AIDENAll of them were bound with ropes, their eyes covered with black cloth.Steven had been whipped, his tattered clothes stained with blood, and his back exposed. The welts were deep and long, and my stomach turned at the very sight.Charlotte’s face was marred with bruises and scars, surely inflicted by some sort of blade as well as physical blows.Emma—thank the goddess—looked relatively unharmed but was visibly terrified, clinging tightly to her mother and whimpering.A lump formed in my throat and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to retch or shout in anger. Evelyn’s family had already been through so much. And now this? I couldn’t get rid of my rising guilt and knew that I probably never would.”“You have five minutes,” Oakley said to me in a low voice. “Don’t remove the eye masks. Keep your voice quiet and low. Without another word, he took a chair and sat in the corner. I waited for some kind of deception and but cautious when none arrived.As I approached the Caddels, I felt a tig
EVELYNAs I had expected, Skyla was extremely unhappy the morning we were set to leave for the House of Fox.The beautiful redhead looked positively enraged when she saw me following Cole from the King’s wing.“What in the hell are you doing here?” she hissed, just low enough for me to hear. At her sides, her hands were balled into fists, and from the way she winced, I knew her claws were extended within. I wondered if she would swipe at me with them if I gave her a vague answer. And part of me questioned what I would do if she did.Even considering how little I practiced fighting these days, I knew I could handle the lovely she-wolf. Skyla had been bred to be a bride, not a soldier.Since I was behind the King, I opted not to respond and instead tilted my head slightly, egging on. It was petty, especially when it meant so little to me, but I swept my hair over my shoulder so that she could see the hickeys Cole had left on my neck.I had discovered them in the mirror this morning, and
JASMINEAfter what felt like a million-year-long journey, the coachman stopped the carriage outside of a small inn. Startled by the sudden halt, I jumped and then raised my eyes to look at Elsa.My former maid seemed distant, like her mind was utterly occupied with something else, which was a welcome change. Throughout this ride, I’d wondered if Elsa ever slept, because every time I moved even a centimeter, she would shoot me a sharp glare. It sent a chill down my spine every single time and I began to watch myself to make sure I didn’t anger her further.In one swift motion, Elsa rose to her feet and narrowed her eyes at me, her hands flying to the dagger holstered at her side. Her jaw clenched and then she leaned closer.“We’re stopping for the night,” she said sharply. “The coachman needs some sleep and so do I. But don’t get any ideas about anything. There are some rules that you must follow if you want to stay alive.”I swallowed heavily and then nodded, my hands shaking at my si
JASMINEThe coachman didn’t speak. His jaw clenched for the briefest of moments but then he rolled his eyes dismissively. Before they glazed over as Elsa’s had not long before, I extended my already long, sharp claws, and then dug them deep into his belly.The coachman shrieked as blood splattered out and my voice hardened.“Don’t play tricks or attempt anything stupid,” I warned him. “Next time, it’ll be your neck. I don’t want to repeat myself again. Answer my question. Who is your Master?”A whimper escaped him. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen the Master’s face. He’s always wearing a mask. We receive orders and then we obey, no questions asked.”“That seems convenient,” I remarked annoyedly, and just as I started to raise my claws, he continued to speak.“I m-m-met the Master when I was begging for f-food on the street,” he stammered. “I was kicked aside by a group of well-dressed wolves… they hurt me and then laughed as they walked away. It was humiliating. The Master saved and tr
EVELYNWhat the hell was Cole talking about?Elsa, an attacker?“That’s impossible,” I blurted out, shaking my head firmly as I stared back at him. I didn’t believe a word of what he was saying. There was no way. My kind, caring friend was not capable of such a thing and she would never hurt me. She was too young, too innocent.“Impossible?” Cole repeated back, and then he scoffed. “How can you be so sure? You say you trust her but where does your trust come from? You’ve known her for barely a month, haven’t you? I was informed that she only arrived at the palace recently. Doesn’t seem like enough time to really get to know someone.”I fought the urge to glare at him and instead opted to narrow my eyes.“Have you found any evidence?” I questioned him, ignoring his comments about our friendship. “How could Elsa do such a thing? What would her motive be to attack Lady Anna? To attack me?”But Cole ignored my questions as well and pressed on. “Answer this for me, Evelyn. Where does your
