Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY TWOThe moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the quiet forest beyond the castle walls. I stood near the balcony, the cool breeze brushing against my skin, carrying the distant scent of pine and earth.Behind me, the door creaked open. Footsteps. A presence I knew too well.Alderon.I didn’t turn around, my fingers tightening around the edge of the stone railing. My heart pounded as he stopped a few feet away, silent. Waiting.Finally, I spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. “I hated you for so long.”“I know,” Alderon said, his voice rough with something unreadable. Regret, maybe. Or something deeper.I turned to face him, the man I had once sworn to destroy. The man I had blamed for everything. The father of my child.And yet, standing here now, I saw him differently. Not the monster I had believed him to be. Not the villain I had painted in my mind. But a man who had suffered just as I had. A man who had carried burdens in silence, allowing me to hate him to pro
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-06
Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY ONEThe fire in the hearth flickered, casting restless shadows across the stone walls. I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands resting over my stomach. But I felt nothing. No joy. No excitement. Only fear. Only anger.A baby.Alderon’s child.My fingers curled into fists over the fabric of my gown. I didn’t even realize I was crying until a soft knock echoed against the heavy door.Before I could answer, it creaked open, and Serena stepped inside.She smiled gently. “Hey.” Closing the door behind her, she walked toward me. “How do you feel?”I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. “How do I feel?” My throat tightened as I looked up at her. “I feel terrible, obviously. I can’t believe I’m pregnant with Alderon’s child when all I want to do is kill him.”Serena’s smile faded. “Rose—”“I don’t know what to do,” I cut in, my voice raw. “I don’t want this.” A fresh wave of emotion rose as I pressed a hand to my stomach. “I don’t want his child.”Serena’s brows furrowed. “Rose—”“I despise him,” I h
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-06
Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY A month had passed since Derek’s death, yet I was still trapped in the nightmare he left behind. I moved through the days like a ghost—silent, hollow, drifting through time without purpose.I barely spoke. I barely felt.Nothing mattered anymore.So when Eva came to fetch me for breakfast—sent by Alderon’s mother—I didn’t resist. There was no use. I let her dress me in soft silks, braid my hair, and dust my skin with perfume, like I was nothing more than a lifeless doll.I entered the dining hall without a word.Sunlight poured through the tall windows, casting a golden glow over the long wooden table. Plates of roasted meats, fresh fruit, and warm bread filled the air with an aroma that should have been inviting.But it wasn’t.Not to me.Serena sat beside Alderon’s mother, laughing softly. She looked content—at peace. As if she had already forgotten everything we had been through.I hadn’t.I never would.Sliding into my chair across from Alderon, I kept my head down. His golden eye
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-06
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY NINEThe door creaks open, and Eva steps in, balancing a tray in her hands. The scent of warm stew fills the air, but my stomach twists at the thought of eating.“Luna,” she murmurs, cautiously placing the tray on the small table beside the bed. “You have to eat.”I glare at her, my eyes red and swollen. My throat is raw from the silent sobs I refused to let escape. I don’t answer. I can’t.Eva hesitates, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her dress. Then, with a small sigh, she says, “I’m sorry for your loss.”The words unravel me.A sharp sob breaks past my lips, and before I can stop myself, the tears spill over, hot and relentless. I press my hands over my face, willing myself to stop, but it’s no use.Derek is gone.Dead.And it’s because of me.If he had never met me—never tried to help me—he would still be alive.Eva shifts awkwardly, watching me crumble. When she speaks again, her voice is steady, almost too firm.“My lady, if you ask me, he deserved to die. I hope he goes to he
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-06
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT Darkness.It coils around me, thick and suffocating.I don’t remember how I got here—back in Alderon’s chambers, locked away like some fragile, broken thing. The moment Derek’s head hit the ground, something inside me snapped.I fought.I clawed.I screamed.And still, he held me.Now, the room is silent except for my own ragged breathing. My hands tremble against my lap, my nails caked with dried blood—not mine. I don’t know whose, and I don’t care.The door creaks open.I don’t look up.Heavy footsteps approach, slow and deliberate. The scent of cedar and firewood fills the space, wrapping around me like chains.Alderon.My entire body tenses.He crouches before me, his presence overwhelming, his golden eyes scanning my face.I feel his fingers beneath my chin, tilting my face toward him. I refuse to meet his gaze.“You fought like a wild thing.” His voice is quiet, but there’s something dark lurking beneath it.I say nothing.“You tried to kill me.”I still don’t speak.His grip ti
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-05
Chapter: CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN A soft knock pulls me from sleep. I blink, my body heavy, my limbs sore. The space beside me is empty—Alderon is gone. Wrapping the blanket around my chest, I clear my throat. “Come in.” The door creaks open, and Eva steps inside, carrying fresh clothes. Her posture is relaxed, different from the first day we met, but there’s something unreadable in her gaze. She sets the clothes on the bed before walking toward the basin, pouring warm water into the tub. “The Alpha has asked me to prepare you,” she says gently. “There’s going to be an execution today, and he wants you to be there.” I freeze. An execution? My heart pounds against my ribs. A lump lodges itself in my throat. “Why?” My voice comes out hoarse. Eva lowers her gaze. “He didn’t say.” But I already know. Maybe this is a warning. A reminder of what happens to those who defy him. Maybe this is his way of showing me the consequences of running away again. I swallow hard, my fingers tightening around the blanket. “
Dernière mise à jour: 2025-03-05
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