more to this than I understand. “He will be—once he knows she’s my daughter. But there are things you don’t know yet, and that’s why we need to talk to him first. We have to explain everything to you. It might help you understand why Sierra doesn’t want a mate,” he finally says. I stare at him, momentarily stunned, but I quickly regain my composure. “Alright, I won’t say anything. But Kieran… what happened to make her hate you so much?” I ask, immediately regretting it as soon as the words escape my mouth. His shame crashes over me like a tidal wave. “I hurt her mother in the worst way possible,” he confesses quietly. “And I never claimed her as my mate.” I’m speechless. “I’ll explain everything when we see your father,” he adds. I glance at the man who had trained me when my father was too busy. I grew close to his son, Dane, who’s now about to become my Beta, and his sister, Nova. They’ve been like siblings to me—we argue and fight just like real siblings do. Sierra would have made an impression on me if she’d been around. Even in those pajamas, she exuded a quiet strength. I couldn’t quite make out her figure, but I didn’t care. Those piercing blue eyes, the rich brown hair messily tied into a bun, and those soft pink lips—it all made me want her even more. When her panther stirred, her eyes glowed green, and I felt an immense power roll off her in waves. It was unnerving. There was more to her than I could see. Her emotions dictated the intensity of her energy, and at that moment, all I felt from her was pure rage. The car ride back to the pack house is quiet. It’s a long drive from town, and our driver is stuck behind another vehicle. Kieran stares out the window, lost in thought. I mind-link my father. “Hey, Dad, we’re on our way back with the cakes. There’s something you need to know. Sierra is back.” “Yeah, I heard,” my father replies gruffly. “Kieran went to see her. I take it that didn’t go well? I told him to give her a few days to settle in.” I sigh. “‘Didn’t go well’ is an understatement. She was furious. He wants the three of us to meet in your office to talk about it.” My father is silent for a beat before responding. “We need to talk. I think you should be there for all of this—you’ll be Alpha soon.” “Alright. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I stick to Kieran’s request and don’t mention to my father that Sierra is my mate. When we finally arrive at the pack house, we step out of the SUV. Caleb, my soon-to-be Gamma, is waiting nearby. I know why—his mate, Eleanor, nearly got herself ripped apart for disrespecting me. From the look on his face, he already knows. “Sorry about Eleanor, Alpha,” he says immediately. “She was just protecting her mother.” I nod. “I’ll apologize to her later.” He gives me a strange look. “You shouldn’t have to apologize. She’s still adjusting to our ways here. They lost their pack years ago and have been moving around ever since,” he explains, his gaze shifting past me to Kieran. “He shouldn’t have gone there,” he mutters. “I know most of what happened—Eleanor told me. It’s bad.” I stare at him, taken aback. “I’ll find out more when we talk to my father,” I say before shutting off the mind-link. Caleb nods and heads toward his house, where Eleanor is waiting. He probably misses her. Eleanor had mentioned wanting to tell Sierra something, but she wasn’t sure how her cousin would react—especially when it came to the subject of mates. There has to be a reason why she despises the idea of having one. A low growl rumbles in my head—my wolf, Cruz. “She’ll come around. We just need to take things slow with her.” I freeze. My wolf has been obsessed with finding our mate for years, but he’s never been this patient before. Normally, he’s possessive and restless. But now, he just wants what’s best for Sierra—even if that means taking our time. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been quiet since you told me Sierra was our mate,” I ask him. Cruz is silent for a moment before sighing. “I’m being careful with her. Seeing her father after all these years made her angry. And her panther… she’s powerful. Her emotions fuel her strength, and I think her panther has her own feelings about this entire situation. We need to figure out what happened.” I nod. “You’re right, Cruz. Let’s find out exactly what we’re dealing with.” He chuckles before settling in the back of my mind, alert but waiting. Waiting to learn more about our mate.	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t	Enjoyreading	https://www.facebook.com/61572725436723/	2	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	play.google.com	VIDEO		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tapread.reader	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481507460_662376119478804_3875035425796907145_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b3I_o7Tr-0cQ7kNvgHSE6dH&_nc_oc=Adia2MdFcqWB8VwjBlV8vrjZ11yteqfk7-Jy7RkGQGaHo5pib3zuwi1UZXt6uShJmTebQGf8mYMYEqQxViGySJEi&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AhddtMzNvaYCfGV11Hf7qlz&oh=00_AYCFkFdATVgPqF5QhEmaMjTdl5PCkTZAdOwkeVutRPr28g&oe=67C72529	PERSON_PROFILE	Enjoyreading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,664	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🏆Enter to Win!🏆	🎉The New Lune Giveaway is Here!🎉 We are giving away a box with a collection of our pain relief products for neuropathy & joint pain! And there's not just 1 winner, but multiple, which means you have many chances to win! Each box comes with a 30-day supply for you, we are more than happy to help you find the relief that's right for you. Enter to win today!	SIGN_UP	https://www.luneusa.com/pages/lune-box-save-50	Lune	https://www.facebook.com/100085237752848/	839	1969-12-31 18:00	Sign Up	luneusa.com	DCO	Free U.S. Shipping	https://www.luneusa.com/pages/lune-box-save-50	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480884944_599184113013408_8372916365178125471_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=E6ESAtlFDxQQ7kNvgHCx0jL&_nc_oc=Adjuo6UZSXOFigFM0ZLGrJTjJgP_PdNMNfs89GFNDa5C77yqR8q3lf00cfNWn_eBG6FLJwOmMPUeziKa1JnzGkRv&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=Achx6T2aqD_fvGnuL5c78KS&oh=00_AYASfCYVSQULx_lzMoR-7rXxiUJXLt2NywmEFa1CSQ8zNg&oe=67C74111	PERSON_PROFILE	Lune	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,588	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706433}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Neuropathy Breakthrough!!		LEARN_MORE		OneSpirit Chiropractic & Wellness Center	https://www.facebook.com/61562236305621/	13	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn More		CAROUSEL			1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481072754_887928563327502_1748767802215747099_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eC4-xGIwUlgQ7kNvgEt5uei&_nc_oc=AdjeXeFeAAGx1MpZyAf-qeMJd4yzSyssRygFi4XrjhQvV-mynrG1cme6sRSzg5qapWcyUfOrPBrGtzrqoM1WZ8bP&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AhBApjmmbd48udhOmA50gSD&oh=00_AYCine4JFeaUlg_kWai0URijpJFQ7HMk7LAA1_Tvr82inw&oe=67C7276E	PERSON_PROFILE	OneSpirit Chiropractic & Wellness Center	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
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2,707,035	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	$49 Chiropractic Assessment at Restoration Family Chiropractic	Hey St. Petersburg! For the Next Week, we are giving away 50 Vouchers for a $49 NUCCA Chiropractic Assessment, including a Detailed Nerve & Spinal Examination, a Postural Assessment, a Health History Consultation, Digital X-Rays (if required), and a Report of Findings, along with a Personalized Adjustment Treatment Plan! (Normally a $400 Total Value)⁣⁣⁣ NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association) is a unique form of chiropractic care that focuses on precise, gentle adjustments of the upper cervical spine. This specialized technique aims to restore balance to the spine, which can improve nerve function and promote the body's natural healing abilities without invasive treatments or medications. The benefits of NUCCA include: ✅ Precise and Gentle Adjustments: Utilizes specific, targeted movements to correct spinal misalignments with minimal force. ✅ Natural Healing: Encourages the body's inherent healing mechanisms by restoring proper spinal alignment and nerve flow. ✅ Improved Nerve Function: Optimizes the communication pathways between the brain and the rest of the body for better overall function. ✅ Postural Alignment: Aids in achieving and maintaining a neutral, balanced posture for long-term spinal health. ✅ Non-Invasive Approach: A safe and effective alternative to surgery or drugs, ideal for those seeking a holistic approach to health. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience the NUCCA difference and take a step towards better health and well-being. Act now and claim your voucher by clicking the link below!⁣⁣⁣ Ready to transform your health and alleviate pain? Click below to sign up and secure your appointment today!	LEARN_MORE	https://www.restorationchirocare.net/home	Restoration Family Chiropractic	https://www.facebook.com/100092530394374/	139	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	restorationchirocare.net	IMAGE	Book Your Appointment Today!	https://www.restorationchirocare.net/home	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480950883_603132429299322_1185450000171454243_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WRb3EMFxCTIQ7kNvgHL9CEr&_nc_oc=Adig9UDg7Wx0JlnI2_es91_1OPSISH9UIPWVIDMLiIthV3iG41ETliID7ao46w307eKCjRahGkIT3S5LeodPsIcy&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHK_PnpbPVEy01dC3uFuyqI&oh=00_AYBBQTkF_x-7ZXT0dQtpX_iK2zoGArLysm1CWffc7L7vxQ&oe=67C70D9E	PERSON_PROFILE	Restoration Family Chiropractic	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
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2,707,419	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707166}'	No	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	😍Click to continue reading	I never thought I’d see him again. As I step off the bus, the scorching sun beats down on me. The heat here is unbearable, with not even the slightest breeze to offer relief. I already miss the places I've come to call home over the years. Grabbing my suitcase from the driver—who’s been eyeing me with a mix of disinterest and impatience—I flash him a polite smile, take my bag, and turn away without another glance. The bus station is smaller than I remember. I push through the crowd, scanning the faces around me, searching for my aunt. I’ve moved around more times than I can count—first with my mother, and then, after she passed away, with my aunt, who took me in along with her mate and daughter. Constantly relocating wasn’t a choice; it was a necessity. Someone was always after me. My aunt was insistent that I return to this town, though I still don’t understand why. This place holds nothing but bad memories for me—especially since he is here. I refuse to say his name. He abandoned my mother and me when I was just ten years old. I watched her heart break a little more each day, while he never once looked back. He was too caught up in his pack, too in love with his own life to remember the daughter he left behind. So why did my aunt want me back here? She and my cousin Eleanor have settled in this place, but I made it clear—I would only return if it was a matter of life and death. And now, I’m back, trapped in a town that will no doubt become my personal hell. “Sierra, OVER HERE!” I hear her before I see her. Turning to my left, I spot my aunt waving frantically, bouncing on her toes to get my attention. I force a smile and start making my way toward her. As I walk, my senses sharpen. I can feel the weight of several eyes on me, curious and assessing. This town is a werewolf town. There are humans here, but my aunt told me they’re aware of the supernatural. Two packs live on the outskirts of town, sitting on opposite ends. One of them is his pack. And from what I’ve heard, they roam freely here. This is going to be interesting—a panther shifter living in the middle of werewolf territory. “Auntie,” I greet her with a smile, stepping closer. She groans at the word, her expression shifting immediately. “Sierra, you know I hate being called that.” I chuckle. “Sorry, Raven.” I pull her into a hug, feeling some of the tension ease from my body. “How was the trip?” she asks, taking my bag from me as we head toward the exit. “It was fine. First a plane ride, then a twelve-hour bus ride. There were a few stops along the way, so I got to stretch my legs. But I didn’t mind—I’m used to it. I also made sure no one was following me,” I add, glancing over my shoulder. That’s when I notice the bus driver handing off his keys to another driver. Both of them are staring right at me. I sigh. “If one more person keeps staring, I swear I’ll rip their throats out,” Aria growls in my mind. She’s my panther counterpart—always on edge, always ready for a fight. My mother was a panther shifter, just like me, just like Raven and Eleanor. “Why is everyone staring at me?” I mutter, uneasy. Aria steps forward in my mind, scanning the area through my eyes. Raven smirks. “Well, it’s not every day a stunning twenty-year-old woman rolls into town.” I snort. “Yeah, right. There must be plenty of girls here. But you know what I mean.” I catch two elderly women watching me. The moment I meet their eyes, they quickly look away—but one of them seems to be mind-linking someone. “I bet she’s telling her Alpha that someone new is here,” Aria muses, stretching lazily before retreating to the back of my mind. Raven studies me, lowering her voice. “Be careful when Aria comes forward. Your eyes shift color slightly.” I nod. “We’ll talk more in the car.” We exit the bus station and head toward the parking lot, Raven leading the way to her small Toyota. Just as we approach, a black Mustang screeches to a stop right in front of her car. Raven groans. “One Alpha too many,” she mutters under her breath. “Be nice, Sierra.” The driver steps out first, his gaze flicking to me before he opens the rear door. Two young men climb out, looking to be around my age. Then it hits me. A familiar scent—one I haven’t smelled in years. I stiffen as a low growl escapes me before I can stop it. I know that scent. He’s not my father. But he smells just like him. Which means... He must be his son. Chapter 2 Sierra I have a brother—or at least, someone who seems to be my age. "You must be Raven’s niece, Sierra. My name is Dane. I’m the Beta of the Dark Valley Pack, and this here is Caleb, our Gamma. We wanted to introduce ourselves," Dane said. I stared at him, unimpressed. His Alpha was either too busy or just didn’t care enough to find out who I was. "Yeah, that’s me. Now, can you move your car so we can leave?" I said through clenched teeth. Raven looked like she wanted to slap me but managed to restrain herself. "Sierra," she warned. "My apologies, we didn’t realize this was your car," Dane said, clearly lying. Raven had been living here for months, and they had to know. "Cruz, could you move the car to a parking spot, please?" The driver, Cruz, nodded, got back into the car, and drove it into a space on the opposite side of Raven’s vehicle. "Better?" Dane asked with a smug smile. "Yeah, I guess," I said with a hint of irritation. "Raven, can we go now? I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours, and I’m exhausted." I let out a fake yawn for emphasis. Raven smirked, knowing full well I was just trying to get out of this conversation. "Of course, Sierra. Beta, Gamma, was there anything else you needed?" she asked while placing my bag in the back seat and loading my suitcase into the trunk. Both men looked at me, and I noticed Caleb seemed to be mind-linking someone. "He’s linking the Alpha," Aria, my wolf, murmured from the back of my mind. She had been watching everything unfold through my eyes, clearly amused. After a few seconds, Dane turned back to us, his expression unreadable. "No, nothing else. Oh, actually—one thing. We’ll be stopping by the café later to pick up the cakes we ordered for the ceremony." "No problem. They’ll be ready by the time you come to collect them. I hope the new Alpha has a great welcome-home party," Raven said. "Oh, he will," Dane replied with a cocky grin. I shuddered, my thoughts immediately going to all the crude things he could be implying. But then he caught me off guard. "You two should come," he said. Raven glanced at them before shaking her head. "I don’t think so. Sierra needs to rest after her long journey," she said. I knew exactly why she was acting this way, and my blood boiled. I knew who would be at that party. "Well, the invitation stands," Dane said. Caleb looked at me carefully. "You should come to the packhouse—" "I don’t think so," I cut him off before he could finish. "You both know my father is part of your pack. I will not—no, I will never—step foot in your packhouse. So why don’t you two go do whatever it is you need to do before I throw up all over those nice shoes of yours?" I snapped. I turned to open the car door but hesitated for a second, looking back at Caleb. "Oh, and do me a favor—say hi to my father. I doubt he’ll show his face anytime soon, especially since it’s been ten years since he last saw me. So enjoy your little party, but don’t ever come near me again." Without another word, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. "Stupid wolves," I muttered under my breath. I sat there, waiting for Raven to get in. Glancing through the window, I saw the three of them standing there, speechless from my outburst. I hated that man. I never wanted to see the person who abandoned me. "I apologize for Sierra," Raven said as she walked to the car, opening the driver’s side door. Dane had recovered from my outburst and gave me a smug smile. "I hope she changes her mind. We don’t want any trouble," he said. Without another word, the three of them turned and walked off. Raven and I watched them go. "Stupid wolves," I muttered again. "Sierra, you need to be careful with what you say," Raven warned as she started the engine. We pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, driving in silence for a while. Finally, I broke it. "Raven, why did you want me here?" Chapter 3 Sierra "Raven, why did you want me here?" She sighed. "Because I wanted to see you. You’re my niece." I studied her face. I believed her, but I also knew there was more to it. "And?" I pressed. She was quiet for a moment. "Your father came into the café a few weeks ago when I first moved here. One of his pack members told him I was in town. He wanted to know how you were… and if you were coming back to live here," she admitted, stealing a glance at me. "He wants to get to know you, Sierra." I laughed dryly. "Yeah, sure. He hasn’t cared for ten years. Why now?" She shrugged. "I don’t know. I understand why you hate him for what he did to your mother and for abandoning you. I hate him too. But when I told him you’d never want to see him again… he seemed genuinely hurt." I didn’t respond. I knew Raven would let me make my own choice about this, but as far as I was concerned, that man was dead to me. "Sierra, you don’t know the full story of why he left," she said softly. I turned to her, my expression blank. The problem with that? I did know why he left. And I knew exactly what had made him do it. Either Raven didn’t know, or she believed whatever lies he had told her. Trying to change the subject, I asked, "Who’s the new Alpha? Why are they throwing a welcome-home party for him?" She hesitated before answering. "His name is Damon. He’s the Alpha’s son. He’s been away for the past few months, training with neighboring packs," she said. "Before he left, he came into the café every day. You’ll probably see him around soon enough." I didn’t want to see anyone—especially not an Alpha. I let the conversation drop and turned to stare out the window. The town was surrounded by dense forest, but the houses were built close together. After a few minutes, Raven pulled into the driveway of a small terraced house. It looked normal enough. The houses were near the forest, making it easy for wolves to shift and run freely. "We need to shift soon. It’s been too long," Aria murmured in my head. As I stepped out of the car, I suddenly felt like someone was watching me. "Aria, do you sense anyone?" I asked, keeping my back straight. "I don’t know, but I don’t like it here," she admitted. "Something feels… off." I agreed. There was something unsettling about this place. Raven must have felt it too because she glanced behind me, her expression unreadable. "Let’s get you inside. I need to head to the café to close up," she said, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the house. Once inside, I glanced around. The living room and kitchen were open-plan, and a staircase led upstairs. Raven hesitated before locking the front door. "Everything okay?