EVELYNI knocked firmly on the door of Jack’s room while Crystal tried to hold me back.“Lady, please, the Master would be deeply displeased.” She begged me to stop.“Out of my way,” I growled, shoving her aside. “Open the door! I need to talk to you!” I slammed my fist against the wooden plank as if it were a sparring dummy.The door was finally opened before I had the chance to break it.Jack stood on the other side and looked at me lazily. He was wearing a loose shirt that exposed his chest.Crystal dropped her head at once, her cheeks and ears flushing. She stammered. “M-m-master. I-I’m sorry that I can’t stop Lady Evelyn.”“It’s not your fault, Crystal.” Jack said as he glanced at her and smiled softly. “Could you bring us some tea?”“S-sure, Master.” Crystal nodded. She glanced up at Jack and blushed again before skittering away.Jack yawned lightly as his gaze locked with mine.“Morning, Eva. Did you have a good sleep last night?” he asked.I ignored his question. “I need to ta
ADDISONAddison looked into the distance as she felt a chill run through her. She tightened her coat.The Gods Peak loomed ahead.The summit of the steep mountain was veiled by thick clouds. Surrounding it were virgin forests—plush, thick, and unmarred by anything else. The wind blew strongly, making eerie noises through the trees.Addison wondered if anyone could even survive under such harsh conditions up there.She glanced behind her, one arched blonde brow rising as she noticed the soldiers all looked exhausted. She couldn’t blame them though. They had traveled non-stop from Halian to the most remote land of Hescor.“Is everyone ready to climb?” she asked.“Yes,” the soldiers answered in unison.However, Addison noticed one voice missing from the collective response:Lord Albert Hart.Turning to face him, she saw his frown as he stared at the mountain. Addison’s lips curled in faint, cruel amusement. “Are you afraid, Lord Hart?” she asked, her brow arching even further. Her disda
ADDISONAddison froze.The soldier screamed as he stumbled closer, pointing a trembling finger at the rabbit’s corpse on the ground.“It’s definitely the same rabbit,” he cried, his voice cracking. “The mountain must be cursed! Haunted!”His jaw clenched, and a whisper escaped from his lips.“We’re going to die here…”Addison’s lips pressed into a thin line, the grimness in her gray eyes sharper than ever. This strange, creepy mountain was eating away at their nerves, it unsettling mysterious pushing the group to the edge.Several soldiers whispered anxiously, their panic growing contagious as the distressed soldier continued to unravel.Addison knew she had to squash this before it spiraled out of control. Fear and panic would only make things worse.“That’s enough,” she barked, her voice firm and demanding. “Ghosts don’t exist. The rabbit is just a coincidence – nothing more.”“It couldn’t be a coincidence!” the soldier shouted back, shaking his head vehemently. “There’s no way this
ADDISONHours passed by, and the sky grew dimer, but Addison Madden, Albert Hart, and the soldiers were still stuck in the same clearing.No matter how many times they tried, how many routes they attempted or turns they avoided… they always returned to the same place. They had walked exceptionally slowly, making symbols on the stones to track their passage. They had moved as quickly as possible, trying to break through whatever force was misleading them.But everything they tried was futile… and they were growing increasinly restless and exhausted with each passing effort.The mist surrounding them was suffocating, too thick and too heavy. Addison stumbled toward a trunk and leaned against it, trying to catch her breath. A dull ache began to bloom in her head.She began to wonder if this was the end.What a hilarious thing to think about, she thought bitterly, a trace of laughter in her internal tone.Such an unforeseen twist.She imagined the shame she’d bring upon her family if she
ADDISONAs Addison removed the scarf she’d tied around her eyes, she realized that they had reached a large clearing.They were above the mist now, and from their vantage, they could see the entire mountain summit, unobstructed by thick fog.Around her, the soldiers began removing their own blinders, their voices filling the air with relief as they realized Albert Hart’s plan had worked. Cheers for survival and perseverance echoed in the clearing, a testament to their determination in the face of near certain death.But Addison didn’t allow herself to smile just yet. She scanned the group, her sharp eyes counting their numbers, and her expression darkened. A few soldiers hadn’t made it up.Maybe the mist’s effects made them give up, Addison thought grimly. It had nearly happened to her as well. Had it not been for years of grueling training and an unyielding desire to survive, she might have succumbed too.“I believe that’s our destination.” Albert said, appearing beside her. His deep
