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2,707,364	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	2025-02-28 00:30	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=7e971e19b26a4e3b8fdd6f88e545dd38	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480910391_642690921637407_6821365596348935477_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t1LtHn6WQ9cQ7kNvgEksVDQ&_nc_oc=AdijzKZ7SNTeIiwcs6VxY4TEWEL3oAIDn1A904eMblVel0tdz_jLHHZv0FuXWjcNaNIBUJiB9VNEJWw-Y8tHnydT&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AhkCwi8TWwgzxp1PVcokhEr&oh=00_AYDvAo-RATF5zgY2dJ1HSy47LraqvXuf6I0eT8lDKKyWvg&oe=67C7345A	PERSON_PROFILE	TapNovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,904	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706885}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	👇Download Short TV to watch more series🎬	💟🎬When Destiny Brings Them Together, Will They Survive?🥰❣️	WATCH_MORE	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=live.	Love Channel	https://www.facebook.com/61551990337197/	81,922	1969-12-31 18:00	Watch more	play.google.com	VIDEO		http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=live.shorttv.apps	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481212967_603799525755720_4784486209927294398_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eaVYoLIxCVoQ7kNvgHy60y_&_nc_oc=AdhuIl0gWrp5mA72SWfwt9jRKnUCPwWwlEqPvPNcn-0OMSHXdxukgl3eohj8PxviZnAi_rpeuQJY-ohpLHS-qOHA&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=ApyDOSlKtgF_A76_rke-Uyl&oh=00_AYAcvi1lqM-E7prlTEq_JImwdDThhJbHQjziWL2IDHMqLQ&oe=67C73547	PERSON_PROFILE	Love Channel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,706	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	$27 Chronic Pain Exam!	(STOP! Take 60 seconds to read this... 😁👇) + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Best chiropractor office to go to. The staff is always friendly, they make you feel like your right at home. Dr. Gestring knows his stuff, I'm excited about my care plan because I know I'm going to start to feel better soon. " - Nicole S. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I highly recommend Dr. Griesling and his associate and office staff. I was so stiff in my lower back and hips that I could barely get up from a chair or my car. I'm only half way thru my treatments and I feel like I have a new life. Dr. Greisling and the rest of the staff is amazing. The different methods of treatment that is used is game changing. Everyone is so friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and caring." - Donna G. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Recently, I hurt my back lifting weights and I could not sit for more than 30 minutes without pain. It was so uncomfortable. When I met with Dr. Gestring, he listened to my concerns and did some tests to assess the problem. He created a program for me to meet my goals. Within 3 months, I am pain free and have met my goals. I am able to sit for more than 30 minutes and I am back at the gym lifting weights. As part of the program, I was provided valuable information to keep my back healthy. I have graduated early to the next phase of my program and am grateful to him and his happy, caring staff to get me where I am today. Thank you!" - Jane B. Click the "GET OFFER" button below and enter your info to receive your voucher NOW! ⬇️ Still not convinced? Keep reading... 😁👇 +256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Great office! Staff was very kind and helpful. Very organized and Dr. Gestring explained things for my better understanding. I had a great first visit." - Siouxrita C. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I had been searching for a chiropractor who would be thorough with the initial exam and would have a treatment plan for me. I found this with Dr Jason the very first day I had an appointment with him. He explained the condition of my neck & spine and what needed to be done to avoid it becoming worse. It is a good feeling to know when I go in for an adjustment not only is Dr Jason concerned about my well being but his entire staff is as well. Dr Gestring truly wants to see his patients health improve by addressing each individual’s situation." - Donna P. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This is my 3rd times seeing them feeling great when I step outside. I luv their service they let me in with my bike in their facility and how so nice not to worry about my valuable bike with me." - Roni S. Click the "GET OFFER" button below and enter your info to receive your voucher NOW! ⬇️ STILL not convinced???? No worries, just keep reading! 😁👇 "Christopher T." - Christopher T. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I have been going for treatment with Jason and his group for the past six months. The overall office climate is very professional and positive with a ton of smiles. All the staff is there to treat the clients with the greatest level of respect and courtesy. Jason’s treatment has been exceptional and I’m very pleased with the results and will continue to visit on a once a week basis to keep my body in line. I work out 5 to 6 days a week two hours a day I’m 76 years old and Jason keeps my body intact. Thank you for all the care and I appreciate and respect the attitude that is demonstrated every time I visit. Aloha." - Jim G. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I have been seeing doctor Gestring at nick payne, back pain, and headache relief for several years. The Doctor has helped me through several issues that I was having with my back and I'm now having with my neck. They truly care about you and do all they can to help you with pain and any health issues that you're experiencing. The office staff are extremely accommodating and genuinely care as well. I am extremely grateful for doctor Gestring and his staf. Barbara Basinger" - Barbara B. STILLLLLLLLLLL not convinced????!!!!!! Don't worry... we have more reviews! 😁👇 + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "This is the best Chiropractic treatment I have ever experienced! The front desk staff is so friendly and knows everyone by name and the doctors are awesome too. This whole set up is different than any other office I have been to, and the pricing is very reasonable. You are not just a number here; it seems the staff genuinely cares about you and your progress. There are various exercise stations that you can go do prior to your adjustment (or after) and it helps so much! I can't say enough good things about this practice as a whole. It's the BEST for sure!" - Jessica M. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Dr. Gestring and his staff are great at what he does. Having been to other chiropracters who were terrible, I was reticent to come visit, however, after three months, I am starting to notice a little difference, which might be even more had I been doing my exercises more regularly. Nevertheless I'm very happy and will continue." - Armen K. + 256 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Dr. Gestring at Neck Pain, Back Pain & Headache Relief Clinic in Vista, CA is pretty amazing. Just with a couple of adjustments I started to feel better! He really shows genuine care and concern for you! Great "Bedside Manner" has almost become obsolete, but he has restored my belief that great Chiropractors, still exist!" - Michael G. Click the "GET OFFER" button below and enter your info to receive your voucher NOW! ⬇️ You may be wondering... 🤷‍🤷 ✅What is Spinal Decompression? - Spinal decompression is the relief of pressure on the spinal cord or on one or more compressed nerve roots passing through or exiting the spinal column. - Chiropractors use Spinal Decompression to adjust the body's alignment to relieve pain, improve function and to help the body heal itself. ✅How can Spinal Decompression help? - Spinal decompression therapy makes the better choice for certain patients, such as those who have tried chiropractic care before, or undergone physical therapy for a long-lasting pain, had an epidural in the past, or had surgery or surgeries on their back without success. ✅I've seen something like this before or maybe I already have a chiropractor... how do I know this is legit?!! - We hear you! You can read the reviews above and see what our patients have to say about that ;) - Or... We would love for you to come in and see how we are different for yourself! ✅Is Spinal Decompression safe? - Of course it is safe! - We use a gentle and effective method where you won't feel any pain at all! ✅Will Spinal Decompression break the bank? - We have very affordable care plans to fit your needs and what works for you! - We want to serve and help you, and we will find a plan just for you that will get you the care that you need. ✅How are there so many vouchers and how do the vouchers work?? - We reset the number of vouchers every month because we can only see 27 new amazing patients every 30 days! - Just fill in your info below and then you can call us to schedule a time to use your voucher or we'll be in touch with you very soon! ✅Why is it only $27? What's the catch? - No catch! We believe that this is the best way for you to come in and try chiropractic and experience the magic! - This is the perfect way for you to try it first and come meet us and our team in person! Click the "GET OFFER" button below and enter your info to receive your voucher NOW! ⬇️ So you've heard from our patients and learned about Decompression... now it is time for me to introduce myself! I'm Dr. Jason Gestring of Neck Pain Back Pain & Headache Relief Clinic here in Vista, CA!! 👏👨‍⚕️ And I wanted to create a NO BRAINER opportunity for you to come meet us in person and get AMAZING Spinal Decompression care! Normally $149, get a complete health assessment for $27---but hurry, spots are limited! 🏃‍♂️💨 It includes: ✅Spinal Decompression Exam ✅Medical X-Rays (if necessary) ✅Doctors Report of Findings ✅Treatment Plan Recommendations "I see so many people suffer from pain and never seek chiropractic care just because they didn't know how it could help them without the use of drugs and surgery... So I hope This Gets You Off The Fence and you give Decompression a try.." - Dr. Jason ... So you've heard from our patients, learned about Spinal Decompression, and we have an amazing/no-brainer offer for new patients to come in and give us a shot! What are you waiting for 😁👇 Click the "GET OFFER" button below and enter your info to receive your voucher NOW! ⬇️	GET_OFFER_VIEW	https://neckpainbackpainheadachereliefclinic.clini	Neck Pain, Back Pain & Headache Relief Clinic	https://www.facebook.com/NeckPainBackPainHeadacheReliefClinic/	1,069	1969-12-31 18:00	Get offer	neckpainbackpainheadachereliefclinic.clinicnearyou...	IMAGE	Offer Expires Soon!	https://neckpainbackpainheadachereliefclinic.clinicnearyou.org/npspecial-7718	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480812624_1112568340616941_6478967028893867388_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3cxs9AgRTtMQ7kNvgHYnRl-&_nc_oc=AdjzVQPeBmvHmL9XxF3ZTC5LdTujTgR4Xm7F7T9kNAKauP232ukJwzmbSYNT7VtNzW3HNmkKskvtH6yNot71LxVK&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHKJlok4DNU1pDju8UVj2w_&oh=00_AYCj3TnTxyAirD2efA1sxFu6NXEdu1nWKNU_5Wh2uWOOAw&oe=67C738DB	PERSON_PROFILE	Neck Pain, Back Pain & Headache Relief Clinic	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,326	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707095}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🔞Attention! Do not read in public！