Chapter 11: Daryl's POV.I rushed through the woods with Alaric hot on my tail as we walked the narrow path leading to the secret exit."What is it?" he asked, falling in step with me. "It's the human girl, isn't it?"My jaw clenched from trying to hold back the desire to yell at him once more and also the gnawing urge to correct him. Her name was Ciara, and she was not just any human girl, she was...I shook my head, dismissing the incoming thoughts, but I knew Xere wouldn't let it be."I knew you could feel it." I felt Xere smirk but ignored him."I told you to stay out of it," I said rather calmly, but between gritted teeth. It was best he stayed out of it. Alaric knew me so well that he must've noticed the self-control I was so badly practicing because he didn't press me with further questions.Once at the exit, I quickly placed my hand on the stone wall and whispered the passcode. I didn't wait for the door to fully open before I dashed out and rushed through the corridors of th
Chapter 12: [Ciara's POV]The next morning, when I opened my eyes, bright sunlight streamed through the glass window. I sat up slowly, blinking as I rubbed my eyes. For a moment, I felt a little lost.Then I realized it. I was still in Daryl's room. And he... wasn't here.I was alone. Perfect! At least now I could think about how to spend the next few weeks of my life.I yawned and glanced down at what I was wearing. It had already been 24 hours since my last bath."I need a change of clothes," I muttered, suddenly remembering I hadn’t brought any luggage. I had no idea where to even find new clothes.I let out another sigh and looked toward Daryl’s wardrobe. My lips parted slightly.“He wouldn’t mind, would he?” I bit my bottom lip, thinking about what to do next.After a few seconds, I got out of the large bed and walked over to the wardrobe, which had mirrors on both doors. I opened it slowly and was met with rows of neatly arranged clothes, mostly in neutral colors.One side had w
Chapter 13: Ciara's POVI walked down the hallway beside Damon, my eyes fixed ahead. I kept my gaze straight, hoping it would make it obvious that I had no interest in speaking with him.I noticed figures in suits of armor displayed along the hallway. They looked like decorative pieces, probably there to show off the craftsmanship and wealth of Daryl’s family.Several huge looking men stood guard nearby. They were the same ones who had let me pass earlier, causing Daryl to question how I got through.“You’ve certainly caught Daryl’s attention, haven’t you?” Damon said suddenly. His tone was oddly playful. “My younger brother is amusing. He hasn’t given you a moment to breathe since he brought you here." I gritted my teeth and kept walking, not giving him a glance. I didn’t know what he was trying to pull, but I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of a response. Why exactly was he even talking to me? Didn't I make it clear enough that I wanted nothing to do with him? Whatever he
Chapter 14:Ciara's POVI stood frozen, Luna Eleanor's piercing question hanging in the air like a challenge as my heart drummed in my ear."How did you meet Daryl?" she asked again in disdain, her eyes never leaving mine.My knees buckled beneath me."Sit," she ordered, as though she'd noticed that my knees buckled.I moved towards the two chaise lounges surrounding a gold center table and sat, clasping my hands on my thighs, willing them to stop shaking.What was I meant to say? How was I supposed to answer her?The first thought that filtered through my head was to lie...'Daryl and I met at a coffee shop?''We met at a socialite event or charity gala?''Work. I applied for a job at his company?'Oh, how rich!I groaned internally as I immediately thought against lying. If I were to gain her trust, the truth was the way forward. Lying would only make things worse by making me look untrustworthy, which was not the goal.So maybe I could say...'Oh, my blonde bestie got cheated on by
Chapter 15:Ciara's POVHe pulled me effortlessly into the room next to the Luna's chamber. My eyes widened at him as he closed the door of the room behind us, with his hand still over my mouth.I told him to let me go, but the words came out disoriented and misplaced, making no sense as his palm was still over my mouth."Sorry," he mumbled so low I almost didn't hear him, as he removed his hand from my mouth and stepped away from me. He walked further into the room, giving his back to me."What was that for...?" I started asking, but my voice trailed off as I looked around and took in the interior of the room he brought me to, immediately getting engulfed by its opulence. I didn't want to gawk, but it was hard not to. It was like a room straight out of a medieval movie or novel.The room held so much majesty. But this was real life. It was reality.It was a luxurious dressing room with a large chandelier hanging elegantly in the middle. The dressing room was filled with elegant gowns
Chapter 16:[Daryl's POV]I stood rooted to the spot. Ciara had left my side when she followed Damon out the door to see my mother. I wondered why Mother wanted to see her and what she would say to her. But what unsettled me more was the fact that I couldn't get Ciara out of my mind.I started pacing with my hands clasped behind my back as my eyes darted to the door more times than was normal. It was as though I was expecting her to walk in any second when she had just left the chamber. Maybe she was clouding my mind, and I was thinking about her because Damon was involved. Yes! That was it. It was nothing else, except the fact that I didn't trust my twin brother and didn't want him to sabotage my plans.I clenched my jaw, picturing how she’d left with Damon and the stupid smirk he had on his face like he’d just won the lottery. I had fought the urge to blow his jaw so he could never form a smirk again. I had also fought the urge to dash down to Mother's quarters and bring Ciara right
