I was still staring at my phone in horror when I saw Nikolai waiting by the entrance to the main residence. The moment he spotted me stepping out of the car, his expression softened with concern
“Hey,” he said gently, immediately moving to my side. “Whatever it is, we’ll handle it together. But right now, there’s something more important waiting for us inside.”
His calm confidence was like a lifeline. I managed a shaky nod as he offered me his arm.]
My family is excited to meet you properly,” he continued, guiding me toward the entrance. “They’ve been waiting all day.”
When we walked into the main hall, I stopped dead.
The entire room was packed with people–distinguished older wolves in elegant attire, beautiful women with kind eyes, and younger pack members who all radiated the same dangerous grace as Nikolai. The sheer number of them was overwhelming
“Nikolai, this is…” I started to whisper.
“Everyone who matters to me.” he said simply, squeezing my hand. “Which means they’re going to love you.“]
He led me forward with unwavering confidence, and I could feel dozens of pairs of eyes tracking our movement. But instead of judgment. I sensed only curiosity and warmth.
“Everyone,” Nikolai announced, his voice carrying easily through the room, “I’d like you to meet my mate, Kaela.”
The response was immediate–smiles breaking out across faces, murmurs of approval, and what looked like genuine excitement.
Nikolai turned to me, his eyes dancing with barely contained pride. “Kaela, let me introduce you to the family.”
He guided me toward an imposing older man with silver hair and the same dark eyes as Nikola Despite his intimidating presence, his smile was warm and welcoming.
“This is my grandfather, Alpha Emeritus Marcus Grimweald, Nikolai said formally.
As I looked at him more closely, recognition hit me like a lightning bolt. Those hands, that precise way of moving, the quiet authority in his posture–I’d seen is all before in an operating room when I was fighting for my life.
Professor Grünweald,” I whispered, my vuice barely steady. “You… you saved my life. You performed my brain surgery when-“My throat tightened with emotion. “When Dr. Blackvein abandoned me on the operating table.”
The older man’s expression softened immediately, and I saw a flash of the same protective fury I’d witnessed in Nikolai’s eyes]
“Child,” he said gently, reaching out to take my hands in his “You never need to thank me for doing what any decent healer would do. That boy’s actions that day….” His jaw tightened briefly: “Well, let’s just say he’s no longer welcome in any operating room I oversee ”
“but I do need to thank you,” I assisted, tears pricking at my eyes. “You could have let me die, could have refused to get arvolved. Instead, you saved a stranger’s life ~||
“You were never a stranger to ine,” Professor Grimweald said with a knowing smile, glancing mengfully at his grandson “Even then, I know you were special. Nikolaj couldn’t stop talking about the brave Lunn who’d survived so much “||
Tielt Nikolai’s arm tighten around my waist, wed officially met again?]
warm blush spreading across my cheeks. He’d been talking about me to his grandfather? Even before
Welcome to the family, my dear Luna,” Professor Grimweald said warmly, pressing that thick envelope into my hands. The weight of it suggested gold cols rather than paper currency–uld pack wealth. “We’ve been waiting a long time for someone to make our boy this happy.”
this is my father, Alpha David Grimwald, and may mother, Luna Elena.~]
A distinguished man who was clearly where Nikolai got his looks stepped forward with a woman whose elegant beauty was matched only by the kindness in her eyes
“Papa, Mama,” I managed, my voice catching slightly.
Luna Elena immediately pulled me ima a warm embrace. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re even more beautiful than Nikolai described,” she said, her voice filled with maternal affection. When she released me, she reached behind her neck and unclasped an intricate silver necklace embedded with moonstone. This has been passed down through seven generations of Grimweald Lunas,” she said softly, fastening it around my neck “Now it’s yours
I gasped, touching the stunning piece. The moonstone seemed to pulse with its own inner light
Alpha David smiled, his stern features softening. “Welcome to the pack, Luna Kaela,” he said formally, then aided with a grin, “though I suspect you’ll fit right in–anyone who can make that boy blush the way you do must be something special. He handed me a leather pouch that clinked with the sound of precious metal. “Territory dividends,” he explained with a wink.]
The introductions continued, each family member stepping forward with genuine warmth, Nikolai’s aunt Sophis, a fierce looking woman who softened the moment she saw me. “Aunt Sophia,” I said, and she beamed, sliding an elegant bracelet set with sapphires onto my wrist. These stones will protect you from dark magic,” she explained with a knowing smile
His uncle Milos, a mountain of a man who looked like he could bench press a car, grinned and handed me a small but heavy pouch. “Territory mining shares,” he said simply. “Uncle Milos is fine, little Luma. Welcome home.
Cousin after cousin followed–the women gifting me with earrings, rings, and other precious jewelry that spoke of old money and older magic, while the men pressed pouches of gold, platinum, and territorial investment certificates into my hands. Each gift came with warm words and genuine smiles.] “Great–aunt Vivian,” Nikolai introduced me to an elderly woman with sharp eyes and a mischievous smile:[]
“Great–aunt Vivian,” I repeated, accepting the ornate silver hair pins she offered with hands that were getting full.]
