The Pack of Lies

The Pack of Lies

PhronesisWrites

5.0
Comment(s)
39
View
14
Chapters

Born into a powerful pack, twins Alina and Esme were destined to stand united-until a prophecy tore them apart. Alina was crowned heir, while Esme, the weaker twin, was cast aside. But when Esme discovers she's not as weak as she seems, she uncovers dark secrets about her family and herself. As betrayal strikes from every corner, Esme must rise to fight for her place in the pack-and her heart. Caught between the mate bond with a dangerous rogue and a forbidden love with the pack's Beta, Esme will learn that strength lies not in prophecy but in the choices she makes. Find out if Esme will claim her destiny, or if the lies will destroy her-and her pack

The Pack of Lies Chapter 1 Two Wolves, One Prophecy

"You missed another celebration," Alina said, her voice steady but laced with something sharper.

Esme didn't raise her gaze. Picking at the bark with her fingernail, she sat at the base of the sacred oak. "Has anybody noticed?"

"Father did."

"Esme flung a piece of bark into the ground and mumbled, "Of course he did." Her gaze followed the stars that were visible through the branches above as she rested her head back against the rugged trunk. Alina took a step forward, her boots making no sound on the forest floor. "Esme, you can't continue doing this."

"Doing what?" Esme finally looked at her sister, her expression flat. "Existing?"

Alina didn't flinch, but her jaw tightened. "Avoiding everyone. Avoiding your place in the pack."

"Place?" Esme let out a hollow laugh. "What place? The one behind you? The one no one even sees?"

"That's not fair," Alina said, her voice sharper now.

"No," Esme shot back, standing abruptly. "What's not fair is spending your whole life being told you don't matter. That you're not enough."

Alina crossed her arms, her golden eyes steady and unyielding. "No one said you're not enough."

"They didn't have to," Esme replied. She stepped closer, her voice low but trembling. "It's in everything they do. Every time they look at me and see you."

Alina didn't answer right away, but her fingers clenched into fists at her sides. Rather, she looked about the clearing as though seeking a response that the sacred oak was refusing to provide.

"You can't let this eat you alive," Alina said at last. Her voice softened, but there was still steel beneath it. "The pack needs you, whether you believe it or not."

Esme shook her head. "No, Alina. They need you. The chosen twin. The one who will rule."

"And you're the one who will fall?" Alina's voice was quiet now, but her words carried the weight of the prophecy like an anchor between them.

Esme's eyes darkened. "Is that not what is prophesied to happen?"

Alina paused for the first time. She looked down at the ceremonial dagger at her waist, her fingertips brushing its polished hilt.

Her gaze locked with Esme's, firmly.

For a moment, Esme wanted to believe her, to imagine a world where they weren't pitted against each other by a prophecy neither had asked for. But she knew better.

"Go back to the party, Alina," Esme said, her voice tired. "Your pack is waiting."

Alina hesitated, her expression unreadable, before she turned and walked away.

Esme watched her go, the familiar ache in her chest settling like a stone.

The woodland fell silent again, except for the faint brush of leaves rustling in the wind. Esme dropped back to the ground and drew her knees to her chest as she stared at the sacred tree's scarred bark.

She and Alina had discussed this topic previously, and it would not be the last time. The same wall between them, the same tension, the same words. Even though they were identical twins, Esme occasionally questioned whether they had come from completely separate universes.

One twin will rule. One twin will fall.

The prophecy was always there, lingering like a shadow in her mind. It had defined everything-the way their father trained Alina relentlessly, the way the pack adored her, the way Esme was pushed aside, unnoticed and unneeded.

She tried to push those thoughts away by pressing her fingers to her face. Then a low, savage growl echoed across the air from deep in the forest.

Her wolf stirred, uneasy.

Esme rose to her feet, scanning the shadows beyond the clearing. "Alina?" she called, her voice trembling.

There was no answer, only silence. And then-another growl, closer this time.

Her heart raced as the shadows shifted, and a pair of glowing amber eyes emerged from the darkness.

Esme froze. The creature stepped into the moonlight, its fur sleek and black as midnight. A rogue.

Her breath hitched. Rogues didn't stray this far into Crescent Valley, not unless they were desperate-or hunting.

The wolf snarled, its teeth bared, and Esme's pulse thundered in her ears. Her own wolf awoke once more, but it was not a strong one, only a whisper from the periphery of her awareness. Her hands clenched, and despite the churning horror in her gut, she forced herself to stand.

With a voice more composed than she felt, she shouted, "I don't want to fight you." To begin with, the rogue didn't respond verbally. It lunged, faster than Esme expected, and she barely managed to dodge.

