On the day I turned eighteen, I was kidnapped.

The kidnappers contacted Beta Finn Hernandez, heir to the Hernandez pack, and demanded a ransom of six million dollars.

"You're the Beta of one of the most powerful packs, Finn. Surely you'd pay six million to get your pretty mate back, right? Such a beautiful girl, it'd be a shame if she ended up as a tragic loss."

I was lying there with a dislocated shoulder, crying and pleading with Finn over the phone to rescue me. But he replied coldly, “Why is she worth six million?”

Furious, the kidnappers broke three of my fingers. It meant I'd never play my beloved piano again—a dream that had once been my only solace in the rigid hierarchy of the Lane pack.

Later, when I crossed paths with him again, I addressed him formally, "Beta Hernandez." He cornered me in a room and, with the lightest touch on my face, softly asked, “Ivy, be a dear and call me Finn like old times, okay?”

---

"Ivy, we're in New York."

The plane landed with a slight jolt, and the nightmare seemed to draw me in again until my assistant’s timely call grounded me. I'd dreamt of those terrifying events from six years back once more. Fear, confusion, and helplessness welled up inside me, bringing tears to my eyes.

New York. A city of bright lights and allure, but also cold and calculated. I wouldn't have returned if it weren't for helping Gamma Heath Forrester secure backing for his new movie. As a Gamma in the Lane pack’s entertainment division, it was my duty, even if the memories of this city haunted me.

After leaving the airport, the car my assistant had arranged didn't show up. I was about to hail a taxi when I heard a hesitant voice behind me:

“Gamma Lane?”

I turned around and froze. It was Uncle Lee, the chauffeur who had driven Finn around since he was fifteen. Behind him was a Rolls-Royce Phantom. I recognized the familiar license plate: 1108. Finn’s birthday. My heart skipped a beat.

The car window slowly glided down, unveiling that familiar, almost ethereal face.

“Ivy?”

Finn sat inside, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a perfectly sculpted collarbone. The aggressive side of him from six years ago had evolved into a serene, icy depth. His dark, intense eyes beneath sharply defined brows were unchanged. Even after six years, he still resembled a picturesque watercolor. Yet, his presence sent chills through me.

I never anticipated running into him on such a seemingly regular afternoon.

“You're back?”

His expression was flawlessly courteous and natural, as if I’d simply been away on a brief trip. It seemed he had forgotten that six years ago, I was locked in a cold, damp shack, my arms dislocated, crying out for him to save me.

But he responded to the kidnappers with the same detachment, “Why is she worth six million? A mate? You're mistaken. I wouldn't spend six million on someone who means nothing to me. If you want money, try the Lane family.”

He knew how tough things were for me with the Lane family. I pleaded over the phone, “Finn! Consider it a loan; I’ll repay you. Please don’t leave me!”

Moments later, I heard him chuckle, “You've called me Finn for years. Did you really think you were one of us? Know your boundaries. Don’t interrupt my peace. Do what you want.”

That last sentence was aimed at the kidnappers.

I stared blankly at the phone after the call ended. He had been my only hope, and Finn extinguished it himself.

In the aftermath, the enraged kidnappers shattered three of my finger bones. They even contemplated assaulting me, recording it, and sending the footage to Finn. Fortunately, the leader remembered Finn had identified me as part of the Lane family, and they hesitated to offend both the Hernandezes and the Lanes.

Ultimately, it was my sister, Delta Fiona Lane, who came to my rescue under Alpha Kevin Lane's orders. She paid for my release and freed me, only to slap me hard across the face.

“Ivy Lane! You’re nothing but trouble!”

In the past, I'd have fought back without hesitation. Finn always assured me that if anyone bullied me, I should stand up for myself. He was my greatest support.

But now, I owed the Lane family six million. And the man who once vowed to protect me for a lifetime didn’t even make an appearance.

Fiona once taunted me, “You're just the Lane family’s castoff. How dare you dream of being the mate of the Beta of the Hernandez pack? Who do you think you are?!”

I calmly retorted, “At least I can call him Finn, something you can't.”

But Fiona mocked me, “You’re just a diversion in Finn's dull life. Did you really think you mattered?”

She never knew that Finn, with all his pride and reservations, once knelt to gently massage my sprained ankle. Now, reflecting on the past, the confidence I once had feels increasingly absurd.

