ALPHA PARTHE.What the fuck?Something was deeply wrong, and now I was sure of it. This confirmed it all.I looked at my mate's almost unconscious body, and she looked so peaceful in her sleep that I'd do just anything to know what was going on in her head.I'd been tempted to use my powers to pry into her head to see what was happening in there, to know what she was going through. But I advised myself against it. I didn't want to do anything that would upset her.The coronation was in two days. Two fucking days. There was no room for error, no time for mistakes. I couldn't afford to have anything go wrong.This coronation meant a lot to me, and I didn't want anything to jeopardize it.I love this woman so much that it hurts. The sight of her like this made my heart ache. She was everything to me. If anything ever happened to her, it'd kill me.It was time to check on Shikta again, as promised, but I couldn't leave. I needed to be here when she woke up. I needed to see her eyes, to to
LUXURIA.My body trembled with rage as I glared at him, my heart pounding so fiercely that I thought it might shatter. His words, his excuses—they only stoked the fire burning within me.How dare he? How dare he stand there, acting as if his lies could soothe the storm in my chest?"Stop with the lies! And get out of my way!" I snarled, trying to push past him. His hand shot out, grabbing my arm and pulling me back with a force that only reminded me of how trapped I was."Luxuria, stop this madness!" he growled, his voice a mixture of anger and desperation. "You don't understand—"My fingers brushed against the cool steel hidden in the folds of my gown, and without hesitation, I drew the dagger.My skin burned where his hand had been, and I stepped back, putting as much space between us as I could. My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest heaving as the sting of his betrayal pierced me harder.I wouldn't let him touch me again. Not after everything I had just discovered."Don't touch
PARTHE.My cock still felt sore from pushing it above it's limit. It made me wonder how my mate was faring.She had fallen into a deep sleep for hours, and all I could do was watch her sleep. She looked so beautiful when she slept."Are you certain I should go with you?" She asked from my side as we walked out of my chamber to the next - Shikta's chamber."It was bad. The least you could do is apologize," I said with a smile.We had talked when she woke up. I had been able to convince her that all Shikta had told her were lies. Thankfully, she believed me, and we were fine.I pushed the door open without knocking, pulling Luxuria in behind me.Shikta was perched on the edge of her bed, a blanket draped over her legs. A servant stood beside her, spooning hot soup to her lips. Her gaze snapped to us the moment we entered, her expression souring as she registered the sight of our intertwined hands."Well," she sneered, pushing the servant's hand away. "Are you two done fucking and distur
LUXURIA.I swung the training blade hard, the dull thud of its impact against the tree satisfying but not enough to quell the restless fire burning inside me. Sweat trickled down my temples, dampening the loose strands of my hair that clung to my face. The woods were quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of my strikes and the occasional chirp of a bird overhead."I truly am sorry, Luxuria," Rorden's voice broke the stillness again. He stood a few paces behind me, "I already apologized for making you angry."I didn't respond. My focus remained on the training post I'd fashioned from a sturdy tree, my strikes coming faster, harder, as if I could drive the memory of his actions out of my mind.I decided to train in the woods today. Since the death of Vixtin, I hadn't gotten a new trainer yet to take over from where he stopped. I'd been doing it all by myself.He stepped closer, his boots crunching against the forest floor. "Are you even listening to me?""No," I muttered, raising the blade
ALPHA PARTHE.As I stepped through the arched doorway, my eyes scanned the room, noting the seated elders whose faces were twisted in a frown.My gaze stopped on Shikta. She was seated to the side, her hands folded over her stomach.She looked up at me with a carefully crafted expression of hurt, her lips trembling just enough to sway any observer."Bloody fools," I muttered under my breath."Parthe," the First Elder began as I took my seat, "we'll get straight to the point. Why do you insist on crowning Luxuria as Luna when Shikta carries your child?""Because Luxuria is my mate," I said coldly.Shikta flinched, her lips parting as if she were about to object, but she held back. The elders exchanged uneasy glances before the Second Elder spoke."This decision will divide the pack, Alpha. It undermines tradition. The child Shikta bears—your child—will secure the future of this pack's bloodline. That child is your first and can't be treated like an outcast. Shikta must be Luna.”"I didn
NOTE!!! This chapter contains contents that might be sensitive to some readers. If you aren't into non-con, kindly skip it.RORDEN.I am losing my mind. My focus. My control.The fire within me burned hotter with each passing day like a relentless inferno that refused to be extinguished.This wasn't just mere desire—it was need, raw and maddening, that clawed at the edges of my sanity.She consumed my thoughts. Always her.I never intended to fall in love with my cousin's mate. But right now, I could do just anything to make her mine.It's becoming an obsession and eating deep into my soul.I had tried so many ways to get her off my mind, but all to no avail. I've slept with a lot of women, but I still hunger for her. I've traveled far away, trying to keep my distance, but it didn't help quench my burning hunger.The hunger I felt for her was not one I could cage.Fuck. I needed a taste of her. A feel of her. I wanted to touch her. I wanted to claim her in ways that no other man, not e