As the wolf's claws swept through the air where she had been standing, she staggered backward, banging her shoulder against the oak tree. Her veins flooded with adrenaline. Her thoughts were racing as she stumbled to her feet. Her instinct told her to run, but her legs felt like they were stuck to the earth. Esme was prepared as the rogue lunged once more. With a last-minute sidestep, she grabbed a falling limb and swung it as hard as she could. The wolf yelled and staggered back when the wood hit its side. There was silence for a while. The rogue circled her, its body tense and coiling like a spring, its amber eyes flashing with rage. Esme's inner wolf let out a feeble snarl, pleading with her to move, but she was unable to do so.

She'd never been able to shift fully, not like Alina or the others.

The rogue growled again, preparing to attack-and then, out of nowhere, another figure burst into the clearing.

He moved like a shadow, faster than Esme could track. The newcomer smashed into the rogue, bringing them both plummeting to the ground before the rogue could respond. Esme blinked as the fight progressed, her breath hitching.

The stranger was a man, his movements fluid and deadly. With a precise strike of his fists and claws, the rogue was soon fleeing, its snarls fading as it vanished into the forest. The man straightened, breathing heavily as his chest rose and fell. His clothing were ripped, the fabric stained with blood, and his dark hair fell into his eyes. With her instincts telling her to run, Esme took a wobbly step back. With a harsh voice, she said, "Who are you?" His eyes were piercing as he turned to face her. His eyes were a stormy gray, filled with something Esme couldn't quite put her finger on, rather than amber like the rogue's.

"Your savior, apparently," he said, his voice deep and rough-edged.

Esme frowned, her fear replaced by anger. "I did not call for yours or anyone's help."

"No, you did not" he said, stepping closer, "but I sensed you needed it."

Esme's wolf stirred again, stronger this time, and she clenched her fists. "What do you want?"

With his blank expression, the man studies her for a moment. "To warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Your pack is in danger," he said. "And so are you."

Esme narrowed her eyes. "You're a rogue."

He smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Not all rogues are your enemy. Some of us know things you don't. Things you need to know."

"Like what?"

He hesitated, his gaze flicking to the sacred oak behind her. "The prophecy. It's not what you think."

Esme now was anxious, with her heart skipping beats. "What are you talking about?"

He took another step closer, his voice lowering. "Ask your father. Ask him why he's so afraid of you."

Before Esme could respond, he turned and disappeared into the forest, his movements silent and swift.

Esme stood there, her mind racing. The rogue. The stranger. The prophecy. Her father.

Nothing made sense.

Her wolf was aroused again, and this time, it felt stronger. Fiercer.

For the first time since she heard of it, Esme doubted the prophecy. She felt there was more to it that she had been told, and she was ready to uncover the truth.

Continue Reading

You'll also like

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

I Slapped My Fiancé-Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis

Jessica C. Dolan
4.9

Being second best is practically in my DNA. My sister got the love, the attention, the spotlight. And now, even her damn fiancé. Technically, Rhys Granger was my fiancé now-billionaire, devastatingly hot, and a walking Wall Street wet dream. My parents shoved me into the engagement after Catherine disappeared, and honestly? I didn't mind. I'd crushed on Rhys for years. This was my chance, right? My turn to be the chosen one? Wrong. One night, he slapped me. Over a mug. A stupid, chipped, ugly mug my sister gave him years ago. That's when it hit me-he didn't love me. He didn't even see me. I was just a warm-bodied placeholder for the woman he actually wanted. And apparently, I wasn't even worth as much as a glorified coffee cup. So I slapped him right back, dumped his ass, and prepared for disaster-my parents losing their minds, Rhys throwing a billionaire tantrum, his terrifying family plotting my untimely demise. Obviously, I needed alcohol. A lot of alcohol. Enter him. Tall, dangerous, unfairly hot. The kind of man who makes you want to sin just by existing. I'd met him only once before, and that night, he just happened to be at the same bar as my drunk, self-pitying self. So I did the only logical thing: I dragged him into a hotel room and ripped off his clothes. It was reckless. It was stupid. It was completely ill-advised. But it was also: Best. Sex. Of. My. Life. And, as it turned out, the best decision I'd ever made. Because my one-night stand isn't just some random guy. He's richer than Rhys, more powerful than my entire family, and definitely more dangerous than I should be playing with. And now, he's not letting me go.