👉	For seven years, I've been Castro Harrison's secret lover. Our love was hidden in the shadows, but his kisses and promises kept me willing to stay. I thought he would finally acknowledge me—until that day when I overheard him talking with his friends. It turned out I was nothing more than a substitute. That night, I finally stepped into the room he had forbidden me from entering. On the desk, there was a picture frame—inside, a photo of him and another woman locked in a tight embrace, the Eiffel Tower in Paris in the background. At that moment, my heart turned completely cold. I erased every trace of myself in a single night and left without looking back. One minute before my flight took off, I sent my brother a message. "This afternoon, have the man you chose come and register the marriage." For seven years, I've been in a secret relationship with Castro Harrison, my brother's best friend. Just as I was hoping he'd propose, I tracked his location to a private lounge at an upscale restaurant, where I found they were joking about me. "Castro, now that Oriana's back from London, what are you going to do about that replacement?" Castro remained silent, his lack of response speaking volumes. The tension in the air was broken by another friend's sardonic laugh. "You've got to hand it to Castro–having the nerve to pursue William Blackwood's sister while Oriana was away. Now that you've had your fun, and Oriana's back..." "Well, Oriana deserved it after how coldly she left. A replacement was just what she needed to teach her a lesson!" ...... The next day, Castro took me to Oriana's welcome-home party at the Blackwood Estate, lavishing attention on me with an almost theatrical display of affection. But when Oriana ran out in tears, her Chanel dress stained with wine, Castro pushed me aside without a second thought and rush out. I returned home alone, my cream silk blouse ruined by scalding soup and my skin was still stinging. With trembling hands, I finally opened the door to his study---the one room he'd always declared off-limits. There, prominently displayed on his mahogany desk, was a photograph of him and Oriana in Paris, the Eiffel Tower gleaming behind their embracing figures. My heart turned to ice as I dialed my brother's number in Switzerland. "William... about that arranged marriage–I'll do it." "Aveline?" My brother's voice softened with concern, catching the unfamiliar strain in my tone. "What's wrong? This doesn't sound like you at all." A lump formed in my throat, but I forced a light laugh. "Nothing's wrong. I just realized - marriage is inevitable, isn't it? Does it really matter who it is?" "Besides," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "I trust your and father's judgment. Even for a business merger marriage, I know you would have vetted the candidate thoroughly." William's relief was audible through the phone. "I'm glad you're being sensible about this. When are you coming back? Would you like to meet him first before making your final decision?" "No need. The sooner we proceed, the sooner we can resolve the company's crisis. Go ahead and start planning the wedding. Let's set it for... a month from now." "Perfect! By the way, have you heard from Castro?" he coninued, "His first love is finally back in town. You should invite him to the wedding - let him share in your happiness." So William knew about Oriana too. No wonder Castro never let me tell my brother about us. I lowered my eyes, concealing the pain that threatened to spill over. "Don't bother him, Will. We're... not that close." Hearing the door unlock, I quickly said goodbye and ended the call. I looked up to find Castro leaning against the doorframe, his signature smirk playing across his lips. "Not close to whom?" "You." My honest answer only made his smirk widen as he pulled me into his arms. "Oh really?" His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Should we discuss just how 'not close' we are? All those nights together weren't close enough?" His breath was hot against my ear, and for the first time, his intimate gesture made my skin crawl instead of flutter. As I struggled, I caught sight of the lipstick stain on his collar - a shade I'd never worn. The movement aggravated my scalds, sending sharp stabs of pain through my body until tears sprang to my eyes. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Are you hurt?" My tears seemed to spark genuine panic in Castro. When he pushed up my sleeve and saw the angry red scalds on my wrist, his voice trembled with concern. “God, when did this happen? Why didn't you tell me you were scalded?” He seemed to have completely forgotten about the incident at the party. I remained silent, unsure whether to remind him and shatter his façade of devotion. "Stop crying, darling. Let me get some medicine for that." He stroked my hair soothingly before standing to retrieve the first aid kit, muttering as he walked. "You're still such a child sometimes, aren't you? So sensitive to pain, so quick to tears. What would you do without me?" I stared numbly at the scalds on my wrist. Yes, what would I do without him after seven years of his "protection"? But Castro... I don't want you anymore. I don't want this false love anymore! I spent a restless night, tossing and turning, my skin clammy with fever sweat on the sheets. At dawn, Castro tried to coax me out of bed. When I mumbled protests and pushed him away, he leaned in with an amused smile to kiss me. For the first time in seven years, his kiss made me flinch. My hand instinctively rose to slap him but I caught myself. Thankfully, it was just a brief peck. "Awake yet, sleeping beauty?" he teased. I turned away, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "It's Saturday. Why can't you let me sleep?" His expression softened with concern. "You were running a fever last night. Come on, we need to get you to the hospital." Though I felt better, his insistence won out and I reluctantly got dressed. In the hospital corridor, we ran into Oriana. She was hobbling along alone, clearly having injured her ankle. Castro's gentle demeanor vanished instantly. His brow furrowed with worry as he rushed to her side, steadying her with his hands. "What happened to you?" Oriana gave him a warm smile, then glanced meaningfully at me. "Just twisted my ankle. What a coincidence seeing you both here." Castro tensed, throwing me a quick, guilty look. "Ah yes, my friend's sister wasn't feeling well. Brought her in to check her fever." I was long used to this charade. From the moment Castro decided to keep our relationship secret, he'd introduced me to all his friends as his best friend's sister who he'd promised to look after. Only his innermost circle knew the truth about us. "You're such a good guardian to the poor girl." Oriana nodded sympathetically. Well, don't let me keep you - my appointment's down that way." She gestured toward a clinic door further down the hall. When she started to hop again, Castro didn't hesitate. He swept her up into his arms bridal-style. "Let me take you there." he said eagerly, "Aveline, wait here for me, alright?" Watching them, something inside me crumbled. My fever seemed to return full force, leaving me weak and dizzy. I leaned against the cold hospital wall, not bothering to respond. The stark white corridor suddenly felt endless and empty, much like my future without him. Castro didn't wait for my response - he was already carrying Oriana toward the clinic, her arms wrapped around his neck. How telling. No matter how well he played his part, his true feelings always surfaced around Oriana, betraying everything he tried to hide. Yet he seemed completely oblivious to his own transparency. I let out a bitter laugh and headed to my own appointment. My suspicions were confirmed - my temperature was 106°F. The doctor explained that my untreated scalds, combined with emotional stress, had led to an infection. I needed immediate IV antibiotics. My finger hovered over Castro's number out of habit before I caught myself. Habits really are terrifying things, aren't they? With a self-deprecating smile, I handled everything alone - getting the prescription and finding the IV treatment room. After the treatment, I felt even worse, nearly collapsing as I tried to walk. However, Castro hadn't returned - not even a text or call. Reluctantly, I called him. "You're still at the hospital?" He sounded surprised. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I was going to drop Oriana home quickly and come back, but her stomach condition flared up and..." But his explanation was cut short by a waitress's voice in the background: "Sir, your meals are served. Buon apetite!" Despite his rushed attempt to muffle the phone, I heard every word. "It's fine. I can handle on my own!" I said, as much to convince myself as him. Before I could hang up, he called out, "Aveline, go home first. I'll explain everything later." What was there to explain? Just another lie to add to his collection. I ended the call and ordered an Uber home. Castro didn't return that night. Unable to sleep through the New Year's fireworks outside, I worked on some jewelry designs for my clients on my iPad. Accidentally touching the messaging app icon, I saw Oriana's social media post from an hour ago - a stunning photo of fireworks lighting up the night sky, captioned: "After years of wandering, I've come home to you. The fireworks welcome me back, just as brilliant as your love. Worth every moment of waiting." I stared at the screen for a long moment before realizing I was logged into Castro's account on my iPad. I had no interest in reading their intimate messages. I logged out immediately, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in my heart. The next morning, feeling somewhat better, I arrived at the design firm right on time. Sarah, my creative director, held my resignation letter with mixed emotions when I told her about returning home for marriage. "First my best jewelry designer leaves for marriage," she sighed, shaking her head. "The studio won't be the same without you." Words failed me, so I hugged her instead, grateful for her mentorship over the years. News of my departure spread quickly through the office. My colleagues insisted on throwing me a farewell dinner. I suggested the Italian restaurant Castro and I frequented - partly because I didn't know many others, but mostly because their seafood risotto was exceptional. During dinner, I excused myself to the wash my hand, only to find Oriana touching up her makeup at the marble vanity. "What a coincidence!" She smiled warmly at my reflection. "You know, Castro first brought me here during our college days. We've had so many special moments in this place since then." I returned a polite smile and turned to leave, seeing no reason for small talk between us. But Oriana wasn't finished. She called after me, "I noticed something the other night - Castro always rinses the spicy sauce off your shrimp. Are you sensitive to spice too?" That single word - "too" - made me freeze. The truth was, I loved spicy food. But Castro always insisted on rinsing my shrimp, claiming spicy food wasn't ladylike. I'd believed he was being protective. Now I realized he was simply acting on habit. It’s Oriana, who couldn't handle spice. Seeing my silence, she tilted her head, studying my face with unsettling intensity. "You know, I've been meaning to say this since I first saw you... Don't you think we look remarkably similar?" I'd never felt more humiliated. Under her triumphant gaze, I fled the bathroom, the pieces finally falling into place - I hadn't been his love, I'd been her replacement. Back in the private dining room, my colleagues' warmth slowly thawed my frozen state. Just as I was beginning to push aside the unpleasant encounter, the door swung open. Castro stood in the doorway, his Armani suit slightly disheveled, his eyes scanning the crowded room before landing on me with laser focus. In that moment of eye contact, I saw barely contained rage in his expression, though I couldn't fathom why. "Aveline." His voice cut through the chatter like ice. "A word?" Following him into the marble-lined hallway, I was utterly unprepared for what happened next. His hand connected with my cheek in a sharp crack that echoed off the pristine walls. In seven years, he had never raised a hand to me. "How dare you push Oriana?" Meeting my shocked gaze, he showed no remorse - only fury. "You knew her ankle was injured. I told you I'd explain everything later - is this your way of getting revenge?" My cheek stung where he'd struck me. Oriana limped toward us from down the hallway. Her designer blouse was rumpled and stained with water. Before I could defend myself, she collapsed dramatically to the floor. Castro shoved past me, rushing to gather her in his arms. "Why did you follow us? I told you I'd bring her to apologize," he said to Oriana, his harsh words belied by his tender tone. Oriana shook her head, tears glistening. "It's nothing serious. She probably didn't mean it. Don't be so hard on her." "If William finds out you struck his sister..." she added softly. At the mention of my brother, something flickered in Castro's eyes. But looking at Oriana, his resolve hardened. "William