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Yeah… Let me show you to your room. You can shower and rest while I head to the café," she said quickly. She led me upstairs, showing me my room—which had its own bathroom. "I had this installed last week, knowing you’d be visiting. Now that you’re staying, it’ll be useful," she said with a smile. I nodded. The room was small but cozy—a far cry from sleeping on the ground or in trees. "I got everything you might need. If you need anything else, we can go shopping tomorrow. Also, do you want to work some shifts at the café?" she asked. "Yeah, sure," I said, just as my stomach growled. She chuckled. "I’ll make you some sandwiches. You should eat, then sleep." I yawned. "Thanks, Raven." As she left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I was too exhausted to dwell on it. Within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, sleep pulled me under. Chapter 4 Raven I can’t believe Sierra is back. I’ve missed her so much these past two years. She wanted to travel, and who could blame her? After everything she’s been through in the last decade, she deserved it. I knew the lavender and sage in her room would knock her and Aria out cold. I needed her to rest, but more than that, I needed her to be safe. He’s been outside, lurking in the shadows, watching her return home. I step outside and lock the door behind me. I know he’s still there, watching, waiting. He wants to see her. But she hates him—loathes him—for abandoning her and for what he did to her mother. As I walk down the driveway, I spot him standing to my right. “She looks just like Eden,” he murmurs. I shoot him a cold, hard glare. No matter that he’s Sierra’s father—what he did was unforgivable. I don’t like him either, not after everything he put my sister through. “You shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t want to see you,” I say flatly. “By the way, she met your son. He wanted to come to the party tonight, but she shut that down real quick.” My voice drips with venom. “I heard she takes after Eden—same fire in her spirit,” he says. I bare my teeth at him. “Stop saying my sister’s name. You lost the right to speak it a long time ago.” I push past him, my blood boiling. He looks wounded. “Raven, please… you know what happened,” he says, guilt thick in his voice. “I didn’t have a choice.” I whirl around, facing him head-on, my panther stirring beneath my skin, itching to tear him apart. “You have some goddamn nerve saying that. I wouldn't be surprised if Sierra knows more about what really happened than you think,” I snap. “And listen to me carefully—you need to stay away from her. She despises you. As for your so-called son, she doesn’t know him or that daughter of yours. So if I were you, I’d keep them far away from her.” He stares down at me, expression unreadable. “Raven, please... I just want to know my daughter.” I sneer, his name like poison on my tongue. “Kieran, back the hell off. I’m warning you. You, your mate, your children, and that old Alpha you chose over your own flesh and blood—stay the hell away from her. You have no idea what she’s been through.” I realize too late that I’ve said too much. His brow furrows. “What do you mean? What has she been through?” His shock is evident, though he quickly masks it. Shit. That’s not my story to tell. I turn on my heel and keep walking. The café is just around the corner from my place. “Raven, tell me, please,” he calls after me, still following. I push open the café door. It’s closing time—we’re shutting early for the ceremony. Eleanor stands behind the counter, a warm smile on her face when she sees me, but the moment she spots Kieran, her expression hardens. She hates him too. “Raven,” he says, stepping inside, “you can’t keep this from me. She’s my daughter.” I’ve had enough of this bastard. He hasn’t given a damn about Sierra for ten years. The only reason I’m even living here again is because I have to be. I spin around to face him, my patience gone. “Listen up, you worthless piece of shit. You were never in her life. I don’t owe you a damn thing. You never came back for her—not once—even after all the messages I sent you. You are not, and will never be, her father,” I hiss. “I had to raise her and Eleanor on my own, you jackass, with no help from you. You want to know Sierra? Then come here and talk to her yourself. Or better yet, wait until she actually wants to talk to you—which, let me tell you, will be never.” I can feel the shame radiating off him, but before I can lay into him further, the door swings open. His son, Dane, walks in with the new Alpha, Damon. Both of them take in the scene, Dane immediately sensing the tension. “Dad, what are you doing here?” he asks, glancing between me and Kieran. Kieran straightens, his jaw tightening. “Raven, what’s going on?” Damon asks, his tone authoritative. I roll my eyes. Stupid wolves. “She was just telling this asshole to get lost and never come back,” Eleanor chimes in, stepping up beside me. A low growl rumbles from Damon’s chest. “Show some respect, cat, or I’ll put you down myself,” he grits out. Eleanor lets out a soft growl of her own. “You may be the Alpha, and I may be part of this pack, but you don’t get to tell my mother what to do—especially when it doesn’t concern you,” she snaps. I don’t want her getting into trouble, but I hold Damon’s gaze. “I’m asking Kieran to leave. Now isn’t the time for this,” I say firmly. Kieran and Dane stand on opposite sides of Damon, but I have one last thing to say. “Here are the cakes for the ceremony. Take them and go,” I grind out. “And Alpha, if you ever speak to my daughter like that again, you’ll see exactly what a cat can do.” He stares at me, momentarily taken aback. I rarely let my anger spill over like this—and he knows it. He knew me before he left to train the packs. “Raven, I’m going to be the new Alpha soon. Please,” he says, as if that means a damn thing to me. I glance at Kieran and Dane. “Neither of you are welcome here when Sierra is around. You hear me?” My panther snarls, my fury barely contained. “I mean it. If you come in here and upset her, I’ll rip you apart myself.” “You can’t stop me from seeing my daughter,” Kieran says stubbornly. But before I can reply, the café door swings open again. The scent that fills the air makes my stomach drop. Kieran stiffens. Oh, hell. She’s pissed. Chapter 5 Raven "YEAH, SHE CAN," a voice snaps from behind him. I can tell she’s pissed. How the hell is she still standing after being awake for 24 hours? Kieran spins around, and his face goes pale when he sees the daughter he once knew. She’s no longer the little girl he left behind. Sierra glares at him, but before she can say anything, a low growl fills the room—"MATE." All of us turn to look at Damon. His eyes are locked onto Sierra. Oh, shit. This is not going to end well. Sierra meets his gaze briefly before striding towards Kieran and Dane, her face unreadable. “You need to back off,” she snarls. I can feel Aria trying to break through. The energy radiating from Sierra is overwhelming. Eleanor glances at her cousin and smirks. "Don't talk to—" Dane starts, but Sierra cuts him off with a guttural growl. Her eyes shift from their usual blue to a striking, glowing green. "You wouldn’t want to piss me off, brother." We all freeze, stunned. Eleanor and I have heard Aria and Sierra speak in unison before, but seeing it now is still something else. I glance at Damon, but he’s still fixated on Sierra—his mate. "What? You thought I wouldn't figure out who you are?" Sierra challenges Dane. "I recognized your scent at the station. You smell just like him." Then, she turns to Kieran. "And don’t think for a second that acting like the father I should have had is going to work. You abandoned me for ten years. So why the hell would I want you in my life now?" Kieran looks wounded. But what did he expect? I told him Sierra wanted nothing to do with him. She didn’t even know about Dane—let alone the sister she’s yet to meet. Sierra steps closer, eyes locked onto them both. Aria is close to the surface, her power amplified by Sierra’s rage. If we can feel it, I wonder if they can, too. "You’re going to listen, and you’re going to listen well," she says, voice deadly calm. "I don’t want anything to do with you or your new little family. You left me alone to survive for a decade, and guess what? I did just fine. If you ever come back, I’ll let my panther out. And trust me—she’s a hell of a lot less friendly than I am." She bares her teeth. "Now take whatever you came for and go." She strides between them and heads straight toward me. That’s when I realize—she’s still in her Minnie Mouse pajamas. She must have sensed him outside earlier. Damon hasn’t taken his eyes off her. Before anyone else can speak, Sierra turns to him. "Oh, and Alpha—I don’t want a mate." Damon lets out a deep growl. "You don’t mean that," he says, barely keeping himself and his wolf in check. Sierra shrugs. "Take it however you want. I’m only here for a few weeks, and then I’m gone." Damon stares at her, saying nothing, though the hurt in his eyes is obvious. I know why she doesn’t want a mate. There are memories—dark ones—she’d rather forget. She hates men in general, and honestly, I don’t blame her. The tension in the air is suffocating. After a long moment, I turn to Kieran and Dane. "I think you all should leave now," I say. "Oh, and don’t forget the cakes on your way out." Dane glances at me and offers a small, grateful smile, mouthing thank you. He looks like he wants to say more, but he doesn’t. Damon still hasn’t moved. He’s rooted in place, staring at Sierra. Dane finally pulls him toward the door, leading him outside to the waiting SUV. Kieran hesitates, looking like he wants to say something, but he just exhales sharply, grabs the boxes, and walks out. Eleanor holds the door open for him. Another SUV pulls up, and Kieran loads the boxes inside before climbing in. Within seconds, the vehicle disappears down the road. Dane lingers a moment longer, stepping back into the café for the last box. Sierra and I watch him from behind the counter. He stops at the door, glancing over his shoulder at us. "I know what our father did. I don’t condone it," he says. "But if possible, I’d like to get to know my older sister." Sierra lets out a low growl. Dane flinches slightly but keeps his gaze steady. "I’m sorry, Sierra," he murmurs before walking out. Eleanor shuts the door and turns back to us. "Well, cuz, I’m so glad you’re here," she teases with a smirk. Sierra walks up to her and smiles, pulling her into a hug. They both turn to look at me, but before either can speak— "How did you know?" I ask Sierra. She studies me for a second before answering. "I smelled his scent outside. It woke Aria up. But the rest? I’ve always known. I just never told you." She exhales sharply, her expression darkening. "I hate him even more now. He never came for me." The bitterness in her voice is unmistakable. I know she’s hurting. And I have no doubt that Kieran is a big reason why she refuses to accept her mate. "Well, let’s close up. You look like you should be in bed," I say with a chuckle. Sierra glances down at herself, and Eleanor notices too. They both start laughing. We move around the café, making sure everything is cleaned up—tables wiped down, chairs in their proper places, all the lights turned off. Sierra yawns. "You need rest," I tell her. She nods. "Let’s go home," she says before turning to Eleanor. "You coming? We could have one of our famous sleepovers." Eleanor grins but shakes her head. I know that’s not happening—Eleanor has a ceremony to attend with her mate. "I can’t, cuz. You need your beauty sleep," she teases. Sierra rolls her eyes, but Eleanor shoots me a knowing look. Don’t tell her about Caleb yet, Mom. I nod subtly. Eleanor only knows bits and pieces of why Sierra refuses to accept her mate, but she’s scared to tell her just yet. She has no idea how Sierra will react when she finds out. Sierra yawns again, making us laugh. "Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Time for bed," I say, leading her out of the café and toward home. Chapter 6 Damon I found my mate. But she wants nothing to do with me. I’m beyond pissed. Why doesn’t she want me? I glance at Kieran. His face is unreadable, but I know he’s hurting. He finally met his daughter, yet she rejected him outright. I don’t know the full story between them, but whatever it is, it’s bad. “I’m sorry, Damon,” he suddenly says, still staring ahead. When I turn to look at him, I notice a small, sad smile on his face. He doesn’t elaborate. “You okay, Kieran?” I ask, studying him. His expression remains blank, but I continue, “I just wanted to say sorry about what happened at the café.” He nods, and I can feel the guilt radiating off him. He’s deeply wounded. After a moment, he exhales heavily. “We need to see your father when we get back to the pack house,” he says. “But I have one request.” His voice is almost pleading. “Don’t tell him about Sierra being your mate just yet.” His words catch me off guard. Why wouldn’t he want me to tell my own father? Especially since my mate is his best friend’s daughter—well, his long-lost daughter. “Why, Kieran? He’d be happy that I found my mate,” I say, but the look on his face tells me there’s more to this than I understand. “He will be—once he knows she’s my daughter. But there are things you don’t know yet, and that’s why we need to talk to him first. We have to explain everything to you. It might help you understand why Sierra doesn’t want a mate,” he finally says. I stare at him, momentarily stunned, but I quickly regain my composure. “Alright, I won’t say anything. But Kieran… what happened to make her hate you so much?” I ask, immediately regretting it as soon as the words escape my mouth. His shame crashes over me like a tidal wave. “I hurt her mother in the worst way possible,” he confesses quietly. “And I never claimed her as my mate.” I’m speechless. “I’ll explain everything when we see your father,” he adds. I glance at the man who had trained me when my father was too busy. I grew close to his son, Dane, who’s now about to become my Beta, and his sister, Nova. They’ve been like siblings to me—we argue and fight just like real siblings do. Sierra would have made an impression on me if she’d been around. Even in those pajamas, she exuded a quiet strength. I couldn’t quite make out her figure, but I didn’t care. Those piercing blue eyes, the rich brown hair messily tied into a bun, and those soft pink lips—it all made me want her even more. When her panther stirred, her eyes glowed green, and I felt an immense power roll off her in waves. It was unnerving. There was more to her than I could see. Her emotions dictated the intensity of her energy, and at that moment, all I felt from her was pure rage. The car ride back to the pack house is quiet. It’s a long drive from town, and our driver is stuck behind another vehicle. Kieran stares out the window, lost in thought. I mind-link my father. “Hey, Dad, we’re on our way back with the cakes. There’s something you need to know. Sierra is back.” “Yeah, I heard,” my father replies gruffly. “Kieran went to see her. I take it that didn’t go well? I told him to give her a few days to settle in.” I sigh. “‘Didn’t go well’ is an understatement. She was furious. He wants the three of us to meet in your office to talk about it.” My father is silent for a beat before responding. “We need to talk. I think you should be there for all of this—you’ll be Alpha soon.” “Alright. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I stick to Kieran’s request and don’t mention to my father that Sierra is my mate. When we finally arrive at the pack house, we step out of the SUV. Caleb, my soon-to-be Gamma, is waiting nearby. I know why—his mate, Eleanor, nearly got herself ripped apart for disrespecting me. From the look on his face, he already knows. “Sorry about Eleanor, Alpha,” he says immediately. “She was just protecting her mother.” I nod. “I’ll apologize to her later.” He gives me a strange look. “You shouldn’t have to apologize. She’s still adjusting to our ways here. They lost their pack years ago and have been moving around ever since,” he explains, his gaze shifting past me to Kieran. “He shouldn’t have gone there,” he mutters. “I know most of what happened—Eleanor told me. It’s bad.” I stare at him, taken aback. “I’ll find out more when we talk to my father,” I say before shutting off the mind-link. Caleb nods and heads toward his house, where Eleanor is waiting. He probably misses her. Eleanor had mentioned wanting to tell Sierra something, but she wasn’t sure how her cousin would react—especially when it came to the subject of mates. There has to be a reason why she despises the idea of having one. A low growl rumbles in my head—my wolf, Cruz. “She’ll come around. We just need to take things slow with her.” I freeze. My wolf has been obsessed with finding our mate for years, but he’s never been this patient before. Normally, he’s possessive and restless. But now, he just wants what’s best for Sierra—even if that means taking our time. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been quiet since you told me Sierra was our mate,” I ask him. Cruz is silent for a moment before sighing. “I’m being careful with her. Seeing her father after all these years made her angry. And her panther… she’s powerful. Her emotions fuel her strength, and I think her panther has her own feelings about this entire situation. We need to figure out what happened.” I nod. “You’re right, Cruz. Let’s find out exactly what we’re dealing with.” He chuckles before settling in the back of my mind, alert but waiting. Waiting to learn more about our mate.	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t	Enjoyreading	https://www.facebook.com/61572725436723/	2	1969-12-31 18:00	Install now	play.google.com	VIDEO		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tapread.reader	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481254326_481773775002990_5509277819443685588_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GodpPOa-K7gQ7kNvgGOpJEf&_nc_oc=AdhJpmTxOryiZGneR_OHHAyxE1VZwrENvBoGjya5S290Ei9Ge5rzlAYlpf3lff7UgTIBVizSorwszLq37johJtO1&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AxAVeQEtsFbS2NMQYUh34t3&oh=00_AYCVIcurJzssR7sSx5urIUO7b25tV8ytZYP-i1_jzXD3Cg&oe=67C738FF	PERSON_PROFILE	Enjoyreading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,624	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	My Neuropathy Was Gone In 3 Days	😱✨Neuropathy goes away on its own in 3 nights! No need for injections or expensive medications... "Finally the numbness and tingling have disappeared!"	