JASMINEFor a moment, I thought I had heard the man incorrectly.There were so many variables that made no sense and many others that did.I wanted to scoff at the mere notion that Skyla Fox was kind, given all that I knew about her, and scoff even further at the idea of the King wanting anything to do with her. She was beautiful but she was hardly a prize and I’d been deducting during the Luna Selection that he wanted nothing to do with her.These were the orchestrations of Marcel and the rest of House Fox.I narrowed my eyes and shook my head in confusion.“The King is awake?” I questioned. “That’s impossible. Did you see him walking among them?”“I can’t confirm because the ones I had spoken with had never seen the King in person,” Seb explained. “All know that he is there but none have seen his face since he arrived at the House of Fox.”“And when will this engagement party happen?” Sylvia spoke up in a serious, composed voice. Her eyes held a spark that I couldn’t quite identify,
FLYNNJasmine had only been gone less than a day and I already missed her greatly. Her scent was still lingering on my coat, and it was almost as if I could physically sense her gentle touch when I recalled the moment we’d hugged and kissed. A shiver ran through me as I remembered the sweet taste of her lips against mine.I wished to kiss her now, wished to kiss her shamelessly and tell her how much I loved her, every inch of her… her ashen-blonde hair, her big sterling eyes… the gorgeous, lightly muscled figure that couldn’t leave my mind… she had me under her spell through and through.I had never expected to find a mate anytime soon. I had always thought I didn’tdeserve to be happy after the moment I ended my friend’s life.But Jasmine… sweet, beautiful Jasmine Madden, reassured me that Conner Caddel’s death wasn’t my fault, like everyone else had attempted but failed at. Miraculously, her words worked more than anyone else’s ever had. Perhaps it was her tone when she boldly ment
EVELYNOakley studied me with caution, the expression on his scarred face betraying a mix of emotions. It was rare, I was certain, to see him in such a state, and it was relieving to know I could have the upper hand for once“What are your conditions?” he asked me, his eyes holding mine for once instead of trailing over me lewdly. For a moment, he seemed almost innocent, normal, not the cruel warrior wolf I knew he was at his core.“I need to know what happened to Aiden first,” I said, chin held high. “As for the rest, I’ll keep them tucked away for later. I’ll need you to cooperate when I need it. Got that?”Oakley snorted and rolled his eyes “Quite a lofty statement, angel. How can I trust you? Besides, if Maria is really alive, I can find her on my own. Why would I need your help?”He rose from his seat and leaned over as his sharp eyes stared at me. I knew that it was just an intimidation tactic but I wasn’t about to falter, not when circumstances were so dire. No, I wouldn’t yiel
EVELYNOakley remained silent while he walked me back. He had changed his playful attitude and maintained a solemn face as if he had been deeply in his own thoughts.“What happened to Elsa?” I asked him quietly, unsure of how to speak of the ordeal. I was certain that if anyone knew what had happened in that room, it was the scarred man.Oakley hesitated and then spoke. “Elsa made the wrong decision and now… she’s approaching her doom.”I stopped dead in my tracks and studied him with a look of utter confusion. “Her doom? What does that mean?”He scoffed and came to a halt. “I can’t tell you unless you want to become the same as she is.”I blinked in surprise.He glanced behind his shoulder. “I’m sure Elsa expected it. The moment we vow our loyalty to Master, we know what will be our undoing. Our doom.”“Do you… do you mean that Elsa will die soon?” I asked, my voice breaking at the very thought.Oakley didn’t speak but his somber expression told me everything. The world felt as if it
EVELYNAfter being dropped off by Oakley, I spent the otherwise quiet morning with my parents and as the sun rose high in the sky, we had lunch together. Staying with my family always soothed me, but the happier I felt when I was spending time with my family, the more uneasy I felt deep down. How could I relax knowing that my friend was preparing to meet an alleged doom for betraying Jack Elrod?How could I be at ease when her fate was practically condemned?It was impossible to go about my day pretending that I hadn’t seen what I’d seen.So, after we ate, I went to see Elsa.Jack had told me that I could see her “later”, so I saw no harm in visiting her now that the ordeal was technically over. Oakley had taken me away as instructed and enough time had passed that it felt less dangerous to get involved again.When I reached Elsa’s chamber, I knocked gently on the door, and when I heard no reply, my heart raced in my chest. I knew it wasn’t my best idea, but I couldn’t just turn back
EVELYNI couldn’t shake the feeling that his words seemed like a threat, and despite the panic that swelled within my belly, I managed to remain calm as I awaited his response.“Well, I can’t exactly babysit my little brother,” Jack remarked with a small, near smirk. “And I have nothing to do with how his condition progresses. It seems as if it’s deteriorated quickly. Maybe he’s just too weak to hold on-”“He’s not weak,” I cut him off sharply. “You must have done something to him to keep him from healing.”Enragingly composed as ever, Jack shrugged. “Regardless, you’d better decide quickly if you still want to save that pathetic boy. Time is of the essence, it seems.”As my temper flared, I clenched my fists. “How do I know he can be saved since his condition has deteriorated so quickly? How do I know that you wouldn’t just kill him the moment I agreed to marry you?”“I never made a promise that I would save Cole,” Jack corrected me with a chuckle, crossing his arms against his chest