trusted me with her care," he said firmly. "If she needs correction, that's my responsibility." I let out a bitter laugh. "What exactly did I do? Even criminals get due process. You're denouncing and striking me without any evidence - doesn't that seem unjust to you?" Castro's fists clenched as he glared at me. "You knew there were no cameras in the restroom. That's why you chose to attack her there." The absurdity of it all made me want to laugh and cry simultaneously. "If there were no cameras, how can you be so sure it was me?" "Because Oriana wouldn't lie!" He took a step toward me, his cologne - the one she'd given him years ago, I now realized - overwhelming. "What possible reason would she have? I've known her for years. She's not capable of that kind of deception." I met his gaze, unflinching. "So I must be the liar then?" Seven years together. I'd thought that would mean something - that Castro would at least trust my character. But in Oriana's presence, those seven years might as well have been seven minutes. “Her word alone was enough to convict me. One accusation, and I was guilty beyond redemption.” The favoritism was unmistakable, his blind devotion to her undeniable. And me? I was just the understudy who'd forgotten her place. There was no point in arguing further. Ignoring Castro's angry calls, I walked away, my cheek still stinging from his slap. Not wanting to cast a shadow over my colleagues' celebration, I quietly settled the bill and texted them: "Something came up. Please enjoy the rest of the evening - dinner's on me." Back home, I found myself really seeing our apartment for the first time in seven years. Every corner held memories: the window seat where we'd shared Sunday morning coffee, the kitchen island where he'd taught me to make his grandmother's tiramisu. What once felt magical now felt poisonous, each memory a thorn in my heart. I found a moving box and spent the night methodically erasing our relationship: the matching "Beauty and Beast" slippers, the "his and hers" coffee mugs that fit together, and a whole collection of professional couple photographs - holiday cards, vacation shots, carefully staged moments of perfect happiness. These had been my security blanket, my proof that what we had was real. Now they were just artifacts of an elaborate performance. Castro didn't come home for two weeks. Between finishing my last jewelry designs,, I systematically emptied the apartment. I sold or donated every piece of furniture I'd chosen, every decorative touch I'd added. The space returned to its original state: stark minimalist, black and white, emptiness echoing off the walls. The night before my departure, I tried calling him one last time. Each attempt met with immediate rejection. Finally, a text appeared: "Unless you're ready to admit your guilt and properly apologize to Oriana, we have nothing to discuss." I laughed bitterly at my phone's screen. So be it. Some conversations were better left unsaid. My early morning flight beckoned. As I wheeled my suitcase out, this space that had once felt so precious now felt like a prison I was finally escaping. Just before boarding, my phone lit up with birthday wishes. Friends and colleagues sending hopes for my future, wishes for happiness, prayers for true love. I responded to each one before switching off my phone. As the plane lifted off, I made a silent promise to myself: I would be happy. With so many people wishing me well, how could I not be? 【5909】	LEARN_MORE	https://image.noveltells.net/landing-page/h5-1290.	FavoRead	https://www.facebook.com/100083109648305/	1,138	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	image.noveltells.net	IMAGE	For seven years, I've been in a secret relationship with Castro Harrison, my brother's best friend. Just as I was hoping he'd propose, I tracked his location to a private lounge at an upscale restaurant, where I found they were joking about me.	https://image.noveltells.net/landing-page/h5-1290.html?id=1290&yy_appname=Favoread&badid={{ad.id}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481050817_965021385738931_5181884941044816789_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wQQebsdE0mMQ7kNvgFRUG6D&_nc_oc=AdiL_gNkSbz5UyKiLUCnECnTMeVGdE4ggUmO1Xnzu1KVrfXsgHrrv_yYWwE_YNvaLS6mMhpV23l3aRxshiC3Cenq&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AxN8BIPl7PJcj6alJ1dPeZW&oh=00_AYCTN-bnagzFGbJvWdQIkdgY-vOyIm72kgGk3KDlcVI61w&oe=67C7299F	PERSON_PROFILE	FavoRead	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,980	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706727}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	The #1 Cream for Nerve Pain 🏆	How do we know that Nerve Balm is one of the most powerful remedies for nerve pain? Because we can't stop selling out! We are busy here at Lune fulfilling orders, but the orders keep rolling in! What's behind the frenzy? Our customers swear by its power to conquer nerve pain. 💯% Natural Ingredients 🥦Packed with 14+ Superfoods 😃Tens of THOUSANDS of happy customers 💳PLUS a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied. ✓ Soothe pain, prickling, and burning ✓ Calm inflammation & stiffness ✓ Fortify the nerve's protective coating ✓ Improve circulation & healing ✓ Provide long-term results Rest assured; we are increasing our production & are committed to fulfilling every order. Put your order in today & secure your jar of the most impactful nerve pain relief balm that you can find!	SHOP_NOW	https://www.luneusa.com/products/nerve-balm	Lune	https://www.facebook.com/100085237752848/	839	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop Now	luneusa.com	DCO	★★★★★ 4.7	https://www.luneusa.com/products/nerve-balm	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481054765_649154854219677_3134924070308840737_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OSgPw4XPmX4Q7kNvgEwyz72&_nc_oc=Adhm6ZVknpdD8XEaXgmgAtaq6Oz3rEISkbMvsrF1No05-ZAtWoSAMNvmtLBy6XA1LJWIlkyo1sKazmPSlB2OZZke&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=APo6jsbWvg77h6sUSXISibs&oh=00_AYDmg8SkuNOW80lCiuBGx2oKI0R-xSMi1okiAsUGddWp8A&oe=67C72839	PERSON_PROFILE	Lune	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,499	/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 00:31	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=f3d6bc5faf274ed59c9b8e58ea1f7374	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481127966_626421283656642_9017596181752324921_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Fp2xIMQfjMYQ7kNvgHcRoYY&_nc_oc=Adi5OYSQVCNK0AQnfhYTaZMg2WQT3NWP97re_Df4m75W4B34y091u9JWc-8cy-38js0ekmD4PG0v3wigLqXL4kJP&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AduyuvuBqIgF_eqYRwt8uE9&oh=00_AYAx-VPRLagENoRS91JeMWL3H8U9Wv0BjmZsP-tM3AxFGA&oe=67C71C91	PERSON_PROFILE	TapNovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,856	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706778}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	🔥 Download Goodnovel to read the full novel 😍👉👉👉👉 "Seducing My Ex's Father In Law"	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. If I lied, she’d be able to see right through me. I was a terrible liar initially, but Nan could read me like a book. “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. Chapter 4 Judy’s POV “Mr. Landry,” the receptionist said, quickly standing to her feet. She suddenly seemed disheveled, and I wanted to smirk with satisfaction, but I kept it held in. “I asked you a question, Laura,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “What gives you the right to send away guests? You know the protocol. You are to call my office, and I am the one who decides whether or not I will see them or not. Not you.” She swallowed and glanced at the ground as if staring directly at him physically hurt her. “Come with me.” It took me a second to realize he was speaking to me, but when I saw the receptionist glaring at me and Gavin’s retreating back, I nearly stumbled over my feet to catch up to him. He walked through a luxurious waiting room until we reached a glass elevator. It was very high-tech with a touch screen attached to it. He brought up a keypad and typed in some sequence before pressing the floor number. He stood so close to me that the elevator felt almost cramped, despite it being a wide space. I could smell his incredible minty scent, mixed in with his aftershave and my heart skipped a beat. He didn’t bother looking at me though and I was starting to doubt this plan would work. Maybe he didn’t like me as much as I thought he did. I felt awkward knowing that under this coat was nothing but lingerie. The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened. It was an extremely large space with marble flooring and granite walls. “Where exactly is your office?” I asked, staring around the gorgeous area. He glanced at me; his face kept indifferent. “This is my office.” My eyes grew large at his words. He continued walking until he rounded the corner and sure enough, there was his desk right in front of large windows that overlooked the human city. It was gorgeous and my stomach twisted with nerves. He didn’t bother sitting on his desk chair. Instead, he turned to face me, leaning against his desk and folding his arms across his chest. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I took him in. He wore a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up halfway, showing off his incredible muscles and his dark dress pants hugged his waist perfectly, showcasing his incredible form. My wolf purred with satisfaction, and I found myself staring at him for way longer than I intended to. He cleared his throat, making me nearly jump out of my skin as my gaze shot upward and met his. He was smirking at me, as if to say, “Caught you.” My cheeks burned from the embarrassment I felt. “So, what did you come here for?” He asked, breaking the tension between us. Oh. Right. The reason I’m here. “I have a problem, and I need your help,” I said in a rush. He raised his right brow. “What kind of problem?” I cleared my throat before continuing. “My father was arrested the other night,” I blurted. “His business went bankrupt, and he owes a lot of money. Roughly 5 million dollars.” He was silent as he stared at me; I realized he was waiting for me to continue. Probably wanted to know how I needed his help. “I was hoping you’d be able to help him and maybe pay the debt for my father so he could get out of prison?” I asked, biting my lip. He was quiet for another moment, processing my request before he ran his hands over his face. “And what would I get in return for helping your family?” He asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Confidence: I needed confidence. I held my head up high and looked him right in the eyes. It was known as a challenge to look an Alpha directly in the eyes, even worse so looking a Lycan directly in the eyes. But Gavin wasn’t as angry as I thought he would be, instead, he looked intrigued. “Well,” I began, I dropped my voice low as I stepped closer to him. “At the party the other day, we obviously had a connection…” I felt my cheeks growing hot as I spoke those words. “And I thought maybe…” I took a deep breath and undid my coat, revealing a portion of my lingerie, but not all of it. Not yet at least. His eyes darkened as he gazed over my body, and I nearly melted under his scrutiny. I suddenly had a surge of confidence, and I reached my hand out to touch his arm. “I thought maybe I could do some favors for you in return,” I said in a sultry voice. “I’m a college student and very clean. I haven’t done it before, but I’m on birth control, so you don’t need to worry about anything.” His breathing grew heavy as he straightened his posture, closing the small gap between us. His nearness was intoxicating, and my heart started to race against my chest. His scent enveloped me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this delirious. He reached his hand up and I felt his fingers glide down my cheek, sending a wave of warmth throughout my whole body. We were so close together that I thought I was going to pass out from the heat that consumed me. His eyes were dark like they were the night in the VIP suite. He swallowed hard and I watched his Adam’s apple move slightly. I closed my eyes, preparing for him to kiss me. I could feel his breath on my lips and just as I leaned in close to him, getting ready for his embrace, it never came. Instead, I