LEARN_MORE	https://mnjc.shop/wx6138	American Chronic Pain Association	https://www.facebook.com/61568419433971/	17	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	mnjc.shop	VIDEO		https://mnjc.shop/wx6138	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481231075_632031109407386_4952507147289562763_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o361TQj2Rb0Q7kNvgH6BqK4&_nc_oc=AdiZUyyFN5GlHEYSyUkkXSbwzDn_Og7wRc-gly4vaQY7i1GNsUO1VdooBOD0-FgddWbZf_kIacnKU6Ob8x37Vuwi&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AyKPS1ktT2bCMQ-Bm6mGYHJ&oh=00_AYD89uEvjRQRLL5l_AFY1nWYtNcd6sF1lTStvtxDBs909g&oe=67C740BE	PERSON_PROFILE	American Chronic Pain Association	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,149	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":false,"simple_request_ratio":1,"is_bh_selenium":false,"selenium_ratio":1,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	❤️😍Continue reading👉👉👉	I never thought I’d see him again. As I step off the bus, the scorching sun beats down on me. The heat here is unbearable, with not even the slightest breeze to offer relief. I already miss the places I've come to call home over the years. Grabbing my suitcase from the driver—who’s been eyeing me with a mix of disinterest and impatience—I flash him a polite smile, take my bag, and turn away without another glance. The bus station is smaller than I remember. I push through the crowd, scanning the faces around me, searching for my aunt. I’ve moved around more times than I can count—first with my mother, and then, after she passed away, with my aunt, who took me in along with her mate and daughter. Constantly relocating wasn’t a choice; it was a necessity. Someone was always after me. My aunt was insistent that I return to this town, though I still don’t understand why. This place holds nothing but bad memories for me—especially since he is here. I refuse to say his name. He abandoned my mother and me when I was just ten years old. I watched her heart break a little more each day, while he never once looked back. He was too caught up in his pack, too in love with his own life to remember the daughter he left behind. So why did my aunt want me back here? She and my cousin Eleanor have settled in this place, but I made it clear—I would only return if it was a matter of life and death. And now, I’m back, trapped in a town that will no doubt become my personal hell. “Sierra, OVER HERE!” I hear her before I see her. Turning to my left, I spot my aunt waving frantically, bouncing on her toes to get my attention. I force a smile and start making my way toward her. As I walk, my senses sharpen. I can feel the weight of several eyes on me, curious and assessing. This town is a werewolf town. There are humans here, but my aunt told me they’re aware of the supernatural. Two packs live on the outskirts of town, sitting on opposite ends. One of them is his pack. And from what I’ve heard, they roam freely here. This is going to be interesting—a panther shifter living in the middle of werewolf territory. “Auntie,” I greet her with a smile, stepping closer. She groans at the word, her expression shifting immediately. “Sierra, you know I hate being called that.” I chuckle. “Sorry, Raven.” I pull her into a hug, feeling some of the tension ease from my body. “How was the trip?” she asks, taking my bag from me as we head toward the exit. “It was fine. First a plane ride, then a twelve-hour bus ride. There were a few stops along the way, so I got to stretch my legs. But I didn’t mind—I’m used to it. I also made sure no one was following me,” I add, glancing over my shoulder. That’s when I notice the bus driver handing off his keys to another driver. Both of them are staring right at me. I sigh. “If one more person keeps staring, I swear I’ll rip their throats out,” Aria growls in my mind. She’s my panther counterpart—always on edge, always ready for a fight. My mother was a panther shifter, just like me, just like Raven and Eleanor. “Why is everyone staring at me?” I mutter, uneasy. Aria steps forward in my mind, scanning the area through my eyes. Raven smirks. “Well, it’s not every day a stunning twenty-year-old woman rolls into town.” I snort. “Yeah, right. There must be plenty of girls here. But you know what I mean.” I catch two elderly women watching me. The moment I meet their eyes, they quickly look away—but one of them seems to be mind-linking someone. “I bet she’s telling her Alpha that someone new is here,” Aria muses, stretching lazily before retreating to the back of my mind. Raven studies me, lowering her voice. “Be careful when Aria comes forward. Your eyes shift color slightly.” I nod. “We’ll talk more in the car.” We exit the bus station and head toward the parking lot, Raven leading the way to her small Toyota. Just as we approach, a black Mustang screeches to a stop right in front of her car. Raven groans. “One Alpha too many,” she mutters under her breath. “Be nice, Sierra.” The driver steps out first, his gaze flicking to me before he opens the rear door. Two young men climb out, looking to be around my age. Then it hits me. A familiar scent—one I haven’t smelled in years. I stiffen as a low growl escapes me before I can stop it. I know that scent. He’s not my father. But he smells just like him. Which means... He must be his son. Chapter 2 Sierra I have a brother—or at least, someone who seems to be my age. "You must be Raven’s niece, Sierra. My name is Dane. I’m the Beta of the Dark Valley Pack, and this here is Caleb, our Gamma. We wanted to introduce ourselves," Dane said. I stared at him, unimpressed. His Alpha was either too busy or just didn’t care enough to find out who I was. "Yeah, that’s me. Now, can you move your car so we can leave?" I said through clenched teeth. Raven looked like she wanted to slap me but managed to restrain herself. "Sierra," she warned. "My apologies, we didn’t realize this was your car," Dane said, clearly lying. Raven had been living here for months, and they had to know. "Cruz, could you move the car to a parking spot, please?" The driver, Cruz, nodded, got back into the car, and drove it into a space on the opposite side of Raven’s vehicle. "Better?" Dane asked with a smug smile. "Yeah, I guess," I said with a hint of irritation. "Raven, can we go now? I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours, and I’m exhausted." I let out a fake yawn for emphasis. Raven smirked, knowing full well I was just trying to get out of this conversation. "Of course, Sierra. Beta, Gamma, was there anything else you needed?" she asked while placing my bag in the back seat and loading my suitcase into the trunk. Both men looked at me, and I noticed Caleb seemed to be mind-linking someone. "He’s linking the Alpha," Aria, my wolf, murmured from the back of my mind. She had been watching everything unfold through my eyes, clearly amused. After a few seconds, Dane turned back to us, his expression unreadable. "No, nothing else. Oh, actually—one thing. We’ll be stopping by the café later to pick up the cakes we ordered for the ceremony." "No problem. They’ll be ready by the time you come to collect them. I hope the new Alpha has a great welcome-home party," Raven said. "Oh, he will," Dane replied with a cocky grin. I shuddered, my thoughts immediately going to all the crude things he could be implying. But then he caught me off guard. "You two should come," he said. Raven glanced at them before shaking her head. "I don’t think so. Sierra needs to rest after her long journey," she said. I knew exactly why she was acting this way, and my blood boiled. I knew who would be at that party. "Well, the invitation stands," Dane said. Caleb looked at me carefully. "You should come to the packhouse—" "I don’t think so," I cut him off before he could finish. "You both know my father is part of your pack. I will not—no, I will never—step foot in your packhouse. So why don’t you two go do whatever it is you need to do before I throw up all over those nice shoes of yours?" I snapped. I turned to open the car door but hesitated for a second, looking back at Caleb. "Oh, and do me a favor—say hi to my father. I doubt he’ll show his face anytime soon, especially since it’s been ten years since he last saw me. So enjoy your little party, but don’t ever come near me again." Without another word, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. "Stupid wolves," I muttered under my breath. I sat there, waiting for Raven to get in. Glancing through the window, I saw the three of them standing there, speechless from my outburst. I hated that man. I never wanted to see the person who abandoned me. "I apologize for Sierra," Raven said as she walked to the car, opening the driver’s side door. Dane had recovered from my outburst and gave me a smug smile. "I hope she changes her mind. We don’t want any trouble," he said. Without another word, the three of them turned and walked off. Raven and I watched them go. "Stupid wolves," I muttered again. "Sierra, you need to be careful with what you say," Raven warned as she started the engine. We pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, driving in silence for a while. Finally, I broke it. "Raven, why did you want me here?" Chapter 3 Sierra "Raven, why did you want me here?" She sighed. "Because I wanted to see you. You’re my niece." I studied her face. I believed her, but I also knew there was more to it. "And?" I pressed. She was quiet for a moment. "Your father came into the café a few weeks ago when I first moved here. One of his pack members told him I was in town. He wanted to know how you were… and if you were coming back to live here," she admitted, stealing a glance at me. "He wants to get to know you, Sierra." I laughed dryly. "Yeah, sure. He hasn’t cared for ten years. Why now?" She shrugged. "I don’t know. I understand why you hate him for what he did to your mother and for abandoning you. I hate him too. But when I told him you’d never want to see him again… he seemed genuinely hurt." I didn’t respond. I knew Raven would let me make my own choice about this, but as far as I was concerned, that man was dead to me. "Sierra, you don’t know the full story of why he left," she said softly. I turned to her, my expression blank. The problem with that? I did know why he left. And I knew exactly what had made him do it. Either Raven didn’t know, or she believed whatever lies he had told her. Trying to change the subject, I asked, "Who’s the new Alpha? Why are they throwing a welcome-home party for him?" She hesitated before answering. "His name is Damon. He’s the Alpha’s son. He’s been away for the past few months, training with neighboring packs," she said. "Before he left, he came into the café every day. You’ll probably see him around soon enough." I didn’t want to see anyone—especially not an Alpha. I let the conversation drop and turned to stare out the window. The town was surrounded by dense forest, but the houses were built close together. After a few minutes, Raven pulled into the driveway of a small terraced house. It looked normal enough. The houses were near the forest, making it easy for wolves to shift and run freely. "We need to shift soon. It’s been too long," Aria murmured in my head. As I stepped out of the car, I suddenly felt like someone was watching me. "Aria, do you sense anyone?" I asked, keeping my back straight. "I don’t know, but I don’t like it here," she admitted. "Something feels… off." I agreed. There was something unsettling about this place. Raven must have felt it too because she glanced behind me, her expression unreadable. "Let’s get you inside. I need to head to the café to close up," she said, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the house. Once inside, I glanced around. The living room and kitchen were open-plan, and a staircase led upstairs. Raven hesitated before locking the front door. "Everything okay?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Yeah… Let me show you to your room. You can shower and rest while I head to the café," she said quickly. She led me upstairs, showing me my room—which had its own bathroom. "I had this installed last week, knowing you’d be visiting. Now that you’re staying, it’ll be useful," she said with a smile. I nodded. The room was small but cozy—a far cry from sleeping on the ground or in trees. "I got everything you might need. If you need anything else, we can go shopping tomorrow. Also, do you want to work some shifts at the café?" she asked. "Yeah, sure," I said, just as my stomach growled. She chuckled. "I’ll make you some sandwiches. You should eat, then sleep." I yawned. "Thanks, Raven." As she left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I was too exhausted to dwell on it. Within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, sleep pulled me under. Chapter 4 Raven I can’t believe Sierra is back. I’ve missed her so much these past two years. She wanted to travel, and who could blame her? After everything she’s been through in the last decade, she deserved it. I knew the lavender and sage in her room would knock her and Aria out cold. I needed her to rest, but more than that, I needed her to be safe. He’s been outside, lurking in the shadows, watching her return home. I step outside and lock the door behind me. I know he’s still there, watching, waiting. He wants to see her. But she hates him—loathes him—for abandoning her and for what he did to her mother. As I walk down the driveway, I spot him standing to my right. “She looks just like Eden,” he murmurs. I shoot him a cold, hard glare. No matter that he’s Sierra’s father—what he did was unforgivable. I don’t like him either, not after everything he put my sister through. “You shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t want to see you,” I say flatly. “By the way, she met your son. He wanted to come to the party tonight, but she shut that down real quick.” My voice drips with venom. “I heard she takes after Eden—same fire in her spirit,” he says. I bare my teeth at him. “Stop saying my sister’s name. You lost the right to speak it a long time ago.” I push past him, my blood boiling. He looks wounded. “Raven, please… you know what happened,” he says, guilt thick in his voice. “I didn’t have a choice.” I whirl around, facing him head-on, my panther stirring beneath my skin, itching to tear him apart. “You have some goddamn nerve saying that. I wouldn't be surprised if Sierra knows more about what really happened than you think,” I snap. “And listen to me carefully—you need to stay away from her. She despises you. As for your so-called son, she doesn’t know him or that daughter of yours. So if I were you, I’d keep them far away from her.” He stares down at me, expression unreadable. “Raven, please... I just want to know my daughter.” I sneer, his name like poison on my tongue. “Kieran, back the hell off. I’m warning you. You, your mate, your children, and that old Alpha you chose over your own flesh and blood—stay the hell away from her. You have no idea what she’s been through.” I realize too late that I’ve said too much. His brow furrows. “What do you mean? What has she been through?” His shock is evident, though he quickly masks it. Shit. That’s not my story to tell. I turn on my heel and keep walking. The café is just around the corner from my place. “Raven, tell me, please,” he calls after me, still following. I push open the café door. It’s closing time—we’re shutting early for the ceremony. Eleanor stands behind the counter, a warm smile on her face when she sees me, but the moment she spots Kieran, her expression hardens. She hates him too. “Raven,” he says, stepping inside, “you can’t keep this from me. She’s my daughter.” I’ve had enough of this bastard. He hasn’t given a damn about Sierra for ten years. The only reason I’m even living here again is because I have to be. I spin around to face him, my patience gone. “Listen up, you worthless piece of shit. You were never in her life. I don’t owe you a damn thing. You never came back for her—not once—even after all the messages I sent you. You are not, and will never be, her father,” I hiss. “I had to raise her and Eleanor on my own, you jackass, with no help from you. You want to know Sierra? Then come here and talk to her yourself. Or better yet, wait until she actually wants to talk to you—which, let me tell you, will be never.” I can feel the shame radiating off him, but before I can lay into him further, the door swings open. His son, Dane, walks in with the new Alpha, Damon. Both of them take in the scene, Dane immediately sensing the tension. “Dad, what are you doing here?” he asks, glancing between me and Kieran. Kieran straightens, his jaw tightening. “Raven, what’s going on?” Damon asks, his tone authoritative. I roll my eyes. Stupid wolves. “She was just telling this asshole to get lost and never come back,” Eleanor chimes in, stepping up beside me. A low growl rumbles from Damon’s chest. “Show some respect, cat, or I’ll put you down myself,” he grits out. Eleanor lets out a soft growl of her own. “You may be the Alpha, and I may be part of this pack, but you don’t get to tell my mother what to do—especially when it doesn’t concern you,” she snaps. I don’t want her getting into trouble, but I hold Damon’s gaze. “I’m asking Kieran to leave. Now isn’t the time for this,” I say firmly. Kieran and Dane stand on opposite sides of Damon, but I have one last thing to say. “Here are the cakes for the ceremony. Take them and go,” I grind out. “And Alpha, if you ever speak to my daughter like that again, you’ll see exactly what a cat can do.” He stares at me, momentarily taken aback. I rarely let my anger spill over like this—and he knows it. He knew me before he left to train the packs. “Raven, I’m going to be the new Alpha soon. Please,” he says, as if that means a damn thing to me. I glance at Kieran and Dane. “Neither of you are welcome here when Sierra is around. You hear me?” My panther snarls, my fury barely contained. “I mean it. If you come in here and upset her, I’ll rip you apart myself.” “You can’t stop me from seeing my daughter,” Kieran says stubbornly. But before I can reply, the café door swings open again. The scent that fills the air makes my stomach drop. Kieran stiffens. Oh, hell. She’s pissed. Chapter 5 Raven "YEAH, SHE CAN," a voice snaps from behind him. I can tell she’s pissed. How the hell is she still standing after being awake for 24 hours? Kieran spins around, and his face goes pale when he sees the daughter he once knew. She’s no longer the little girl he left behind. Sierra glares at him, but before she can say anything, a low growl fills the room—"MATE." All of us turn to look at Damon. His eyes are locked onto Sierra. Oh, shit. This is not going to end well. Sierra meets his gaze briefly before striding towards Kieran and Dane, her face unreadable. “You need to back off,” she snarls. I can feel Aria trying to break through. The energy radiating from Sierra is overwhelming. Eleanor glances at her cousin and smirks. "Don't talk to—" Dane starts, but Sierra cuts him off with a guttural growl. Her eyes shift from their usual blue to a striking, glowing green. "You wouldn’t want to piss me off, brother." We all freeze, stunned. Eleanor and I have heard Aria and Sierra speak in unison before, but seeing it now is still something else. I glance at Damon, but he’s still fixated on Sierra—his mate. "What? You thought I wouldn't figure out who you are?" Sierra challenges Dane. "I recognized your scent at the station. You smell just like him." Then, she turns to Kieran. "And don’t think for a second that acting like the father I should have had is going to work. You abandoned me for ten years. So why the hell would I want you in my life now?" Kieran looks wounded. But what did he expect? I told him Sierra wanted nothing to do with him. She didn’t even know about Dane—let alone the sister she’s yet to meet. Sierra steps closer, eyes locked onto them both. Aria is close to the surface, her power amplified by Sierra’s rage. If we can feel it, I wonder if they can, too. "You’re going to listen, and you’re going to listen well," she says, voice deadly calm. "I don’t want anything to do with you or your new little family. You left me alone to survive for a decade, and guess what? I did just fine. If you ever come back, I’ll let my panther out. And trust me—she’s a hell of a lot less friendly than I am." She bares her teeth. "Now take whatever you came for and go." She strides between them and heads straight toward me. That’s when I realize—she’s still in her Minnie Mouse pajamas. She must have sensed him outside earlier. Damon hasn’t taken his eyes off her. Before anyone else can speak, Sierra turns to him. "Oh, and Alpha—I don’t want a mate." Damon lets out a deep growl. "You don’t mean that," he says, barely keeping himself and his wolf in check. Sierra shrugs. "Take it however you want. I’m only here for a few weeks, and then I’m gone." Damon stares at her, saying nothing, though the hurt in his eyes is obvious. I know why she doesn’t want a mate. There are memories—dark ones—she’d rather forget. She