“Such a polite child,” she cackled, patting my cheek. “Much better than that dreadful girl from the Ashworth pack that David’s brother tried to set up with Nikolai last year. These pins belonged to the first Luna of our park–they’ll help you charmel your authority when you need it.
By the time we’d made it through the entire room, my arms were laden with pouches of pack wealth and I was wearing enough jewelry to fund a small army. More importantly, my heart was fuller than it had been in years. These people Nikolai’s people–had welcomed me without question, without judgment, simply because I mattered to him
I looked down at the fortune in my hands and felt the weight of precious metals and stones adorning my body, each piece representing not just wealth int acceptance, belonging, family. The moonstone necklace from Luma Elena seemed to pulse warmly against my throat, as if it recognized its new
Owner
“Overwhelmed?” Nikolai asked softly, noticing my expression.
I nodded, not trusting my voice. After a lifetime of being treated like an outsider, like damaged goods, being embraced so completely was a much 10 process
“Good overwhelmed or bad overwhelmed?” he pressed gently.
“Good” I whispered, blinking back tears. “Definitely good.”
almost too
Later, alone in what was apparently our bedroom, the exhaustion from meeting his entire family finally hit me. I carefully set down the pouches of pack wealth and began removing the precious jewelry, marveling at each piece
“Meeting your family is exhausting.” I mumbled into the pillow. “How do you have so many relatives?”
Nikolai’s laugh was warm and rich as he entered the room. “Well, being a hybrid comes with complicated family dynamics. Both sides want to claim. me, su family gatherings tend to be extensive.”
I uit up, catching the teasing plant in his eyes. Something playful sparked in my chest a feeling I’d almost forgotten how to have]
handle plenty.” I said, rating an eyesowe “The question is whether you can keep up with me.“[]–
This expression slutted, øyes darkening as he caught the challenge in my voice “Careful, Luna. You might be surprised what this hybrid is capable of “[]
But then his expression grew serious, and I knew we couldn’t put off the
inversation any longer
“About that video,” he said quietly, moving to sit beside me un the bed. “I need you to know something.“[
My stomach dropped “You did see it.
“I saw it” He reached for my hands, holding them gently. “And I need you to understand what I thought when I watched it.”
Ibraced myself for the worst
“I thought.” he said, voice deadly quiet, “that I was going to find every single animal who touched you and tear them apart with my hare hands. And then I was going to hunt down whoever sent me that video and show them what happens when someone tries to hurt my mate. ~||
I blinked at him in shock. “You’re not disgusted? Ashamed?”
His hands came up to frame my face, thumbs brushing across my cheeks ||
“Kaela, you survived something that would have broken most people. You endured torture, came back from the brink of death and still had the strength to choose your own path forward. Why the hell would I be ashamed of that?“]
The tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over
“Because everyone else was,” I whispered “My
My family, Soren, everyone who knew what happened to me they all acted like I was contaminated Dirty”
Then they’re fucking idiots who never deserved you in the first place.” His voice was fierce, protective in a way that made my wolf want to bare her throat in submission. “You’re mine now, Kaela. And I don’t give a damn about your past–1 care about your future. Our future.“[
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against mine.
The exhaustion from the day, combined with the emotional roller coaster, suddenly hit me all at once. But this time, instead of feeling broken, I felt free
“Are you sure?” I whispered, giving him one last chance to change his mind.“]
Instead of answering with words, he kissed me with a hunger that made my toes curl.
Time passes]]
I woke up the next morning wrapped in Nikolai’s arms, feeling more rested than I had in years. Every muscle in my body ached in the most delicious. way, and I couldn’t stop the satisfied smile that spread across my face.
When I tried to slip out of bed, his arm tightened around me possessively.[
“Where do you think you’re going?” His voice was rough with sleep, and the sound sent shivers down my spine
**Bathroom,” I said,
d, trying to sound innocent. “Unless you’re planning to keep me prisoner here forever.” His eyes opened, fixed on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. “Don’t tempt me.“]
“Nikolas” I said, pretending to be scandalized “What would your family think?“]
“They’d think I’m a very lucky male,” he said, pressing a kiss to
with me? Let me show off my beautiful, incredible mate?]]
any shoulder. “Speaking of which, there’s a pack gathering tomorrow. Will you come
The possessive pride in his vice made my heart flutter. “I suppose I could make an appearance.
For the first tamme in my life, I was exactly where Harlonged |
Meanwhale.
ross the city. Soren was facing his own reckoning [
akrend intercepted bam the moment he walked though the door, her face streaked with tears and desperatuu
“boren, please listen turme,” she begged, clutching his arm. These photos at the auctions–Tas the one who sent them to the auction house. Ophelia was just trying to cover for me because she kaurw how it would look ”
Sopn stared at her with cold eyes. “And why exactly would you do that?“||
“Because I was angry!” she cried. “Angry that Karla left un angry that the was throwing away everything we’d built as a family. I thought if she saw How much it hurt Ophelia, she’d come to her senses “[]
But even as she spin her lies, Suren’s mind was working. The timeline dudict add up. Ophelia had supposedly just woken up–how could she have orchestrated something this elaborate
she’d been awake longer than
anyone knew!
Unless everything he’d believed for three years was a le