felt him adjusting my coat, covering my body. My eyes flew open, and I looked at his stern expression. “Do you really think I need to pay a woman for her body?” He asked, breaking the silence. “You said it yourself that I have many options.” My cheeks flushed immediately. “I just thought—” “You thought you could use your body to pay for my help,” he said, interrupting me. “You are still young, Miss Montague. You will regret taking such shortcuts in the future.” How did he know my name? I hadn’t told him. Had he looked into me? My heart skipped a beat at the thought, but his words were slowly crushing me. He didn’t want me. I lowered my gaze, hating how hot my face was getting. I knew he could see just how embarrassed I was. When he spoke next, he softened his voice and spoke with compassion. “Look, I have a daughter,” he told me. “I would never teach her to use her body as a transaction. I want more for her and her future, and I expect better from her.” He reached his hand and caressed the nape of my neck with his fingertips; my breath hitched as I gazed into his eyes. “I expected better from you,” he added; my heart fell into my stomach and disappointment consumed me. He was right. I was better than this. I nodded my head and opened my mouth to speak, but I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see a couple of security guards standing nearby and I whipped around to look at Gavin with wide eyes. “I’m afraid my time is up, and my patience has run out,” Gavin said, looking at me briefly before glancing at the security guards. “Accompany Miss Montague out of the building, please.” “Yes sir,” they both said. They stood on each side of me, and I stared at Gavin with shock. I didn’t fight or argue with the security guards as they told me to come with them. “Thank you for your time,” I managed to say before I turned and left the office. I wanted to cry because of the shame, but I knew more importantly I needed a new job. …. “I’m so excited we get to work together,” Nan said with a wide smile. “And you look great in that uniform.” I looked down at my uniform. I felt ridiculous in this thing; it was a short skirt and a crop top that showed way too much bosom. I felt like I was on display. Especially at night when this place pretty much turned into a club. These men are wealthy and would tip generously. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up when I was struggling for money. “That’s what friends are for,” she said, nudging my arm with hers. She looked behind me and sighed. “Looks like we are getting a group of guys. Good luck,” she said. I sighed and turned to greet the customers but then I froze when I saw who was amongst them. Ethan. Chapter 5 Judy’s POV “You were right,” I heard one of his friends saying. “She does work here. This is going to be so good.” “Hey, call girl, can we get a table, or are you just going to stare at us?” Call girl? I placed the menus on the table for them and waited for each of them to take a seat. “I’m not a call girl. Please, take your seat.” As I leaned over the table to put the beer in front of each of them, one of them grabbed my rear end. I felt my entire body freeze. “I like this little uniform on you. How about you take it off and see what’s underneath.” My entire body went hot as I stepped back from the table, forcing his hand to drop. “Do not touch me,” I said loudly to each of them. “Oh, come on, Judy. Aren’t you here to satisfy men?” Another of his friends asked. “So come here and satisfy us. Sit on my lap.” I pressed my lips together. “I’m not a call girl,” I told them for the final time. “I’m a waitress.” “You got this job because you’re hot,” one of them chuckled. “The manager didn’t care about your skills. He cared about whether or not you could flirt with the customers and make him a lot of money. I’m willing to give you a good tip if you let me see what’s underneath your uniform and sit on my lap.” I felt my blood going cold from his words. “Come here baby girl,” he said, patting his lap and winking at me. I just stared at him, disbelieving. I looked at Ethan who was watching me, waiting to see what I would do. How could he just let his friends speak to me like this? At one point, he would have never allowed this. He would have punched anyone who looked at me with desire in their eyes. Now, he was acting as if he didn’t care. “I’ll give you 10 thousand dollars if you drink this entire beer,” one of his friends asked. My mouth nearly fell open. “What?” I asked. “You heard me,” he answered. “Drink this whole beer and you’ll get 10 thousand dollars.” “We’ll all give you 10 thousand dollars each if you drink all of our beers,” another one said. I stared at the beer and then at the men. My eyes landed on Ethan once more; he raised his brows, waiting for my answer. Swallowing my pride, I stepped towards the table and grabbed one of the glasses. I really didn’t like beer, but money was money, and I knew Ethan’s friends were rich and could pay that kind of money easily. I needed the cash to get my father out of prison and pay off his debt. I brought the cup to my lips and let the liquid run down my throat. I winced at the bitter taste, but I kept pushing myself until the cup was empty. His friends were cheering and chanting as I drank the contents of the cup. I slammed the cup on the counter and looked at the next guy who slid his beer at me, winking as he did so. I chugged his beer as well. I only got halfway through the third glass when I felt a firm grip around my wrist and I was yanked away. I heard Ethan’s friends booing and telling him he was a party pooper. I had no idea where Ethan was taking me; he was quiet until we reached outside and then he whipped around to glare at me. “Accept my offer and stop this foolishness,” he ordered. “I won’t be your mistress, Ethan,” I told him, narrowing my eyes, my head fuzzy from the beer. “You can forget about that.” “You’d rather act like a little call girl instead?” He asked through his teeth. “You looked ridiculous in there!” “Why do you care? You have your fiancé. This is my private business, and my private business no longer includes you.” “You are still mine, Judy. You will always be mine,” he growled. I wanted to laugh at his ridiculousness, but I also wanted to cry. He was so sweet at one point; I spent more than 2 years loving this man. Now as he stood before me, I realized he was a stranger. “I am not yours,” I told him, glad that my voice came out stronger than I felt. He let out a bitter laugh. “Fine, be a call girl for all I care,” he growled. “Spread your legs for money because that’s all you’re good for—” Before I could stop myself, my hand swung and made contact with his cheek, causing a loud slap. He didn’t flinch but he did grow angrier as he went to grab my throat. He froze though when he looked at my neck and I watched the color draining from his face. “What the heck,” he hissed. He grabbed my chin and yanked my head to the side. “Is that a lovebite?” I realized when getting dressed this morning that the lovebite Gavin left on me the other night was still there. It was fading, but visible. “So, what if it is?” I asked. He released my chin and glared at me, his gaze icy. “Who the heck have you been with?” “That’s not your concern,” I retorted. I turned to walk away, but he gripped my arm, making me whimper in pain as he whipped me around to face him again. “Answer my freaking question, Judy! Who have you been with?!” Through gritted teeth, I answered, “Gavin. Your future father-in-law. Happy now?” He released me and let out a bark of laughter. “Are you kidding me? You don’t have to make up such a ridiculous story,” Ethan said through a fit of laughter. I heard more laughter from nearby and I realized Ethan’s friends were crowding around. “Is she talking about Gavin Landry? He has standards. He would never go for a girl like, Judy.” “Yeah, Judy is a call girl and Gavin is a Lycan chairman. There’s no way,” another friend laughed. “I’m being serious,” I told them, folding my arms across my chest. This time Ethan did grab my throat, and his gaze turned almost deadly. “Stop playing me for a fool and tell me the truth,” he growled. “Gavin would never want someone like you. You are nobody. You don’t fit into his world. ” I couldn’t breathe as his hands tightened around my throat, so I couldn’t respond. “Now, how about you do as I say and move into the house I bought? Once I get married, I’ll see you frequently at night and you can spread your pretty little legs for me only—” There was a loud honk from nearby, making Ethan drop his hold around my neck. I coughed and rubbed my sore neck as he glared at the person interrupting us. I glanced at the black limo and frowned when the door opened. I gasped when I saw Gavin seated in the back, his eyes on me. “Get in,” he ordered. I stared at him, disbelieving. “I won’t ask you again, Judy,” he said through his teeth. I felt Ethan’s shocked eyes on me as I quickly hurried towards the car and got in, closing the door behind me. “Drive,” he instructed the driver. “Yes, sir.” The car started to move; Ethan stood on the curb; his mouth nearly dropped. His friends were equally shocked. Gavin glanced at me, and I felt my cheeks redden. “Using me to make your ex-fiancé jealous, are you?”	LEARN_MORE	https://getokn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=16927&u	Enjoying reading	https://www.facebook.com/61559698863477/	310	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-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481989080_1698694461084216_739334055951144698_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Co9wBCP9fBAQ7kNvgECzYXq&_nc_oc=AdiJ0VefAhla08gh3Z8B1n_sgPZX45UIagw6bRQILcZgdbH8UW6-EsogysNEWLEMAjIJs0psjF0fb8gY_Kt0mq18&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AoIhAlbnaLo-abNKHye8pD-&oh=00_AYBgbIuHgNoBvadSNWXtenW8-J94YA7PhMYiGYwNCjseQQ&oe=67C74015	PERSON_PROFILE	Enjoying reading	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,597	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706778}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	⏰Wake up! It's Novel Time!	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. If I lied, she’d be able to see right through me. I was a terrible liar initially, but Nan could read me like a book. “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. Chapter 4 Judy’s POV “Mr. Landry,” the receptionist said, quickly standing to her feet. She suddenly seemed disheveled, and I wanted to smirk with satisfaction, but I kept it held in. “I asked you a question, Laura,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “What gives you the right to send away guests? You know the protocol. You are to call my office, and I am the one who decides whether or not I will see them or not. Not you.” She swallowed and glanced at the ground as if staring directly at him physically hurt her. “Come with me.” It took me a second to realize he was speaking to me, but when I saw the receptionist glaring at me and Gavin’s retreating back, I nearly stumbled over my feet to catch up to him. He walked through a luxurious waiting room until we reached a glass elevator. It was very high-tech with a touch screen attached to it. He brought up a keypad and typed in some sequence before pressing the floor number. He stood so close to me that the elevator felt almost cramped, despite it being a wide space. I could smell his incredible minty scent, mixed in with his aftershave and my heart skipped a beat. He didn’t bother looking at me though and I was starting to doubt this plan would work. Maybe he didn’t like me as much as I thought he did. I felt awkward knowing that under this coat was nothing but lingerie. The elevator came to a halt and the doors opened. It was an extremely large space with marble flooring and granite walls. “Where exactly is your office?” I asked, staring around the gorgeous area. He glanced at me; his face kept indifferent. “This is my office.” My eyes grew large at his words. He continued walking until he rounded the corner and sure enough, there was his desk right in front of large windows that overlooked the human city. It was gorgeous and my stomach twisted with nerves. He didn’t bother sitting on his desk chair. Instead, he turned to face me, leaning against his desk and folding his arms across his chest. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I took him in. He wore a white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up halfway, showing off his incredible muscles and his dark dress pants hugged his waist perfectly, showcasing his incredible form. My wolf purred with satisfaction, and I found myself staring at him for way longer than I intended to. He cleared his throat, making me nearly jump out of my skin as my gaze shot upward and met his. He was smirking at me, as if to say, “Caught you.” My cheeks burned from the embarrassment I felt. “So, what did you come here for?” He asked, breaking the tension between us. Oh. Right. The reason I’m here. “I have a problem, and I need your help,” I said in a rush. He raised his right brow. “What kind of problem?” I cleared my throat before continuing. “My father was arrested the other night,” I blurted. “His business went bankrupt, and he owes a lot of money. Roughly 5 million dollars.” He was silent as he stared at me; I realized he was waiting for me to continue. Probably wanted to know how I needed his help. “I was hoping you’d be able to help him and maybe pay the debt for my father so he could get out of prison?” I asked, biting my lip. He was quiet for another moment, processing my request before he ran his hands over his face. “And what would I get in return for helping your family?” He asked. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Confidence: I needed confidence. I held my head up high and looked him right in the eyes. It was known as a challenge to look an Alpha directly in the eyes, even worse so looking a Lycan directly in the eyes. But Gavin wasn’t as angry as I thought he would be, instead, he looked intrigued. “Well,” I began, I dropped my voice low as I stepped closer to him. “At the party the other day, we obviously had a connection…” I felt my cheeks growing hot as I spoke those words. “And I thought maybe…” I took a deep breath and undid my coat, revealing a portion of my lingerie, but not all of it. Not yet at least. His eyes darkened as he gazed over my body, and I nearly melted under his scrutiny. I suddenly had a surge of confidence, and I reached my hand out to touch his arm. “I thought maybe I could do some favors for you in return,” I said in a sultry voice. “I’m a college student and very clean. I haven’t done it before, but I’m on birth control, so you don’t need to worry about anything.” His breathing grew heavy as he straightened his posture, closing the small gap between us. His nearness was intoxicating, and my heart started to race against my chest. His scent enveloped me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this delirious. He reached his hand up and I felt his fingers glide down my cheek, sending a wave of warmth throughout my whole body. We were so close together that I thought I was going to pass out from the heat that consumed me. His eyes were dark like they were the night in the VIP suite. He swallowed hard and I watched his Adam’s apple move slightly. I closed my eyes, preparing for him to kiss me. I could feel his breath on my lips and just as I leaned in close to him, getting ready for his embrace, it never came. Instead, I felt him adjusting my coat, covering my body. My eyes flew open, and I looked at his stern expression. “Do you really think I need to pay a woman for her body?” He asked, breaking the silence. “You said it yourself that I have many options.” My cheeks flushed immediately. “I just thought—” “You thought you could use your body to pay for my help,” he said, interrupting me. “You are still young, Miss Montague. You will regret taking such shortcuts in the future.” How did he know my name? I hadn’t told him. Had he looked into me? My heart skipped a beat at the thought, but his words were slowly crushing me. He didn’t want me. I lowered my gaze, hating how hot my face was getting. I knew he could see just how embarrassed I was. When he spoke next, he softened his voice and spoke with compassion. “Look, I have a daughter,” he told me. “I would never teach her to use her body as a transaction. I want more for her and her future, and I expect better from her.” He reached his hand and caressed the nape of my neck with his fingertips; my breath hitched as I gazed into his eyes. “I expected better from you,” he added; my heart fell into my stomach and disappointment consumed me. He was right. I was better than this. I nodded my head and opened my mouth to speak, but I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see a couple of security guards standing nearby and I whipped around to look at Gavin with wide eyes. “I’m afraid my time is up, and my patience has run out,” Gavin said, looking at me briefly before glancing at the security guards. “Accompany Miss Montague out of the building, please.” “Yes sir,” they both said. They stood on each side of me, and I stared at Gavin with shock. I didn’t fight or argue with the security guards as they told me to come with them. “Thank you for your time,” I managed to say before I turned and left the office. I wanted to cry because of the shame, but I knew more importantly I needed a new job. …. “I’m so excited we get to work together,” Nan said with a wide smile. “And you look great in that uniform.” I looked down at my uniform. I felt ridiculous in this thing; it was a short skirt and a crop top that showed way too much bosom. I felt like I was on display. Especially at night when this place pretty much turned into a club. These men are wealthy and would tip generously. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up when I was struggling for money. “That’s what friends are for,” she said, nudging my arm with hers. She looked behind me and sighed. “Looks like we are getting a group of guys. Good luck,” she said. I sighed and turned to greet the customers but then I froze when I saw who was amongst them. Ethan. Chapter 5 Judy’s POV “You were right,” I heard one of his friends saying. “She does work here. This is going to be so good.” “Hey, call girl, can we get a table, or are you just going to stare at us?” Call girl? I placed the menus on the table for them and waited for each of them to take a seat. “I’m not a call girl. Please, take your seat.” As I leaned over the table to put the beer in front of each of them, one of them grabbed my rear end. I felt my entire body freeze. “I like this little uniform on you. How about you take it off and see what’s underneath.” My entire body went hot as I stepped back from the table, forcing his hand to drop. “Do not touch me,” I said loudly to each of them. “Oh, come on, Judy. Aren’t you here to satisfy men?” Another of his friends asked. “So come here and satisfy us. Sit on my lap.” I pressed my lips together. “I’m not a call girl,” I told them for the final time. “I’m a waitress.” “You got this job because you’re hot,” one of them chuckled. “The manager didn’t care about your skills. He cared about whether or not you could flirt with the customers and make him a lot of money. I’m willing to give you a good tip if you let me see what’s underneath your uniform and sit on my lap.” I felt my blood going cold from his words. “Come here baby girl,” he said, patting his lap and winking at me. I just stared at him, disbelieving. I looked at Ethan who was watching me, waiting to see what I would do. How could he just let his friends speak to me like this? At one point, he would have never allowed this. He would have punched anyone who looked at me with desire in their eyes. Now, he was acting as if he didn’t care. “I’ll give you 10 thousand dollars if you drink this entire beer,” one of his friends asked. My mouth nearly fell open. “What?” I asked. “You heard me,” he answered. “Drink this whole beer and you’ll get 10 thousand dollars.” “We’ll all give you 10 thousand dollars each if you drink all of our beers,” another one said. I stared at the beer and then at the men. My eyes landed on Ethan once more; he raised his brows, waiting for my answer. Swallowing my pride, I stepped towards the table and grabbed one of the glasses. I really didn’t like beer, but money was money, and I knew Ethan’s friends were rich and could pay that kind of money easily. I needed the cash to get my father out of prison and pay off his debt. I brought the cup to my lips and let the liquid run down my throat. I winced at the bitter taste, but I kept pushing myself until the cup was empty. His friends were cheering and chanting as I drank the contents of the cup. I slammed the cup on the counter and looked at the next guy who slid his beer at me, winking as he did so. I chugged his beer as well. I only got halfway through the third glass when I felt a firm grip around my wrist and I was yanked away. I heard Ethan’s friends booing and telling him he was a party pooper. I had no idea where Ethan was taking me; he was quiet until we reached outside and then he whipped around to glare at me. “Accept my offer and stop this foolishness,” he ordered. “I won’t be your mistress, Ethan,” I told him, narrowing my eyes, my head fuzzy from the beer. “You can forget about that.” “You’d rather act like a little call girl instead?” He asked through his teeth. “You looked ridiculous in there!” “Why do you care? You have your fiancé. This is my private business, and my private business no longer includes you.” “You are still mine, Judy. You will always be mine,” he growled. I wanted to laugh at his ridiculousness, but I also wanted to cry. He was so sweet at one point; I spent more than 2 years loving this man. Now as he stood before me, I realized he was a stranger. “I am not yours,” I told him, glad that my voice came out stronger than I felt. He let out a bitter laugh. “Fine, be a call girl for all I care,” he growled. “Spread your legs for money because that’s all you’re good for—” Before I could stop myself, my hand swung and made contact with his cheek, causing a loud slap. He didn’t flinch but he did grow angrier as he went to grab my throat. He froze though when he looked at my neck and I watched the color draining from his face. “What the heck,” he hissed. He grabbed my chin and yanked my head to the side. “Is that a lovebite?” I realized when getting dressed this morning that the lovebite Gavin left on me the other night was still there. It was fading, but visible. “So, what if it is?” I asked. He released my chin and glared at me, his gaze icy. “Who the heck have you been with?” “That’s not your concern,” I retorted. I turned to walk away, but he gripped my arm, making me whimper in pain as he whipped me around to face him again. “Answer my freaking question, Judy! Who have you been with?!” Through gritted teeth, I answered, “Gavin. Your future father-in-law. Happy now?” He released me and let out a bark of laughter. “Are you kidding me? You don’t have to make up such a ridiculous story,” Ethan said through a fit of laughter. I heard more laughter from nearby and I realized Ethan’s friends were crowding around. “Is she talking about Gavin Landry? He has standards. He would never go for a girl like, Judy.” “Yeah, Judy is a call girl and Gavin is a Lycan chairman. There’s no way,” another friend laughed. “I’m being serious,” I told them, folding my arms across my chest. This time Ethan did grab my throat, and his gaze turned almost deadly. “Stop playing me for a fool and tell me the truth,” he growled. “Gavin would never want someone like you. You are nobody. You don’t fit into his world. ” I couldn’t breathe as his hands tightened around my throat, so I couldn’t respond. “Now, how about you do as I say and move into the house I bought? Once I get married, I’ll see you frequently at night and you can spread your pretty little legs for me only—” There was a loud honk from nearby, making Ethan drop his hold around my neck. I coughed and rubbed my sore neck as he glared at the person interrupting us. I glanced at the black limo and frowned when the door opened. I gasped when I saw Gavin seated in the back, his eyes on me. “Get in,” he ordered. I stared at him, disbelieving. “I won’t ask you again, Judy,” he said through his teeth. I felt Ethan’s shocked eyes on me as I quickly hurried towards the car and got in, closing the door behind me. “Drive,” he instructed the driver. “Yes, sir.” The car started to move; Ethan stood on the curb; his mouth nearly dropped. His friends were equally shocked. Gavin glanced at me, and I felt my cheeks redden. “Using me to make your ex-fiancé jealous, are you?”	