Regina’s POVI had never met with Shadow Valley’s Alpha before.All I knew about this man was that he was an extraordinary pack leader. Under his reign, Shadow Valley pack grew rapidly in the past few years. Although it was still not as strong as Ever Moon Pack, it still got some worldwide recognition.As Hover and Nigel escorted me into the manor, I kept wondering why Shadow Valley’s Alpha wanted to meet me this urgently. He summoned me as soon as I arrived, as though he couldn’t wait for another night.Maybe he wanted to trade me for something.He would probably ask Grey to cede Ever Moon’s territory to Shadow Valley in exchange for me.If that was the case, I would rather he just killed me right now. I couldn’t bear with that kind of humiliation as Ever Moon’s princess.The room they brought me into was large and brightly lit, with a long table in the middle. This seemed like a dining hall.I took my seat by the table while waiting for the Alpha to show up. The wait was painful. Be
Regina’s POVAnger was pumping through my veins like hot lava.This man…Shadow Valley’s Alpha Torres…he thought of me as a birth machine! I was not even a human being in his eyes, just a fucking tool that could help him take Ever Moon Pack!With a furious roar, I went at Alpha Torres. But he stopped me easily with just one hand, and I was thrown to the ground.He was a strong Alpha. I didn’t stand a chance in front of him.My back hit the wooden floor harshly. I felt that all my organs were turned upside down inside of me. There was a rusty taste of blood in my mouth.“Forget it…”I raised my head shakily and glared at him in rage, my lips trembling.“I won’t let Nigel touch me…He won’t be able to lay a single finger on me! No baby. NO! You better give up on this stupid idea right now!”Alpha Torres looked down at me. There was even a hint of pity in his eyes.“Oh, darling. I know this is too much to take in. But just like I said…” he smiled, “…You don’t have a say in this.”“My broth
Regina’s POV“W—What princess? I don’t understand…”Melany stuttered in panic.“This is my daughter-in-law, Regina…She is no princess. Just a goddamn orphan that my son brought home a year ago…Maybe you had the wrong person, Sir Hover…”I breathed out a long sigh.I was suddenly tired of listening to Hover going over the same story that he told Angel a moment before, explaining to them that I had kept my identity a secret and that I was actually Ever Moon Pack’s Alpha’s sister.Honestly, what difference did that make?He could tell them that I was a princess all he wanted, and he could force them to respect me, but that didn’t change the fact that I was really just a prisoner here.“Hover…Don’t,” I muttered.He looked at me, “I can make her apologize to you, Princess Regina.”“Oh yeah?” I let out a sarcastic laugh, “But can you set me free? And give me my freedom back? A true princess doesn’t deserve to have her hands tied up behind her back.”He stood on his spot stiffly in silence.
Regina’s POVNigel slipped his hand into my shirt and worked it all the way up to cup my breast.My stomach swirled with disgust as he did that.I would rather be licked by a snake than have him touch me.“Look at me…” he breathed heavily with a grin, “I am fucking a godman princess… fate really treats me well…”No, you wouldn’t.I said icily internally.I wouldn’t let you have it.He bent down to kiss me on my lips. Yet I avoided him.“I want you to please me,” I said in a condescending sort of way. “With your tongue.”He froze.And then he burst out laughing abruptly, “Wow you really know how to boss people around, don’t you? But I have got to say…you look pretty hot like this.”He moved his hands to my jeans and undid the buttons.“Anything you want, Your Highness.” he grinned and buried his head between my legs.And that was the moment I had been waiting for.I abruptly lifted my legs off the bed and wrapped them around his neck and clamped! He parted his lips to gasp but I didn’t
Regina’s POV…Did I want to know?Did he even need to ask?!“YES!”I cried, half-anxious and half-excited, and grabbed Hover’s hand urgently, “How is he? How is Gray? Tell me!”I could still remember the way Gray looked at me when we last saw each other, the way his back gradually disappeared into the distance when he left for the border.We hadn’t had time to talk about that kiss yet.If I knew that it was my last chance, I wouldn’t agree to wait for him to come back to talk.Hover smiled faintly, “He is fine. Alpha Gray is still at the border. But I think that he has heard about the news of you missing.”“Then has he tried looking for me?” I asked eagerly.“No. Your mother let everyone believe that you eloped with Nigel.”…Connie.I clenched my fists angrily.I knew that she was behind that kidnap!I didn’t know why yet but apparently he wanted me gone.“Even so, Gray will come and find me.” I said firmly, “He knew that I had made up my mind to leave Nigel. He would see that there w
Gray’s POVUnder the silver moonlight, I sat on a huge rock outside the military camp.The gentle evening breeze sweeping through my hair as I carefully carved a wooden doll. I made sure that each stroke of my knife was precise.Gradually, the delicate shape of my creation was formed—It was her, Regina.My thoughts were consumed by her. The distant sounds of the camp faded away, leaving me in a cocoon of quiet reflection.I developed this habit almost 10 years ago, when both of us were just kids. She would ask me to bring her present every time I set off to the battlefield. But what decent presents could I possibly find near the border?So I started carving wooden dolls that looked exactly like her. Regina loved it. She would get a new one every time I returned to the palace from border. Before she turned 17, she already had an impressive collection.My hobby was shut down after she met that filthy son of a bitch Nigel. With her gone, I could no longer concentrate. And it seemed meani