hates men in general, and honestly, I don’t blame her. The tension in the air is suffocating. After a long moment, I turn to Kieran and Dane. "I think you all should leave now," I say. "Oh, and don’t forget the cakes on your way out." Dane glances at me and offers a small, grateful smile, mouthing thank you. He looks like he wants to say more, but he doesn’t. Damon still hasn’t moved. He’s rooted in place, staring at Sierra. Dane finally pulls him toward the door, leading him outside to the waiting SUV. Kieran hesitates, looking like he wants to say something, but he just exhales sharply, grabs the boxes, and walks out. Eleanor holds the door open for him. Another SUV pulls up, and Kieran loads the boxes inside before climbing in. Within seconds, the vehicle disappears down the road. Dane lingers a moment longer, stepping back into the café for the last box. Sierra and I watch him from behind the counter. He stops at the door, glancing over his shoulder at us. "I know what our father did. I don’t condone it," he says. "But if possible, I’d like to get to know my older sister." Sierra lets out a low growl. Dane flinches slightly but keeps his gaze steady. "I’m sorry, Sierra," he murmurs before walking out. Eleanor shuts the door and turns back to us. "Well, cuz, I’m so glad you’re here," she teases with a smirk. Sierra walks up to her and smiles, pulling her into a hug. They both turn to look at me, but before either can speak— "How did you know?" I ask Sierra. She studies me for a second before answering. "I smelled his scent outside. It woke Aria up. But the rest? I’ve always known. I just never told you." She exhales sharply, her expression darkening. "I hate him even more now. He never came for me." The bitterness in her voice is unmistakable. I know she’s hurting. And I have no doubt that Kieran is a big reason why she refuses to accept her mate. "Well, let’s close up. You look like you should be in bed," I say with a chuckle. Sierra glances down at herself, and Eleanor notices too. They both start laughing. We move around the café, making sure everything is cleaned up—tables wiped down, chairs in their proper places, all the lights turned off. Sierra yawns. "You need rest," I tell her. She nods. "Let’s go home," she says before turning to Eleanor. "You coming? We could have one of our famous sleepovers." Eleanor grins but shakes her head. I know that’s not happening—Eleanor has a ceremony to attend with her mate. "I can’t, cuz. You need your beauty sleep," she teases. Sierra rolls her eyes, but Eleanor shoots me a knowing look. Don’t tell her about Caleb yet, Mom. I nod subtly. Eleanor only knows bits and pieces of why Sierra refuses to accept her mate, but she’s scared to tell her just yet. She has no idea how Sierra will react when she finds out. Sierra yawns again, making us laugh. "Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Time for bed," I say, leading her out of the café and toward home. Chapter 6 Damon I found my mate. But she wants nothing to do with me. I’m beyond pissed. Why doesn’t she want me? I glance at Kieran. His face is unreadable, but I know he’s hurting. He finally met his daughter, yet she rejected him outright. I don’t know the full story between them, but whatever it is, it’s bad. “I’m sorry, Damon,” he suddenly says, still staring ahead. When I turn to look at him, I notice a small, sad smile on his face. He doesn’t elaborate. “You okay, Kieran?” I ask, studying him. His expression remains blank, but I continue, “I just wanted to say sorry about what happened at the café.” He nods, and I can feel the guilt radiating off him. He’s deeply wounded. After a moment, he exhales heavily. “We need to see your father when we get back to the pack house,” he says. “But I have one request.” His voice is almost pleading. “Don’t tell him about Sierra being your mate just yet.” His words catch me off guard. Why wouldn’t he want me to tell my own father? Especially since my mate is his best friend’s daughter—well, his long-lost daughter. “Why, Kieran? He’d be happy that I found my mate,” I say, but the look on his face tells me there’s more to this than I understand. “He will be—once he knows she’s my daughter. But there are things you don’t know yet, and that’s why we need to talk to him first. We have to explain everything to you. It might help you understand why Sierra doesn’t want a mate,” he finally says. I stare at him, momentarily stunned, but I quickly regain my composure. “Alright, I won’t say anything. But Kieran… what happened to make her hate you so much?” I ask, immediately regretting it as soon as the words escape my mouth. His shame crashes over me like a tidal wave. “I hurt her mother in the worst way possible,” he confesses quietly. “And I never claimed her as my mate.” I’m speechless. “I’ll explain everything when we see your father,” he adds. I glance at the man who had trained me when my father was too busy. I grew close to his son, Dane, who’s now about to become my Beta, and his sister, Nova. They’ve been like siblings to me—we argue and fight just like real siblings do. Sierra would have made an impression on me if she’d been around. Even in those pajamas, she exuded a quiet strength. I couldn’t quite make out her figure, but I didn’t care. Those piercing blue eyes, the rich brown hair messily tied into a bun, and those soft pink lips—it all made me want her even more. When her panther stirred, her eyes glowed green, and I felt an immense power roll off her in waves. It was unnerving. There was more to her than I could see. Her emotions dictated the intensity of her energy, and at that moment, all I felt from her was pure rage. The car ride back to the pack house is quiet. It’s a long drive from town, and our driver is stuck behind another vehicle. Kieran stares out the window, lost in thought. I mind-link my father. “Hey, Dad, we’re on our way back with the cakes. There’s something you need to know. Sierra is back.” “Yeah, I heard,” my father replies gruffly. “Kieran went to see her. I take it that didn’t go well? I told him to give her a few days to settle in.” I sigh. “‘Didn’t go well’ is an understatement. She was furious. He wants the three of us to meet in your office to talk about it.” My father is silent for a beat before responding. “We need to talk. I think you should be there for all of this—you’ll be Alpha soon.” “Alright. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I stick to Kieran’s request and don’t mention to my father that Sierra is my mate. When we finally arrive at the pack house, we step out of the SUV. Caleb, my soon-to-be Gamma, is waiting nearby. I know why—his mate, Eleanor, nearly got herself ripped apart for disrespecting me. From the look on his face, he already knows. “Sorry about Eleanor, Alpha,” he says immediately. “She was just protecting her mother.” I nod. “I’ll apologize to her later.” He gives me a strange look. “You shouldn’t have to apologize. She’s still adjusting to our ways here. They lost their pack years ago and have been moving around ever since,” he explains, his gaze shifting past me to Kieran. “He shouldn’t have gone there,” he mutters. “I know most of what happened—Eleanor told me. It’s bad.” I stare at him, taken aback. “I’ll find out more when we talk to my father,” I say before shutting off the mind-link. Caleb nods and heads toward his house, where Eleanor is waiting. He probably misses her. Eleanor had mentioned wanting to tell Sierra something, but she wasn’t sure how her cousin would react—especially when it came to the subject of mates. There has to be a reason why she despises the idea of having one. A low growl rumbles in my head—my wolf, Cruz. “She’ll come around. We just need to take things slow with her.” I freeze. My wolf has been obsessed with finding our mate for years, but he’s never been this patient before. Normally, he’s possessive and restless. But now, he just wants what’s best for Sierra—even if that means taking our time. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been quiet since you told me Sierra was our mate,” I ask him. Cruz is silent for a moment before sighing. “I’m being careful with her. Seeing her father after all these years made her angry. And her panther… she’s powerful. Her emotions fuel her strength, and I think her panther has her own feelings about this entire situation. We need to figure out what happened.” I nod. “You’re right, Cruz. Let’s find out exactly what we’re dealing with.” He chuckles before settling in the back of my mind, alert but waiting. Waiting to learn more about our mate.	LEARN_MORE	https://wolf.tapread.com/overseas-h5/flow?pixelId=	GreatNovels	https://www.facebook.com/61570845060031/	38	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	wolf.tapread.com	VIDEO		https://wolf.tapread.com/overseas-h5/flow?pixelId=603906235511531&page_id=f4bf598ee78540fdb4e92b81e36045fb	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480653324_1050863356781519_1295818359235876166_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xJ5qUsBkbokQ7kNvgGoT1pG&_nc_oc=AdjhDmexUHO1fJF1YnWvpxyWhI9JbcCnVM0d19278sMJpU9nh1BmPWX332d0eU9462CX0q5mTcQRli5RbGlnnnNk&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A0AoMVF0Z6yyibJ8fZDQIFt&oh=00_AYAkSOT7V4-pluvk3rY1jH5fNUGZQHtvbMIz5x4zZd4Kpw&oe=67C7353C	PERSON_PROFILE	GreatNovels	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
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2,707,449	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	😍Click to continue reading	I never thought I’d see him again. As I step off the bus, the scorching sun beats down on me. The heat here is unbearable, with not even the slightest breeze to offer relief. I already miss the places I've come to call home over the years. Grabbing my suitcase from the driver—who’s been eyeing me with a mix of disinterest and impatience—I flash him a polite smile, take my bag, and turn away without another glance. The bus station is smaller than I remember. I push through the crowd, scanning the faces around me, searching for my aunt. I’ve moved around more times than I can count—first with my mother, and then, after she passed away, with my aunt, who took me in along with her mate and daughter. Constantly relocating wasn’t a choice; it was a necessity. Someone was always after me. My aunt was insistent that I return to this town, though I still don’t understand why. This place holds nothing but bad memories for me—especially since he is here. I refuse to say his name. He abandoned my mother and me when I was just ten years old. I watched her heart break a little more each day, while he never once looked back. He was too caught up in his pack, too in love with his own life to remember the daughter he left behind. So why did my aunt want me back here? She and my cousin Eleanor have settled in this place, but I made it clear—I would only return if it was a matter of life and death. And now, I’m back, trapped in a town that will no doubt become my personal hell. “Sierra, OVER HERE!” I hear her before I see her. Turning to my left, I spot my aunt waving frantically, bouncing on her toes to get my attention. I force a smile and start making my way toward her. As I walk, my senses sharpen. I can feel the weight of several eyes on me, curious and assessing. This town is a werewolf town. There are humans here, but my aunt told me they’re aware of the supernatural. Two packs live on the outskirts of town, sitting on opposite ends. One of them is his pack. And from what I’ve heard, they roam freely here. This is going to be interesting—a panther shifter living in the middle of werewolf territory. “Auntie,” I greet her with a smile, stepping closer. She groans at the word, her expression shifting immediately. “Sierra, you know I hate being called that.” I chuckle. “Sorry, Raven.” I pull her into a hug, feeling some of the tension ease from my body. “How was the trip?” she asks, taking my bag from me as we head toward the exit. “It was fine. First a plane ride, then a twelve-hour bus ride. There were a few stops along the way, so I got to stretch my legs. But I didn’t mind—I’m used to it. I also made sure no one was following me,” I add, glancing over my shoulder. That’s when I notice the bus driver handing off his keys to another driver. Both of them are staring right at me. I sigh. “If one more person keeps staring, I swear I’ll rip their throats out,” Aria growls in my mind. She’s my panther counterpart—always on edge, always ready for a fight. My mother was a panther shifter, just like me, just like Raven and Eleanor. “Why is everyone staring at me?” I mutter, uneasy. Aria steps forward in my mind, scanning the area through my eyes. Raven smirks. “Well, it’s not every day a stunning twenty-year-old woman rolls into town.” I snort. “Yeah, right. There must be plenty of girls here. But you know what I mean.” I catch two elderly women watching me. The moment I meet their eyes, they quickly look away—but one of them seems to be mind-linking someone. “I bet she’s telling her Alpha that someone new is here,” Aria muses, stretching lazily before retreating to the back of my mind. Raven studies me, lowering her voice. “Be careful when Aria comes forward. Your eyes shift color slightly.” I nod. “We’ll talk more in the car.” We exit the bus station and head toward the parking lot, Raven leading the way to her small Toyota. Just as we approach, a black Mustang screeches to a stop right in front of her car. Raven groans. “One Alpha too many,” she mutters under her breath. “Be nice, Sierra.” The driver steps out first, his gaze flicking to me before he opens the rear door. Two young men climb out, looking to be around my age. Then it hits me. A familiar scent—one I haven’t smelled in years. I stiffen as a low growl escapes me before I can stop it. I know that scent. He’s not my father. But he smells just like him. Which means... He must be his son. Chapter 2 Sierra I have a brother—or at least, someone who seems to be my age. "You must be Raven’s niece, Sierra. My name is Dane. I’m the Beta of the Dark Valley Pack, and this here is Caleb, our Gamma. We wanted to introduce ourselves," Dane said. I stared at him, unimpressed. His Alpha was either too busy or just didn’t care enough to find out who I was. "Yeah, that’s me. Now, can you move your car so we can leave?" I said through clenched teeth. Raven looked like she wanted to slap me but managed to restrain herself. "Sierra," she warned. "My apologies, we didn’t realize this was your car," Dane said, clearly lying. Raven had been living here for months, and they had to know. "Cruz, could you move the car to a parking spot, please?" The driver, Cruz, nodded, got back into the car, and drove it into a space on the opposite side of Raven’s vehicle. "Better?" Dane asked with a smug smile. "Yeah, I guess," I said with a hint of irritation. "Raven, can we go now? I’ve been awake for over twenty-four hours, and I’m exhausted." I let out a fake yawn for emphasis. Raven smirked, knowing full well I was just trying to get out of this conversation. "Of course, Sierra. Beta, Gamma, was there anything else you needed?" she asked while placing my bag in the back seat and loading my suitcase into the trunk. Both men looked at me, and I noticed Caleb seemed to be mind-linking someone. "He’s linking the Alpha," Aria, my wolf, murmured from the back of my mind. She had been watching everything unfold through my eyes, clearly amused. After a few seconds, Dane turned back to us, his expression unreadable. "No, nothing else. Oh, actually—one thing. We’ll be stopping by the café later to pick up the cakes we ordered for the ceremony." "No problem. They’ll be ready by the time you come to collect them. I hope the new Alpha has a great welcome-home party," Raven said. "Oh, he will," Dane replied with a cocky grin. I shuddered, my thoughts immediately going to all the crude things he could be implying. But then he caught me off guard. "You two should come," he said. Raven glanced at them before shaking her head. "I don’t think so. Sierra needs to rest after her long journey," she said. I knew exactly why she was acting this way, and my blood boiled. I knew who would be at that party. "Well, the invitation stands," Dane said. Caleb looked at me carefully. "You should come to the packhouse—" "I don’t think so," I cut him off before he could finish. "You both know my father is part of your pack. I will not—no, I will never—step foot in your packhouse. So why don’t you two go do whatever it is you need to do before I throw up all over those nice shoes of yours?" I snapped. I turned to open the car door but hesitated for a second, looking back at Caleb. "Oh, and do me a favor—say hi to my father. I doubt he’ll show his face anytime soon, especially since it’s been ten years since he last saw me. So enjoy your little party, but don’t ever come near me again." Without another word, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. "Stupid wolves," I muttered under my breath. I sat there, waiting for Raven to get in. Glancing through the window, I saw the three of them standing there, speechless from my outburst. I hated that man. I never wanted to see the person who abandoned me. "I apologize for Sierra," Raven said as she walked to the car, opening the driver’s side door. Dane had recovered from my outburst and gave me a smug smile. "I hope she changes her mind. We don’t want any trouble," he said. Without another word, the three of them turned and walked off. Raven and I watched them go. "Stupid wolves," I muttered again. "Sierra, you need to be careful with what you say," Raven warned as she started the engine. We pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, driving in silence for a while. Finally, I broke it. "Raven, why did you want me here?" Chapter 3 Sierra "Raven, why did you want me here?" She sighed. "Because I wanted to see you. You’re my niece." I studied her face. I believed her, but I also knew there was more to it. "And?" I pressed. She was quiet for a moment. "Your father came into the café a few weeks ago when I first moved here. One of his pack members told him I was in town. He wanted to know how you were… and if you were coming back to live here," she admitted, stealing a glance at me. "He wants to get to know you, Sierra." I laughed dryly. "Yeah, sure. He hasn’t cared for ten years. Why now?" She shrugged. "I don’t know. I understand why you hate him for what he did to your mother and for abandoning you. I hate him too. But when I told him you’d never want to see him again… he seemed genuinely hurt." I didn’t respond. I knew Raven would let me make my own choice about this, but as far as I was concerned, that man was dead to me. "Sierra, you don’t know the full story of why he left," she said softly. I turned to her, my expression blank. The problem with that? I did know why he left. And I knew exactly what had made him do it. Either Raven didn’t know, or she believed whatever lies he had told her. Trying to change the subject, I asked, "Who’s the new Alpha? Why are they throwing a welcome-home party for him?" She hesitated before answering. "His name is Damon. He’s the Alpha’s son. He’s been away for the past few months, training with neighboring packs," she said. "Before he left, he came into the café every day. You’ll probably see him around soon enough." I didn’t want to see anyone—especially not an Alpha. I let the conversation drop and turned to stare out the window. The town was surrounded by dense forest, but the houses were built close together. After a few minutes, Raven pulled into the driveway of a small terraced house. It looked normal enough. The houses were near the forest, making it easy for wolves to shift and run freely. "We need to shift soon. It’s been too long," Aria murmured in my head. As I stepped out of the car, I suddenly felt like someone was watching me. "Aria, do you sense anyone?" I asked, keeping my back straight. "I don’t know, but I don’t like it here," she admitted. "Something feels… off." I agreed. There was something unsettling about this place. Raven must have felt it too because she glanced behind me, her expression unreadable. "Let’s get you inside. I need to head to the café to close up," she said, grabbing my arm and leading me toward the house. Once inside, I glanced around. The living room and kitchen were open-plan, and a staircase led upstairs. Raven hesitated before locking the front door. "Everything okay?