Stefan’s POVI knelt before my father and my mother in the throne room, listening to them. They were both seated on their throne, the weight of my father’s authority heavy in the air. My mother was beside him, her presence regal but quieter, more restrained. My father’s eyes bore into me, demanding my full attention.“I am sure that you understand your duty, Stefan. He said, his tone leaving no room for debate.I nodded, my jaw tight. I understood it, but that didn’t mean I accepted it. The word ‘duty’ felt like a chain around my neck, dragging me down, trapping me in a life I hadn’t chosen. But I wouldn’t argue. Of course, I ‘understood’ my duty to the pack and the entire realm and the next Lycan king after my father. “Mating with the omega girl is the best thing for every pack in the realm. It will unite the elites and the omegas.” He continued. “That is what we need. What you need to secure your position.”I said nothing, even though the urge to rebel pulsed beneath my skin. I ha
Eve’s POV“Early morning walks like this reminds me of our good old days at Moonsong pack. I miss home.” Jade said with a sad sigh as we strolled around the packhouse grounds. It was early in the morning and we had decided to go for a little work before the day started. “I know, right.” I replied Jade, absentminded. My own mind was elsewhere, replaying the event of last night. Stefan’s words. His kiss. The way his eyes had looked so full of something I hadn’t seen in a long time. Love. He had said he loved me, and I had felt it, oddly enough. In the way his hands trembled when he touched my face, in the way his voice cracked as he said the words. “I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of loving anyone.”I shook my head, trying to get rid of the memory. It didn’t matter what he said. I would never believe him. Stefan Heart wasn’t a man capable of loving anyone. I would be a fool that he really loved me after everything that he had put me through. But even as I said tho
Eve’s POVThe council room was suffocating, not because it was occupied by the influential elites in the entire realm, but because of who sat there. My eyes landed on Vesper, and every muscle in my body tensed. Rage flowed through my system. I wish I could lurch on him at this moment and dive my claws into his throat, killing him instantly. His eyes met mine from across the room, and I could see that there was no shock in them. No flicker of surprise, no hesitation, nothing. It was as if he knew that I had been here all along. He smirked, the kind of his smile that always sent chills down my spine. And then, he casually turned away again.Motherfucker. A hush suddenly fell over the room. Everyone around me slowly got to their feet and bowed their heads in unison. I followed their lead, keeping my head low. Stefan was here. He entered with his guards flanking him, dressed in his royal regalia, with every inch of him looking like the King he was born to be. The room seemed to shift w
Eve’s POVAfter the council meeting was over, I spotted Vesper from across the hall, heading toward the exit with that same swagger, as if he had not just been humiliated in front of the entire council. His gaze locked on mine, and his lips curled into that familiar, sarcastic smile. His arrogance had been bruised, but it wasn’t broken. Typical, stupid Vesper. "Well, look who’s here.” He drawled, sauntering toward me. “Thanks to you, I am officially banned from the Full Moon Festival. The first alpha in Moonsong’s history to be kicked out of the most sacred event. Quite the achievement, don’t you think?”I smiled sweetly, tilting my head as if considering his words carefully. “You’re right. You are the first Alpha in Moonsong’s history to be banned from the festival. Quite the legacy. A real disappointment, just like your father always said.”His smile faltered for just a second, a flicker of something darker passing through his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. I kn
Eve’s POVA day before the Full Moon Festival, luxury cars pulled up to the packhouse grounds one after the other, signaling the arrival of the realm's most powerful Lunas and queens. Luna Jessica had sent them all an invitation to spend the day together to bond before the festival. From my window, I watched as Lunas and Queens dressed in designer silks and custom gowns stepped out of their convoys, welcomed by Luna Jessica who accepted them air kisses and over-exaggerated compliments.But I wasn’t part of them. I hadn’t been invited.The lack of an invitation didn’t sting as much as I thought it would. If anything, it gave me an excuse to avoid the suffocating gathering. I didn’t belong in their world anymore because for now, I was no longer a Luna.I made up my mind to avoid everyone today by spending my time at Aiden’s company and it took me a few minutes to get ready. Once I was ready to leave, I grabbed my bag and headed toward the door. Stepping out into the hallway, I nearly ra
Eve’s POV“I didn’t expect to see you here. Didn’t even know you lived in the packhouse.” Queen Morwenna said to me as the assistant tended to my nails. She leaned back in her chair, her perfectly manicured fingers wrapped delicately around the stem of her wine glass. “Actually, I do.” I said to her with a small smile. “I’ve been here for a while.”“Interesting.” She commented with a small nod and took another dainty sip of her drink. A few seconds later, she added. “I was actually expecting your call, you know. After I gave you my card.”I felt a small pang of guilt. Truly, I didn’t call her and that was mostly because it was an unexpected meeting and I didn’t even know what to say. Also partly because Jade had warned me to keep my distance based on the horrifying story we had heard about her. Although I was still confused on how she appeared to be the nicest woman I had ever met in my entire life, instead of the cold hearted queen that she was painted as.So, yes. The fact that she