LUXURIA. My body felt unnaturally heavy as if I carried the weight of stones beneath my skin. Every inch of me ached—My limbs, head, joints, and... the sharp soreness between my thighs. I snapped my eyes open, heart hammering against my ribs. The room around me swam into view: deep, shadowed corners bathed in faint candlelight, the rich mahogany of furniture I knew all too well, and the unmistakable scent of him—smoke, cedarwood, and something darker, uniquely Parthe. I was in Parthe's chamber - our chamber. How did I get here? Fragments of memory floated just out of reach. The last thing I remembered was the heated argument with Parthe. I had stormed off to find Dashi, who had reminded me—again—that she was going to see Tarin and made me promise her, as usual, that I would keep it between us. I always kept her secret. And then… nothing. Oh, Selene. My memory loss was getting out of hand, and it scared me to death. The fear coiled tight in my chest, threatening to choke me. I s
LUXURIA.I made my way to Rorden's chamber as fast as I could. Thankfully, it was quiet and empty as usual. Everyone had gone out to their daily activities.I knocked urgently in panic. It took a little while before he opened the door, revealing his disheveled figure. He was still asleep. That was very unlike Rorden."Luxuria," he said, his voice rough with fatigue. His gaze swept over me, his brow furrowing. "What are you doing here so early?"I couldn't answer immediately. My thoughts were jumbled, my emotions a storm I couldn't contain. Instead of replying, I stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, pacing the length of his chamber.He closed the door behind him with a sigh, moving toward his table and gathering the scattered scrolls and notes that littered its surface.I couldn't care less to see what they were. He'd been working on those for so long now."Luxuria," he said again, his tone firmer this time, "what's wrong?"I stopped pacing and turned to face him. My hands
LUXURIA."I told you the time will come faster than you even imagine..." Rorden traced a lazy path along my cheek, "The time when you'd stand by my side as mine... The time is already upon us, dear Luxuria."My restrained hands twitched, aching to curl into fists, to drive my knuckles into his jaw and watch his smug mouth spill blood.Instead, I did the only thing I could. I spat in his face."You will never succeed in this evil you plan," I hissed, watching as the glob of spit trailed down his cheek. "The goddess will never accept the abomination you just committed in the name of rituals."Rorden didn't flinch. He simply exhaled through his nose, dragging a thumb across his cheek, wiping the spit away with an infuriating calmness.I scoffed, shaking my head. "How could you even harness such thoughts against your own brother?"My eyes scanned the large field, taking in the fearful-looking men who were being fortified with Rorden's blood mixed with some kind of powerful herbs and subst
ALPHA PARTHE."It took you long enough, Urik," I said when I saw him striding into my courtroom like a man walking towards his own execution. "Finally got some nerves to face me?"Bharon and Kefas had the perfect look of displeasure on their faces as their gazes rested on Urik.Like everyone else, they had been disappointed—furious—with the way things had turned out two days ago, and Urik made sure to stay away from everyone's eyes. I hadn't seen him since the day of the false alarm.He had vanished the moment things went south, leaving me to clean up his mess.Coward.Tervan kept on asking me what really happened and how we got the information about an attack that never happened. He was also curious as to what pack was going to attack us and all, but I never gave him any reasonable explanation.Because what was I supposed to say? That I had suspected my own right-hand man of treason? And that we had gone to such lengths to actually catch him in the act... In an act that he was never
ALPHA PARTHE."Fifty men to the East entrance!" Kefas commanded.The warriors moved, their armor glinting under the early light, boots thudding against the earth as they marched to their positions. Some carried shields, others had double-bladed axes, and a few had bows slung over their backs.The entire camp was a storm of movement.Blacksmiths pounded metal against metal, forging last-minute weapons. Stable hands hurried to saddle warhorses, the beasts stamping their hooves impatiently. Runners darted between squadrons, delivering orders.Over three thousand men. Positioned strategically. Ready for war.And yet, I stood there, watching, my gut twisted into knots.What if we were wrong? This would all seem and feel stupid. But there was no time to second-guess. I had already given the command."Parthe?" A familiar voice called me, and I stilled.Tervan.I turned slowly, my face betraying nothing, though my insides recoiled. He was covered in dust, his tunic streaked with sweat. He had