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-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481129009_3328472497295802_2704386173773861950_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OiNk1hl-ICoQ7kNvgE0PCUI&_nc_oc=AdhJvCTKHLo4Udm9XM5EGsgJ146oOWLHvRIpOITW6dxMMVEmILkFkXJFz9Aqmx7G0fcQnbglWOqKtmF46ivmXeQv&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AJtOeFQIybgmafAEuHVP68N&oh=00_AYBO_pDamYXLC5eYVeh5aFtTOtlgUmvwfGdoP7aEi-OAWA&oe=67C71A87	PERSON_PROFILE	Werewolf Novel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,701	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Simple Vitamin Banished My Nerve Pain	My Nerve Pain started with pins & needles, then the burning & tingling kept me up at night. But when I began losing feeling in my feet, it took away my independence. No more driving, no more long walks with our dog, no longer being able to care for my grandkids the way I used to.	LEARN_MORE	https://fl.lf.thepapertomorrow.com/67bf8f696e92eed	Smart Daily Decisions	https://www.facebook.com/61561838588847/	51	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	thepapertomorrow.com	IMAGE		https://fl.lf.thepapertomorrow.com/67bf8f696e92eed8f7d5a7f5?sub1={{ad.id}}&sub2={{adset.id}}&sub3={{campaign.id}}&sub4={{ad.name}}&sub5={{adset.name}}&sub6={{campaign.name}}&sub7={{placement}}&sub8={{site_source_name}}&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481213666_1603271216958361_7058754341840952578_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ic5iTai8w1UQ7kNvgEYEpE7&_nc_oc=AdjNsTYDMqGlKeU-r8ZQRTngj2X9PV-ewjE5djl9qsEEwhaxCkBkZMEGm4G-16AcrlkCekZ52xBlZNdBWMw-oaHs&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHKJlok4DNU1pDju8UVj2w_&oh=00_AYAx7x7EJ8QDmBwljyZQnW_byof7Piv0jSdeyXYJzeo_rA&oe=67C70EAD	PERSON_PROFILE	Smart Daily Decisions	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,147	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	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=a5c5a83351c642f8ade1622f22d7082c	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480606227_1695397051184215_7459175837098128157_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q_B-CIMrE9YQ7kNvgGTHJ8U&_nc_oc=Adi6GVSi_cp-uVoBKNGl6YIBTvUFa3x3TzVLef8XeUxXJgu4wLooTARPBpm3Kt9wOziWUBa1hAe7bgnKl_jyjs1q&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=A0AoMVF0Z6yyibJ8fZDQIFt&oh=00_AYDI2gzdwXgW07Imgk-it9wcx3uGCwNj9cgFqyinE78IXQ&oe=67C717D7	PERSON_PROFILE	GreatNovels	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,215	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707210}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Most Side Sleepers Are Surprised They Never Knew This...	Side Sleepers: LISTEN UP! A good nights' sleep is crucial for all of us, but when hip or back pain and stiffness set in, it can feel like your body is betraying you… Side sleeping without proper support twists your spine and puts pressure on surrounding nerves and muscles. This can lead to chronic hip pain, lower back stiffness, and shooting leg cramps. Left unchecked, this discomfort can lead to more serious issues down the line… Introducing: The SmoothSpine Alignment Pillow. Developed with top physiotherapists, this pillow uses Active Spine Realignment™ to: ✅ Relieve hip, lower back, and sciatica pain ✅ Stop nerve compression at the root ✅ Keep your spine aligned for restful sleep Simply placing this pillow between your legs when lying down can make a world of difference. Users report significant improvements in mobility and pain reduction in as little as 7 days… Why not just use a regular pillow? Regular pillows flatten, shift, and collapse, leaving you unsupported by midnight. They’re made to support your head, not your spine, legs, and hips. The SmoothSpine Alignment Pillow is made to support your lower body. And thanks to its soft elastic strap, it stays in place all night, no shifting, no flattening. https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pillow Plus, you will get: 🎁 FREE How-To-Use Guide. 🎁 90-Night Risk-Free Guarantee. 🎁 FREE SmoothSpine Travel Bag. Ready to find relief with a solution specifically designed for you as a side sleeper? Don't let hip and back pain hold you back any longer. Take the first step towards pain-free sleeping and living now!	LEARN_MORE	https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pill	SmoothSpine	https://www.facebook.com/smoothspinestore/	3,601	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	smoothspine.com	VIDEO	FREE Back & Hip Health Guide with every purchase (valued at $20.00)	https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pillow	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481060021_605376155595452_3085889729008826911_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3zccykARlYQ7kNvgEAnRbT&_nc_oc=Adg5Se5O5sgZo0MKF-qgzSln_u2bE2S9YELpb2d_jipPLCQb-qwV-Efmo2Zx9Jm5OsCWgvuo0hcZSp6NqqdrNqXm&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AvqSyRvYI4cJJrZKj17H1yp&oh=00_AYCxYy0rqlAqH-sxgP7Wo0N7faDGQHD_Fa_DEexNTuJVIA&oe=67C72C71	PERSON_PROFILE	SmoothSpine	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,213	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707210}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	Most Side Sleepers Are Surprised They Never Knew This...	Side Sleepers: LISTEN UP! A good nights' sleep is crucial for all of us, but when hip or back pain and stiffness set in, it can feel like your body is betraying you… Side sleeping without proper support twists your spine and puts pressure on surrounding nerves and muscles. This can lead to chronic hip pain, lower back stiffness, and shooting leg cramps. Left unchecked, this discomfort can lead to more serious issues down the line… Introducing: The SmoothSpine Alignment Pillow. Developed with top physiotherapists, this pillow uses Active Spine Realignment™ to: ✅ Relieve hip, lower back, and sciatica pain ✅ Stop nerve compression at the root ✅ Keep your spine aligned for restful sleep Simply placing this pillow between your legs when lying down can make a world of difference. Users report significant improvements in mobility and pain reduction in as little as 7 days… Why not just use a regular pillow? Regular pillows flatten, shift, and collapse, leaving you unsupported by midnight. They’re made to support your head, not your spine, legs, and hips. The SmoothSpine Alignment Pillow is made to support your lower body. And thanks to its soft elastic strap, it stays in place all night, no shifting, no flattening. https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pillow Plus, you will get: 🎁 FREE How-To-Use Guide. 🎁 90-Night Risk-Free Guarantee. 🎁 FREE SmoothSpine Travel Bag. Ready to find relief with a solution specifically designed for you as a side sleeper? Don't let hip and back pain hold you back any longer. Take the first step towards pain-free sleeping and living now!	LEARN_MORE	https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pill	SmoothSpine	https://www.facebook.com/smoothspinestore/	3,601	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	smoothspine.com	VIDEO	FREE Back & Hip Health Guide with every purchase (valued at $20.00)	https://smoothspine.com/products/improved-leg-pillow	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481057931_1582503969104695_7339857496448648178_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yEWY46ytQr0Q7kNvgH4TbGA&_nc_oc=AdhsUQmeUer7hrWVXUvn8RHdETptFi1puqDc34IFHUKw7LM1VobOpva1Z6lqS-tdZNwZ2OJBQbXVJrgCrOdkKXHX&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=AvqSyRvYI4cJJrZKj17H1yp&oh=00_AYCyK1FZz8iwDrsbXX0SaEgX4zXQhPi_EUpqbWnHMxJwkw&oe=67C70FF0	PERSON_PROFILE	SmoothSpine	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,146	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	No	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=a2fa1c4c20674678ab45a52eadc91303	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480885878_486539614529600_8348057503750182773_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mNY6R7NPPSkQ7kNvgHbkhrm&_nc_oc=AdhKT91I89-5sjrgzEEkPTJ7ZpAhIVjMHenxQVx3KVgI_L4qd3Rg2iR21Z-_DVx1Qp8bFCzOqP5vcOfd8Ao7IBA8&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A0AoMVF0Z6yyibJ8fZDQIFt&oh=00_AYDh2vE93PBzaDpdcDz5vvDvgKnWZA1Ms7oEtASt2JqS-w&oe=67C73F8A	PERSON_PROFILE	GreatNovels	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,579	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2707166}'	Yes	2025-02-28 00:31	active	2651	❤️😍Continue reading👉👉👉	Trapped and whipped by two men, I couldn't scream a single sound because I'm mute... ------------------------- As evening fell, Blair Davidson had prepared a feast, eagerly awaiting her husband's return for dinner. The hours crept by, and at one in the morning, her husband still hadn't come home. The wall clock ticked steadily, marking time in the quiet house. The once-warm dishes had grown cold, mirroring Blair's dejected heart. With a quiet sigh, Blair collected the untouched food and moved it to the kitchen. She began reheating everything, hoping to preserve some warmth of home. Just then, she heard the front door open and quickly turned around. A tall, striking figure in a business suit walked in. He seemed unsteady on his feet, having clearly been out drinking, but somehow this only enhanced his natural charm. This was Blair's husband, Rhys Davidson! Blair rushed to welcome him home. She had prepared a special drink for him, but as she offered it, his unsteady movements caused it to spill across the floor. Before she could step back, Rhys moved closer, tilted her face up, and kissed her suddenly. Then Rhys swept her up and carried her toward their room. His intentions were clear - he was seeking physical comfort. Rhys placed Blair on their bed with urgency. As she tried to sit up, Rhys's body pressed against hers, pinning her to the mattress. His strength overwhelmed her; resistance was futile. She couldn't voice any objections even if she wanted to. Being mute, silence was her only option. Blair surrendered to the moment. Rhys trailed passionate kisses down her neck and chest. Noticing her quietness and stillness, he touched her cheek gently, whispering, "Why so quiet?" Tears welled in Blair's eyes at his question. Her condition meant she couldn't express pleasure vocally like other women. She wondered about his question - did he ask despite knowing her condition? Was he trying to hurt her? Or was there something deeper behind his words? Blair responded by kissing him and running her fingers along his body... Rhys's arousal grew intensely; his manhood straining against his clothes. Unable to wait, he undressed them both and joined their bodies as one. Blair's beautiful features tensed with discomfort. Despite their previous intimacy, she always felt completely filled. His size was overwhelming! Being his wife had its challenges... Yet soon, the initial discomfort gave way to waves of pleasure. Chapter 2 Their intimate moment was intense - despite her mixed feelings, Blair couldn't deny the physical connection. With Rhys's athletic build, their encounter lasted a full hour. They reached their peak together... Dawn had broken when Blair next opened her eyes. Rhys was in the bathroom, leaving her alone with her thoughts. As the passion faded, emptiness crept in. Her heart ached; Rhys's actions spoke of desire, not love. She wondered about her place in his life. Was she truly his wife? Or merely a convenience? A buzz from the bedside table interrupted her thoughts. Rhys's phone! Someone had messaged him. Blair caught a glimpse. It was from a woman - Raven Brooks. The message read: "[You said you'd be with me tonight. Why'd you go back to that worthless mute?]" The words cut deep into Blair's heart. So that explained his late return - he'd been with another woman... The bathroom door creaked open as Rhys emerged, freshly showered. Blair quickly looked away from the phone, pretending she hadn't seen anything, and continued dressing. Rhys approached the bed, grabbed his phone, and studied Blair's face. "Did you check my messages?" he asked casually. Blair shook her head quickly. She recalled his wedding day words: "Don't fall for me. I'll provide for you, but that's all." He'd made it clear - love wasn't part of the deal. Even if she had seen the message, what right did she have to react? Her feelings meant nothing to Rhys - whether she felt jealousy, sadness, or pain. Those denied care have no right to anger. Her love, her emotions - to Rhys, they were