EVELYN“Thank you,” the girl stumbled over her words as we rushed away. The village market had grown busy with movement, but we’d managed to slip away mostly undetected thanks to Cole. His wolf form had been so distracting that we’d gotten away without being pursued by House Fox’s guards.While the girl was far less scared than she’d been earlier, there was still fear in her large eyes and her lower lip trembled as she shrank into herself.“There’s no need to thank me,” I said with a shake of my head. “Truly. Tell me, honey, where do you live?”The girl was quiet for a moment. “I… don’t have a home or a family, but I usually stay in a small alley. I have a few friends there.”“Let’s get you there then,” I said. I was sad that the poor young lady didn’t have a permanent place to go and get herself cleaned up and safe, but there wasn’t much I could do about it.The most important thing was getting her far away from those wretched guards, even if her destination was merely an alleyway.A
EVELYNNo matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t see anything through the heavy piece of fabric over my face. I tried to struggle and shout for help, but before I could even utter a word, cold steel pressed against my neck.I knew at once from the feeling of the weapon that it was a dagger. A sword would have been too large in such proximity, but it was more than a mere knife.Somewhere near, I heard Cake crying.“I’m so sorry, my lady,” she apologized. “I’m so so sorry, I didn’t have a choice. I’m… I’m sorry.”I heard a scurry of footsteps on cobblestones and knew she had run away. While I was angry at this betrayal of trust, I couldn’t blame the poor girl.Still, thanks to her, I had walked right into a trap.“Who are you?” I demanded. “And what do you want?”My attacker remained silent.“Who are you?” I snarled, again, but instead of a reply, I felt myself being turned around and then pushed forward. A gag rose from my throat as I smelled the damp, filthy odor of a drain.I gritted my
EVELYNTime passed by strangely after I was gagged and blindfolded. Since I couldn’t see or say anything, I had no idea how long it had been since Elsa and Cake had brought me here.No matter how long it had been, Elsa refused to speak to me. After the blindfold had gone back on, she’d scoffed, and that was the last sound I’d heard from her.At first, I wondered why Elsa needed to wait in this narrow alley, but after a while, I realized that Elsa was waiting for the sunset. It would attract too much attention if she kidnapped me and led me through the streets in the daytime. The village was bustling but not enough to move undetected in such a conspicuous fashion.Although Elsa kept silent, she didn’t lower her guard. Every time I adjusted myPosture, even just a little, I received a kick to the legs. Hoping to elicit a response from her, I kept shifting until finally, she spoke.“Stop moving,” she warned me in a cold voice.A shiver ran through me at the sound. This Elsa wasn’t the El
COLEI was furious with myself beyond words.I knew I shouldn’t have let Evelyn out of my sight. I’d known it the moment she’d left the market with the young girl she’d saved from the guard. I hadn’t wanted to let her go but she’d been so insistent on saving the girl that I felt I had no choice.So, I dealt with the guard myself and allowed her to leave.A foolish mistake.I had been overly careless in my choices. I’d waited for her near the entrance of the forest for a long time, but I hadn’t seen her. I hadn’t gotten even a tiny trace of her scent lingering around the forest. She hadn’t returned and I had no idea where she’d gone.When I stormed back to House Fox, she was nowhere to be seen as well. I interrogated her guard at once but Max said she hadn’t yet returned.“I haven’t seen her anywhere, Your Majesty,” the young man informed me with a grave expression on his face. “I’ve been keeping an eye out but she’s nowhere to be found.”Fear coursed through me as if I’d been struck b
COLEI froze in place as I watched Jack Elrod, my elder brother who should have been dead for over a year now, descend from the high pile of clutter in the alley. Even though I should have stopped him in his tracks, all I could do was stand there in shock.I was staring at a ghost. A ghost from the past who should have long since remained gone.Everyone who knew Jack had the same expression as me. Sir Webb, Evelyn, the guards… all stiffened as my brother gazed down at us.I looked at Jack’s chest, where Frank Crawford had stabbed him. He’d assured me a million times over that my brother was dead. It was obvious now that his death hadn’t been as ensured as he’d insisted it was.Jack approached the woman who had held Evelyn captive. “I didn’t expect that working in the palace would make you so weak, my dear Elsa.” Jack’s voice was as soft and measured as ever.The disfigurement on the side of his face was exposed by the twitch of his lips—the scars left by the fire. There were two ways
AIDENHeart thrumming in my chest, I backed toward the front door, where miners were still breaking through despite how many had been killed under the claws and teeth of the guards.Bodies were scattered on the ground and blood was everywhere. Carnage was amuck and the sight of the scarlet pools of liquid was nauseating.Yet, they seemed unstoppable.They didn’t mind the carnage.All that mattered to them was their rebellion.“Your eloquence wasn’t effective, Sir,” Oakley said mockingly as he backed up alongside me, his long claws spread menacingly. Sarcasm laced his tone and sent a wave of irritation through me.Despite that, I didn’t argue his point and instead glanced around, trying to find Peter. The number of miners joining the fight was far larger than expected. It was apparent that the old man was lying when he’d said there wouldn’t be many miners who wished to join the fight.Cries rang out around us and sent a chill down my spine. I hadn’t come to Windsburn Island for this. I
AIDENAs I stared down at the body of the guard, a touch of numbness flooded through me, along with a tinge of guilt.I wasn’t a killer. I didn’t enjoy bloodshed, didn’t crave the feeling of a wolf crumpling under the savageness of my claws.And yet…When I glanced at young Ben’s lifeless form…“Did you not give him a chance to surrender?” Oakley’s voice came from behind me.I hated the playful sarcasm in his tone but didn’t indulge him with a response. Instead, I clenched my fists and kept moving.Now that the gates had been opened and the rebellion was in full swing, I needed to refocus on my mission.I marched ahead and headed back toward the castle. With every step, my mind replayed the moment I’d crushed the guard’s throat with my bare hands. The feeling of killing the guard made me sick— not because I wasn’t prepared for it, but because I knew how weak the guard had been. It had been all too easy to break his neck.Pushing the feeling aside, I swiftly passed through the front d
FLYNN“L-Lord Beta,” a guard burst into the room, breathless.I looked up from the stack of documents on my desk, rubbing the bridge of my nose with a sigh. I hadn’t expected company, as I hadn’t dispatched any guards on a mission, so this interruption obviously involved something within the walls of the royal palace."What happened?" I asked, rolling my shoulders back to center myself.“It’s L-Lady Addison,” the guard stammered, clearly flustered by the development. “She left the palace, Lord Beta. W-we couldn’t stop her.”My eyes narrowed at him as annoyance crept into my mind. “Where is she heading?” I asked.“We don’t know,” the guard admitted, cheeks darkening with embarrassment. “She didn’t say a word—”“Did you send someone to follow her?” I cut in, my voice sharp.The guard nodded quickly. “Yes, Lord Beta, they’re following her now.”“Which direction?” I asked as I glanced toward the window. Addison Madden was swift but so was I.“Southeast, I believe,” the guard replied.My
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