---

After the intense training session, Hailey returns to Varian’s mansion, her body aching but her spirit high. She can’t stop replaying the looks of surprise on Theo and Rayon’s faces as she sparred, the way Varian had smiled at her—secretly, of course—as if he couldn’t help himself. It’s a strange, warm feeling, knowing she’s impressed them, especially Varian. But as soon as she steps inside the grand mansion, her mind is elsewhere, thinking only of one person.

“Lina!” Hailey calls out as she hurries down the hall, practically bounding toward the kitchen.

Lina, the maid, turns from her task of washing vegetables and flashes a knowing grin, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Well, look who’s back, glowing like a moonlit flower!” she whispers teasingly, glancing toward the hallway as if checking to make sure Varian isn’t lurking nearby. “You and the Alpha are becoming quite the item, aren’t you? My dear Luna, you’re a mess!”

Hailey lets out a startled laugh, swatting at Lina’s arm as her cheeks flush. “What? No! It’s not like that, we’re just—”

“Oh, please,” Lina interrupts, lowering her voice to a dramatic whisper. “I see the way he looks at you. And I see how you look at him.” She winks, grabbing Hailey by the arm and pulling her toward the stairs. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up before your Alpha sees you like this. Covered in sweat, looking all kinds of fierce, but… messy.”

Laughing, Hailey lets Lina guide her to her room. As they walk, she feels a flutter of something—maybe excitement, maybe nerves—at Lina’s words. Could it really be that obvious? She shakes the thought away as they reach her room. Lina quickly gets to work preparing the bath while Hailey begins to unlace her boots.

Inside the bathtub, surrounded by warm, soapy water, Hailey feels her body begin to relax, the tension from training fading away. Lina sits on the edge of the tub, chatting away about the pack’s gossip, but Hailey’s mind starts to drift. She’s listening, but her thoughts keep pulling her in another direction.

Her family.

She hasn’t thought about them this much since she arrived here, but now the memories flood back—Hannah, her sweet younger sister, always full of energy and love. Her father, stern but not unkind, even if he had made terrible decisions regarding her future. And her mother… well, things had always been sour between them. Her mother had seen Hailey as a tool, someone to secure power by mating her to the cruel Alpha of the Poldark Pack. Hailey grimaces at the memory.

Lina notices the change in Hailey’s mood and gives her a gentle nudge. “Alright, out with it. You’ve gone all serious on me. What’s on your mind?”

Hailey sighs, running a hand through her wet hair. “I’m thinking about my family. I miss my sister, Hannah, so much. I was thinking about sending her and my father letters.”

Lina raises an eyebrow. “Your sister, I understand. But your father? After everything?”

Hailey shrugs, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips. “I forgive him, Lina. He was wrong, but I know he was trying to do what he thought was best. Even if it was horrible.”

“And your mother?” Lina asks, knowing full well how complicated that relationship was.

“No,” Hailey replies quickly, shaking her head. “I’m not ready for that yet. Maybe one day… but not now.”

Lina nods understandingly. “Well, you’re stronger than most for even thinking of reaching out. Let’s get you out of this tub, write those letters, and then we’ll figure out how to get them delivered.”

Once Hailey is out of the bath and dressed, she sits down at her small writing desk, thinking carefully as she writes. The first letter, addressed to Hannah, is full of warmth. She asks her how her life with her mate is, how the pack is treating her, and of course, she tells her about Varian, though she’s careful not to reveal too much. She’s still figuring out this new chapter in her life, but she wants her sister to know she’s safe—and maybe even a little happy.

The second letter, to her father, is harder to write. She starts and stops several times, unsure of how to begin. Finally, she writes that she forgives him for the pain he caused her by trying to force the mating bond with the Poldark Alpha. It’s not a long letter, but it’s enough for now. She seals both letters with a steady hand, feeling a mix of relief and nerves.

Hailey stands, smoothing her dress as she prepares to find Varian. She needs to ask him how she can send these letters to her family. As she leaves her room, her heart starts to pound—partly because of the conversation she’s about to have, but mostly because this will be her first time stepping into Varian’s room.

---

Hailey steps into Varian’s room, the letters clutched tightly in her hand. The air feels thick with tension, an unspoken heaviness weighing down the atmosphere. The moment she enters, her senses scream that something is wrong. Very wrong.

"Varian?" she calls softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

There’s no response.

As she moves further into the room, she spots him. Varian stands near the far wall, hunched over, his hands gripping the edge of a table so hard his knuckles are white. His entire body trembles, muscles straining as if he’s holding something back, something powerful. His breathing is harsh, uneven, and his head hangs low, as though he's struggling to stay in control.

"Varian?" she says again, louder this time, her heart racing with concern.

But again, no answer.

As Hailey steps closer, she notices his eyes. They aren’t their usual deep shade—they’re burning. Literally. Fiery orange and red flames flicker in his gaze, glowing fiercely as if his wolf is clawing to break free. The sight sends a jolt of fear through her, but her concern for him outweighs her fear.

“Varian, what’s happening?” she asks, her voice trembling as she moves closer, her hand reaching out instinctively.