Addison laughed as Lord Hart finished his utterance. Her mocking laughter was harsh. It was he only sound in the room.Flynn stared at his father. Words escaped him as he tried to wrap his mind around the fact that his father had held onto such an immense, intense secret.Similarly, Leila seemed confounded. She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe what their father had just revealed.“Why did you keep this from us?” the young lady asked in a small voice. The charms decorating her dark braids shimmered with sound as she leaned forward.Lord Hart sighed. He looked at his daughter but didn’t speak a word.Addison laughed again, her big gray eyes narrowing and then rolling. “Because your father is a coward.”She tilted her head, her long ash-blonde hair spilling over her shoulder. “It seems the Hart family is in no position to look down on the Maddens, since they now appear to be the most dishonest and treacherous family in Hescor.”Leila’s full dark lips curled into a snarl, and a l
“You’ve done nothing wrong! Why do you need to redeem yourself? Father, it’s not you who killed the King!”When Flynn entered the door to his father’s room, Leila was crying. She glared at their father and questioned him with a thin and wavering tone.Her light brown eyes glossy with tears. Her hands were curled into fists at her sides.Lord Hart glanced in Flynn’s direction and nodded subtly before returning his focus to his daughter.“I have to talk to Flynn about something, Lei,” he said calmly.“I’ll stay,” Leila fired back, clearly not ready to give in. Her eyes flashed, and her anger radiated from her like an aura.“No, Leila, you can’t,” Lord Hart replied firmly but not unkindly. “This is a conversation I need to have with Flynn alone.”Leila scowled. It seemed as if she would counter the order, but she cooperated finally.“Fine,” she remarked, wiping her face. On the way out of the room, she slammed the door, the sound reverberating in the large guest room.Flynn remained sile
EVELYNI kept a wary eye on Jack as Stephanie rummaged through her pocket, pulling out the crumpled page of her mother’s script—the one she had tried to share with him earlier in a desperate attempt to convince him.“I thought you didn’t believe,” Stephanie’s voice carried both suspicion and caution as she handed Jack the papers. It was hard to tell what she expected from him.Jack didn’t reply. His expression remained distant as his fingers deftly flipped through the pages.We all stood in tense silence, uncertain of what to do next. Leila nudged my side, shooting me a fierce look. If I wasn’t mistaken, she wanted me to act while Jack was distracted.But I didn’t move. Part of me knew it would be futile to launch a sneak attack against someone like Jack. He was far too skilled, and we were at a clear disadvantage. The other part of me wanted to understand his motives—why he had come alone, what he was truly after.Behind him, the dim alley stretched into darkness. There were no soldi
EVELYN"Tell me what the hell happened, Melanie?" Leila demanded, sprinting beside me, her expression sharp and tense. She grabbed Melanie’s collar and dragged her closer. Melanie, struggling to keep pace as we pursued Aiden down the alleyway, yelped at the force. "I-I-I d-d-don’t know," she stammered breathlessly, her words slurred from panic. Her wide eyes still brimmed with lingering horror. "I d-d-didn’t do anything! Sir Moran just… turned like that—" She clutched at the deep bruise on her neck, a reminder of how fiercely Aiden had tried to end her.Leila scoffed. "Remind me to kill you when I have the time," she muttered, unconvinced. Letting go of Melanie, she turned to me with irritation. "She has to be playing some kind of trick. Maybe she’s a spy sent by the Fox.""I don’t think so," I muttered, pressing my lips together.Ahead, Aiden’s silhouette streaked through the dim alley, his speed so fast that no matter how hard we pushed, the distance between us only grew. But my m
EVELYNMelanie was startled at the sight of us. She stumbled back the moment her wide blue eyes locked onto mine, panic flashing across her delicate features. As she retreated, something she had been clutching tightly against her chest slipped from her grasp.She scrambled to pick it up.It took me a moment to recognize what she was holding—fine jewels, far too exquisite for a mere maid of a high lady like her. The glimmering facets and rich colors of the precious gems sparkled under the dim light.A long pearl necklace snapped from her hurried movements, scattering the pearls across the ground. The small spheres bounced and rolled in all directions.“Skyla’s maid?” Leila whispered cautiously, barely audible. “What is she doing here? And those…where did she get them?” She turned to me.My gaze swept back to Melanie. I hadn’t noticed when she disappeared in the chaos, but she must have seized the opportunity to escape and hide here. After all, no one had paid much attention to a fright
