The rejected luna's stolen pups

THE NOTE

"Good evening, Mr Harris, I'm here to see Sophia." Ayla Thompson began with an excited smile plastered on her face.

Silas Harris stared down at the petite young lady with a look laced with disapproval, his eyes scanning her worn out sneakers, untamed hair, and stained dress. A scowl creased his forehead, "Sophia is busy. But I'll...consider passing on your message." He replied, his voice was low and measured, with a hint of disdain.

Ayla's smile faltered, her eyes clouding with confusion."But Mr Harris, Sophia said she'd hang out..." She began to protest, but Silas interrupted, his voice stern.

"Unlike you, child! Sophia now has serious responsibilities, rather than playing with a wolfless omega－or the Moon Goddess knows whatever you are!"

Silas had never approved of Ayla and his niece's relationship, but he had never voiced his disapproval so openly until now.

Ayla's eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. "Mr Harris, did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ignoring her, he continued. "From now on, you're not permitted to see Sophia. You're not permitted to come here either. Do you understand?"

Ayla's confusion deepened as her mind went to every possible thing she had done to warrant his action. And as did, her anger began to simmer. She remembered Sophia's promise - a birthday makeover, a special treat just for her 18th birthday. But now, it seemed like a sick joke.

"Do you understand me, girl?!" Silas demanded, his voice rising.

"Yes sir." She nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. She turned to walk away, her eyes welling up with tears. As she reached the lawn, she glanced back at the house, her eyes drawn to Sophia's window. For a moment, their eyes met, and Ayla saw a hint of sadness in her gaze. But then, Sophia's eyes dropped, then she closed the curtain, shutting out her gaze.

Ayla wiped the tears forming at the corner of her eyes as she walked away from the only home she had ever known. Feeling abandoned and alone, she stormed off to the old cabin in the woods, where her and Sophia used to play. It was their secret hideout, here she and Sophia had shared countless memories. As she burst through the door, her eyes landed on the table she had excitedly set for their makeover session, the colorful makeup and beauty accessories she had spend her last money on now a bitter reminder of Sophia's broken promise.

In a fit of rage, she let out a scream and threw everything off the table, then she carried the table with an unfamiliar strength and sent it flying across the room.She kicked the chairs till each of them got broken.

Why was she so angry? She thought, but she couldn't stop. "It was one betrayal, just one. She probably has her reasons." Ayla told herself, but the emotions building up inside her reached a boiling point, and could no longer be suppressed.

Just like that, her senses exploded, her vision blurred as her body began to contort. Ayla let out a shrilling cry as she fell to the ground and shifted for the first time. From the half broken mirror in the room, she saw a beautiful white wolf with eyes blazing like the sun.

Suddenly, her nose caught a whiff of something unexpected, a strong earthy smell laced with pine and sandalwood - it was her mate. The scent was unmistakable, and Ayla's body responded instinctively, shifting back into her human form.

As she stood there, barely clothed, panting and disoriented, her eyes locked onto the figure standing before her. It was Ethan Blackford, the Alpha heir to their pack, The White Fang Pack. He had returned to the Pack a week ago and he was the talk of the entire pack, she and Sophia often gossiped about the day dreams they had of him, and now he was as her mate. Her brown eyes met his blue ones, and the world around them melted away. Leaving the thumping of Ayla's heart filling the room.

Instinctively, Ethan removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, the mate bond overwhelming him. Ayla froze as he closed the remaining gap between them. His towering height made her feel so small and invisible, but surprisingly, he knew her name!

"Nice to finally meet you, Ayla Thompson." he whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

Ayla's heart skipped a beat, then raced on as Ethan seemed to enjoy the look on her face. He gently pulled back the stray strands of hair behind her ears, his thumb caressing her cheeks.

She tried to speak, but she couldn't think of anything, instead her eyes kept travelling to his lip.

Ethan held her chin up."My eyes are up here, Precious." He teased, his eyes glinting with amusement.