Chapter 17:[Daryl's POV]*************Something was off.I couldn’t quite place it, but the second my boots hit the pebble pathway, I felt it in my gut. The courtyard was packed with people. Several Omegas moved fast, carrying baskets full of food, drinks, supplies...or whatever they’d been ordered to carry. A few of them bowed slightly as they passed. I gave a brief nod back, barely paying attention.It looked like preparation for a feast or some kind of celebration, but no one had said a word to me about any event. I folded my arms on my arms as my eyes scanned the busy courtyard. Teenagers were sitting on benches, and some on the tables, chattering excitedly and laughing. In another part of the courtyard, some omegas were rehearsing a dance routine. Others were crafting handiworks. With everything going on, there was a festive feel in the air, like something big was coming.Finally, I spotted Alaric talking and laughing with one of the royal maidens whom I didn’t recognize. The
Chapter 18Ciara’s POVAs I stormed away from Damon, my footsteps echoed against the cold marble floor of the palace hallway.“Ciara!” I heard him call in a loud voice behind me.I glanced back at him. He was by the doorway of the room I had just walked out of, his hands resting on his waist as he eyed me.“I think you're forgetting something…” he said. “You need me to help you find your way back.”I raised my brows. “No, thank you. I'll pass on that offer.”I turned to continue walking away from him when I heard footsteps behind me.“Let me help you, at least,” he said.I stopped abruptly, jerked backward, and wagged my finger at him.“Stop following me, Damon! Isn't it enough that I have to deal with being around you already? Do you have to follow me like a lost puppy? Huh?” I snapped at him.He took a step back, his lips set in a hard line as he nodded slowly.“You're right. You don't need me to—”“Yes, I don't!” I snapped, already worried that if I spent any more minutes around hi
Chapter 36:Daryl’s POVIt felt like time stopped.I stood frozen, wide-eyed, staring at Ciara. My heart slammed into my ribs so hard it hurt.Just a second ago, she was standing between Damon and me, trying to stop us from fighting. Her eyes were wide, her mouth open like she was about to scream. And then, she fell. Just like that.One second she was standing. The next, she was on the floor.Still. Motionless.My stomach dropped. My heart plummeted. And before I could even think, I was running toward her.“Ciara!” I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands shaking in the air, hovering just above her body. I didn’t know what to do, what to touch, what not to touch. Panic flooded me, and my fingers finally found their way to her head.Blood. There was blood.It was coming from the back of her head, staining her beautiful dark hair. I looked behind her and saw the corner of the bedside table. She must have hit it when she fell.And she was still bleeding.I looked at her face. God, her
Chapter 35Ciara's POV~~~The hallway was too quiet. Unnaturally quiet.Damon walked beside me, but neither of us said a word. Our footsteps echoed off the cold stone floor, the sound loud and sharp in the silence. The tension from the Solarium followed us like a shadow, clinging to our skin, pressing on our shoulders like invisible weight.I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t even sure I could speak if I wanted to. My throat felt tight. My legs heavy. My heart even heavier.Maybe that’s why I let him hold my hand. Just until we got to Daryl’s room.When we reached the door, I pulled my hand out of his like I’d touched fire. The door creaked open as I pushed it hard, almost like I was running from something. Maybe I was.But as soon as I stepped inside, my feet slowed. Something felt wrong.The room was dim, the air still. The bed… untouched.He wasn’t here.I blinked, letting the realization sink in, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. The disappointment was instant and overwhelmi
Chapter 34:Ciara's POVLuna Eleanor stood with her arms folded tightly across her chest, her sharp eyes darting between King Donovan and me. If she suspected something, she didn’t show it—not through her face, not through her posture. She just stood there, statuesque, cold, and composed. The energy in the room shifted with her presence, like the oxygen had been sucked out.“I’m waiting,” she said calmly, yet her voice still carried weight as she closed the door behind her. “What were you two discussing?”My heart pounded so loudly, I could barely hear anything else. My limbs felt frozen. I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think straight.Just moments ago, I had been pressing King Donovan for answers, for the truth behind his insane confession. And now—now his wife was here, looking at us like she’d caught us mid-act. Mid-sin.I tried to part my lips to say something—to explain, to fix this somehow—but he beat me to it.“Luna,” King Donovan said smoothly, stepping forward like he wasn’t bothe
Chapter 33: The Alpha's offer. Ciara’s POV~~~Oh shit!I cursed under my breath as Lyra opened the double doors to the Solarium and stepped aside. .Leave, Ciara! My mind screamed, but my feet refused to obey. I swallowed hard as my eyes settled on King Donovan. The sunlight poured through the tall glass windows of the room, framing him in a warm golden glow. He was seated at a table, perched on an extravagant throne. The light made him look every bit the regal figure, as if it was designed to match the gold that I was wearing.I shook my head, cursing myself for even noticing. Why was I thinking about this? I quickly realized I was still standing at the door.I willed my legs to move, though each step I took felt like it required more effort than it should. I heard the door click shut behind me, and I knew Lyra was gone. That left just him and me.It was as though he’d been waiting for Lyra to leave the room. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at me, his expression unreadable.