Suddenly, Varian lets out a deep, guttural growl, his whole body shuddering violently. He’s battling something—battling his wolf. It’s clear now. He’s losing control. His wolf is fighting to take over, and Varian is struggling with every ounce of his strength to contain it.

“Varian, please!” Hailey says, her voice more urgent, her hand almost reaching his arm.

But before she can touch him, everything changes.

In a flash, Varian’s body jerks, and without warning, his arm swings out wildly. His movements are swift, too fast for Hailey to react. She doesn’t even have time to cry out before his hand connects with her, the force of the blow throwing her across the room.

She hits the wall hard, her body slamming against it with a sickening thud. The wind is knocked out of her, and for a moment, all she can hear is the ringing in her ears. Pain explodes across her back and shoulders as she crumples to the ground, gasping for breath.

Dazed, she tries to focus, her vision blurry as she lifts her head to look at Varian.

He stands frozen, his body trembling, his fists clenched so tightly his nails dig into his palms. His fiery eyes flicker, shifting between the burning flames of his wolf and something more human, more horrified.

Then, the growl.

A deep, anguished sound rips from Varian’s chest, the kind of growl that reverberates through the entire room. It’s not a growl of rage or dominance—it’s one of pure torment. His wolf has realized what he’s done.

“No,” Varian mutters, his voice hoarse, barely more than a broken whisper. “No...”

His wolf is still fighting within him, but now, there’s something else—a sharp, painful clarity as he stares at Hailey, slumped against the wall. The flames in his eyes flicker and then die down, replaced by a look of shock and horror.

Varian’s hands twitch, as if he’s unsure whether to move toward her or keep his distance. His breath comes in short, harsh gasps as he stumbles forward, his voice strained. “Hailey… I… I didn’t…”

Hailey, wincing from the pain, lifts her hand weakly, trying to signal that she’s okay—though she’s far from it. Every part of her body aches from the impact, but she’s more concerned about Varian, the agony on his face, the war he’s fighting within himself.

“I didn’t mean to…” Varian’s voice cracks, and his eyes, now fully human again, are filled with guilt. He drops to his knees beside her, his hands hovering near her as though he’s afraid to touch her, afraid of hurting her again.

“Varian… it’s okay,” Hailey whispers, though her voice is weak. She manages a small, reassuring smile despite the pain coursing through her body. “I know you didn’t mean to.”

But her words don’t seem to ease his guilt. He clenches his jaw, looking away, his fists still trembling. “I should’ve stayed away from you… I should’ve warned you,” he mutters, his voice thick with regret. “I can’t control it sometimes… my wolf, it—”

Hailey reaches out, her fingers gently brushing his arm, cutting him off. “It’s not your fault, Varian. I came to you. You didn’t want this.”

His eyes meet hers, and for a moment, the anguish there is almost unbearable to see. He swallows hard, his jaw tightening. “I should have stopped it. I should have been stronger.”

Hailey shakes her head, her eyes softening. “You’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone in this. You don’t have to face it alone.”

For a long moment, they just sit there, the air thick with unspoken words. Varian’s chest rises and falls rapidly as he tries to control his breathing, his gaze flickering between Hailey’s face and the spot where he had hit her. The look of guilt and pain on his face makes Hailey’s heart ache.

Slowly, as if he’s afraid of hurting her again, Varian reaches out, gently cradling Hailey’s face in his hands. His touch is warm, gentle, a stark contrast to the violent force from moments before.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, his voice full of raw emotion.

Hailey smiles faintly, resting her hand on his. “It’s okay, Varian. I’m okay. We’ll get through this.”

For the first time since she entered the room, Varian allows himself to exhale, the tension in his body slowly easing. But Hailey can still feel the storm within him, the constant battle he fights to keep his wolf at bay. It’s a struggle she’s only beginning to understand, but one she knows they’ll face together.

As Varian helps her to her feet, his hand never leaving hers, Hailey realizes something: no matter how dangerous things might get, no matter how fierce the battle within him rages, she’s not afraid. Because she’s not just standing beside the Alpha of the Crescent Pack—she’s standing beside her mate.

Dear Readers,

Whew! What a wild ride, right? Just when you think things are settling down between Hailey and Varian, BOOM—an emotional rollercoaster! I mean, who could’ve seen that coming? Varian battling his wolf, Hailey taking a hit (literally), and the intensity of their connection growing deeper with every chapter. It’s like their relationship is evolving faster than we can keep up, and honestly, it’s getting juicy!

I hope your heart’s racing as much as mine was writing this, because believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much more to come—the struggles, the passion, the ahem drama. But let’s not forget, no matter how wild it gets, our girl Hailey is strong and Varian is realizing just how much she means to him.

Now, I need to ask you a tiny favor—if you’re loving this chapter as much as I loved writing it, please take a moment to vote, comment, and tell me what you’re thinking! Your support fuels this story, and your feedback helps me keep the fire burning (pun intended 😉). Whether it’s “OMG, Varian, control your wolf!” or “Hailey, you badass!”—I want to hear it all!

So buckle up, my lovely readers, because the next chapter is coming, and it’s going to be even more intense. Keep the votes, comments, and love coming, and I promise you won’t regret sticking around for this wild ride!

Until next time, and as always, thanks for reading and supporting! 😘

Your ever-grateful author, [pearly starr]