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. "Yeah… Let me show you to your room. You can shower and rest while I head to the café," she said quickly. She led me upstairs, showing me my room—which had its own bathroom. "I had this installed last week, knowing you’d be visiting. Now that you’re staying, it’ll be useful," she said with a smile. I nodded. The room was small but cozy—a far cry from sleeping on the ground or in trees. "I got everything you might need. If you need anything else, we can go shopping tomorrow. Also, do you want to work some shifts at the café?" she asked. "Yeah, sure," I said, just as my stomach growled. She chuckled. "I’ll make you some sandwiches. You should eat, then sleep." I yawned. "Thanks, Raven." As she left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I was too exhausted to dwell on it. Within minutes of my head hitting the pillow, sleep pulled me under. Chapter 4 Raven I can’t believe Sierra is back. I’ve missed her so much these past two years. She wanted to travel, and who could blame her? After everything she’s been through in the last decade, she deserved it. I knew the lavender and sage in her room would knock her and Aria out cold. I needed her to rest, but more than that, I needed her to be safe. He’s been outside, lurking in the shadows, watching her return home. I step outside and lock the door behind me. I know he’s still there, watching, waiting. He wants to see her. But she hates him—loathes him—for abandoning her and for what he did to her mother. As I walk down the driveway, I spot him standing to my right. “She looks just like Eden,” he murmurs. I shoot him a cold, hard glare. No matter that he’s Sierra’s father—what he did was unforgivable. I don’t like him either, not after everything he put my sister through. “You shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t want to see you,” I say flatly. “By the way, she met your son. He wanted to come to the party tonight, but she shut that down real quick.” My voice drips with venom. “I heard she takes after Eden—same fire in her spirit,” he says. I bare my teeth at him. “Stop saying my sister’s name. You lost the right to speak it a long time ago.” I push past him, my blood boiling. He looks wounded. “Raven, please… you know what happened,” he says, guilt thick in his voice. “I didn’t have a choice.” I whirl around, facing him head-on, my panther stirring beneath my skin, itching to tear him apart. “You have some goddamn nerve saying that. I wouldn't be surprised if Sierra knows more about what really happened than you think,” I snap. “And listen to me carefully—you need to stay away from her. She despises you. As for your so-called son, she doesn’t know him or that daughter of yours. So if I were you, I’d keep them far away from her.” He stares down at me, expression unreadable. “Raven, please... I just want to know my daughter.” I sneer, his name like poison on my tongue. “Kieran, back the hell off. I’m warning you. You, your mate, your children, and that old Alpha you chose over your own flesh and blood—stay the hell away from her. You have no idea what she’s been through.” I realize too late that I’ve said too much. His brow furrows. “What do you mean? What has she been through?” His shock is evident, though he quickly masks it. Shit. That’s not my story to tell. I turn on my heel and keep walking. The café is just around the corner from my place. “Raven, tell me, please,” he calls after me, still following. I push open the café door. It’s closing time—we’re shutting early for the ceremony. Eleanor stands behind the counter, a warm smile on her face when she sees me, but the moment she spots Kieran, her expression hardens. She hates him too. “Raven,” he says, stepping inside, “you can’t keep this from me. She’s my daughter.” I’ve had enough of this bastard. He hasn’t given a damn about Sierra for ten years. The only reason I’m even living here again is because I have to be. I spin around to face him, my patience gone. “Listen up, you worthless piece of shit. You were never in her life. I don’t owe you a damn thing. You never came back for her—not once—even after all the messages I sent you. You are not, and will never be, her father,” I hiss. “I had to raise her and Eleanor on my own, you jackass, with no help from you. You want to know Sierra? Then come here and talk to her yourself. Or better yet, wait until she actually wants to talk to you—which, let me tell you, will be never.” I can feel the shame radiating off him, but before I can lay into him further, the door swings open. His son, Dane, walks in with the new Alpha, Damon. Both of them take in the scene, Dane immediately sensing the tension. “Dad, what are you doing here?” he asks, glancing between me and Kieran. Kieran straightens, his jaw tightening. “Raven, what’s going on?” Damon asks, his tone authoritative. I roll my eyes. Stupid wolves. “She was just telling this asshole to get lost and never come back,” Eleanor chimes in, stepping up beside me. A low growl rumbles from Damon’s chest. “Show some respect, cat, or I’ll put you down myself,” he grits out. Eleanor lets out a soft growl of her own. “You may be the Alpha, and I may be part of this pack, but you don’t get to tell my mother what to do—especially when it doesn’t concern you,” she snaps. I don’t want her getting into trouble, but I hold Damon’s gaze. “I’m asking Kieran to leave. Now isn’t the time for this,” I say firmly. Kieran and Dane stand on opposite sides of Damon, but I have one last thing to say. “Here are the cakes for the ceremony. Take them and go,” I grind out. “And Alpha, if you ever speak to my daughter like that again, you’ll see exactly what a cat can do.” He stares at me, momentarily taken aback. I rarely let my anger spill over like this—and he knows it. He knew me before he left to train the packs. “Raven, I’m going to be the new Alpha soon. Please,” he says, as if that means a damn thing to me. I glance at Kieran and Dane. “Neither of you are welcome here when Sierra is around. You hear me?” My panther snarls, my fury barely contained. “I mean it. If you come in here and upset her, I’ll rip you apart myself.” “You can’t stop me from seeing my daughter,” Kieran says stubbornly. But before I can reply, the café door swings open again. The scent that fills the air makes my stomach drop. Kieran stiffens. Oh, hell. She’s pissed. Chapter 5 Raven "YEAH, SHE CAN," a voice snaps from behind him. I can tell she’s pissed. How the hell is she still standing after being awake for 24 hours? Kieran spins around, and his face goes pale when he sees the daughter he once knew. She’s no longer the little girl he left behind. Sierra glares at him, but before she can say anything, a low growl fills the room—"MATE." All of us turn to look at Damon. His eyes are locked onto Sierra. Oh, shit. This is not going to end well. Sierra meets his gaze briefly before striding towards Kieran and Dane, her face unreadable. “You need to back off,” she snarls. I can feel Aria trying to break through. The energy radiating from Sierra is overwhelming. Eleanor glances at her cousin and smirks. "Don't talk to—" Dane starts, but Sierra cuts him off with a guttural growl. Her eyes shift from their usual blue to a striking, glowing green. "You wouldn’t want to piss me off, brother." We all freeze, stunned. Eleanor and I have heard Aria and Sierra speak in unison before, but seeing it now is still something else. I glance at Damon, but he’s still fixated on Sierra—his mate. "What? You thought I wouldn't figure out who you are?" Sierra challenges Dane. "I recognized your scent at the station. You smell just like him." Then, she turns to Kieran. "And don’t think for a second that acting like the father I should have had is going to work. You abandoned me for ten years. So why the hell would I want you in my life now?" Kieran looks wounded. But what did he expect? I told him Sierra wanted nothing to do with him. She didn’t even know about Dane—let alone the sister she’s yet to meet. Sierra steps closer, eyes locked onto them both. Aria is close to the surface, her power amplified by Sierra’s rage. If we can feel it, I wonder if they can, too. "You’re going to listen, and you’re going to listen well," she says, voice deadly calm. "I don’t want anything to do with you or your new little family. You left me alone to survive for a decade, and guess what? I did just fine. If you ever come back, I’ll let my panther out. And trust me—she’s a hell of a lot less friendly than I am." She bares her teeth. "Now take whatever you came for and go." She strides between them and heads straight toward me. That’s when I realize—she’s still in her Minnie Mouse pajamas. She must have sensed him outside earlier. Damon hasn’t taken his eyes off her. Before anyone else can speak, Sierra turns to him. "Oh, and Alpha—I don’t want a mate." Damon lets out a deep growl. "You don’t mean that," he says, barely keeping himself and his wolf in check. Sierra shrugs. "Take it however you want. I’m only here for a few weeks, and then I’m gone." Damon stares at her, saying nothing, though the hurt in his eyes is obvious. I know why she doesn’t want a mate. There are memories—dark ones—she’d rather forget. She hates men in general, and honestly, I don’t blame her. The tension in the air is suffocating. After a long moment, I turn to Kieran and Dane. "I think you all should leave now," I say. "Oh, and don’t forget the cakes on your way out." Dane glances at me and offers a small, grateful smile, mouthing thank you. He looks like he wants to say more, but he doesn’t. Damon still hasn’t moved. He’s rooted in place, staring at Sierra. Dane finally pulls him toward the door, leading him outside to the waiting SUV. Kieran hesitates, looking like he wants to say something, but he just exhales sharply, grabs the boxes, and walks out. Eleanor holds the door open for him. Another SUV pulls up, and Kieran loads the boxes inside before climbing in. Within seconds, the vehicle disappears down the road. Dane lingers a moment longer, stepping back into the café for the last box. Sierra and I watch him from behind the counter. He stops at the door, glancing over his shoulder at us. "I know what our father did. I don’t condone it," he says. "But if possible, I’d like to get to know my older sister." Sierra lets out a low growl. Dane flinches slightly but keeps his gaze steady. "I’m sorry, Sierra," he murmurs before walking out. Eleanor shuts the door and turns back to us. "Well, cuz, I’m so glad you’re here," she teases with a smirk. Sierra walks up to her and smiles, pulling her into a hug. They both turn to look at me, but before either can speak— "How did you know?" I ask Sierra. She studies me for a second before answering. "I smelled his scent outside. It woke Aria up. But the rest? I’ve always known. I just never told you." She exhales sharply, her expression darkening. "I hate him even more now. He never came for me." The bitterness in her voice is unmistakable. I know she’s hurting. And I have no doubt that Kieran is a big reason why she refuses to accept her mate. "Well, let’s close up. You look like you should be in bed," I say with a chuckle. Sierra glances down at herself, and Eleanor notices too. They both start laughing. We move around the café, making sure everything is cleaned up—tables wiped down, chairs in their proper places, all the lights turned off. Sierra yawns. "You need rest," I tell her. She nods. "Let’s go home," she says before turning to Eleanor. "You coming? We could have one of our famous sleepovers." Eleanor grins but shakes her head. I know that’s not happening—Eleanor has a ceremony to attend with her mate. "I can’t, cuz. You need your beauty sleep," she teases. Sierra rolls her eyes, but Eleanor shoots me a knowing look. Don’t tell her about Caleb yet, Mom. I nod subtly. Eleanor only knows bits and pieces of why Sierra refuses to accept her mate, but she’s scared to tell her just yet. She has no idea how Sierra will react when she finds out. Sierra yawns again, making us laugh. "Come on, Sleeping Beauty. Time for bed," I say, leading her out of the café and toward home. Chapter 6 Damon I found my mate. But she wants nothing to do with me. I’m beyond pissed. Why doesn’t she want me? I glance at Kieran. His face is unreadable, but I know he’s hurting. He finally met his daughter, yet she rejected him outright. I don’t know the full story between them, but whatever it is, it’s bad. “I’m sorry, Damon,” he suddenly says, still staring ahead. When I turn to look at him, I notice a small, sad smile on his face. He doesn’t elaborate. “You okay, Kieran?” I ask, studying him. His expression remains blank, but I continue, “I just wanted to say sorry about what happened at the café.” He nods, and I can feel the guilt radiating off him. He’s deeply wounded. After a moment, he exhales heavily. “We need to see your father when we get back to the pack house,” he says. “But I have one request.” His voice is almost pleading. “Don’t tell him about Sierra being your mate just yet.” His words catch me off guard. Why wouldn’t he want me to tell my own father? Especially since my mate is his best friend’s daughter—well, his long-lost daughter. “Why, Kieran? He’d be happy that I found my mate,” I say, but the look on his face tells me there’s more to this than I understand. “He will be—once he knows she’s my daughter. But there are things you don’t know yet, and that’s why we need to talk to him first. We have to explain everything to you. It might help you understand why Sierra doesn’t want a mate,” he finally says. I stare at him, momentarily stunned, but I quickly regain my composure. “Alright, I won’t say anything. But Kieran… what happened to make her hate you so much?” I ask, immediately regretting it as soon as the words escape my mouth. His shame crashes over me like a tidal wave. “I hurt her mother in the worst way possible,” he confesses quietly. “And I never claimed her as my mate.” I’m speechless. “I’ll explain everything when we see your father,” he adds. I glance at the man who had trained me when my father was too busy. I grew close to his son, Dane, who’s now about to become my Beta, and his sister, Nova. They’ve been like siblings to me—we argue and fight just like real siblings do. Sierra would have made an impression on me if she’d been around. Even in those pajamas, she exuded a quiet strength. I couldn’t quite make out her figure, but I didn’t care. Those piercing blue eyes, the rich brown hair messily tied into a bun, and those soft pink lips—it all made me want her even more. When her panther stirred, her eyes glowed green, and I felt an immense power roll off her in waves. It was unnerving. There was more to her than I could see. Her emotions dictated the intensity of her energy, and at that moment, all I felt from her was pure rage. The car ride back to the pack house is quiet. It’s a long drive from town, and our driver is stuck behind another vehicle. Kieran stares out the window, lost in thought. I mind-link my father. “Hey, Dad, we’re on our way back with the cakes. There’s something you need to know. Sierra is back.” “Yeah, I heard,” my father replies gruffly. “Kieran went to see her. I take it that didn’t go well? I told him to give her a few days to settle in.” I sigh. “‘Didn’t go well’ is an understatement. She was furious. He wants the three of us to meet in your office to talk about it.” My father is silent for a beat before responding. “We need to talk. I think you should be there for all of this—you’ll be Alpha soon.” “Alright. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I stick to Kieran’s request and don’t mention to my father that Sierra is my mate. When we finally arrive at the pack house, we step out of the SUV. Caleb, my soon-to-be Gamma, is waiting nearby. I know why—his mate, Eleanor, nearly got herself ripped apart for disrespecting me. From the look on his face, he already knows. “Sorry about Eleanor, Alpha,” he says immediately. “She was just protecting her mother.” I nod. “I’ll apologize to her later.” He gives me a strange look. “You shouldn’t have to apologize. She’s still adjusting to our ways here. They lost their pack years ago and have been moving around ever since,” he explains, his gaze shifting past me to Kieran. “He shouldn’t have gone there,” he mutters. “I know most of what happened—Eleanor told me. It’s bad.” I stare at him, taken aback. “I’ll find out more when we talk to my father,” I say before shutting off the mind-link. Caleb nods and heads toward his house, where Eleanor is waiting. He probably misses her. Eleanor had mentioned wanting to tell Sierra something, but she wasn’t sure how her cousin would react—especially when it came to the subject of mates. There has to be a reason why she despises the idea of having one. A low growl rumbles in my head—my wolf, Cruz. “She’ll come around. We just need to take things slow with her.” I freeze. My wolf has been obsessed with finding our mate for years, but he’s never been this patient before. Normally, he’s possessive and restless. But now, he just wants what’s best for Sierra—even if that means taking our time. “What’s gotten into you? You’ve been quiet since you told me Sierra was our mate,” I ask him. Cruz is silent for a moment before sighing. “I’m being careful with her. Seeing her father after all these years made her angry. And her panther… she’s powerful. Her emotions fuel her strength, and I think her panther has her own feelings about this entire situation. We need to figure out what happened.” I nod. “You’re right, Cruz. Let’s find out exactly what we’re dealing with.” He chuckles before settling in the back of my mind, alert but waiting. Waiting to learn more about our mate. 😍Click to continue reading	LEARN_MORE	https://novel.tapread.com/overseas-h5/flow?pixelId	TapNovel	https://www.facebook.com/61570337432882/	81	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	novel.tapread.com	VIDEO		https://novel.tapread.com/overseas-h5/flow?pixelId=609517044808042&page_id=27afa44535284a388270e8f019e23859	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480864254_1418610026257182_6291354118778339379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=toc1INVV1s4Q7kNvgFoWgUW&_nc_oc=AdgVQTFi8KEgIRtK6ovMHg45x7eDFH0WsfEvp7QHgiABe4PchkRFYolEXxBOsnNmKAcGk-w_S-1kZFkV4JHlRxIl&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=An1a0VAwW_Q6qHZz1Xgg63V&oh=00_AYDBXrcHu_Rw87KRF58faXsiI6c92oIWwR8ZlfILGUCm-w&oe=67C73317	PERSON_PROFILE	TapNovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,841	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"is_bh_simple_request":true,"simple_request_ratio":0.535031847133758,"is_bh_selenium":null,"selenium_ratio":null,"ratio_threshold":0.8}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651		This one is just a Dirty ocean water + pineapple 😊 10/10 Ocean water crack 2.0 5-6 ounces Sparkling water + full ocean water packet, ice, full can Sprite Zero , splash of Chobani zero sugar sweet cream, and 3 ounces light pineapple juice #drink #Recipe #drinkrecipe #oceanwater #sonic #sonicdrivein #sonicathome #foryoupage #fyp #foru	VIEW_INSTAGRAM_PROFILE	http://instagram.com/drinkfreakessentials	Drink Freak	https://www.facebook.com/61567475895238/	415	1969-12-31 18:00	Visit Instagram profile	instagram.com	VIDEO		http://instagram.com/drinkfreakessentials	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480775309_994705591991391_7195548986722816485_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aOs2H_t-6jMQ7kNvgEagAXR&_nc_oc=AdhN4xVJ0cYNEZjR2XnlzvkxOaUou5pFQrsnriM8ZbPPf6ZRNl34a8MboLtq3o-FHUI1YOUTAhhxj2BynXvVi2RK&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AY2iNOEeoBFCVckcfBVMoQW&oh=00_AYD_khrrn6q31jJA751Y1xuh3A52ih2FTYrB0naGFGfkeg&oe=67C71894	PERSON_PROFILE	Drink Freak	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,562	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707535}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	Take back your life and start living pain-free.	