ADDISONThe air was taut with tension, the charged atmosphere almost as palpable as when they had ascended the mountain.“That’s impossible!” Frank snarled at Albert, his eyes blazing with anguish and anger. “You’re twisting the facts.”Lord Hart opened his mouth to speak, but Frank cut him off sharply, rage flashing in his cold eyes.“I gave you a way of living, but now you’re seeking your death.” He snarled, his voice low and venomous. “You seemed to forget – you were just as responsible for my sister’s death as the rest of them. You, Madden, and the scum. All of you should pay.” “I’ve never forgotten my sins for even a second,” Albert said solemnly, his tone calm as he met the accusation without flinching. “But if you want to lay ultimate blame, it’s not on me, Frank Crawford. It’s on you. It was you who condemned your sister to death.”“That’s bullshit,” Frank growled. “How could I have done that? It was that scum of a King who killed her.”.“Tell me this,” Albert pressed, his dar
EVELYNTwo days passed in the blink of an eye, the second slipping by faster than the first, as the engagement party of Cole Elrod and Skyla Fox drew ever closer.Over those two days, my dreams began to change. For so long, they had been haunted by the image of young – his painful childhood, the way he’d been treated as less than nothing by those who should have loved him, nurtured him.But ever since the news of his engagement had reached my ears, my dreams had taken on a new form. No longer was I haunted by images of the broken boy he had once been, but by the man he had become – the man who stood beside Skyla Fox.In every dream, Cole stood with her, his obsidian eyes gleaming as they stared a moment of undeniable beauty. Their arms were entwined, and they looked so perfect together, as though they had been forged for one another. They stood at the top of a grand staircase, smiling out at the crowd with warmth and grace. The celebration around them was filled with laughter, but it
EVELYNAfter what felt like an eternity, Marcel Fox stepped to the front and cleared his throat. The hall fell silent as he began to speak.“Well, Lords and Ladies, noble guests from far and wide, it’s with boundless pride and joy that I welcome you all to this most momentous occasion – a celebration that destined to echo through the halls of Hescor’s history. Tonight, we gather to honor the betrothal of His Majesty, our most revered King, and my beloved daughter, Skyla Fox – ”Marcel’s happiness was plain as he spoke, his voice buoyant with pride. A part of me considered paying attention, but the rest of me couldn’t stomach a single word uttered by the vile man. There was no point in listening. His speech was nothing more than gloating and grandstanding for this gathering.Unlike me, the crowd devoured every word. They appeared eager, thrilled even, at the prospect of the King’s engagement to the beautiful young daughter of House Fox.Jack’s hand found mine again, his finger curling
EVELYNPer Sylvia’s request, I shared some stories about Cole – mostly from our childhood, with a few from our teenage years. Sylvia chuckled when I told her about the time Cole slipped a dead mouse into our teacher’s mug as a morbid practical joke. He’d always had a mischievous streak. When she finally regained control of her near-silent laughter, her eyes sparkled with amusement.“I did something similar when I was young,” she said with a naughty, playful glint in her eyes. “I was quite the troublemaker myself.”I grinned. “Cole must have gotten it from his mother, then.”A comfortable silence fell between us. After a moment, I shifted the conversation to something heavier. “I thought you didn’t believe that I was Cole’s mate,” I said, my voice low. “Is that still the case?”Pulled from her thoughts, Sylvia looked at me and shook her head. Her expression softened. “I knew the moment you insisted on coming. The emotions in your eyes… they were too real, too genuine to be faked. I’m
EVELYN“Madam, please show your pass,” the guard said. His tone was clipped as he stepped into our path. His dark eyes studied us, sharp and unyielding. Beneath his professionalism, there was a flicker of annoyance and impatience, but it was clear he was just doing his job.Still, my heart quickened.I held Sylvia’s arm and lifted my veil, letting the sheer fabric slide back with a deliberate grace. I smiled softly as my gaze met the guard’s, my expression carefully crafted to appear harmless and innocent, even vulnerable – and, in a way, appealing, as Sylvia had suggested. She said that males were predicable, especially the male wolves, and that a well-timed smile by a beautiful lady could work wonders in situations like this, though I doubted it.But I still did.I’d do anything she said.Anything to get into the House of Fox and help Cole.While I played the role of a tender lady, Sylvia took a different strategy. She exhaled sharply as her features twisted into an irritated frown.