Eve’s POVI sat there, staring at Emilia’s stomach, barely hearing the laughter and the chatterings around me. The only thought that played in my mind over and over again was Emilia’s fake baby bump. I still couldn’t believe it, even though I had seen it with my own eyes. This crazy woman had been deceiving everyone, including Stefan and Luna Jessica. I always knew Emilia was a liar, and a manipulative person but this was entirely something else. The thought of it alone made my stomach churn.I glanced around the room, wondering how many of them had fallen for her perfect lie. Everybody had fallen for it, obviously. Disgust welled up in me, but I tried my best to keep my face as neutral as possible. From where she was seated, Emilia giggled with her friends, their heads bent together as they whispered and laughed. What a con artist!“Let’s play a game, everyone.” One of the women said and the others clapped excitedly.“I have the perfect idea of a game that we can play.” Another chi
Eve’s POVIt was late in the night when we all retired for the night and Queen Morwenna kissed me goodnight before retiring into the bedroom already prepared for her by the servants. The other women also retired to their bedroom for the night.I headed for my room but paused on my feet and stopped before I could turn the doorknob of my room. A plan crossed my mind and I brought out my phone from my pockets and immediately typed a short message to Stefan before I could change my mind the next second.Meet me in my old bedroom.I hesitated for a second before I shut my eyes briefly and pressed send. I exhaled deeply and stared at the message for a moment before heading towards the direction of my old bedroom. Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, briefly smiling at the nostalgic feeling the room sent me every time before I headed straight for the closet. Opening the closet, I gently went through my old belongings. The clothes still looked and smelled fresh and I could tell that the
Eve’s POVTWO YEARS LATERAs the midday sun cast a gentle warmth over the packhouse, I moved around the garden, directing the maids with the final touches for our lunch setup. I was engrossed in the details, ensuring that every plate was perfectly placed and every napkin was folded just so. Across the yard, Jameson was playing and practicing his newfound powers by sending tiny ripples through the grass and shifting little pebbles in the air. I glanced at his direction and a small smile crossed my lips. But that didn’t stop me from calling him and reprimanding him.“Jameson. Careful, okay? You’ll wear yourself out.”He stopped and sent me a mischievous grin that spread across his face. The older he was getting, the more he looked just like Stefan. The resemblance was uncanny. “I won’t, Mommy! I’m strong!”I laughed, shaking my head. “Yes, you’re very strong, but don’t go overboard. You don’t want to spend the afternoon recovering, do you?”He gave me a proud, stubborn look before tu
Eve’s POVI woke up slowly, stretching out my arm across the bed, expecting to feel Stefan’s warmth beside me. Instead, my hand brushed empty sheets. My heart fell in disappointment and I sighed, blinking my eyes open to the early morning light filtering in through the window. The waves crashed softly outside, tempting me to go back to sleep. But Stefan’s absence pulled me out of bed. It was a week after our mating ceremony and we were on our honeymoon at Stefan’s private beach house. Apollo and Jade were here too as it was a double honeymoon.Rubbing the last bits of sleep from my eyes, I slid out from under the covers, my feet brushing the cool wood floors as I padded toward the door. My steps were lazy, still a little groggy from waking up, but I kept walking. As I opened the door and stepped outside the beach house, the faint smell of smoke and something savory and delicious reached me. And there he was, standing over a barbecue grill with Apollo and Jade beside him, the three
Stefan’s POVI stood at the altar, my hands clasped in front of me, trying to steady the slow hum of nerves thrumming beneath my skin. Beside me, Apollo shifted, glancing over his shoulder at the door for what had to be the tenth time in as many minutes. The place was filled with soft chatter and expectant whispers, and anyone could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. Apollo gave a low whistle, nudging me with his elbow. “I still can’t believe it, Stefan. Your aura point is literally a thousand out of a hundred. You bagged one of the realm’s most beautiful women.”I chuckled softly under my breath. “Well, you don’t have to sound so shocked. I’ve always had my way with women.”Apollo shrugged and a smirk danced on his lips. “Honestly, I thought you would end up with someone a lot more intimidated by you. Not Eve. She matches you in every way.”I smirked back at him, unable to hold back my satisfaction. “Trust me, Apollo, I know exactly what I’m in for. And besides, I