EVELYNWe arrived at the House of Fox the next day.The journey should have been short since Fox’s land was the closest to the royals, but Skyla made it unbearable. What should have been a one-day trip dragged on because she constantly stopped the carriages, seizing every opportunity to talk to Cole about some issue or problem she’d dreamt up.Once, she claimed a wheel was loose on the carriage and she was fearful about continuing on until it was fixed.Another time, she stopped because she said she was feeling sick from being cooped up and needed a while to stop and stretch. She asked Cole to accompany her on a short walk, which he obliged, though he seemed less than thrilled about it.Every time he gave in to her whims, Skyla’s aqua eyes would reach mine and get a strange flint. Sometimes, a small smile would accompany this look, as if she were saying “he’s mine.”It was mildly annoying but turned quite laughable whenever I noticed Cole’s expression. He wasn’t unkind to her outright
EVELYNI wrapped my arms around myself and lowered my head as I tried to calm down.Everyone loved to bring up my family and I was no stranger to overhearing tales told about them, but something about Marcel’s tone made me nervous. Had something happened on Windsburn to illicit such a response? Were my parents and sister alright?Were they in danger?My heart raced in my chest and Max eyed me with a look of worry. I dropped my hands and then held a finger to my mouth to make sure he stayed quiet. I needed to hear Marcel Fox’s next words and couldn’t be interrupted by anything more than a slight breeze if I wanted to stay focused.“Don’t beat around the bush, Lord Marcel. ” Cole said, clearly aware of what Marcel was referring to. “Be frank with me.”“The Caddels, Your Majesty,” Marcel confirmed a beat later. “I apologize for bringing up their extremely unpleasant name. I hate speaking of them but I see no other choice. You see, people are still holding grudges against their punishment
EVELYNI tried to ask Max what his incredulous stare was for but the guard couldn’t give me an answer. His eyes darted to and fro and his mouth tensed, like he was afraid of being heard.Regardless of his strange behavior, I decided I wasn’t in the mood for a walk anymore. Sure, the weather was beautiful and the sun was warm and shining, but given all I’d just heard, I was ready to return to my room and get some privacy to unpack my feelings.Max accompanied me back silently, but before I closed the door to my guest room, the young guard stepped up boldly. His eyes trailed over me and I watched him summon the courage to speak.“My lady, are you Evelyn Caddel?” he blurted out.Normally, a question like that would have me shaking and fearful. But today… today I wasn’t feeling so spineless and scared.“Yes,” I confirmed without missing a beat.There was no point in lying. Anyone who wasn’t deaf could easily connect the girl in Marcel Fox’s story to me. Why deny my identity and pretend ot
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
ADDISONThe blade of the sharp dagger gleamed under the moonlight streaming through the half window above Addison. Elsa’s teeth were gritted, and gone was the doe-eyed, innocent-looking girl who had once worked as a maid in the palace.In her place stood the face of a fierce fighter and killer.“You should die,” Elsa spat out with hatred, her brown eyes flashing with the utterance. “Every Madden deserves to die for what they’ve done.”Addison didn’t move – not out of fear but out of survival. She looked at Elsa while her hand cautiously searched behind her, trying to find anything that might be useful.Unfortunately, there was nothing to be found. The silver-lined cell was bare. All that lay behind her was sand.There was nothing in the silver-lined cell that would help her escape, not a single little thing. All that was behind her was sand. She supposed she could use her claws, but she needed to bide her time—any wrong move, and Elsa could slit her throat in an instant.It could all