Marcel nodded dutifully, though part of him wanted to widen his eyes and shake his head.Two days. Two days until the King of Tiryn arrived. Everything was progressing so quickly, and it seemed that he was struggling to keep up. Between managing his household, his men, and his troublesome daughter… he was overwhelmed. His mind was on the verge of breaking, but he dared not to show it, not to Jack Elrod. No, he had to keep a level head if he was to succeed.“I’ll do my best,” he promised. “I’ve ordered the guards to search the entire city. I believe the girl won’t have anywhere to hide. They’ll surely catch her before dawn. Beside…” Marcel lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. “The troops are all ready, Your Highness.”Jack nodded, his dark eyes studying Marcel with an intensity that made him uneasy. After a long pause, Jack tilted his head, narrowing his eyes slightly. “You’re holding something back, Lord Fox. What is it?”Marcel hesitated, but only for a moment. There
SKYLA“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Marcel Fox growled at his daughter, his eyes flashing with anger as he slammed a cup against the wall. The fine porcelain shattered into pieces, and the sound filled the room.Skyla lowered her head and pouted. She didn’t understand why her father was so angry, but she chose not to argue. Nothing good would come of retort to her father’s scolding. Historically, when this had happened in the past, Skyla always emerged from the situation without her dignity intact.“Look at yourself, Skyla,” he snarled, his hands gesturing at her as his lip curled back in disgust. “You’re dressed like a whore. What kind of King would like a whore?”Skyla winced at the comment, her cheeks heating in embarrassment at the insult. Still, she remained silent.“How many times have I told you to behave properly?” Marcel continued, his nostrils flaring. “Have you ever given a fuck about what I’ve said at all? I told you not to act on your own. Not only is it dangerous,
SKYLACole frowned, a crease forming between his lips as he stared at Skyla in confusion.“Evelyn?” he repeated, his dark gold brows furrowing further. “What does this have to do with her? She… she was sent to Windsburn Island long ago. Why bring her up now?”Skyla’s eyes widened.What was Cole talking about? Evelyn being sent to Windsburn?She was confused because Cole didn’t seem to be joking or trying to change the subject. It seemed as if his memory had been fragmented -just like when Cole woke up and believed she had been diligently taking care of him during his illness, while she had done nothing of the sort.Was that why her father had warned her never to bring up the past in front of Cole?Panic flooded Skyla. She realized she had just made a critical mistake. She wished she could take back the words she’d let slip.Skyla pressed her lips tightly together as she watched Cole’s reaction.Cole brought his hand up, rubbing at his temples as if trying to ward off an oncoming heada
SKYLASkyla Fox and Melanie quietly walked through the corridors before they arrived at the King’s room.Stationed outside of the room was Max, the diligent guard, standing proudly in his post, ready to prevent any unauthorized entry. None had bothered yet this evening, so when he noticed Skyla and her maid, he frowned. A strong instinct in his gut urged him to keep them away – he was certain they were up to no good.As they approached, he raised a hand and stopped them. The ladies appeared irritated by the interruption.“The King is very tired,” Max said firmly, his tone carrying an authoritative edge. “What are you here for, Lady Skyla?”Melanie spoke up, shooting him an annoyed expression. Her blue eyes flashed as she scolded him, her jaw clenched. “What an idiot you are! It’s their engagement night! What could the lady possibly want? Don’t be a fool. Just open the door and let her in!”Max’s cheeks flushed as he realized the meaning behind her words. He glanced at Skyla, who wore
MELANIEThe House of Fox had never been as glamorous and cheerful as it had been tonight.The party celebrating the engagement between the Alpha King and Lady Skyla lasted late into the night, and as the moon rose high in the sky, the guests reluctantly began to leave, satisfied with the countless glasses they had drunk and the many dances they had shared.In the privacy of her bedchamber, Skyla rubbed fragrant lotion into her shin, massaging the sore muscle while her maid Melanie removed her corset.“It was so tiring to dance with so many gentlemen tonight,” she complained with a small sigh. “It felt as though the line of them would never end.”Melanie, ever the dutiful maid, fawned over her as always.“You were stunning this evening, Lady Skyla,” she complimented. “All the men were so captivated by your beauty and grace.”Skyla raised her chin, a chuckled escaping her lips. “They were, weren’t they? Not that it matters, of course. It’s a pity I didn’t get to dance more with Cole. I
OAKLEYSilence hung in the air as Oakley and Elsa stared back at Frank Crawford.Kill them both. Had they heard him correctly? He’d been so casual, so unbothered when he’d uttered the sentence that it was almost laughable.Oakley spoke first, his eyes regarding the older man with caution. “What?”Frank glared at Oakley. “You heard me. Kill them both. It seems you need to work on your hearing, lad, and your composure. I can see that look on your face, and I’m not too pleased by it.”“Do we need to consult with Master before we execute the prisoners?” Oakley asked.Frank lifted a brow. The older man found it downright unpleasant that Oakley, of all people, seemed to object to his decision. Normally, this young man was more than obedient – sometimes even easier to manipulate than Elsa. Yet today, he dared to question him. Frank found this defiance deeply irksome. He fought the urge to grimace; he refused to give Oakley the satisfaction. To Frank, this low-born man was far too insignific
ADDISONOakley walked over, an eyebrow raised as he squatted down to examine Addison. His eyes trailed over her with an air of detached assessment before his lips curled into an amused smirk.“This poor lady is going to die if you don’t remove your claws,” he remarked, glancing at Elsa.Elsa shot him a glare. “This isn’t any of your business, Oakley. Back up and stay the fuck away.”“I can’t,” Oakley said with mock regret. “The lady’s an important hostage to Mr. Crawford. If she dies, we’d both be in trouble.”Elsa rolled her eyes and scoffed. “She’s not important at all. Frank just keeps her for fun. You know it better than I do.”She turned back to Addison, but before she could make another move, Oakley grabbed her wrist. His grip was iron-strong, startlingly so for someone with a limping gait and a body marred by scars.Addison’s eyes widened as she felt the power in his hand—a strength that seemed unnatural for a man with his appearance.Elsa, too, was acutely aware of his hold. S