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
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,
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
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.
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
COLE“What do you mean?” I asked, frowning. Sylvia glanced at the guards, who stood in defensive posture but hesitated to act. Then she turned back to me. Her face was pale, and her breathing was shallow.“I just realized a crucial difference between humans and werewolves,” she said. “You werewolves have your wolf soul – a part driven mostly by natural instinct and desire, something humans lack and can’t comprehend. The wolf soul might weaken if Cole’s spirit falters. But ias long as it exists, it can’t be manipulated by magic. Wizards can’t control what they don’t fully understand.”She squeezed my hand tightly, her expression serious. “That might be our chance.”The wolf nature. A chance to save Cole.Hope sparkled in my chest, but before I could respond, Sylvia released my hand and shove me hard on the shoulder.“Run!” she bellowed, “Don’t stop!”The guards sprang into action, splitting into two groups – one heading for Sylvia, the other for me.Time was running out. If there was
JACK“There!” Marcel Fox barked, his voice cutting through the night like a whip. “Check behind the bushes!”The guards of his household were shouting and running everywhere, searching for any trace of the missing Alpha King. The chaos, coupled with the tense, panicked tones of the guards, reminded Jack much of the day when his father died.On that terrible day, he had watched the guards running in frantic circles like a flock of lambs without a shepherd dog. He had stood among them, still and silent, knowing they were close to their grim discovery. He knew the moment they passed through that cluster of bushes, they would find his father lying on the muddy ground—disfigured, mutilated, like a butchered pig. He had thought he would feel satisfaction when that moment arrived.But he didn’t.Instead, he stood there, numb, as if a hollow had opened in his chest. The cold wind seemed to blow straight through that emptiness, chilling him to the bone.He had finally killed the one who murd
“This is the way of hospitality in House Fox?” Sylvia scoffed as she glanced down her wrists. She had been bound in silver cuffs that glinted even in the dim light of the room. “You do realize silver has no effect on me? I’m not a werewolf.”Jack, unfazed by her words, took a leisurely sip of his tea. He was seated in the chair opposite Sylvia, his long legs crossed with practiced elegance.“I wasn’t concerned about the material” he replied evenly. “I doubted you had the strength to break any cuffs at all.”He signaled to the servant standing beside Sylvia, who immediately poured tea into a fine porcelain cup before placing it in front of her. The fragrant steam curled into the air, but Sylvia didn’t touch it. Her guard remained as steadfast as her composure. Jack offered a faint smile. “It’s the same blend you used to drink in the palace,” he remarked, gesturing toward the tea. “I hope I haven’t remembered it wrong.”Sylvia’s sharp gaze didn’t waver as she scrutinized him. “You to
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,