LUXURIA."Father…" I greeted with a bow, my voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in my chest. He welcomed me with a formality I hadn't expected, his gaze warmer than I'd ever seen it. I knew it was because of the alliance with Alpha Parthe—an alliance that would bring immense power and prestige. I could almost feel his satisfaction, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.He was scheming and manipulative.I glanced around the room, my heart pounding as I searched for a familiar face among the assembled dignitaries.Parthe's eyes, sharp and assessing, caught mine. He seemed to notice my frantic search, his expression shifting from indifference to a smirk that barely touched the corners of his lips.I took my seat beside him, trying to focus on the proceedings.Everyone else was with my father - his Gamma, Tarik, Elder Gareth, and a lot of others who were to bear witness to the alliance that was about to be made.But where was the Beta?Disappointment washed over me.They disc
ALPHA PARTHE.I waited in the hall for my Luxuria, but she was taking longer than she should. Then the good-for-nothing dimwit stood up and excused himself.That was when I followed. I couldn't leave anything to chance.I followed her scent. She must have forgotten that I was born to track and kill. No scent eludes my senses, no matter how faint.By the time I got to the garden, I saw the sight that made my blood boil harder than it had ever done since I was born.My breath slowed, every muscle coiled, controlled, but the fire in my blood roared hotter than ever.My Luxuria.Kissing another man.My heart stopped for a moment.No one touches what's mine.The sight of her lips on his—of his hands daring to touch her—was a betrayal that sliced through my chest.She saw me. The moment her eyes locked on mine, she froze. Trembling. As she should.She should be scared because I have a lot of punishments planned out for her already. This was a trap, and I had already prepared possible punish
LUXURIA.We had returned. And sincerely, I feared for my life.Parthe hasn't said a word to me since we left my father's pack. Not even a glance my way. It was as though I no longer existed in his world, and that terrified me more than anything else.His silence was suffocating, his cold indifference a weapon far more lethal than any words could ever be.I had made a terrible mistake.I had no idea what he would do, and that terrified me even more. He wasn't the type to lash out without thought—at least, I didn't think so. But what did I really know about him? Each time I thought I understood him, he showed a different side, one darker than before.As soon as we arrived, he went in with Shikta. A small, irrational pang of jealousy twisted inside me as I watched them disappear behind closed doors. I knew I had no right to feel that way—not after what I had done.I stared blankly at the outfit I was putting on, which Leisha brought to me.In her words, "The Alpha has instructed you to w
He lay casually beside me, his hand lifting, the backs of his fingers brushing along my collarbone, trailing lower, just grazing the skin of my chest.His hand slid downward further, ghosting over my hips and my thighs, but he never lingered long enough to satisfy the growing ache that his touch had ignited inside me."You're mine," he whispered, "Your body is mine to command."He drifted lower, his fingers tracing the line of my hip, sliding to the sensitive flesh of my inner thigh.He slid further, daring close to the pool of wetness that had gathered in my center. I squeezed my quaking core in and tried to control the sensation I was feeling.But then, just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he pulled away. The absence of his touch was maddening, leaving me burning, aching, and desperate for more."You're weak," he murmured, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. "Look at you... trembling. And yet... you want this, don't you? You need it."I bit my lip, refusing to answer, b
LUXURIA.It's been two days now after his cruel torture and I hadn't set eyes on him since then. It was almost deliberate. We never crossed paths.Although he was out of the pack for a regional meeting yesterday, but that didn't make me feel any better.A sick part of me craved to see him. I know I should hate him for the humiliation he made me face, but I couldn't get the picture of him off my head.I craved intimacy with him, and he was intentionally starving me of it. It was killing me.I picked up a small basket from my chamber, ready to head to the garden. I had finally found something I'd like to try out as a remedy for my illness.The missing page from the book I was reading that day still bothered me. And I have been trying to do all I can to find it.I hurried out of the fortress, my eyes darting around. A fraction of me wished to bump into the Alpha, but instead, I bumped into someone else.A woman who I've never seen since I set foot into this pack. I wouldn't blame myself.