Struggling with nerve pain, and sleepless nights? Whether your discomfort is due to diabetes, age, or underlying health conditions... nerve pain can disrupt your life and sleep. It's essential to find a solution before another night of pain and discomfort takes its toll... Mama Bear Nerve Relief Lotion harnesses the power of magnesium to offer relief from nerve pain and sleep disturbances almost instantly. This special blend seeps deep into the skin, targeting the root cause of your neuropathic discomfort. Just a dab before bedtime is all it takes, and you can drift into a peaceful, deep sleep, free from nerve pain. Mama Bear Nerve Relief Lotion also comes with FREE Shipping & a 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee. Experience pain relief and restful nights or get your money back, guaranteed. ✅ Alleviates nerve pain ✅ Natural magnesium blend for effective pain relief (no harsh chemicals) ✅ Endorsed & loved by those suffering from neuropathy across the country for its effectiveness	SHOP_NOW	https://mamabearoasis.com/products/mama-bear-nerve	Mama Bear Oasis	https://www.facebook.com/100088425910904/	4,507	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop Now	mamabearoasis.com	DCO	{{product.description}}	https://mamabearoasis.com/products/mama-bear-nerve-relief-lotion	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481256563_555522224214592_1754560136274121735_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PJkbiLUm9LEQ7kNvgHWD3md&_nc_oc=AdjYTxKcwKuDYJnsNbPYyul0rV_X8fWO_AucAqZ0u-kxFey3PBGQh2_ifCNPUeYC9pY6EBCG0PRdqwobhrheBSsY&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=At2-2U9ZkV_3-Lr_mC355j4&oh=00_AYBc6C04Dgzu2m2SOSCGJ1ukMyI1iGuPVDUMmlcddB1g4Q&oe=67C7286C	PERSON_PROFILE	Mama Bear Oasis	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,478	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707434}'	No	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	❤️Click to read more exciting content❤️	Chapter 1 She's Back At dawn, Odalys Stone cracked open her eyes, the sunlight pouring through the window making her squint. For a moment, she stared blankly, her mind groggy, before her gaze fell on the crooked calendar on the wall. A bitter smile tugged at her lips. She was back. Back to this godforsaken day—the day her life had been ripped apart. The day she was sold into a marriage from hell, betrayed by the very people she had called family, and ultimately killed. Hatred boiled in her veins, rising like a tide that threatened to drown her. But just as quickly, she forced it down, letting icy calm take its place. Her past life had already wrung every last drop of emotion out of her. Not this time. This time, she wasn't that naive, helpless girl. She was alive. And she was here to make them pay, every single one of them. The sound of heavy footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts. A sharp knock rattled the door, followed by louder, more impatient banging. Before Odalys could even move, the door burst open with a deafening crash. A tall figure stormed in, grabbing her arm roughly and yanking her up. "Odalys Stone, are you fucking deaf?" Henry Bennett barked, his grip bruising, his expression one of pure rage. Her face turned glacial, her lips curling into a sneer. Without hesitation, she twisted his wrist sharply and shoved him away with enough force to make him stumble. As he regained his balance, blinking in stunned disbelief, Odalys calmly reached for her phone, pressing the record button without missing a beat. Henry gawked at her, his jaw slack. This wasn't the meek, obedient sister he knew—the one who flinched at his every word. She wasn't cowering or apologizing. She had fought back. "What the hell's gotten into you?" he spat, pointing an accusatory finger at her. "Do you think this is some kind of joke? The Stewarts are coming today, and you're still lying in bed? Do you want them to take Sophia instead? Is that it?" Odalys's gaze hardened, her voice cutting through his tirade like a knife. "Why, Henry? Isn't she the one engaged to him? Or is it because their son is dying that you want me to take her place? You're scared she'll end up a widow, but me? I'm just expendable, right?" His mouth opened and closed, his face turning an ugly shade of red. "Sophia is different," he muttered, his eyes darting away. "If people find out she's been married before, her life will be ruined." A bitter laugh escaped her lips, sharp and cold. "Oh, I see. Her reputation is sacred, but mine? That's disposable? How fucking convenient." Henry's fists clenched at his sides, his face twisting with anger. Before he could lash out, a frail figure appeared at the doorway. "Henry, stop," Sophia Bennett said, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her pale cheeks. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful, her wide eyes shimmering with sorrow. "I'll do it. I'll marry him, okay? If he dies, then... then I'll..." Her voice broke into sobs, her frail body shaking as though she might collapse. "Enough!" Hannah Bennett's voice sliced through the room like a whip. Odalys turned her gaze to her mother, who stood at the doorway flanked by her two brothers, Caspian and Atlas Bennett. Their faces were etched with fury, their contempt for her palpable. "Odalys," Caspian snapped, his fists tightening, "how can you be so heartless? Sophia is your sister. Are you really going to let her face this alone?" Atlas crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disgust. "We're not asking you to die. Just marry him for a while. Once he's gone, you'll come back safe and sound. What's the big deal?" Their audacity was almost laughable. Before her time travel, this might have broken her. She might have screamed, begged them to see reason, only to be crushed under their blackmail and cruelty. She had been drugged, stripped of her dignity, and forced into that cursed marriage. And when it became too much, she had ended it all in despair. But not this time. "Fine," she said coolly, her tone so steady it was almost unnerving. "I never said I wouldn't marry him." Taking a deep breath, Odalys straightened her shoulders, her lips curling into a calm, almost serene smile. Without a word, she walked to her desk, picking up a pen and paper. Her phone, still recording, caught every calculated move. The room fell silent. They exchanged confused glances, trying to figure out what game she was playing. A moment later, she turned back to them, holding out a document she'd just written. "Here's the deal—you're all signing this agreement to sever any and all family ties with me. I want it airtight, legally binding, and notarized. No bullshit, no loopholes. Once that's done, I'll marry the guy. Simple as that." Their stunned silence quickly turned to outrage. Atlas grabbed the document with a sneer, his voice dripping with mockery. "You? Cut ties with us? Who the hell do you think you are? Spit it out—how much do you want?" Henry didn't even hesitate. He pulled a sleek black card from his wallet and tossed it onto the table with a cold, detached expression. "Thirty thousand dollars. Take it and get out. Stop playing the victim—it's just a goddamn wedding. You're acting like we're sending you to the gallows." Sophia's eyes flickered with a momentary spark of relief when she saw the agreement, but she quickly smothered it with crocodile tears. "No, no, don't do this, sister!" Her voice cracked as she shook her head, her tone full of exaggerated despair. "I'll go. I'll marry him if that's what it takes. Please, don't fight with Mom and the boys because of me. It's my fault—I should've left the house the moment you came back if I'd known you felt this way." She spun around dramatically, her frail frame trembling with grief, and collapsed conveniently into Henry's arms. "Sophia," Henry murmured, holding her close like she was made of porcelain. He shot Odalys a glare filled with venom. "Is this what you wanted? To tear this family apart?" Odalys met his fury with icy detachment. "I'm not tearing anything apart. Just sign the damn agreement, get it notarized, and I'll go play your sacrificial lamb." Their angry, incredulous faces only fueled her inner amusement. 'Why did I waste so many years trying to please these people? Why did I beg for affection from people who wouldn't piss on me if I were on fire?' Once, she'd been their discarded daughter, tossed aside like trash while they paraded around their "replacement" — a shiny new girl they'd adopted to fill her spot. Meanwhile, Odalys had been left to fend for herself in the streets, barely surviving. If not for her mentor, she'd have been dead long ago. And yet, despite all that, she'd come back, hoping to earn their love, only to be betrayed in the cruelest way imaginable. But this time? This time, she wasn't here to beg. "You'll regret this!" Hannah's shrill voice snapped through the tension like a whip. She turned to the nearest servant and barked, "Get the lawyer. Now!" Her desperation was almost laughable—she wasn't worried about principle, only about Odalys backing out. The brothers exchanged uneasy glances but stayed silent, too afraid to challenge their mother. "Uh... yes, ma'am," the servant stammered before scurrying off. Henry stood frozen, his jaw clenched as he processed what was happening. "Mom, you're not seriously doing this, are you?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. But before he could get an answer, Sophia's soft sobs stole the spotlight. "Mom, let's not take it this far," Caspian chimed in, playing the concerned brother. "She's still family." Hannah's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes flashing with pure disdain. "This ungrateful brat thinks she can just walk away? Fine. Let her try. Without the Bennett name, let's see how far she gets in this world." The lawyer arrived moments later, looking thoroughly confused but professional as ever. Hannah shoved the document at him without hesitation, watching as it was officially notarized. Odalys took the signed agreement, her face calm and unreadable. She snapped a photo of it with her phone before slipping the papers into her bag. Without a word, she turned and walked toward the door, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. "Move," she said coolly, her voice like a blade. "You're in my way." Hannah stood frozen, her fury simmering beneath the surface. Finally, she grabbed her phone and hurled it toward Odalys's retreating figure. "You selfish little bitch! Are you trying to kill me?!" But Odalys didn't even flinch. Her voice floated up the staircase, steady and sharp. "Are those the wedding gifts from the Stewart family?" "Yes, ma'am," a servant replied hesitantly. Everyone froze, their confusion quickly morphing into curiosity as they followed her downstairs. There, Odalys stood in the entryway, surveying the piles of lavish gifts stacked neatly by the door. She pulled out her ID and handed it to the nearest servant. "Go to the bank. Open a safety deposit box and store everything there." The servant blinked, visibly stunned. "Pardon me, ma'am?" Odalys arched a brow, her lips curving into a smirk. "What's the problem? Aren't these gifts for me?" "Y-yes, ma'am," he stammered, nodding quickly. At her command, a team of guards began loading the extravagant gifts back into the trucks. The grand Bennett estate erupted into chaos as workers scrambled to carry out her orders. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Hannah screamed, her voice hoarse with rage. Chapter 2 Wedding Gifts The Stewart family—everyone knew their name. They were the pinnacle of power, dripping in wealth, and way out of anyone else's league. The wedding gifts they sent weren't just generous—they were mind-blowing. Even without counting, it was obvious they were worth billions. For a family like the Bennetts? Getting tied to the Stewarts was nothing short of a miracle. They weren't even in the same universe. But fate had handed them a golden ticket. William Bennett and Evander Stewart had once fought together, shoulder to shoulder, in life-or-death battles. Somewhere along the way, they'd sealed a promise: a marriage pact between their future children. Initially, the Bennetts planned to marry off Sophia. It was a straightforward enough plan until bad news hit. The man she was supposed to marry was at death's door, and the whispers said he didn't have much time left. No way were they going to send Sophia into a marriage that'd turn her into a widow before it even began. Luckily—or unluckily, seven months ago, the Bennetts had found their long-lost biological daughter, Odalys Stone. And just like that, they had a perfect solution: send Odalys instead. She'd secure the Bennetts' connection to the Stewarts, widow or not. Sophia would be off the hook, and the family would still come out on top. It was a win-win—at least for everyone except Odalys. "What am I doing here?" Odalys said, her voice calm but laced with a sharp edge as she glanced around. She raised an eyebrow, her smirk growing. "Well, obviously, I'm here to collect what's mine." She didn't bother hiding the amusement in her eyes. Watching the Bennetts fume while the Stewart family bodyguards loomed nearby was too satisfying. "What's wrong? Were you planning to keep it all for yourselves?" Her voice turned mockingly curious, her tone dripping with fake innocence. "Oh, wait—I get it. You're trying to screw me over because you think I'm just the backup bride, right?" Her words hit like a grenade. The bodyguards immediately paused their work, sharp eyes locking onto the Bennetts with unspoken suspicion. Hannah's face went pale, her heavily made-up features twisting in barely contained rage. She spat through gritted teeth, "If the Stewarts gave it to you, then fine. Take it. It's yours." "Damn right, it's mine." Odalys tilted her head, smirk still firmly in place. "Let's go, guys. Load it all up." The bodyguards didn't need to be told twice. They began reloading the boxes of gifts onto the waiting trucks. One of them rattled off the inventory under his breath. "Three boxes with three million dollars each. Two boxes of gold and diamond jewelry, 200 pieces total. One small box containing six property deeds for Crystal Cove villas. One small box with keys to 11 luxury cars." Sophia's fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging so hard into her palms that she almost drew blood. Those gifts were supposed to be hers. Sure, she didn't want to marry into the Stewarts, but she'd never said she didn't want the spoils. And now, she thought Odalys was walking out with everything. Every last thing. Her chest tightened with rage, her breaths coming quick and sharp. 'Why? Why does she get to take what should be mine?' "Odalys Stone, don't you have any shame?" Hannah snapped, stepping forward with a trembling hand pointing at her. Her voice cracked with the effort to keep her anger in check. "Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you? Taking all this—it's disgusting." "Laugh? At me?" Odalys turned, her expression cool, her voice calm and mocking. "For what? Taking what my husband gave me? No, Mrs. Bennett, people aren't going to laugh. They're gonna be jealous as hell." Her lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes glinting with something dangerous. "Or is it you who's jealous?" Her gaze swept across the room, pausing on each familiar face. To her surprise, she didn't feel the anger she thought she would. The Bennetts didn't deserve her rage. What she felt instead was an eerie calm. She'd been here before, in another timeline. This time, she wasn't here to please anyone. This time, she was here to cut ties, burn bridges, and take what was hers. "These gifts belong to me because the Stewarts are marrying me. You got a problem with that?" Her voice was soft but carried an unmistakable edge. Each word hit like a slap. Her eyes scanned the room, finally settling on Sophia. Slowly, deliberately, she stepped forward. Sophia froze, her eyes darting nervously to the side as she stumbled back a step. Her gaze flickered to the boxes of gifts, jealousy and frustration swirling in her tear-filled eyes. She'd never wanted this to happen. Sure, she'd agreed to let Odalys take her place in the marriage, but she hadn't agreed to give her everything. And now, Odalys was walking away with it all. The thought made her stomach churn with rage and humiliation. "Odalys, how could you do this?" Sophia's voice wavered, trembling with fake sweetness as she bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. "You're upsetting Mom. If you take everything, what will the Stewarts think of our family?" Odalys Stone chuckled coldly, her hand gripping Sophia Bennett's chin with just enough force to make the other woman flinch. Leaning in, she lowered her voice, her tone dripping with venom. "And just who the hell do you think you are? A nobody foster kid, and you've got the balls to come at me?" Her lips twisted into a smirk, her gaze sharp and mocking. "What the Stewarts think of you? That's your problem, not mine." She added with a scoff, "Jealous, huh? Pathetic little bitch." Sophia froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. The insult landed like a slap, and for a moment, she couldn't even process it. She wanted to lash out, but with the Stewarts' people watching, she bit her tongue. All she could do was stomp her foot in frustration, her chest heaving as she struggled to keep her composure. "Odalys Stone, what the fuck is your problem?" Atlas barked as he stormed forward, his expression dark. He pulled Sophia behind him protectively, glaring at Odalys like he wanted to snap her in half. Odalys raised a brow, her smirk deepening. Without a word, she turned on her heel and strode toward the door. When she reached it, she pulled a key from her pocket and flung it onto the floor. The sharp clink echoed through the room. Pausing in the doorway, she tossed a cold glance over her shoulder, her voice dripping with mockery. "And what are you gonna do about it? Or better yet, maybe she should be the one marrying instead?" The room fell into stunned silence as she walked out, her ponytail swishing in time with her confident strides. The Bennetts could only stand there, fuming, as the Stewarts' bodyguards continued hauling out the extravagant betrothal gifts without a care in the world. Hannah staggered, her face pale as she watched millions—billions—of dollars in gifts disappear. Her instincts screamed at her to do something, to stop them, but before she could act, Sophia grabbed her wrist in a panic. "Mom, don't! She's just trying to piss you off!" Sophia's voice cracked, panic lacing her words. "Once she calms down, she'll bring everything back. She's just throwing a tantrum—nothing more." But even as she said it, doubt flickered in Sophia's eyes. The truth was, everyone in Crownridge knew the situation with the Stewarts. Their patriarch was already at death's door, with the hospital issuing what was essentially a countdown to his final moments. Years ago, the Stewarts and Bennetts had been close, and the marriage was supposed to strengthen their bond. But now the Stewarts were rushing the wedding to bring some semblance of good fortune to a dying man. There wouldn't even be a ceremony. They'd sent the wedding gifts today with plans to take the bride immediately. The Bennetts, unwilling to let Sophia marry into such a grim situation, had shoved Odalys into the role instead. After all, she'd only recently been found after years of being lost and had no real connection to the family. The plan was simple: send her off, let her deal with the mess, and once the Stewart patriarch passed, bring her back. It was, in their minds, the perfect solution. Henry snorted, his tone filled with contempt. "She really thinks she can pull this shit? That's what happens when you let someone think they're equal to us. Time to remind her where she stands." Caspian leaned lazily against the wall, his lips quirking into a cruel smile. "Relax. Let her have her little moment. Once the bridegroom kicks the bucket, we'll drag her back here and teach her a lesson she won't forget. Let's see if she still thinks she's hot shit after that." But as they watched Odalys climb into the waiting car without so much as a glance back, a cold wind swept through the courtyard, sending a shiver down everyone's spine. The atmosphere shifted, the air growing heavy and unnervingly still. For the first time, an inexplicable unease settled over the Bennetts. In the backseat of the car, Odalys sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the rearview mirror. The Bennett mansion shrank in the distance, shrouded in swirling clouds that seemed to darken the skies around it. The house looked cursed, like it was being swallowed whole by its own greed and malice. A soft, bitter laugh escaped her lips as she leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. Her mind was flooded with memories from her past life—memories that stung like open wounds. She could still feel the humiliation, the betrayal. The people she had once trusted—her own family—had stripped her bare, literally and figuratively. They'd recorded her, used the footage to blackmail her, and forced her to take Sophia's place. All for their own selfish gain, all to secure their position with the Stewarts. Chapter 3 You're Dying After her death, Odalys's soul drifted aimlessly, trapped in a limbo that felt endless. She couldn't move on, couldn't reincarnate—until an unknown, powerful force yanked her back into the living world, slamming her into a reality she wasn't sure she wanted. The memory made her fists clench tightly, her nails biting into her palms as her jaw set with cold determination. The sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of a sprawling courtyard mansion, its grandeur weighed down by an eerie stillness. The house seemed more like a relic than a home, its walls steeped in secrets and shadows. "Madam, Mr. Stewart is waiting for you upstairs," the butler, Dorian Huxley, said as he stepped aside, gesturing politely for her to follow. His tone was calm and measured, but it carried a quiet urgency. Odalys didn't respond. She stepped out of the car and into the courtyard, the oppressive silence pressing down on her like a physical weight. As she crossed the threshold, her gaze swept over the carefully arranged antiques in the living room—each piece meticulous, imposing, and completely lifeless. Her heels clicked against the polished wood floor as she climbed the stairs, each step reverberating in the stillness. At the top, she paused. A tall figure stood inside the room, his back to her, framed by sunlight filtering through the window. The light scattered across his broad shoulders, softening the harsh lines of his frame. She couldn't see his face, but his presence was unmistakable—commanding, unyielding, and suffocating. "You're Percival Stewart?" she asked, her voice steady, but low and cautious. The man turned slowly, deliberately. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Those eyes were cold, bottomless, and completely detached, like looking into a frozen void. He held her gaze for a beat longer than necessary before shifting his eyes away, the indifference in his expression sharp enough to cut. The silence stretched between them, heavy and tense, before he finally spoke. "This marriage? It's just my grandfather's dying wish," he said, his voice deep and rough, every word laced with disdain. "Don't waste your time thinking it means anything. There won't be a ceremony, no legal documents, nothing. Once I'm gone, you're free to leave." The bluntness of his words caught her off guard, but she didn't flinch. She just stared at him, taking in the man who had been a shadow in the past. In truth, she knew next to nothing about Percival Stewart. Before her time travel, she had died before the marriage ever happened. All she'd heard was that he was twenty-eight, the head of the Stewart family, and dying from some incurable illness. Beyond that, he was a mystery—a figure hidden behind the impenetrable walls of the Stewart dynasty. He was like an invisible king, ruling from the shadows, unchallenged but utterly alone. Before she could respond, a harsh, violent cough broke the silence. Percival's tall frame trembled slightly, and the sharp, metallic tang of blood filled the air, cutting through the faint scent of scented candle burning in the corner. "Mrs. Stewart, perhaps it's best if you retire to your room," Dorian said, stepping forward quickly. His voice was polite, but the urgency in his movements was impossible to miss. Odalys didn't move. Her sharp gaze stayed locked on Percival, ignoring the butler entirely. She took a step forward, her eyes narrowing as the scent of blood grew stronger. It wasn't just a hint—it was thick, suffocating, and impossible to ignore. Percival felt her approach and shot her a warning glare, his expression hardening. "Go back to your room," he said, his voice rough and authoritative. He turned abruptly, his steps hurried and uneven as if trying to escape her scrutiny. But just as he moved past her, Odalys reached out and grabbed his arm. He froze instantly, his body tensing under her touch. He made a move to pull away, but she was faster. Twisting her grip, she held him in place, then reached up and grabbed his collar without hesitation. The sound of fabric tearing cut through the room like a slap. Percival's shirt split open, revealing a chest sculpted like stone, his bronze skin catching the fractured sunlight pouring in from the window. The room fell silent. Even the air seemed to hold its breath. Dorian stood frozen, his jaw slack with shock, his gaze darting between his mentor and the woman who had just ripped his shirt like it was nothing. No one saw it coming. Odalys, without hesitation, tore open Percival's shirt with a single, fluid motion. No one had ever dared to get this close to him before—let alone touch him. The speed and boldness of her actions left everyone in the room frozen, mouths agape. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Percival growled, his hand shooting up to clamp around her wrist with an iron grip. Her wrist was locked in his grasp, but Odalys didn't so much as flinch. Her eyes stayed locked on his chest, unblinking, studying his skin with laser focus. Beneath the smooth surface, something was moving—twitching, writhing, almost alive. It looked ready to tear through at any second. His veins bulged unnaturally, pushing against his flesh as though ready to explode. The air grew thick, the metallic tang of blood sharp enough to taste. Percival's body was a battleground, wracked with excruciating pain. It felt like shards of glass were tearing through him, breaking him apart piece by piece. His skin stretched taut, veins pulsating beneath it as if threatening to burst, and every nerve in his body screamed for relief. "Shit," he hissed through gritted teeth, sweat dripping down his temples. His face had gone pale, his jaw tight as he tried to suppress the pain. With great effort, he turned his icy glare on Dorian, who was frozen in the doorway, and the bodyguards lingering nearby, too stunned to move. "Take her back to her room," he ordered, his voice rough but unwavering despite the agony gripping him. "Yes, sir!" Dorian stammered, snapping into action and rushing toward Odalys, his face pale with fear. But before Dorian could reach her, Odalys made her move. She ignored the butler completely, her free hand lifting to press lightly against Percival's chest. The touch was almost playful, her fingertips tracing slow, deliberate patterns on his skin. Then, without warning, she shoved—hard. Percival froze, his entire body locking up. The moment her hand made contact, it sent a shockwave through him, like a current of electricity surging through his veins. The chaos beneath his skin—veins ready to rupture, blood cells fighting a violent war—suddenly stilled. The energy that had been raging inside him recoiled, like a storm abruptly silenced. His blood, moments away from tearing through his flesh, began to reverse its course. Thickened, frozen, and pushed back as though retreating from an unseen force. His heart seized painfully in his chest. "Ugh!" The sound ripped from his throat as dark blood spewed from his lips, splattering onto the floor. The black, foul-smelling liquid dripped from the corner of his mouth, its acrid stench filling the room. He staggered back a step, his pupils blown wide, his body trembling like it was ready to break apart. And then, suddenly, everything stopped. The agony gripping him moments ago faded to a dull ache. The sharp, relentless pressure vanished. His breathing steadied, his chest no longer heaving in pain. Slowly, cautiously, he glanced down at his body, expecting to see the usual horrors: split skin, torn veins, blood pouring from open wounds. But his skin was intact. No ruptures. No shredded flesh. No rivers of blood pooling at his feet. Aside from the dark blood he'd coughed up, he was fine. Whole. The pain, the chaos, the destruction that had always followed these episodes—it was gone. Percival's eyes snapped back to Odalys, shock flickering across his normally stoic face. She stepped back, her hand falling away as she regarded him with a calm, almost clinical detachment. Her gaze swept over him like she was piecing together a puzzle. "So the rumors are true," she said, her tone flat and disinterested. "You really are knocking on death's door." As she spoke, she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and began wiping her fingers clean. "But since you already made it clear this marriage is just your grandfather's idea to 'ward off bad luck,' and you don't actually want to marry me, that works out perfectly. I wasn't planning on getting married anyway." She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sharp and calculating as they locked onto his. "Let me guess. Your doctors told you you've got less than a month to live, didn't they?" His lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't deny it. Odalys smirked faintly, the corner of her mouth curving upward in a way that was both confident and infuriating. "So, here's the deal. I'll keep you alive for the next month. In return, you let me walk away when it's over. No strings attached." Percival's eyes narrowed, suspicion mingling with disbelief. "You're saying you can keep me alive for a month?" "That's exactly what I'm saying," she replied, her tone as steady as her gaze. She stepped closer, reaching out again. This time, her fingers brushed against the corner of his mouth, wiping away the blood that still lingered there. She brought her fingers to her nose, sniffing lightly before speaking again. "You're not dying as fast as they think. You're poisoned—badly—but it's not terminal yet. I can stabilize you. Give you some time." With that, she wiped her fingers clean on the handkerchief and tossed it into a nearby trash can, her movements smooth and deliberate. She met his gaze again, her expression unreadable but unshakable. "Clock's ticking, Stewart. Your move."s ------------------- There are limited chapters to put here, click “learn more” to open App to continue reading (It will automatically jump to the book)	LEARN_MORE	https://fqwebsite.novellairs.com/share/middle/liha	Novellair-The Reading Room	https://www.facebook.com/61558704884181/	496	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	fqwebsite.novellairs.com	VIDEO		https://fqwebsite.novellairs.com/share/middle/lihah1uelrk1smn2nzg3ikoc?campaign_id={{campaign.id}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480855538_1204861527892174_3195301255062420136_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=o-iJ_gekQWIQ7kNvgGQAnBF&_nc_oc=AdhCq3GHEwYkYP1lQQLv8hURyAqgQ2Co4P9YvI3Ro6TP9hNG9EHF_7eQog9muLBYptoMSylAewcoXxdXaF6glnjS&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A5lK-hFfovQTF5I5AEgBfvN&oh=00_AYBJOD_Ei4phMwOaGtAayH1eJNQ1UJodiyskmE0k9RFIpQ&oe=67C72635	PERSON_PROFILE	Novellair-The Reading Room	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,355	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707343}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🔞🔥Click to Read more about📜<The Billionaire's Ex-Wife (Her Ex-Husband's Regret)>📜	💥💞Please, baby. Help me change Daddy's heart. I march towards my husband's office on the top floor of Steele Corp Building, carrying a present in my hand. It's our third anniversary and I thought I'd give my husband a surprise. I just came back from the OBGYN. I placed my ultrasound photos inside a small box and wrapped it with a ribbon. "Excuse me, Miss Carlisle. You need an appointment to see the CEO," Tara, my husband's secretary, blocks the entrance to my husband's office. "Or do you want me to call your supervisor?" She raises a haughty brow at me, acting like she's above me. Well, I suppose she is above me. She is the CEO's executive secretary, sitting in the office at the top floor, while I'm just a graphic designer with a cubicle on the third floor. I have been married to Steele Corp's CEO, Kayden Steele, for three years. But sadly, no one in the office knows about it. "Umm..." I force a smile on my face. "Mr. Steele called my extension and personally asked me to bring the present that arrived for him." I motion at the box in my hands. "A present? From whom?" "His wife, maybe," I reply nonchalantly. Tara smirks. "You know he's still single!" See? Not even his secretary has a clue. "Although, I wonder if it's from that woman he asked to be picked up at the airport." "What?" Now, it's my turn to be surprised. "What woman?" Tara raises a skeptical brow at me again. "That information is none of your business," she replies. Then she turns to open the door to Kayden's office. "The graphic artist is here to see you, Sir?" "Let her in," I hear Kayden say. As I walk past Tara, I can't help smiling at her smugly. If she only knew what I'm carrying in my hands right now. This gift, this wonderful news, is going to bring my husband closer to me. This baby will change everything! I close the door behind me, and with wobbly legs and a big smile of anticipation on my face, I walk towards Kayden. He looks up from the papers on his desk as he watches me intensely. I almost lost my nerve as I remembered how devilishly handsome he was, with his midnight black hair, and blue-gray eyes. We've been married for three years, but he still takes my breath away. "Kayden," I call, my voice almost squeaking. "I have... some news for you." "Before you say anything, I have something to say to you, too," he says in a voice laced with ice. When he speaks so coldly to me like that, I wonder if he's the same man who makes hot love to me at night. "Oh, okay. What do you want to tell me?" I ask. He stands up from his seat. I cannot read the expression on his face as he stares back at me in silence. "Kayden, what is it?" He sighs heavily before turning away from me, as if he can't bear to look at me when he says what he needs to say. "You see, when I was young, I vowed to marry someone," he mumbles. "But unfortunately, I couldn't because..." he trails off, heaving another sigh. "But now, she's back in town. And I don't think I can do this anymore, Cassie." Wait, what did he mean by that? He turns around. His eyes look distant, devoid of any emotion. "This is not working out for both of us. I want a divorce." Divorce? The word keeps ringing in my head like a deafening siren. Sure, this marriage was far from perfect. But in the years that I've been married to Kayden, I tried to be the perfect wife. I made sure I gave him no reason to regret ever marrying me. "But... why?" Tears begin to brim my eyes. “Come on, Cassie. Did you really think this marriage was going to last?” he asks. His voice was ice cold, and his face almost stoic. “You know it wasn’t my choice to get married. You drugged me and threatened to expose my indiscretion the same week that I was going to be announced as CEO of Steele Corp! What was I supposed to do? Of course, I had no choice but to marry you!" I shake my head. "No, Kayden! I told you before that I didn't drug you. That night, somebody drugged me, too! I-I was framed. I don't even remember how I got to your room that night! Somebody made it seem like... like I staged it all!" He sighs heavily. I doubt that he heard anything that I just said. Or maybe he did. He just doesn’t care. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I managed to gain control of my father’s company. Your family got whatever it is you wanted to gain out of this marriage. Maybe it’s better we walk away now, while we still can. Before we tear each other apart.” “I gave my life to this marriage, too, Kayden!” I tell him evenly. “I didn’t plan on marrying a stranger as soon as I graduated university! This was against my will, too. I also have dreams I gave up because of this marriage.” “How could I believe you? Your father was too eager to give you away. And his business suddenly boomed, didn’t it? I was desperate to gain control of my father’s company. And you just took advantage of my vulnerable situation.” I can’t believe I’m hearing this. In the three years that we’re married, I can hardly remember when Kayden showed me any affection. He’s always been reserved and indifferent. It wasn’t a perfect marriage, but I never thought he’d ask me for a divorce so soon. My hands tremble. The box I'm carrying drops to the floor. My wonderful news, my little ray of hope, completely forgotten. "Tricking you into marriage is the last thing I would do!” He scoffs. “But that’s exactly what you did, didn’t you? I dreamt of building a family for myself. On my own terms and at the right time. Marrying you felt like I wasn’t given a chance to choose what I wanted for myself.” I shake my head, unable to control the tears that's flowing from my eyes. I realize that no matter what I say or do, Kayden will never believe me. "Is that why no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife... even after the many nights we made love, you... you never learned to love me?" Kayden's face remains relentless as he stares back at me. "Love? When you trapped me in this marriage, were you thinking about love at all? Your father bagged his biggest clients at the mere mention of my name, remember? It’s all about money and power. Of course, I could never love you!” I inhale deeply. It's painfully obvious now what the man I had desperately loved for three years thought of me: a gold-digging, scheming bitch! Looking back at that night, I know that somebody had spiked my drink, and somehow, I ended up in Kayden's penthouse. And the morning after, somebody had tipped the paparazzi and made it look like I blackmailed Kayden into marrying me. I know that somebody had set me up. I just don't know who. Kayden inhales deeply. “How could I love anyone who robbed me of my will?” "You're wrong, Kayden," I sob. "It seems that after all these years, you never saw me for who I really am." Kayden shakes his head. "It doesn't matter now. My lawyers are already preparing the divorce papers as we speak. Let's do this as quietly as possible," he says. "Anyway, there are only a few people who knew you were my wife." I nod, feeling numb. "Yes. You did an excellent job keeping me a secret." That was his first request to me: keep quiet about the marriage. Thinking about it now, he must have been planning to divorce me since then. Why did he wait three years to do this? I wipe the tears on my cheeks as I struggle to compose myself. I know that when Kayden makes a decision, there's very little chance that he'll change his mind. "An—anything else you want to say?" "One last thing," he replies. I look up at him, pretty sure that there's nothing he can say that would make me feel any worse than I do at this moment. He takes a deep breath and announces, "I don’t want to see you around the office. You're fired!"	LEARN_MORE	https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/gawbuzqsl	Lereader-Excellent Novel	https://www.facebook.com/61550357834620/	675	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	www.novel-oasis.com	VIDEO		https://www.novel-oasis.com/share/middle/gawbuzqslewpmb4l5gkdmnht?ad_id={{ad.id}}&sid=120219993614970651&campaign={{campaign.name}}&adgroup={{adset.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481010212_28607462038869040_3622887008328933156_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LaZP6JJfkFMQ7kNvgEEn0l6&_nc_oc=AdiCJlUlXYDYQs0Pq6ejD0rbnXRYkoRTdYVgRCS8mS-Lruy39-fBacXPs713fi2ElqT1-_XshpYIeBp_BV0VvsuP&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AhkCwi8TWwgzxp1PVcokhEr&oh=00_AYBl4OD4mdB5bcD43I6uSaWg-wyqipuorVEwoU_ZuP14JQ&oe=67C714A3	PERSON_PROFILE	Lereader-Excellent Novel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,854	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706778}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！