MATURE

Life hasn’t been kind to me. One moment, I was a carefree eighteen-year-old with dreams of a bright future. The next, I was a 28 year old lady and my world went up in flames. literally. My mom died in the fire that destroyed our home, my little sister is in a coma, and my brother’s in jail for trying to keep us afloat. My dad? He left us drowning in debt and despair.

I thought I’d hit rock bottom, but then I found myself working in a place where dreams go to die, doing things I never imagined just to survive. That’s when he walked into my life, Alex Romanov. Dangerous. Mysterious. And entirely out of my league.

He’s everything I should fear, but there’s something about him that draws me in. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me like I’m more than just another broken soul. Or the way he makes me feel alive when I thought I’d forgotten how.

But Alex has secrets, dark ones that could destroy us both. And as my past collides with his world, I’m left wondering: Can I trust the man who’s slowly stealing my heart, or will his darkness swallow me whole?

This isn’t the life I wanted, but it’s the one I’ve been given.

Elder Nora, the only female elder, folded her hands on the table. "What do you propose, Alpha?"


I turned to Luca. "Gather our best trackers and warriors. I want eyes on every movement the Shadow Claw pack makes. If they so much as breathe near our borders, I want to know."


I then turned to Elder Rowan. "Increase training for all warriors. No one should be caught unprepared. I want the patrols doubled, and I want them rotating every few hours so we're always alert."


Elder Tobias, who had been quiet so far, finally spoke. "And what if Shadow Claw takes your warning as a challenge? What if they retaliate?"


I smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Then they will learn the difference between testing my patience and facing my wrath."


Chapter 29 - 29