probably just inconveniences... Blair signed: "I'll make breakfast." Fighting her body's soreness, she rose slowly and headed to the kitchen. Rhys watched her fragile form retreat, then deleted Raven's message. Soon, breakfast was ready. They ate in silence. "You're coming to the Davidson Estate with me," Rhys suddenly announced. Blair nodded with her usual smile. Rhys observed her. Blair's constant agreeability and perpetual smile seemed to erase her identity. A person without spirit held little interest... After breakfast, they drove to the Davidson Estate. Blair had entered Rhys's life through his grandfather, Fletcher Davidson, who had a soft spot for her. Three years ago, a critically ill Fletcher had ordered Rhys to marry Blair. But Rhys's heart belonged to another then. That woman was Raven, who'd just messaged him. Childhood sweethearts, Raven and Rhys had grown up together. Despite his feelings for Raven, Rhys couldn't defy his grandfather and married Blair. Blair loved Rhys, though she couldn't voice it. One-sided love in marriage was destined for heartache. Marriage had taught Blair this harsh truth. Rhys's heart remained with Raven... They arrived at the Davidson Estate. The house buzzed with excitement - Rhys's sister, Skylar, had just had a son, and they were celebrating. Blair followed Rhys inside. Margaret, Rhys's mother, was cradling her grandson, beaming. Her smile vanished at Blair's appearance. Her dislike was obvious. Blair greeted her, but Margaret ignored her, focusing on Rhys and Skylar. Blair accepted the slight quietly, maintaining her composure. Skylar glanced at Blair, saying, "The baby's adorable. When will you and Rhys have one?" Margaret scoffed, "One mute in the family is shameful enough. Another would be unbearable!" Rhys glanced at Blair, who lowered her head in pain. Skylar's question wasn't innocent. The previous year, Blair had been pregnant, but Margaret had forced her to terminate, fearing another mute child! Chapter 3 When Rhys learned about it, he remained silent, offering no protection. Under the pressure, Blair had no choice but to end the pregnancy. She often wondered about that child - they would've been turning one by now... Besides Fletcher, the family rejected Blair, especially Skylar, who harbored deep resentment. Blair had entered their lives when she was five. Skylar, jealous of their grandfather's affection for Blair, tormented her for being mute. She'd lock Blair away, burn her hair, and once even pushed her down the stairs - an incident Rhys witnessed. He scolded Skylar then. Already bitter about their grandfather favoring Blair, Skylar now faced her beloved brother's criticism for hurting Blair. Her hatred only grew. Back then, Blair couldn't sign or write to report the abuse, so Skylar's cruelty intensified, with Blair bearing the brunt of every mood swing. As they aged, Skylar's tactics shifted from physical to emotional warfare. She deliberately brought up pregnancy, knowing it would reopen Blair's wounds. Such calculated cruelty! "We're leaving," Rhys announced abruptly. "Why the rush?" Skylar protested. "At least finish eating!" "Work calls," Rhys replied curtly, leading Blair out without a backward glance. Skylar watched them leave, her anger mounting. Rhys should love Raven, not Blair. Why was he defending her? In the car, Rhys lit a cigarette, clearly agitated. Blair waited quietly beside him. When he finished, he turned to her. She maintained her gentle smile, like a servant awaiting instruction. Her lack of reaction and submissive attitude unsettled Rhys. He despised spinelessness. People should show anger when wronged! Yet, he felt a twinge of sympathy. "What are your thoughts on having children?" he asked. Blair's surprise showed briefly before she signed: Your mother's right. If the child is mute like me, it's better not to have one. Life had taught Blair harsh lessons: every hope eventually shattered. The sweeter the dream, the more painful its end! Like when Fletcher bought her a birthday cake as a child. Before she could make her wish, Skylar shoved her face into it. She'd lifted her frosting-covered face to find everyone laughing at her misfortune. She'd smiled through her tears. After so much pain, Blair dared not hope anymore. "We weren't careful last night," Rhys mentioned suddenly. "There might be a chance..." Blair signed: I'm on birth control. Rhys watched her graceful fingers move - long and elegant from years of signing, their dance-like movements oddly captivating. After a moment, he looked away, started the engine, and muttered, "That's good." Blair lowered her gaze. Rhys stopped at Blair's workplace, a coffee shop. There stood Raven. She always managed to find him. Tall and striking, with endless legs and cascading curls, Raven commanded attention. Watching Rhys and Blair exit the car, fury blazed in her eyes. Raven carried herself like the wife, while Blair seemed the outsider - yet Blair held the legal claim to that title! Chapter 4 When Raven spotted Rhys, she knit her eyebrows and asked, "What brings you here?" Her eyes fell on Blair standing next to him, noticing light bruises on her neck. The sight made her blood boil. Holding back her anger, Raven flashed a smile at Rhys. "I just wanted to see you," she said sweetly. Rhys turned to Blair, "Get inside and start your shift." Blair nodded and walked toward the coffee shop. This was her workplace - the only place that had given her a chance after countless rejections. Once Blair was out of hearing range, Raven grabbed Rhys's arm playfully. "Are you still mad at me?" Instead of pulling away, Rhys simply said, "Let's talk in the car." Before climbing in, Raven pulled out sanitizer from her purse and sprayed the seat where Blair had been sitting. She looked up with a smirk, "Got to clean up after trash sat here!" Rhys just watched her silently, letting her do as she pleased. Through the coffee shop window, Blair watched everything unfold. She saw how Rhys let Raven get away with everything, how much he cared for her. People who are loved think they can do no wrong. Rhys was so into Raven that even her most outrageous behavior seemed okay to him - even when she was dissing his wife right in front of him. After sanitizing the seat, Raven finally got in the car. She fixed her curls and grabbed Rhys's hand. "Come on, why so serious? I promise I won't bring up divorce anymore!" Though Rhys spoiled Raven rotten, he'd always get upset whenever she mentioned divorcing the mute woman. Sure, Rhys claimed he didn't love Blair and only felt obligated to her, but that still drove Raven crazy. Raven was the jealous type - she wanted Rhys all to herself. She couldn't stand the thought of sharing him with anyone, even a mute woman! Plus, her gut told her Rhys was lying. Something inside her said he might actually love Blair but just couldn't show it. That thought made Raven even more furious and deepened her hatred for Blair. Rhys lit up a cigarette, leaned back, took a couple of deep drags, and let the smoke fill the car. "Look, Raven," he said. "I promised you'd never want for anything as long as you're with me. Even without marriage, I'll take care of you forever. I keep my word." He turned to face her. "That's my promise to you, just like the one I made to my grandfather." Before his grandfather died, he'd made Rhys swear to look after Blair for life, whether he loved her or not. And Rhys had promised! In his whole life, Rhys had only made promises to two people: his grandfather and Raven. Promises! Damn promises! Those words always set Raven off! "Yeah, I know you're a man of your word," Raven said through gritted teeth. "But I was in your life first!" After finishing his smoke, Rhys flicked the butt out the window and took Raven's hand, his voice soft. "I'm sorry. What do you want?" Raven tilted her head, thinking. "I'm over my Ferrari. I want a Maserati now!" A slight smile crossed Rhys's face. "Done." "And one more thing," Raven added. "Don't go see that mute Blair for a month." Rhys paused for a moment before nodding. "Okay." Satisfied, Raven beamed. "Let's go, you've got work!" Blair watched Rhys and Raven drive away, her heart breaking. The cloth in her hand was all twisted up from her grip. She smoothed it out on the table, like she was trying to smooth out her own tangled emotions. Just then, someone spoke up, "Your husband's getting cozy with another woman right in front of you. Doesn't that make you mad?" Chapter 5 Blair turned to see who was talking. It was Lauren Hayes, lounging in her chair, giving off a light scent of designer perfume. She owned the coffee shop and had become Blair's friend. Lauren was tall, about 5'10", with short hair, wearing a black tee and casual pants. When she kept quiet, people often mistook her for a guy. During Blair's job interview, Lauren had playfully squeezed her cheeks, catching Blair off guard. It wasn't until Lauren spoke that Blair realized she was actually a woman. Blair put down the cleaning cloth and signed with a smile, "I'm used to it." Lauren watched Blair's fingers move and noticed her red-rimmed eyes, her heart going out to her. As Blair's friend, Lauren knew all too well about the raw deal Blair got in her marriage. Lauren handed Blair a coffee, saying, "Here's your favorite, just brewed. Give it a try." Blair thanked her and took a sip. It was perfect! A smile lit up Blair's face. With her fair skin, when Blair looked at someone, she looked just like a helpless puppy - the kind that made your heart melt. That's why Lauren couldn't resist pinching her cheeks. Blair wasn't into it at first but got used to it over time. It's crazy how things become normal after a while! Lauren had a big heart. She even watched videos to learn sign language just to understand Blair better. Now she could get most of what Blair was signing. Suddenly, Lauren grabbed Blair's arm. "Come upstairs, I need your help with something." Blair quickly set down her coffee and followed Lauren up to a corner room on the second floor, filled with colorful paintings. Besides running the coffee shop, Lauren was also a "painter." Though she gave herself that title - she hadn't sold a single painting yet. Her parents had shot down her dreams of studying art, so she'd opened this coffee shop as a front for her secret painting studio. Once inside, Lauren plopped Blair onto a stool. "Don't budge. You're my model for today." Blair sat perfectly still. Lauren loved using Blair as her muse and had done tons of portraits of her. As the morning wore on into lunch hour, a massive downpour started outside. Rain drummed against the windows, creating a cozy vibe inside. The bad weather drove more customers in, making the downstairs crazy busy. Lauren and Blair had to put the painting on hold to help out. Being short-handed, even Lauren, the boss, had to pitch in with deliveries. She asked Blair to come along. Lauren jumped on her motorcycle with Blair riding behind her. Blair wanted to take an umbrella despite the rain, but Lauren wouldn't hear of it. According to Lauren, motorcycles were cool, but umbrellas on motorcycles? Not cool at all. So Blair just clutched the coffee close, shivering on the back of Lauren's bike. The rain was coming down in sheets, with thunder and lightning making the noon sky look like nighttime. When Lauren's motorcycle pulled up outside a particular building, Blair's face fell. Because this was Rhys's company! Chapter 6 Lauren helped Blair get her helmet off; they were both soaked to the bone, but the coffee Blair was holding stayed dry. Lauren joked, "These people are crazy. Big fancy company, but no coffee maker, so they've gotta get delivery." Taking the coffee from Blair, Lauren grinned, "Wait here, I'll be right back." Blair nodded and quietly walked to the entrance to wait. Staring at the wall of rain in front of her, Blair's mind wandered. It was pouring just like this the day Fletcher brought her to Rhys's house. She'd hidden shyly behind Fletcher while nine-year-old Rhys checked her out. Rhys had asked who she was. Fletcher had teased, "Your future wife. Interested?" Nine-year-old Rhys had sneered, "I don't want some monkey for a wife." She really had been scrawny and pale back then, with dry, straw-like hair - probably looking worse than a monkey at the zoo. But then he'd added, "How're you gonna be my wife when you're so skinny? You need to eat more." Even though Rhys was