Ayla's eyes remained fixed on his lips. He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers. Her heart raced, her breath catching in her throat as she felt the warmth of his body and scent enveloping her. With a gentle smile, he brushed his lips against hers, a soft gentle one that became quicker with intensity. He nipped at her neck, she held him till the jacket fell off and there was no urge to cover herself up. As she once again stood naked before him, he took off his shirt, exposing his fine abs.

"Lie down." He commanded, gesturing at the small bed in the corner.

"I don't know what to do." She shyly admitted, as he mounted on her.

"It doesn't matter."Ethan murmured, his barely above a whisper. "I'm going to show you how."

Ayla's eyes fluttered close as he once again kissed her neck, his hands travelling to each of her tits, he squeezed them so tight that she let out a small moan, which excited him even more and made him harder. Quickly, he spread her legs, stroking her back and forth, but stopping before she came. Finally,when he was to come, he took his time, thrusting in little by little. Ayla cried out in response, but her soft cries and moans motivated him further, the mate bond was just too strong.

As soon as she adjusted and was able to accommodate his size, he slipped it out and slammed into her again. He was merciless but he couldn't stop and Ayla didn't want him to, so they continued till the moonlight was the only light filtering in through the room.

The following day, Ayla woke up feeling very sore but with no regrets of the previous night, at the same time, she realized that Ethan was gone and a piece of paper replaced his positon. Quickly she picked it up and read it and as she did, her heart sank. The note read,

"I, Alpha Heir of the White Fang Pack rejects you, Aria Thompson as my mate and Luna, for these reasons; you are weak and unqualified. By this decree, I banish you from the pack and all its territories. Defy this edict and consequences will definitely follow."

ICE-CREAM

"What's going on here?" Ayla asked, her voice laced with confusion and surprise.

"Don't you know what's happening?" a lady beside her replied, her eyes shining with excitement. "It's the young Alpha heir's coronation, and marriage to Sophia Harris, the former Beta's niece!"

Ayla's eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her. "Married?" She murmured, her face contorting in anger.

She stood in the midst of the bustling town square, surrounded by the vibrant parade ceremony. Drummers marched by, while colorful floats and decorations filled the streets. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as the newlyweds made their way through the procession, their faces beaming with joy.

Ayla's gaze locked onto the scene which only served to fuel her outrage, as she felt used and betrayed by the ones she trusted. As her world came crashing down, the scene began to blur and morph. The street where they stood faded away, replaced by a cozy bedroom. The sound of parade music dissolved into the gentle chatter of children.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in her own bed, surrounded by her three little ones. They were jumping on her, their bright eyes and cheerful faces bringing a smile to hers.

"Mommy, Mommy! Wake up!" they chimed in unison. "It's our birthday!" They screamed excitedly.

Ayla's smile grew wider as she hugged her triplets tight. "Happy fifth birthday, my little munchkins! Today's going to be a special day, just for you three!" She cooed.

The triplets squealed with excitement, bouncing up and down on the bed. "Cake! Presents! Party!" they chanted in unison.

"Okay, slow down everyone. Of course, Mommy didn't forget." She grinned, giving each of them a knowing look. The first triplet picked on so fast that he screamed at his sisters,"Last one downstairs is a rotten egg!" He screamed.

"Orion, be nice to your sisters!" Ayla began to protest, but the triplets raced ahead, their little feet pattering down the hallway.

Ayla got out of bed and followed, she had spent the last two hours decorating the house for the kids. She had come a long way since that fateful night with Ethan. Her children had brought light into her life now, they were her world.

In the kitchen, a big banner read "Happy 5th Birthday!" and the table was set with a delicious breakfast spread. She laughed as she watched them dig in.

It was a weekend, and she had taken a day off from her housekeeping job to spend with them. After breakfast, they got ready, and once she was finally done getting ready herself, they headed out. They lived in a small, shabby apartment on the fourth floor of a New York City building, but despite the basic living, they were a happy family.