Chapter 32: God, Help me!Ciara’s POV“Hmm…” a soft moan escaped my lips as I gripped my sheets tightly. They cling to my skin, carrying the traces of last night. My eyes squeezed shut as my body throbbed with a dull ache. It wasn't the kind of ache that would make one think of love or passion. No, this was deeper and painful. I gasped as my mind flashed to Daryl. The way he had sex with me last night and left without a word, like a coward. It felt like none of this meant a thing to him. There was no goodbye, only the soft click of the door as he left while I was still in the bathroom."...God," I whispered, clutching a pillow and pressing my cheek against it. My fingers dug into the fabric of the pillow as I realized that his scent still clung to it. I pulled the sheets tighter around me and stared at the ceiling. I felt so empty and used. The emptiness inside me grew with each passing second as my chest ached. I rolled over on the pillow again, pressing my face into it. “I fe
Chapter 31Daryl's POV ~~~~~Bang! I slammed the door bend me and walked further into the dark room. Then, I paused and returned to the door. My hands ran across the wall by the door, hoping to find the switch for the lightbulb. I found it almost immediately, and I switched it on. My eyes squinted because of the bright glare of the bulb, soon I grew used to the brightness and looked around the room. Earlier, I had asked Alaric to bring the documents to this room, and I had no plans of returning to the room until tonight. It was urgent now because I needed to work. I threw a glance at the large mahogany desk with stack of scrolls and paperwork on it. Then, I strolled over to it and sat, picking up a document. ~~~~Barely thirty minutes later, I grew bored of the documents, and I found myself staring out of the window into the courtyard. The crowd had trickled down, and I assumed the alpha feast was likely over. It was just a few drunk pack members who stayed behind to dance and
Chapter 30:[DARYL]~~~~~~~~~~I had no idea how long I had spent in the woods, but I knew it was time to head back to the royal building when my bones began to ache badly. Before shifting, I had taken off my clothes and hung them on a tree's branch, then I went off, as I allowed myself to shift into my true form. This helped me to avoid thinking of the mess I had gotten myself into. But it was worse because Xere took over my consciousness and kept pushing me to return to the royal building. That was the last thing I wanted to do that night, especially after what I did with Ciara. I shouldn't have fucked her! My heart broke as I recalled how I had spiralled out of control and made her moan my name as I thrust into her. Now, I wasn't sure what was actually going on between Ciara and I. Was it the mate bond that Xere claimed to share with Ciara? Or was it my ridiculous desire to have her, just because my brother had once fucked her? I didn't know what to do, and I hated how cluele
Chapter 29Damon's POV I frowned. “Left?” She nodded. “He..he walked out of the room and hasn't returned since then.” It was quite late, almost 2am in the morning. If Daryl wasn't here, it only meant that he was out in the woods. He usually went for runs around this time. When we were younger, he would always pride himself about being someone who hated to shift into his wolf form whenever he was among other members of the pack. Instead, he shifted in the woods. “I know where he is.” I scoffed. Ciara sat up, “At the alpha feast? Is the party over already?” “No…no. It isn't. The singing and dancing will go on for hours, but Daryl is not there.” Ciara rose from the bed, her arms pressing tight against the towel that was wrapped around her small figure. Calyx stirred as I noticed for the first time how exposed her neck was. I could see her cleavage as the towel pressed tight against her chest. “Tell me where he is. Please.” She said, “but first, I need you to step outside and wa
Chapter 28Damon's POV I stood at the doorway of Daryl's chambers, my eyes pinned on Ciara. I noticed how her shoulders trembled and she silently folded into herself. She was crying and I didn't need to see her face to confirm that. Before I could stop myself, I asked, “Why are you crying, Ciara?” She didn’t answer. Instead, I saw her hand lift to her face, the back of it brushing roughly against her cheek as if she could somehow erase the evidence before I noticed. But it was too late. I already had. I just stood there, watching in silence. My fists clenched at my sides, and my jaw tightened. How had I ended up here?My mind drifted back to the grand hall, right after I caught her when she slipped. I could still remember the feel of her body in my arms. Then, it felt like my body had known how to hold her before my brain even caught up. I’d even kissed her hand. Well, I hadn’t meant to. It just happened.Shortly after that, I saw Ciara leave the hall, and I lost the desire to st