Eve’s POVThe entire room was buzzing with life, not just the room but the packhouse and the entire realm in a whole. Around Jade and I, stylists fluttered around us, adjusting and smoothing out the lace on our sleeves and adding the final touches to our intricate updo. The entire space felt surreal. A room of mirrors, flowers, and stylists. We were getting ready for our big moments.It was the mating ceremony of Jade and I. Because Apollo and Stefan had proposed to the both of us on the same day, they had arranged for the mating ceremony to be held together and to be honest, that was the best thing that Jade and I could have ever asked for. Just me and my best friend, side by side in a place we never thought we would be.As the stylists and makeup artists worked on me, I glanced over at Jade, catching her in the mirror. Her gaze was distant and thoughtful as she stared at her reflection. Her gown was breathtaking. It was a cascade of ivory lace that spilled around her like a soft, sh
Eve’s POVWhen Stefan returned to the room again, he was carrying a tray of food and my mouth practically watered at the sight of it. He set it gently on my laps. “Breakfast in bed. How romantic!” I blinked at him, musing and teasing as I picked up the cutleries.M“I know right? Give me my flowers.” There was a tinge of pride visibly in his voice as he sat down beside me again.On the tray sat a spread that looked straight out of a gourmet magazine with eggs that were perfectly golden, buttery toast, and a delicate arrangement of fresh berries. The aroma filled the room and as I perceived the aroma, I shut my eyes briefly and hummed. This was the kind of breakfast that promised the start of a good day.I finally dug in, savoring the first bite. It tasted just as good as it looked, and I couldn’t help but smile impressively at Stefan again. For the second time, his breakfast had blown my mind again. I guess he was never bluffing when he said he was a good cook.“This is amazing, Stef
Jade’s POVApollo’s room was a stark contrast to the way it was the first time that he had brought me here. It was not filled with his shy laughter or the way he talked about his art, or the sounds of our moans as we made love for the first time. It was quiet. Too quiet, save for the soft rustle of pages as I turned them. I was seated at Apollo’s bedside while he was lying unconscious on the bed. His arm and the side of his stomach where he had been wounded was bandaged. Even though he was lying peacefully, I couldn’t forget the pain he had passed through last night when they had brought him and Eve back to the packhouse. Thankfully, we had Queen Morwenna around and she had saved both of them. Since that night, I had remained in his room and close to his bedside. The only times I excused myself from him for a moment were the times that I had gone to check in on Eve too. It ached my heart that the two people who were most precious to me were hurting at the same time and there was
Eve’s POVI opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the soft and muted light filtering in through the window. As my eyes scanned the familiar walls of my room, I felt a sense of deja vu and nostalgia. This wasn’t the first time I was waking up in my room like this. Or even the second. It had become almost like a routine. This room had become a marker of survival. I had lost count of how many times that I had woken up here, teetering somewhere between life and death, and with my body piecing itself back together. And each time, I half-expected that maybe I wouldn’t make it, that this would be the end. Yet, here I was again, breathing, alive.As if reading my thoughts, a familiar low, amused voice murmured beside me. “You’ve died and come back to life so many times now that I’m starting to think you’re immortal.”I blinked, my gaze sliding over to the side of the bed where Stefan sat with a faint smile on his dangerously handsome face. He was holding a tiny brush in his hand, and focu
Stefan’s POV“Eve! No!” I screamed at the same time that Eve’s body collapsed to the ground. A chill raced through my spine and I stared wide eyed, unable to believe that Lukas had got her just in one second that I had looked away.“Fuck!” I rushed to her, scooping my body into my arms. Blood pooled around her and her eyes were shut now with her skin now turning pale. Tears clouded my vision as I held her body closer, my heart shattering to pieces.How could I have missed this? How could I have failed to protect her when I promised her that? How? “My apologies, Stefan. And like I said the other time, there are no hard feelings involved. This is for my own political interest.” Lukas’ voice coming from behind me made the hurt I was feeling to turn into rage. Hot, flaming rage. I lifted my gaze to meet him, glaring at him through blood red eyes. I was going to kill him. There was no way he would get out of this alive. As if betraying me wasn’t enough for him, he had gone ahead to touch
Eve’s POV“Attack!” Stefan’s battle cry came and in an instant, his soldiers shifted seamlessly into their ferocious wolf forms and with a thunderous cry, they surged forward and towards Vesper’s men who had also shifted into their wolf forms. Apollo was at their helm with his brown fur glinting as he launched himself into the chaos. Within seconds, Stefan’s soldiers and Vesper’s men clashed and the battle began.“Remember what I told you yesterday.” Stefan turned his gaze to me. The expression on his face was the most serious that I had ever seen him. “When I tell you to run, you fucking run. Understand me?”“I understand.” I nodded my head at him and my heart melted as he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before unsheathing his silver sword and headed straight for Vesper who was waiting for him with a dark, amused smile on his face. “I still don’t get why you’re doing all these for that slut.” I heard Vesper yell to Stefan over the noise of the battle clash and howls as he prod