As they walked to the ice cream parlor, Ayla's thoughts drifted back to the coronation ceremony she had dreamed about, a memory from five years ago that still lingered in her mind. She remembered watching Ethan and Sophia pass by in a float, hailed as Alpha and Luna and how helpless and betrayed she felt. Quickly, she pushed the memory aside, focusing on the triplets' laughter and excitement.

"Mommy!" Nova, the second triplet, called out, "can we get sprinkles?" Before Ayla had a chance to reply, Skye, the third triplet, chimed in,

"And can I get a cookie dough cone with extra chocolate chips, please?" She jumped.

Orion couldn't be left out, "Can I get six scoops of all my favorite flavors?!"

Ayla laughed, "Slow down, babies! We're going to get one scoop each, and that's plenty. We'll all enjoy the treat without overdoing it."

Just as they approached the corner of the street, a van screeched to a halt beside them. The door forcefully opened, and three masked figures jumped out. Ayla felt a rush of fear as the men surrounded them, her heart pounding in her chest. The triplets gathered close to her, clutching her hands, trembling.

One of the men stepped forward, a gun in his hand, causing the onlookers to scramble to safety. "Don't move," he told her in a low and threatening tone.

Ayla swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady and calmer than she felt. "What do you want?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the gun.

"We want the triplets," one of the men said, his tone curt and hard. "Give them to us, and you can walk away."

Ayla's eyes widened in horror. "No!" she exclaimed, clutching the three of them even tighter. "I'm not giving my kids to you. Whoever you are, you got the wrong triplets, who sent you?"

"You are in no position to ask questions!" the man snapped, his eyes narrowing. "You have no choice. We're not going to ask again, hand them over and you can sort this out later with our employer."

"Employer?"Ayla shook her head, her grip on her children tightening. Her eyes flashed with bravado as she spoke. "No!" she repeated, her voice firm. "I won't let you take them."

Before she could complete her statement, one of the men grabbed Nova's arms. Ayla struggled with all her might, but it was no use. Another one took Skye and the third one grabbed Orion. The men were too strong, and they easily pulled them away from her.

She screamed in rage and despair, but it was too late. The men were already dragging them into the van. "Let them go!"Ayla yelled, tugging at Orion's leg. In her desperation, she managed to pull of the man's mask, but one of the men was faster, and he struck her hard on the head with the back of his gun.

She fell to the ground, her vision blurring. She could hear the triplets' screams as the van zoomed off, but everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Suddenly, she felt dizzy and disoriented, and her head throbbing in pain.

In the distance, Ayla could see people running towards her. The last thing she heard was a voice saying, "Miss, are you okay?" And then, everything went dark.

CONNECTIONS

Ayla's eyes fluttered open, taking in her surroundings, her head throbbing in pain. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her skull. She was met with the sterile smell and pale walls of a hospital room.

As she tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness hit her, forcing her back onto her pillow. "What am I doing here? What happened?" She groggily said.

"You're in a hospital, Miss Thompson." The gentle voice of a nurse responded, "You were brought in here with a head injury, do you remember what happened?"

Ayla's mind raced, the confusion evident on her face. "What are you talking about, Where are my babies?" She asked.

"Your triplets, sweetie. They're not here. Can you think back to the last thing you remember doing with them?" The nurse told her.

Ayla's eyes widened in horror as memories suddenly flooded back. "Oh God, oh God, no! We...we were going for ice cream...their birthday...then...then...The van! It pulled up and took them! My babies, oh no, my poor babies." Ayla's frantic screams filled the room

The nurse rushed to restrain her, "Miss Thompson, stop! You'll hurt yourself!" But Ayla was beyond consolation, her mind consumed by the nightmare she had just recalled. "I tried to fight...but someone hit me...and...and...everything went dark." She sobbed.

Ayla got frantic as she tried to get out bed."Oh dear, I need to find my babies, let me out of her so I can go find them!" She begged the nurse who desperately tried to hold her back, finally she said,

"Ma'am, you need to calm down." She held her back. "The cops are outside and they're here to ask you some questions, they're here to help you find them, okay?" Ayla nodded, then the nurse let the officers in.