“Where to? I can give you a lift.” Finn’s deep, commanding voice snapped me back to reality, his Alpha aura pressing subtly against me, a reminder of his status I couldn’t ignore.

A dull ache spread through the three fingers on my right hand, the permanent reminder of my shattered dream of becoming the Lane pack’s musician. I slipped my quivering hand into my pocket and took a step back, distancing myself from him, the space between us feeling both too close and impossibly far.

“Thanks, Beta Hernandez, but that’s not necessary. I’ve already ordered a car.” I kept my tone formal, respectful, as protocol demanded when addressing a Beta of his standing.

He glanced down and chuckled softly, the sound smooth and rich, like the hum of a well-tuned engine. With gentle reproach, he said, “You’ve been gone for a few years, and now you don’t even call me Finn?”

A lump formed in my throat, but sarcasm slipped out before I could stop it. “How could I dare to call you that? Have you forgotten, Beta Hernandez, the time you told me to know my place six years ago?”

“I’m not lacking in memory skills. Once burned, twice shy. I should thank you, Beta Hernandez, for such a vivid lesson—it was truly memorable.”

The moment the words left my mouth, regret flooded over me. I’d held onto that statement for so long, and he would instantly grasp its significance.

Finn looked up, his dark eyes filled with tumultuous thoughts, his Alpha presence intensifying as if he were wrestling with something unsaid. After what felt like an eternity, as my palms began to sweat, he finally spoke in a low, measured tone. “You’ve always been a cheeky girl, sharp-tongued as ever.”

With a quick tap on the car window, he called, “Uncle Lee, let’s go.”

Only when the car drove away did I exhale a sigh of relief. Six years. Over two thousand days and nights, yet facing him again left me utterly defeated.

My assistant, a young Delta from the pack’s entertainment division, watched me closely, hesitant to speak. “Gamma Ivy, I heard you call him Beta Hernandez? In Edinburg, with that last name… could he be…”

I nodded, and her eyes widened in surprise. “I heard that Beta Finn’s company invested in Hector Zane’s new movie. If you’ve known Beta Hernandez for so long, why bother meeting with Bill Aiden? You could just…”

“I will never ask Finn for help!” I interrupted sharply, my voice cutting through the air like a whip.

She recoiled, quickly lowering her gaze. “Understood, Gamma Ivy.”

The car finally arrived. I collected myself and picked up my suitcase, the weight of it grounding me. “Contact Mr. Aiden’s secretary and let her know we’ve arrived. Request an appointment with him.”

After giving instructions to my assistant, I leaned back in the car’s rear seat and closed my eyes, seeking rest. The encounter with Finn had left me completely drained, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind, a faint whimper echoing my own turmoil.

Just as I needed some respite, another annoyance cropped up. Call after call from Waylen Price, relentless as ever, shattered the silence.

With a sigh, I surrendered.

“Hello? You better have a good reason for calling me. I’ve been on a plane for four hours and I’m wiped out.”

She sounded amused, her voice dripping with mischief. “More exhausting than dealing with my brother?”

“Cut me a break. Where are you hiding now, watching the drama unfold?”

Waylen clicked her tongue several times, her voice dripping with intrigue. “Today was the Hernandez Corporation’s big meeting. My uncle, father, brother, and cousin were all there. It’s Beta Finn’s most crucial meeting of the year, yet he kept checking his watch, clearly distracted. As the head of the corporation, he was eager to leave halfway through. Can you guess why?”

I wasn’t foolish enough to think it was because of me.

“Waylen, you know I’m not one to speculate. I have work to do, talk later.”

Waylen yelled into the phone, “Hey! Ivy! My brother—”

I decisively hung up.

Now that Waylen knew I was back in Edinburg, peace and quiet would be hard to find.

A headache began to form. I had to act swiftly.

If this meeting went well, Hector Zane could use this film to reach new heights. While he often claimed he was fine with hovering just below the big leagues, I felt guilty.

Over the years, Hector had helped me so much, and I just wanted to return the favor.

This time, I had finally managed to secure a meeting with Bill Aiden at Starbright Pictures. I had to grasp this chance.

Eventually, my assistant arranged for us to have dinner and discuss business in two nights. After settling into the hotel, I decided to make a quick trip back to the Lane family estate.

Bill Aiden wasn’t easy to impress. To secure resources from him, I needed something from the Lane family that would boost my credibility—something that would remind him of the power and legacy of the Lane pack, even if it was now crumbling under the weight of its own failures.