📖	Today was supposed to be the day my fated mate and I got engaged. But now I’m watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she’s the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world. A couple of months ago, our Alpha died during a battle, and now all the candidates are competing for that position, including my mate, Ethan. Everyone knows the Lycans control the werewolf population. And Gavin? He could singlehandedly appoint everyone the new Alpha. So, Ethan made his choice. Her, not me. “Get me a whiskey and a martini for the lady,” A deep voice sounded from nearby. “Is it the future bride, or the future groom that’s got you in a mood?” “I’m just not into parties,” I decided to say. “Nor am I,” he murmured. “I’m here out of obligation.” The bartender placed my drink in front of me and I immediately took a sip, sighing in contentment. I waited for it to do its job and finish numbing the pain. Every time Ethan kissed her it destroyed me a little more. How had my life taken such a devastating turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our 2 years together truly mean nothing? Did the mark on my neck mean that little to him? “Thank you for the drink,” I told the man. I took one last sip of my martini and started to get down from the stool, except my blouse snagged on the corner of the counter and just as I heard a tearing sound, I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around my body, lifting me into the air. I opened my eyes and peeked up at the man who caught me, and my breath hitched. He was so handsome. He held me with ease as if I weighed nothing and I could tell from the feeling of his arms around me that he was muscular. He smiled down at me and a dimple appeared on his right cheek. I wanted to lick that dimple. “Madam, are you falling for me?” He asked teasingly. I stared at him for a heartbeat longer before I squinted my eyes at him, seeing what he did there. “You’re a funny one, aren’t you?” He grinned. Then he looked at my shirt and immediately frowned. “Let me take you to my suite upstairs,” he said, making my heart skip a beat. “What?” I said in barely a whisper. His eyes met mine and I got lost in their beauty for a moment. Goddess, his good looks were sinful. “Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs in my VIP suite,” he explained. I blinked a couple of times and gave a nervous chuckle. “Oh, alright. Thank you,” I managed to sputter. He turned to the bartender. “Charge our drinks to my suite,” he ordered. “Yes, sir.” I allowed the man to carry me out of the room. His arms were so warm that I found myself resting my head against his broad chest, breathing in his minty scent. My wolf was practically purring in my mind. She’d been quiet for most of the evening while she licked the wounds the broken mate bond had caused. But right now, it was as if she had forgotten she was heartbroken. “Take off your shirt,” he instructed once we were in the suite. He had released me and was walking to the closet. “Excuse me?” I squeaked. “So, you can put on a new shirt,” he explained. “Right,” I breathed. I lifted my ripped shirt over my head and threw it onto the bed, leaving me in only my innerwear from the waist up. Once he found a shirt, he turned around to face me, and his entire body froze as his eyes trailed down my body. I was too busy checking him out to notice him staring at me but the longer I stared at him, the more I started to recognize him. Then, realization struck me, and I gasped. “It’s you…” I breathed, taking a step back. His eyes shifted upward and met mine; his brow arched. “You know me?” He asked. “I know of you,” I clarified. The corner of his lips tipped upward as he walked towards me, slowly, as if he were stalking his prey. I could practically hear the sounds of my heartbeat. “And what do you know of me?” “Only what I’ve heard…” I admitted. “And what have you heard?” “You’re Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. You’re a heartbreaker. You have a new woman each week and you never sleep with the same woman twice.” He raised his brows. “Is that so?” He asked. “Tell me more about myself.” Heck, he's the father of the bride and Ethan's future father-in-law? I'm confused, I don't know what I should do. But I'm not surprised I didn't recognize him at first. The Lycan family isn't high profile, they're more used to staying behind the scenes than becoming politicians and celebrities like werewolf Alpha. Should I tell him who I am? But that would be foolish at this moment. He continued to walk towards me, and I continued to walk backward until my back hit the wall. “What more do you want to know?” I asked, my voice coming out breathy. “Everything.” I’m not sure if it was the martini speaking or me, but I decided to be bold. If Ethan can indulge himself in someone new, then so could I. I lifted my gaze to meet his as he neared closer. “Your eyes…” I started to say. “I’ve heard that they were mesmerizing, and I must agree.” “What else?” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “When you smile, you have this adorable dimple on your cheek…” I whispered. He was only inches from me now, staring so intently at me that I thought I would burn up under his scrutiny. He licked his lips, drawing my attention to his mouth. “And your lips…” Before I could finish that sentence, his mouth crashed into mine. His kiss was anything but soft and sweet but filled with hunger and possession. I kissed him with just as much eagerness. His tongue made its way to mine, tasting every inch of me. He lifted me into the air, my body pinned between the wall and him. Instinctively I wrapped my legs around his waist and allowed him to deepen the kiss. His tongue trailed down the nape of my neck and warmth spread across my body as I felt him nibbling my soft flesh. All self-control and common sense left my mind the moment we kissed. All I could think about was Gavin; he consumed my mind, body, and soul entirely. I pulled at his tie, wanting to take it and his shirt off. He helped me undo his tie and then lifted his shirt over his head, tossing it to the ground. I let my fingers explore his body; they roamed over his torso and up his broad shoulders. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue found mine again. “Are you sure you want this?” He asked between kisses. “Yes,” I rasped out. “We are both willing adults, so why not?” We kissed again and just as he was about to take off my innerwear, I received a tearful mindlink from my adoptive mother. “Judy! Please, come home!” She sounded panicked; my mother never panicked. Hearing her voice was like cold water being dumped on my head and I gasped. I let my legs fall from around him and I pressed against his chest. “Stop,” I said breathlessly. “I have to go.” He frowned. “I don’t have much patience; stop joking,” he says, a hint of anger in his tone. “I’m so sorry. But I’m sure you have plenty of other options,” I said and started to run towards the door, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me. I whirl around to face him, my own anger rushing to the surface but before I can say anything, he points to the bed. “Your shirt is ripped, remember?” I looked down at my innerwear with a frown. “Oh…” He sighed, grabbing his shirt and putting it over my head. I inhaled deeply and warmth spread throughout my body; it smelled like him. …… The moment I stepped into the house; I could hear my mother sobbing. “Judy?” My mother sobbed; I could hear that she was in the kitchen and my heart stuttered at the sound of her broken voice. “Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight.” Chapter 2 Judy’s POV My heart fell into my stomach. “What?!” I gasped. We lived in a decent-sized house; my adoptive father, being a successful businessman and a Delta of the Redmoon pack, had a lot of money. “He was arrested,” she explained. “He made a bad investment for the company, and he ended up losing all the money. He went completely bankrupt and now he owes the pack so much money. Until he pays it, they put him in jail.” “They can’t just come and take him away like this,” I said, standing to my feet, hardly able to contain my emotions. “Without any warning? That’s not fair!” “They can do whatever they want. The Beta is under the jurisdiction of the Lycans, and it was his decision. Loan sharks are ruthless, and nobody wishes to deal with them. It’s easier to just get rid of the problem and right now… your father is the problem.” Before I could say anything more, my phone started to ring. I reached into my bag and pulled it out. I frowned when I saw the name flash across the screen. “I heard about your father,” Ethan’s voice was soft as he spoke, and my traitorous heart skipped a beat. I hated how my body responded to him still; it was because of this foolish mate bond. Even though he rejected me, and I accepted it, that didn’t mean it severed our bond. It won’t be severed until he marks someone else.“I might have a suggestion though. But I’d like to tell you in person. Come outside.” I quickly left the kitchen and walked out of the house. Ethan was leaning against his car with his arms folded across his chest. Goddess, I hated how good he looked. I had been in love with him for longer than 2 years. He was my friend, my confidant, my fated mate. When he rejected me, it destroyed everything I had dreamt of. I wrapped my arms around my body, desperately trying to hold myself together. “Why are you here?” I asked him after a long and awkward silence. “I wanted to talk to you,” he replied. “Why?” The corner of his lips tipped upwards as he stared at me; I nearly melted under his scrutiny, and I had to shift my gaze to look at the ground. “Because I can help you,” he answered. “Your father’s funding chain is broken, and he now owes a lot of money. I know for a fact that he doesn’t have that kind of money, especially now that his business has gone under. But I do.” I lifted my gaze to meet him; he was serious. “Are you saying you’d pay my father’s debt?” I asked him. He nodded. “Yes,” he answered. “And what would we have to do in return?” I asked, almost afraid to ask. He smirked, which gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. “There is a condition,” he confessed. I waited silently for him to continue, my eyes never leaving his. “After I get married, I want you to drop out of school and become my mistress.” I couldn’t have heard him correctly; I stared at him with my jaw practically on the ground. “Excuse me?” I managed to sputter. “You want me to what??” “Drop out of school and become my mistress. I already have a luxurious home for you to live in. You would never have to want for anything. I’ll pay off your father’s debt and give you more money than you could dream of.” “How… how could you ask me to do such a thing?” I asked in a choked whisper; tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I kept them away, not wanting him to see my break. He stepped closer to me, and I felt rooted to the ground, unable to move away. My wolf was whimpering about his request; she couldn’t believe our mate could ask such a thing from us. She was gutted and I hated that she was put in this position. “Because we’ve always been so good together, Judy,” he said, reaching out and touching my arm gently. “We will always have this strong connection, even if I mark someone else. You and your family would be set for life… all you have to do is say yes…” He was rubbing his fingers up and down my arms and I felt sick to my stomach. I finally found the strength to step away from him, my body trembling. “No,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I would never become your mistress.” His eyes darkened. “I’m about to become the Alpha, Judy. You must get with the times. Becoming my mistress would only benefit you and plus, don’t you want your father out of jail?” “I will find another way,” I said through my teeth. “If that’s all you came here to say, then I’ve heard enough. You can leave.” He raised his brows as he stared at me. He studied me for a moment longer like he expected me to change his mind at any moment. “You’ll change your mind,” he told me as he stepped away from me and towards his car. “And when you do, I’ll be here. But until then, your father will remain in prison.” “I’ll figure it out,” I said to his retreating back. “We don’t need you, Ethan!” He chuckled as he opened his car door and then he turned back to gaze into my eyes. “In order to get him out of prison, you’ll need at least 5 million dollars. When you realize that there’s no other option, you’ll come to your senses. I’m sure of it.” Without another word, he got into his car. I watched as he drove away, disappearing into the night. It was only when he disappeared that I allowed myself to fall to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks before I could stop them. 5 million dollars? How was I going to come up with that kind of money? —————— I had two classes this morning and one later in the afternoon. My first class was warrior training, and my second class was shifting, both of which I excelled at. I was going to college for Gamma training so that once I graduated, I could prove myself to the Gamma force and become a warrior. Then I would easily be able to pay off my father’s debt and save my family. “You look terrible,” my best friend, Nan, pointed out as I sat beside her against the large Oaktree; the very tree we always met up at. “It was a rough night,” I admitted as I took out my textbook to study. “Where did you go last night? When I returned, you were gone. Did you leave early because of the engagement party?” I bit my lower lip as I thought about what to say to her. “I ripped my shirt, and someone brought me into his room to change,” I said, feeling my cheeks growing warm at the memory. She raised her brows, and I could barely look at her. “You went to someone’s room?” She asked. “Whose?” I was quiet for a moment, and she grabbed my arm, getting my attention. “Judy, who did you leave with?” She asked, now her voice was filled with alarm. I knew there was no getting out of this conversation. I bit my lip and peeked up at her through my lashes. “Gavin Landry,” I squeaked. Chapter 3 Judy’s POV “Shut up!” She gasped. “Are you serious?? You went to Gavin Landry’s VIP suite? As in THE Gavin Landry?!” I nearly tackled her; she was being so loud! “Keep your voice down!” I scolded, attempting to cover her mouth with my hands but she was too quick and dodged me. “How can I possibly keep it down when my best friend went to Gavin Landry’s hotel room last night and waited until now to tell me!” She exclaimed. Nan was a waitress at the hotel restaurant the engagement party was at last night. The hotel, called Carter Resorts, was in the human territory, and it was owned by Patrick Carter, the Delta of the Silver Crescent pack. Which happened to be Gavin Landry’s pack. I wasn’t surprised to see Gavin there last night, especially considering his daughter was the bride-to-be. I was less surprised to see that he had a VIP suite at the hotel. I sighed. “It all happened so fast, and I had a bit too much to drink,” I admitted. “I forgot when I got home because other stuff happened.” I wrapped my arms around my body and looked up at her concerned eyes. “What else happened?” She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper. I took a deep breath, and I told Nan everything that happened, right up until Ethan came over and asked me to be his mistress in exchange for him paying off my father’s debt. By the time I finished talking, Nan’s jaw had dropped. “The nerve of that scum!” She hissed. “How dare he! He rejected you and now he wants you to be his bit on the side?! He has zero shame.” “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, Nan,” I whispered. “There’s no way I could come up with 5 million dollars to pay off my father’s debt.” We both fell silent as our thoughts consumed us and then her face lit up. I knew that look well and it grew nervous as a smile spread across her face. I knew right away that she had an idea, and I also knew that I wasn’t going to like it. “You said that he gave you his shirt to wear?” She asked. I nodded. She gasped and grabbed my arm. “Isn’t it obvious, Judy? Gavin is into you. That’s the only reason he’d give you his shirt. He wanted his scent on you! He's very picky. In all my time as a waitress, you're the first woman he's ever offered.” I gawked at her. She had officially lost her mind. “Gavin’s not into me,” I said, shaking my head. “He gave me his shirt because mine ripped. There was nothing to it.” “Why would he even care?” Nan asked, folding her arms across her chest. “He’s Gavin Landry and doesn’t need to care about any of this. Besides, you mentioned that he kissed you heatedly. You were ready to go all the way with him, which is huge because you were planning on waiting until after you were married. There had to be some kind of connection last night.” I glanced at my hands. “Or maybe I was just hurting and wanted to get back at Ethan,” I murmured. “Plus, I had a little too much to drink.” “Drunk actions are sober thoughts or something like that,” she said, waving away my words. Then, she smirked. “You could use this to your advantage. Do you still have that lingerie you bought for your wedding night? You should pay Gavin a little visit and make him an offer he can’t refuse.” ___ I knew it was a bad idea the moment she spoke the words, but her words continued to replay in my mind for the remainder of the day and night. When I woke up the next morning, my mind was made up. I went to my closet and grabbed my red lingerie. I had only tried it on once and I felt a little self-conscious wearing it, but I knew the night of my wedding when I finally gave myself over to Ethan fully, it wouldn’t matter what I was wearing. My heart ached at the thought, and I quickly brushed it out of my head before I started to cry again. I dressed in the lingerie, and I grabbed a long trench coat, wrapping it around my body. I left my hair down and I put on a little makeup to make my features pop. For the last day or so, my mother had either been speaking on the phone to lawyers, visiting my father in prison, or in her room. I had barely seen or spoken to her since I told her Ethan wasn’t going to help us. I hated knowing I disappointed her, but hopefully, this would fix all our problems. It was no secret where Gavin’s office was; everybody knew the famous Gavin Landry Corporation. When I walked through the front door, the receptionist was typing on her computer. She barely spared me a look as I approached the desk. “Good morning, I’m here to see Gavin Landry,” I said as politely as I could. The receptionist looked upward at me and blinked a couple of times, looking less than amused. “Do you have an appointment?” “Uh, no, but—” “Look, I don’t have time for this. Countless women come in here and request to speak with Gavin and I’m going to tell you what I tell them. Mr. Landry is incredibly busy, and he doesn’t have time or patience to be dealing with another fan girl,” she said bitterly. “And what gives you the right to turn away those who come to see me?” A deep voice boomed.	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16927&u	Werewolf Novel	https://www.facebook.com/61560470905590/	726	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	getokn.com	VIDEO		https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16927&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}}&placement={{placement}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481668019_3981358262191702_5697291325650410598_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qqQk0CVA1CwQ7kNvgGO6Qrm&_nc_oc=Adhyjeh-uy3_9C5LxKxjKKdQQ-KSUbiwg3rQU19Jy2f7B59tgxPl0yyHCiF08oj88li2J9cefvv9scKUMQ0NALH4&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AoIhAlbnaLo-abNKHye8pD-&oh=00_AYDtdlmLLCt9jyENfwjIpPUFRNFbBh_GQVl2gGv9wt6xzQ&oe=67C73A9F	PERSON_PROFILE	Werewolf Novel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete

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