Gray’s POVI let the other generals in charge of the frontline and left with a group of my best trusted men. We traveled day and night, and managed to arrived Shadow Valley Pack in 3 days time.I stepped out of the car and took in the sight of Shadow Valley Pack’s capital city for the first time.The place was a stark contrast to anything I’d ever seen.Tall, ancient trees formed a natural barrier around the city, their twisted branches creating an almost impenetrable wall. The buildings were made of dark stone and wood that seemed to merge seamlessly with the surrounding forest.The air was thick with the rusty smell of blood, like a thousand livestock just got slaughtered in the city. I could smell fear and horror in the air.In the distance, there was a grand castle-like shadow rising above the treetops, its towers reaching for the sky, like one of those structures that trapped a princess in it.My heart ached. Was this where Regina had been living in for the past year?It was so d
Regina’s POV“No. Tell him to go.” I said sternly to the servant.I gave another glance at the second floor with a look of disgust.According to the servant, Alpha Torres was here to see me.All the second-floor windows were made of one-way glasses. I couldn’t see who was behind the glass.But it was probably for the best.I didn’t want to see his sinister-looking face anyway.“GO!” I snapped, scaring the servant away.Nigel was riding on a horse by myside. He let out a sigh and said, “Alpha Torres is still our Alpha. You don’t need to be so rude to him…”“He is YOUR Alpha.” I said with a snort, “You can be his lap dog all you want, but I am not lowering my head to him. Unlike you, I am a noble.”I caught a flash of anger on Nigel’s face.Yet he quickly composed himself and said, “Do you want to ran another lap?”“I am tired. Need some rest.”I kicked at my horse running to the side. Nigel tried to help me get down the horse, but I ignored his assistance coldly and jumped off by mysel
Regina’s POVThe next morning, the dining hall was buzzing with chatter. All the Luna candidates were seated, enjoying an elaborate breakfast spread, but the conversation wasn’t about the food. Everyone was talking about last night’s commotion.I kept my head down, pretending to be enjoying my plate of fruit and pastries. But my ears were tuned in to every word, trying to gauge what people knew or suspected. The girls were all putting on airs, acting casual, but you could tell the curiosity was eating them up.Claire, the candidate Kelly had praised so highly before, was holding court at the center of attention. A few girls surrounded her, hanging on to every word she said, as she dramatically recounted being woken up by the guards. Her voice was full of exaggerated fear.“And then,” Claire said, batting her long lashes, “just before breakfast, I bumped into Alpha Gray in the hallway! He asked if I was alright after all the fuss last night. Can you believe it? He was so sweet, so cons
Regina’s POVThe rooms for us Luna candidates were in the East Wing of the palace, far away from where Gray and my family lived in the East Wing. It was like they wanted to keep us as far away from the royal family as possible.But for me, that distance didn’t matter—I had grown up here. I knew every brick and shadow of this place.The door swung open without a sound and I left my room. My heart pounded, but I reassured myself that nobody would bother guarding a bunch of noble girls. Sure enough, the hallways were empty, lit only by the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the windows.I moved carefully, making sure that I was quieter than a cat. The familiar turns of the corridors brought back memories, like when I played hide-and-seek with my maids around here...NO. Don't go there. The task at hand first, Regina.Left, then right, down a narrow staircase. Finally, I stopped at a section of the wall that looked unremarkable to anyone else but was etched in my memory.I lifted
Regina’s POVI kept my head down, trying to ignore the stares of the other girls as I settled into my seat. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. Maybe sitting far away from Gray was actually a good thing. At least this way, there was less chance he’d catch onto my disguise.It wasn’t long before Gray showed up.The whole energy in the courtyard shifted immediately. I looked up, and there he was, and my heart sank. He looked so good—regal and charming at the same time. I didn’t think anyone else could pull it off like that, just him. He had this natural aura that made every girl here blush just by looking at him.He walked over, greeting everyone with a smile, and it was like he was a totally different person from the one I’d seen in the office. He was gentle, his voice warm as he spoke to the other girls. I could hear them giggling, their faces all red with excitement as they got his attention, one after another. It was so different from how he treated me. The difference made