EVELYNI ran as fast as I could through the alleys. Aiden and Oakley were ahead of me—Aiden carrying Cole on his back, while Oakley guided us.It had been a while since we’d escaped the fray, but we still didn’t dare slow down. My heart hammered wildly in my chest. It wasn’t just from the speed. It was a mix of shock and fear.I was certain Sylvia had just mind-controlled me, though I had no idea how. My arms shot out subconsciously to grab the others, pulling them along to run with me without making much sound. My legs moved on their own, weaving swiftly through the soldiers as if someone else had taken control of them. We maneuvered through the post while the soldiers were overwhelmed by Sylvia’s magic and Augus was still laughing at her incompetence, our eyes squeezed shut against the burning sensation on our bodies. Fortunately, for werewolves, we didn’t need much vision to navigate. We could rely on our keen sense of smell.And so, we succeeded.The winding alleys felt like a maz
EVELYNThe beautiful blue light from the sapphires surrounded us like a divine aura. My breath caught, and my eyes widened in a mix of fear and awe.As the sapphires hung suspended in the air, Sylvia let out a roar. The sound reverberated through the sky like thunder, and an unseen wave of power erupted from her.The soldiers were immediately thrown to the ground. They writhed as if scorched, and the wave continued to pulse, spreading its force.Jack knelt, digging his claws into the earth to steady himself, but he faltered, his body tumbling. Pain twisted his face, and he gritted his teeth. I almost felt sympathy for him, but that sentiment was fleeting. I couldn’t feel sorry for Jack Elrod—not now, not ever.For a split second, I thought I saw Cole stir, but when I glanced at him, his eyes were still shut, and his face was devoid of any expression. Before I could think further, the sapphire suddenly dropped to the ground with a sharp clink.Sylvia coughed, a stream of blood spilling
EVELYNI saw Aiden dash through like lightning, cutting down the soldiers who were trapping Leila. With a swift, brutal motion, he tore through the soldier who had been tightening the rope around Leila’s neck, severing his thumb in the process.Something tightened in my throat. I had never seen Aiden like this. His dark blue eyes, nearly black in the night’s shadows, carried an intensity I found unfamiliar, and his face was streaked with a fierceness that seemed out of place.When the soldiers reorganized, trying to corner him, Oakley sprinted over, kicking them away. Aiden gave him a brief nod of before he moved toward Leila, scooping her into his arms. His face softened as his eyes met mine“Aiden,” I said, my voice stiffer than I intended. My gaze shifted to Leila, who let out a faint gasp.She curled tightly in Aiden’s hold, her eyes shut as she struggled to breathe. Blood seeped from her right shoulder, and I realized she’d been pierced.Aiden gently lowered her to the ground.“E
EVELYNAugus seemed rather surprised by Jack’s unmoved demeanor. His green eyes scanned him intently, as though searching for a flicker of doubt or deceit. When he apparently found none, he shrugged with indifference. “That would be for the best.”Jack gave a curt nod and turned to the soldiers behind him. With a wave of his hand, he issued a clear order: “Seize them. Alive.”Without sparing Stephanie so much as a glance—as though her outburst had never happened—Jack strode away to join Augus. Together, they stood watching as the soldiers swarmed toward us, their expressions coldly detached. Augus, in particular, seemed to savor the unfolding chaos, as though it were nothing more than a game of siege.Stephanie looked utterly lost, her chestnut-brown eyes widening in disbelief before becoming vacant. The crumpled paper slipped from her hand and fluttered to the ground.“Why…” she murmured. “He’s not him…He’s not my brother…”I grabbed her arm and pulled her back as the soldiers advan
EVELYNA chill crept down my spine as I locked eyes with Augus. Rationally, I knew better than to believe him. Everyone in Hescor knew magic was vile, filthy, despicable—banned in every form. How could we possibly be born with magic blood?Yet my gaze lingered on the sapphire dagger in his hand, now glistening faintly after absorbing Skyla’s blood. Deep down, my intuition whispered that Augus’s words might hold a grain of truth.Stephanie’s fists clenched, her voice rising with fury. “How dare you! You’re defiling the name of werewolves with your lies!”“Defiling?” Augus let out a booming laugh. “You should acquaint yourself with true history, Miss Elrod. Like your brother has.”My eyes flicked to Jack. His expression was grim, impassive—yet unsettlingly unsurprised.Stephanie turned toward him, her lips trembling as she struggled to contain her emotions. She failed. “Is that what you believe? Is that what you want? To let this outsider trample on our land, to tarnish our country?”Ja
EVELYNSkyla didn’t let out a single cry before the blade pierced her chest. The bashful smile she’d worn just seconds ago froze on her face. Her bluish-green eyes widened ever so slightly in shock at the sudden action.Augus slowly withdraw the blue blade, and Skyla’s body crumpled to the ground with a hollow thud. Blood poured from her wound, spreading like a dark, gruesome carpet beneath her.Melanie, standing just behind Skyla, stumbled back with a shrill. Piercing scream cut through the air like a thunderclap. It was a sound of pure, unfiltered anguish.Marcel Fox stood paralyzed, his face drained of color. He stared in mute horror at his daughter’s lifeless form. His trembling lips parted as though to speak, but no words came.I felt as though the world had stopped. My body locked in place, my breath caught in my throat. The crowd around me stood in stunned silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on us like an invisible hand. Even Jack’s hand on my arm tightened briefly,