The Billionaire's Secret Triplets: Mom's Revenge

The Billionaire's Secret Triplets: Mom's Revenge

HONEY MULLINS
5.0

Six years ago, I was a naive girl sold by my father to the powerful Sanders estate, only to be tossed onto the streets after a brutal assault they labeled "marital infidelity." I fled the country pregnant and broken, hiding from the shadow of a husband I had never even met. Now, I’ve returned to New York with my triplets to sign the final divorce papers and disappear forever. But Archibald Sanders—the man I was told was a crippled recluse—intercepted us with the cold precision of a predator. He didn't see the woman his family destroyed; he saw a gold-digger who had shamed his name. His security team hunted us to a grimy motel, using tactical force to snatch my children away and drag me to his glass-walled empire. In his office, he loomed over me, demanding a DNA test and threatening to throw me in prison while my babies were lost to the foster system. He was convinced I’d cheated, yet he stared at my sons with a haunting confusion, unable to ignore the stormy blue eyes that were a perfect mirror of his own. I stood there, paralyzed by his scent—the sharp tang of rain and expensive leather that triggered the icy dread of my worst nightmares. How could he accuse me of betrayal when he felt exactly like the monster who had shattered my life in that dark hotel room? "I'll sign anything," I sobbed, "just give me my kids." But the game changed when my five-year-old son hacked the tower’s security, holding the skyscraper hostage to save me. In the chaos, a fragile, silent boy—Archibald’s secret son—wandered into the room and reached for me as if I were his missing soul. Archibald’s face turned to stone as he tore up the agreement and locked the doors. "Until I find out why my son is looking at you like that," he growled, "you aren't going anywhere."

The Discarded Heiress: Marrying My Lethal Husband

The Discarded Heiress: Marrying My Lethal Husband

Xiao Wang
5.0

The rain in Detroit was slick with grime when my family finally came to fetch me. They didn't want a reunion; they wanted a sacrificial lamb to marry into the Kaufman empire to save their failing business. I thought I was just being sold off, but the limo ride ended under a dark overpass where six hired thugs were waiting with chains. My own sister had ordered them to "break my spirit" so I’d be a shaking, pathetic mess by the time I reached the altar. They called me "Detroit trash" and sprayed air freshener when I sat on their leather seats. My stepmother wanted a video of me begging for my life, and my father was ready to trade me like a used car to a man everyone called a "vegetable." They expected a submissive country girl, unaware that I was a high-level "cleaner" who could snap a radius bone before they could even scream. When I finally reached the Kaufman estate, I found my fiancé, Barron, slumped in a wheelchair, drooling and silent. But as soon as the doors closed, the "invalid" grabbed my wrist with a grip of iron and whispered a command that changed everything. I didn't understand why my own blood was so desperate to see me destroyed. What had I ever done to deserve a hit squad and a forced marriage to a man they thought was a corpse? But Barron isn't a vegetable, and I'm not a victim. We just touched down at the Moon family gala in a matte-black helicopter, and as the doors slide open, the "broken" bride is about to show them exactly what happens when you throw away the wrong daughter. "If we're going to crash a party," Barron whispered, his eyes burning with lethal clarity, "we should make an entrance."

I'm Divorcing with You, Mr Billionaire!

I'm Divorcing with You, Mr Billionaire!

The Wine Press
4.2

I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ "I want to get a divorce, Mark," I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time-even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.

Chapters
Read Now
Download Book
The Pack of Lies The Pack of Lies PhronesisWrites Werewolf
“Born into a powerful pack, twins Alina and Esme were destined to stand united-until a prophecy tore them apart. Alina was crowned heir, while Esme, the weaker twin, was cast aside. But when Esme discovers she's not as weak as she seems, she uncovers dark secrets about her family and herself. As betrayal strikes from every corner, Esme must rise to fight for her place in the pack-and her heart. Caught between the mate bond with a dangerous rogue and a forbidden love with the pack's Beta, Esme will learn that strength lies not in prophecy but in the choices she makes. Find out if Esme will claim her destiny, or if the lies will destroy her-and her pack”
1

Chapter 1 Two Wolves, One Prophecy

30/12/2024

2

Chapter 2 Secrets in the Shadow

30/12/2024

3

Chapter 3 Shadows of Betrayal

30/12/2024

4

Chapter 4 The Wolf in The Shadows

30/12/2024

5

Chapter 5 The Creature's Demand

30/12/2024

6

Chapter 6 The truth of the cavern

31/12/2024

7

Chapter 7 AWAKENING

06/01/2025

8

Chapter 8 A Glimpse of Darkness

06/01/2025

9

Chapter 9 Shadows Closing In

07/01/2025

10

Chapter 10 A Shadow's Grasp

07/01/2025

11

Chapter 11 The Breaking Point

08/01/2025

12

Chapter 12 The Echoes of Truth

09/01/2025

13

Chapter 13 Into the Lion's Den

09/01/2025

14

Chapter 14 The Trial of Shadows

09/01/2025