They began by introducing themselves and asking some routine questions. "Do you know anyone who you think may be responsible? Any enemies?" They asked, but she couldn't think of think of anyone.#

"From the footage we were able to pull," one of the officers began, "you were able to pull off one of the attacker's mask, did you recognize this person?"

Ayla tearfully replied "Before I could see his face, I was struck with the gun. Officers, please help me find my babies, I beg of you."

The first man nodded as he took notes. "We'll enhance the footage and work hard to find the perpetrators. We'll do our best tot reunite you with your children, be rest assured." He told her.

Days turned to into weeks and Ayla still hadn't gotten a word from the cops.She visited the police station daily, pleading for updates. She was miserable, she couldn't eat, sleep or even focus on her job, it had gotten so bad that her boss had to lay her off.

Then, a there was breakthrough! The police had a lead. Ayla's heart raced with hope as she rushed to the police station that morning.

But when she met the officer in charge of the case, his expression turned grim. "Ma'am, we've managed to identify the man in the footage. His name is Ryker, a notorious terrorist werewolf with ties to powerful organizations. Our last Intel suggests he's returned to DC."

"So?" Ayla's eyes widened in horror. "What does this mean? Can you arrest him?"

The officer's face turned understanding but firm. "Unfortunately, Ma'am, our hands are tied. Ryker has connections, powerful allies who protect him. Unless you have connections of your own, I'm afraid we can't help you."

Ayla's heart sank, as a sense of dread crept over her. "Con-Connections" She stuttered. "You mean like money or influence?"

The officer nodded. "I'm afraid so. In this city, justice often comes with a price tag."

Ayla swallowed hard as her mind raced, and then one person came to mind, bur she reminded herself that she couldn't dare go back.

FLASHBACK

Ayla stood behind the Blackford Estate in the dead of night, the moon casting eerie shadows on the grounds as she impatiently waited for Sophia. It had been four weeks since Sophia's marriage and coronation but then, Ayla made a recent discovery that she couldn't keep to herself anymore.

"What are you doing here, Ayla?" Sophia asked as she emerged from the shadows. "Weren't you banished? Weren't you supposed to leave town and never come back?"

Ayla came closer to her, but Sophia quickly stepped back, "What are you doing?" She asked, her tone laced with disgust.

"Soph, we need to talk." Her voice was urgent and shaky. "Please, it's important."

Sophia raised a brow. "What could you possibly have to say that's so important?"

Ayla voice cracked with emotions as she said, "I'm pregnant. And Ethan is the father."

Sophia's face remained devoid of emotions as she replied. "And?"

"And? You're not upset?" tears swelled down her eyes. "He was supposed to be my mate, I was suppose to be the Luna. He rejected me, he chose you over me. He threw me away like I meant nothing...I thought you were forced into this."

"Oh, I wasn't forced into this, this was my destiny, Ayla." She retorted in a cold tone.

"So you're not even sorry, you're not even sorry that you hurt me so bad?" Tear finally trickled down her face.

Sophia's expression didn't falter as she told Ayla that she had moved on, and so should she. It was obvious that she didn't care about Ayla and probably never did, but Ayla just realized it. She watched as Sophia pulled out a fat envelope from her cloak. "Somehow, I knew it was you, I wouldn't be caught dead talking to you right now, Ayla. Here's a large sum of money. Get an abortion and leave town. Faraway."

Ayla felt a mix of emotions: anger, hurt and betrayal. Sophia was ruthless, her voice dripping with manipulation as she continued. "Ayla, if you ever come back, it'll be a betrayal of our friendship. I finally got everything I wanted, do you want to ruin that? Look, if you ruin this for me...I'd never forgive that. So promise me you'll never cone back, that you'll start a new life and leave the past behind."

Ayla felt a pang of guilt and sadness, she knew that Sophia was using their friendship to control her. But she also knew she had no choice. So with tears pouring down her face, she took the money and nodded. "I promise, Sophia...I'll never come back."