ALPHA PARTHE."The warriors await your orders, Alpha,"Kefas's voice barely registered. My mind was elsewhere.Once again, I was thinking about Luxuria. No matter how hard I tried to push her from my mind, she always found a way back in.I tried offering sacrifices to the goddess, but it seemed she had also forsaken me. I didn't want to believe Urik's theory, as well as the theories of others who thought she had run away with Rorden.Rorden was always good at hiding. Whenever he left the pack back in those days, no one ever found him until he was ready to be found or until he returned to the pack. Maybe he had taken her to one of those hideouts of his, and they were probably living their best lives."Alpha?" Bharon called, and I lifted my gaze to meet their curious ones. But before I'd say a word to them, the doors to my courtroom banged open, and Urik strode in with urgency on his face."Alpha, I have gotten her to tell me everything she knows. We have to act fast. They are coming. I
LUXURIA'S POV.Nevada stilled at the sight of the monster standing before us. His aura had become ten times darker and more terrifying than before that was certain I didn't want to be in the same space with him.His eyes held promises that scared me... I wasn't safe with him... My pups aren't safe either. What if he tries to get rid of them again?"Alpha?" She greeted with a nervous how before hurrying out of the chamber, leaving me at his mercy.He barely even acknowledged her.His eyes rested on the scroll in my hands before trailing up to meet my tearfilled gaze. He moved without sound, his robes flowing around him like liquid darkness, swallowing every trace of warmth from the room. The door groaned as he pushed it shut, making me jolt in fear.A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he took slow steps forward."My little Luxuria," he murmured with amusement. "Why are you holding my scroll?"I took a step back instinctively, my heart slamming against my ribs. My hands tre
LUXURIA.I paced the room, my nails scraping against my lips as I chewed on them anxiously, my heart hammering against my ribs. Fear coiled tight in my stomach, but at least my babies were safe. For now.I was able to learn from Nevada that Rorden had gone for some kind of fortification or ritual of some sort, but she refused to tell me why. And that bothered me. Deep in my bones, something felt off. Something was definitely wrong.Rorden had instructed that I'd be taken to his chamber after recovering yesterday. The entire place reeked of him, and my stomach churned with disgust. I didn't want to be anywhere near him, let alone trapped in a space that belonged to him.My mind wandered in Parthe's direction again, and as usual, I was helpless... I couldn't stop myself from thinking about him and Shikta.Shikta's dreams would have come true... Her dreams of becoming Luna.Parthe must have moved on with his life. I knew that... Otherwise, he should have been looking for me already. Rord
PARTHE.Did I care that I lost a child?Not really.Did that make me a bad person? Maybe.But who cared?I exhaled, stretching my fingers before curling them into fists again, feeling the sharp sting of my own strength pressing into my palms.I should have cared. I should have felt something other than this quiet, creeping satisfaction that coiled inside me.But I didn't.A twisted, irrational sense of relief seeped into my bones at the thought of Shikta losing that child. I couldn't even explain why. Perhaps it was because I never wanted a child from her. Perhaps because I never wanted anything to bind me to her in the first place.Or maybe it was because fate had already taken everything from me. My mate. My peace. My patience. And now, it had stripped away something I was supposed to mourn—but couldn't.I had always wanted my heir to come from a woman I love... My mate... But fate ruined everything and is still ruining my efforts!I slammed my fist on the wooden table before me in
SHIKTA.I jolted upright, my breath ragged, my heart hammering so hard I thought it might tear through my ribs. My hands clutched at the sheets, damp with sweat, as my frantic gaze darted around the dimly lit chamber.Where was I?For a brief, foolish moment, I hoped I had woken up at the very moment the darkness swallowed me whole and that I hadn't blacked out for too long. Or that it had all been a nightmare, nothing more. But it was only a wish.A splitting headache welcomed me, as well as a terrifying dizziness that almost sent me back to the bed I had just woken up from.I swayed, barely able to keep myself upright, my stomach churning like a stormy sea."You need to rest, Shikta." I heard the Alpha's voice from somewhere around the room.I looked around immediately to see him standing in a dark corner of the room."Parthe... Parthe..." I called, too in a hurry to stand up, meet him, and explain all that Tervan tried to do, that I didn't notice the sharp pain that was plaguing my
SHIKTA."What took you so long, you pathetic little thing? How long does it take to get a simple tea done?" I snapped at the lazy maid whose thin shoulders were shivering before me.I watched her struggle to form a response, her lips quivering as she opened her mouth—only to fail miserably.How utterly pathetic.She looked far too weak, too fragile, and it was satisfying.I leaned back in my chair, allowing myself the pleasure of her misery.When I became Luna, I had turned most of Parthe's former mistresses into my slaves. He had no problem with that, and I was thankful for it. And this one—this wretched, simpering girl—had once warmed my Alpha's bed.The very thought of it filled me with rage that I wanted to maltreat the life out of her!If it weren't for the child growing inside me, I might have thrown something at her just for the satisfaction of seeing her cower."When I ask for tea, I expect it before my patience runs out," I said slowly, letting the words slither into her bone