just kidding around, Blair always took his words to heart. Lost in these memories, a voice snapped her back to reality. "With this awful rain, I don't feel like working. I'm outta here!" It was Raven, clicking out of the company gates in her heels, when she spotted Blair standing there, drenched. "Blair?" Raven was on the phone with Rhys, who caught Blair's name on his end. Glancing back at the building, then at Blair, Raven hung up. "Here to see Rhys?" Blair shook her head. Raven raised an eyebrow and strutted over, smirking, "Rhys says you're so innocent, but you're not fooling anyone. Coming here all wet and pathetic for sympathy?" She tugged at Blair's dripping hair mockingly, "Playing the poor little victim!" Raven's face oozed smugness. "Drop the act. Rhys doesn't give a damn about you. You're just like some stray he took in!" Blair pressed her lips tight - maybe from the cold rain, they'd gone ghostly white. Raven didn't need to spell it out; Blair knew it all too well. The way Rhys looked at her was exactly how he looked at their pets at home. He loved their cat too - if he forgot to feed it before work, he'd come all the way back just to do it. Just then, Lauren came back with the coffee. She quickly stepped in front of Blair protectively and sized Raven up, saying, "Back off, you home-wrecker! Leave Blair alone!" Raven's face darkened as she glared at Lauren. "How dare you!" Lauren crossed her arms, giving Raven a mocking once-over, "What's wrong with calling it like it is? Am I lying? You're nothing but a cheap home-wrecker!" "You..." Raven sputtered, her face turning purple. She hated being called that. If it weren't for Blair, she should've been Rhys's wife! Why was she getting trash-talked? Used to getting her way because of Rhys's favor, Raven had never been dissed like this to her face. She raised her hand to slap Lauren. But Lauren wasn't having it. Before Raven could strike, Lauren beat her to it. Raven went down with a shriek. The slap left her face swollen, and she twisted her ankle in those stilettos. She clutched her foot, tears streaming down her face. Lauren looked down at her with disgust. "You really thought you could hit me? Serves you right, you home-wrecker!" Through the pain, Raven shot Lauren a hate-filled glare. Lauren grabbed the shocked Blair. "We're out of here!" Blair kept looking back. She saw Rhys rushing out, scooping Raven up from the ground. Even through the rain, she could see how gentle he was with her. But Rhys never noticed Blair standing there in the rain. Lauren revved up the motorcycle and disappeared into the downpour. The heavy rain blurred Blair's vision until the tall building behind them became just a shadow in the storm. Chapter 7 Raven let out an annoyed sigh, turning her head away from him. A security guard came over with some security camera footage and handed it to Rhys. "Sir, here's the video footage." As Rhys watched the video, his expression darkened immediately. He'd been to Blair's workplace before and knew Lauren, along with her other identity she kept hidden. But Blair wasn't in the footage. Rhys tossed the tablet onto the table and said to Raven, "I'm taking you to the hospital." Even more upset by how little he seemed to care, Raven shot back, "No way! Let my leg break - at least then I won't have to hear people calling me a sl every time I go out." "Don't be stubborn. We're going to the hospital," Rhys insisted. "I said no!" Rhys picked her up and walked out. Blair sat behind Lauren on the motorcycle, rain streaming down her face. She carefully held onto Lauren's waist. Even in the cold rain, Lauren's back felt warm. She wanted to thank Lauren but couldn't speak. In her twenty-three years, besides Fletcher and Rhys, Lauren was the first person to ever stand up for her. Lauren glanced down at the hand on her waist and silently sighed. In the freezing rain, what fell on Lauren's back felt warm - they weren't raindrops, but Blair's tears. She was finally letting herself cry in the downpour. Instead of heading back to the coffee shop, Lauren drove Blair home. After parking, Lauren got off the bike, walked Blair to her door, took off Blair's helmet, and smoothed down her wet hair. "Get changed - you don't want to catch a cold. He won't care if you get sick!" Blair nodded and signed, "Hold on a sec." She rushed inside and came back with an umbrella, offering it to Lauren. Lauren hesitated but took it, not wanting to hurt Blair's feelings. Lauren smiled and said, "Okay, I'll take it. Now get inside, quick!" Blair lingered, seeming to want to watch her leave. "You're something else, you know that?" Lauren opened the umbrella, propped it on her shoulder, got on her bike, and rode off smoothly. Her voice carried through the rain, "See you later!" Blair watched until she disappeared, a smile playing on her lips. If Rhys had been there, he would've noticed this smile was different - more real. Blair sneezed. Even after taking a hot shower and some cold medicine, she still felt woozy. When she checked her temperature, it read 103 - she definitely had a fever. After taking some Tylenol, she crawled into bed and passed out. When Blair woke up, someone was sitting by her bed. The room was so dark she thought she was seeing things. She rubbed her eyes and switched on the light. There sat Rhys, legs crossed, in a black shirt with the top buttons undone and sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular forearms. An expensive watch on his wrist screamed money and status. His face was stone-cold as he stared at Blair. "Sleeping pretty good, weren't you?" Blair knelt up on the bed, quickly signing, "Sorry I overslept. Have you eaten?" Ignoring her question, Rhys said flatly, "You're done at the coffee shop." Shocked, Blair signed, "Why?" "Lauren's bad news. She'll be a bad influence on you. You're not going back there. I'll find you something else." Usually, Blair just went along with whatever Rhys said. Not this time. She signed, "I like working there. I want to stay." "I said no!" His voice went ice-cold, his eyes drilling into her. Blair bit her lip but held his gaze. It was the first time she'd ever dared to look at him this way. Blair signed, "Is this about what happened at the company?" "You've got some nerve bringing that up. Who took Lauren there?" Rhys's eyes narrowed. Blair looked down but didn't explain, just stubbornly signing, "I want to work there!" "You really want to test me on this?" Rhys's voice was filled with anger. Blair didn't move. Rhys stood up and headed for the door. At the doorway, he turned back to Blair. "Don't let me catch you hanging around Lauren again!" He walked out without another glance. Still super dizzy, Blair touched her forehead - still burning up, even her breath felt hot. She shook her head, jumped out of bed barefoot, and chased after him downstairs. On the stairs, she grabbed the bottom of his shirt. Rhys stopped and turned. "What now?" Blair pressed her lips together, stared at him for a long moment, then seemed to make up her mind. She let go of his shirt. She walked past him to the living room couch, bent down, and opened a drawer. Following her, Rhys saw it - divorce papers sitting right there in the drawer! Those papers had been there for a while, but Rhys never knew. He'd never even opened that drawer before. He stared at Blair in shock and confusion. Blair looked back at him, her eyes saying everything her voice couldn't: Let's get divorced!	INSTALL_MOBILE_APP	http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.t	GreatNovels	https://www.facebook.com/61570845060031/	38	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-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481255709_1631882128210630_1555827178595928783_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_9gK0YK4SSwQ7kNvgFcGAGs&_nc_oc=AditEEJLAa25zPOGwCy5aJx-aPXPk6npsoFHMpsKoTHF_GHraAdTwbop_q8RuUYVuE5YcZ9l66sn_i2iFVvD495i&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AJtOeFQIybgmafAEuHVP68N&oh=00_AYA0G-_8cgtQ0b0_fpQCVN1xauNHA_j4x570n6fhdFlZew&oe=67C7435E	PERSON_PROFILE	GreatNovels	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,518	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706555}'	No	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/blogs/news/neuropathy?ut	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/blogs/news/neuropathy?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{adset.name}}&utm_term={{ad.name}}	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/476836630_1323740568957927_2619503800643010901_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ykW_t1Vma-QQ7kNvgFQeBo3&_nc_oc=AdgouZQCqrUe5S-NNUhuQd5yDEpCWcNa4MsnKDLJKZZDH4q3dO4g6-jSt8oZYct3FiccR84SloKjjdNe9r4iU8VN&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AduyuvuBqIgF_eqYRwt8uE9&oh=00_AYBYsMINc3So_ACRfk4xjYzuKVWWJZRLE3GwKCuiWGVYuw&oe=67C71267	PERSON_PROFILE	Mama Bear Oasis	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,498	/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=287262a343134c88b6fde0fa663aab19	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480939092_1814973635946244_6035872030450416845_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TjdAuoQje5YQ7kNvgEUw455&_nc_oc=Adi48RJM4qFXXr7WJkJPMGOK4Qa7YOyhHPvH6uhpEy9i3Jzxiyp6Uso7TFJ7DcPwq5YKMFItxM4oCqC2C0559qpf&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AduyuvuBqIgF_eqYRwt8uE9&oh=00_AYBSYAji63K4y7v7qpmiOf00yzXety-YT3e0P0zBLpywMA&oe=67C733AC	PERSON_PROFILE	TapNovel	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,707,240	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) null	Yes	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	10-second Method Stopped The Ringing In My Head	Had enough of endless ear ringing? I did, until I discovered this military-grade secret ritual. No meds, no operations, and no pricey fixes—just a simple method for lasting quiet. Tap below to learn more.	LEARN_MORE	https://createhealthyhabit.com/eh/v1	Create Healthy Habit Together	https://www.facebook.com/100095304322833/	1	1969-12-31 18:00	Learn more	createhealthyhabit.com	VIDEO	From piercing buzzing sound to blissful, beautiful silence... For years I thought it would never go away!	https://createhealthyhabit.com/eh/v1	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/480663421_650362944218914_5956771935685350489_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BRtCRXu4C0wQ7kNvgHMAHq8&_nc_oc=Adim40a8drSu5MZoVgnWsu455vsU0hcrwtdQ6IH7aoQFfxc7-ANtJibf1LJDqjNe_8TbKQW2gTDhdo9DiPfO7wVX&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&_nc_gid=AHyLkTmaLkM6KZfoayHSxwG&oh=00_AYCoyi0M_mW8gEqIeiuhriYphQdbMzvkQw7GL4rfZ6h0sQ&oe=67C743DD	PERSON_PROFILE	Create Healthy Habit Together	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete
2,706,964	/src/Template/Ads/index.ctp (line 281) '{"alias":2706727}'	No	2025-02-28 00:30	active	2651	The #1 Cream for Nerve Pain 🏆	How do we know that Nerve Balm is one of the most powerful remedies for nerve pain? Because we can't stop selling out! We are busy here at Lune fulfilling orders, but the orders keep rolling in! What's behind the frenzy? Our customers swear by its power to conquer nerve pain. 💯% Natural Ingredients 🥦Packed with 14+ Superfoods 😃Tens of THOUSANDS of happy customers 💳PLUS a money back guarantee if you're not satisfied. ✓ Soothe pain, prickling, and burning ✓ Calm inflammation & stiffness ✓ Fortify the nerve's protective coating ✓ Improve circulation & healing ✓ Provide long-term results Rest assured; we are increasing our production & are committed to fulfilling every order. Put your order in today & secure your jar of the most impactful nerve pain relief balm that you can find!	SHOP_NOW	https://www.luneusa.com/products/nerve-balm	Lune	https://www.facebook.com/100085237752848/	839	1969-12-31 18:00	Shop Now	luneusa.com	DCO	★★★★★ 4.7	https://www.luneusa.com/products/nerve-balm	1969-12-31 18:00	https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/481257167_1823778178412611_5944724576151025510_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NvGwYv1a90UQ7kNvgHdBGzs&_nc_oc=AdgrDausIyRSnrZPlWhErU5rxwlherBggR3EZ7H1IxY0J3WcwRq7p-2V-UjekNrsn2JIiJS1OubDCuufgW7Y2-AL&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&_nc_gid=APo6jsbWvg77h6sUSXISibs&oh=00_AYBIN52dwVGzAHSQL9kTElFQbGHlgoPN6jUCzwDGUIvTdQ&oe=67C7415F	PERSON_PROFILE	Lune	1969-12-31 18:00	View Edit Delete

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