Avery’s POV Gerald’s voice dripped with satisfaction as he continued, “We obviously cannot allow such treachery to go unpunished. I suggest that we make an example of Lady Avery and the other women from the North. A public execution will send a clear message to all traitors.”My breath caught in my throat. Execution? This couldn’t be happening. I looked at Kane again, praying for him to intervene, but his gaze remained fixed forward, his jaw clenching and unclenching like he was trying to avoid lashing out at me.He didn’t believe me? Why? When I got that letter, I was still a little wary of him, and after that, I just forgot about it. I never thought it’d be important. But he should still believe me. I had never done anything to make him doubt me before. So why was he so ready to believe Geralds words over mine? So much for all that love and trust he he said he felt for me.Gerald, the asshole wasn’t done. “Your manipulations will no longer work here, Lady Avery, your time has
Kane’s POV Zander clapped me on the back as we walked through the hall, his eyes gleaming with newfound respect. “Damn Alpha! You’ve got bigger guts than we ever imagined. The way you stood up to the court today, I have a new respect for you, man.”Greyson nodded in agreement, his expression was one of disbelief and and admiration. “You really put them in their place Alpha. They won’t be challenging you again anytime soon.”Good. That’s what I hoped. I gave them a small nod. “I did what I had to do. No one lays a finger on her or any of our women on my watch.”Zander grinned. “Of course! I was waiting for your orders back there, or else I would have personally cut off their hands before they got to lock the chains.” Zander declared with all seriousness. “Still, it’s good to see you flex your power sir. Reminds them who exactly their messing with.”I noticed that Avery was mostly quiet on the ride home and I couldn’t blame her, she was probably still shaken up by that asshole’s
Kane’s POV As my tongue slid out stroked hers in a passionate kiss and I felt the tension in my body coil tight. Avery. Just seeing her pressed against me set me on fire. The need to feel her warm naked body on mine built up like a storm inside me, threatening to break free. My Nuri, my fiancée, my queen to be. She looked perfect, as always, and I couldn’t wait another damn second to feel her.I moved quickly, closing the distance between us and my couch in a few strides. Before she could say a word, I grabbed her by the waist and pushed her down onto the soft couch. The surprise in her eyes only fueled my hunger to taste her. Her back hit the cushions, and I towered over her, needing to claim her in every way I could, to remind her who she belonged to.I didn’t waste any more time before my lips crashed into hers, hard and demanding, tasting her like I was a starving man. She melted beneath me, her body arching into mine, desperate and willing for me to ravage her in the wa
Averys POV Kane and I dressed up quickly after the whole debacle in the office, still basking in the afterglow of our engagement and our sexy time. Despite the looming chaos with Kane’s step mother, Lady Katherine, I found myself smiling as I slipped on my dress. The diamond ring on my finger glittered brightly, catching my eye, and I felt a warmth in my chest just thinking about what it symbolized.I was getting married. And I was getting married to Kane.Kane was already waiting by the door, looking as handsome as ever, and he gave me a soft smile when he saw me. “Ready?” he asked, offering me his arm.“Ready,” I said, slipping my hand through his arm as we headed out to meet our friends for lunch. It was a welcome distraction, and I was looking forward to spending some time with Marie and Brianne to make sure they were okay after the incident at the northern court. I just really hoped everything wouldn’t get derailed by more court or that Gerald drama.The moment we walked
Avery’s POV Kane grimaced slightly at the announcement, and I could feel my own body tensing up in response. Brianne was standing as still as a statue, but her eyes never left Priscilla, who was still pressed up against Zander.Greyson and Marie just kept glancing between us worriedly.“That’s… unexpected,” Kane finally said, while his tone neutral.Lady Katherine’s smile remained firmly in place even though I knew she could hear the displeasure lacing his words. “Yes, well, I thought it would be a good opportunity to help your future queen prepare for her role, plus for Priscilla to get to know everyone here. She’s been a great help to me over the years.”The way she said it made me feel like this Priscilla had a lot more to do with the trip than Lady Katherine.I glanced at Brianne, worried about how she was handling this. She hadn’t said a word, but the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. This wasn’t going to be easy.As Lady Katherine and Kane began to sp
James’s POV I couldn’t believe what Dorian was saying. He and Avery were mates? When? How? Why?! But the most troubling thing was the fact that he was talking about claiming her from Kane. That was downright madness! I stared at Dorian, my heart pounding in my chest as I realized what I was about to say. I hated it. But this was for the best. “You need to reject Avery.” Dorian's eyes widened and then he snarled at me. “What the fuck did you just say?” His voice was full of disbelief. “You heard me.” I forced the words out, even though they tasted painful to me too. “For the sake of peace. For the sake of the packs. You have to reject her.” Dorian's expression hardened, and he shook his head. “No. I’m not rejecting her. I can’t, James. It's like you don't understand that She’s my fated mate. The one the goddess specially designed for me. I love her too much to let her go." He declared firmly. I sighed as I felt a headache began to grow in my temples. “Dorian, y
Avery’s POV Two days had passed since Lady Katherine had arrived, and I’d been upset ever since our tense conversation. It wasn’t just her words that had gotten to me—it was her presence, looming over every moment of the day. She’d made a habit of monopolizing Kane’s time, always pulling him into long conversations or meetings, making sure no one else had a chance to take his attention. It was like she was trying to sink her claws back into him, trying to regain control over the King and, perhaps, the crown again.It had gotten so bad that even Sophie, who usually loved to stir up trouble with her bratty attitude, had gone quiet. She seemed just as frustrated as I was with Katherine constantly being around Kane. Sophie hadn’t even bothered trying to be rude to me—she was too busy sulking whenever Lady Katherine was near.That evening, I was curled up on the couch in the library, trying to lose myself in a book. The words were blurring together, my mind too distracted by ev
Avery’s POV Days have passed since the fight at dinner, and things have been a little less uneasy. Brianne and Zander are still not talking. It’s almost like they’ve set up a silent treaty to avoid each other entirely. I’ve been trying to stay out of it, hoping they’d work things out on their own, but the tension is growing too much. Every time Brianne and Zander are in the same room, it’s like watching a slow-motion collision. They barely seem to want to be in each other’s presence. It’s more than just avoiding eye contact; it’s like they’re actively trying to not be near one another. In fact, Zander even makes a point to change direction when he sees Brianne coming, and while she tries to appear strong, the hurt on her face is something I never fail to see.It’s particularly painful to watch when Brianne looks over and sees Zander with his old friend Priscilla. They’ve known each other for years, and everyone can see how annoyingly comfortable they are with each other. Th