Regina’s POVStanding at the office door, my heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest.I wasn't ready for this—not even a little bit.The servant said someone would check my files, but why was Gray here? He's the Alpha. He's too above these kinds of things.Of all people, why him?!I couldn't think straight, and before I knew it, the door clicked shut behind me. The noise startled me, and I jumped a little. Gray slowly turned from the window to look at me. His eyes locked on me with a cold, indifferent curiosity, like I was just another piece of paperwork he had to deal with.My heart ached. He used to look at me with so much love and passion. And now it was all gone."You must be Alicia," he said, his voice flat and emotionless. It had been so long since I'd heard his voice. A shiver ran down my spine—suddenly I was reminded of the role I was playing. I wasn't Regina anymore. I was Alicia.I nodded, my heart pounding, trying to keep my face neutral. "Yes, Alpha Gray," I m
Regina’s POVAs I walked into Alicia’s hotel, I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.The luxurious lobby was even more intimidating now that I wasn’t just passing through—I had to blend in, become Alicia for real.I adjusted my posture, squared my shoulders, and headed toward the elevator.As the doors slid shut behind me, I caught my reflection in the mirrored walls.With my pale gold hair and Alicia’s refined clothing, I looked the part. But on the inside, my heart was pounding.When I stepped out of the elevator and approached Alicia’s suite, two guards stationed by the door immediately straightened up, their eyes widening with surprise.…Did they sense something?My stomach twisted into a knot, but I forced a smile and nodded at them, hoping they couldn’t hear the rapid thud of my heart.“Lady Alicia, you’re back!” one of them cried his tone a mix of relief and concern. “You had us worried when you disappeared a couple of days ago.”I swallowed hard, keeping my voice stead
Regina’s POVAlicia’s lips parted, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.“You… want to go in my place?” she repeated, her voice low with disbelief. “Are you insane? Do you even know what you're getting yourself into?”“Yeah…I know exactly what I’m doing.”Alicia hesitated, staring at me like I’d lost my mind, “You don’t understand. Being Alpha Gray’s Luna isn’t some fairy tale—it’s a cage. People will scrutinize your every move. Most girls entering the contest dream about being with him, but you’ll quickly realize that being his Luna isn’t about love or happiness. It’s about power. He’s not looking for a soulmate; he’s looking for someone strong enough to manage a pack like Ever Moon.”She must have been thinking about these for a while already. And frankly speaking, she wasn’t wrong.I could tell that Alicia wasn’t one of those silly girls. And she was kind enough to warn me about all these.“Is this about money then?” she asked, still looking perplexed. “You want to live a
Regina’s POVI felt a deep ache gnawing at my heart as I stepped out of the memorial center.Gray was moving on, and I was stuck, a fugitive in everyone's eyes.Hover parked the car in a small alley. I wandered to our car, my mind swirling with frustration.“Hey.” he got out of the car the moment he saw me in the rear window, “How’d it go?”“…He’s getting married, Hover,” I muttered.Hover froze, “Who?”“Gray. He’s getting married!” Tears welled up in my eyes at this moment, “And there’s nothing I can do to stop it! And I also can’t even get close enough to figure out what really happened to Grandpa. It’s like…I’m completely powerless!”“Take it easy. We’ll figure out a way eventually—”“But I don’t want to take things slowly! Soon Gray will be engaged to a woman that I don’t even know of and everything will be over then!” I growled, unable to control my strong emotions.Hover narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze became sharp.“Regina, why are you so upset about your brother getting m
Regina’s POV…Gray.The world around me seemed to blur. All I could focus on was him.My eyes became blur as I looked at him, tears welling up.It had been so long since I last saw him, so many days filled with anguish and pain. The day we last met was when Gray got poisoned, the same day I got framed for murdering him.We didn’t even get to speak to each other at that time. I was held down by Torres’s soldiers. And his body was ravaged by the poison coursing through his veins.Seeing him now, standing tall and healthy, a wave of emotion crashed over me.Relief, joy, and sorrow tangled together, making it hard to breathe. My heart ached with the intensity of it.Gray looked just as I remembered, yet different. Stronger, more composed, and his expression was much colder.I wanted nothing more than to run to him, to throw my arms around him and feel the warmth of his embrace. To tell him how much I missed him, how much I loved him.But I couldn’t.I was still a fugitive, still the one t
Regina’s POVThe moment the radio went silent.The full weight of my grandfather’s death crashed down on me.My hands trembled, and so was my soul.The tears I had been holding back spilled over, blurring my vision.I suddenly threw open the door and jumped out. The car was still moving. My feet barely hit the ground before I stumbled and fell, but I didn’t care.The pain in my chest was worse than anything physical.“Fuck…REGINA!!!” Hover shouted.He slammed on the brakes and stopped the car. He jumped out, calling my name, his voice laced with fear.But I didn’t hear him. I was overwhelmed by those emotions.Getting up on my feet, I started running, desperate to escape the reality that had just crashed down on me.Hover caught up to me quickly, grabbing my arm and spun me around.“What the fuck are you doing? You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” he snarled.I jerked away from him, tears streaming down my face as I shouted back, “GOOD! Let me die! What’s the point of living anyway?