LUXURIA.As I met Alpha Parthe's eyes, my heart sank. His cold, emotionless stare bore into me, and I could feel his anger simmering.My mouth went dry; words stuck in my throat. Shikta stood to the side, clutching her cheek, her eyes filled with a mix of satisfaction and triumph, as though she knew what was about to happen.He didn't speak immediately. The silence was more terrifying than any words could have been.I wanted to explain, but Alpha Parthe wasn't a man who entertained explanations."Alpha... She hit me," Shikta's deceptive voice announced as if the Alpha was blind."Yes, Alpha Parthe. I saw it all happen. She slapped Shikta." Nevada said, adding to my confusion as to her intentional hatred toward me.His heavy boots echoed in the stillness as he moved toward me, his eyes never leaving mine.I could feel my pulse thundering in my ears, and a cold sweat broke out along my spine."You’ve broken a rule,” he said, his voice low and dangerously calm.I felt a tremor run throug
LUXURIA.He's the storm I should fear, but I find myself walking into its eyes willingly.I found myself getting increasingly interested in anything that concerned Parthe. I had no control over it anymore. I guess I'm just curious to know more about my mate. Nothing else."You'll get to know him better in due time. For now, just do as he says. Meanwhile, what happened to you the other night was never meant to happen. Why did you leave your chamber?" Dashi asked me, and I rolled my eyes."I'm tired of chanting the same mantra to everyone, Dashi," I sighed sadly, "I promise you, I didn't step out of my chamber that night."She creased her brows and looked at me as if I was lying to her."Believe me. I went to bed as instructed but found myself on the floor the next day. I am equally curious. Why was I asked never to leave my chamber in the first place?" I asked, turning fully to face her.She hesitated."Please, Dashi. Tell me. I am scared and curious. No one cares about what happened t
LUXURIA.The herbs lay neatly crushed and blended in the small bowl before me, their scent earthy and bitter as I carefully poured the final mixture into a glass vial. It was dark already, and I felt the illness taking a new height.I had to hurry up.My hands trembled as I worked, though I wasn't sure why—anxiety had crept into my bones since earlier today after speaking with Dashi.This potion was supposed to help me. Supposed to give me strength. Whatever was brewing inside me, this would fix it.I sat down in front of the small mirror in the dimly lit room with the vial in my trembling hand.I took a deep breath, my reflection staring back at me. Then, without thinking further, I tipped the vial back and swallowed it.For a moment, nothing happened. The taste was bitter, burning as it slid down my throat. I watched myself in the mirror, half-expecting to see something... Maybe a physical reaction that would make me know it was going to work.My eyes brightened, an eerie blinding,
LUXURIA."What? I... I don't..." The words stuck to my throat."You were never my child. You were the curse who made me lose my mate! A woman I had grown to love and cherish!" His eyes shot daggers at me as his jaws clenched.I was scared. He looked like he was going to murder me with his bare hands."Father... What are you saying?" I asked in a breathy whisper."Don't you dare call me father. I am no father of yours!" He thundered, rising to his feet, "You are a product of your mother's infidelity." He narrowed his gaze on me."But you... You said..." I sniffed, my whole body trembling, "You said my mother was one of your mistresses. She wasn't... She wasn't your mate."I didn't want to believe that the very little I thought I knew about my mother were all lies. My poor heart was aching terribly."That was a lie I had to tell everyone, just to cover up my shame," He took his seat, seeming calm now, as he rested his elbows on the table before him, facing me, "Your mother never listene
LUXURIA."Alpha?" I called when he kissed me to wake up. I didn't realize I had slept so late into the night."Call me Parthe," He said in response, stroking my hair and my cheeks heated up."Okay... Parthe..." I replied and he seems pleased."Did you sleep well?" He asked."Yes... Sorry for disrupting your day. I didn't..." I was saying but he kissed my lips, stopping me mid-sentence."It was worth every second." He stroke my cheek tenderly, "You want to say something?"I hesitated, not knowing if he'd be pleased with what I was about to say."I've told you, Luxuria, you don't have to be scared of me anymore. Feel free around me. You can do or say whatever you want to me, and it'll be fine. I promise." He reassured and I lifted my head from his chest where I lay, looking into his black eyes, and I saw assurance and sincerity in them.I smiled, "Okay," I said, resting my head back on his chest, "I wouid like to go to my father's pack..." I began, expecting a reaction but got none. But
LUXURIA.I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling fresh and energized. It's been a long night, and the most part of today had been far spent, too.Parthe almost didn't want to leave my side all day. We had made love all through the night until this morning, even before he stepped out.It felt... Perfect... I found myself falling for him even more. I liked this side of him when he wasn't being cruel or brutal or cold and all that.For the first time since I met him, I truly felt a connection between us. A connection that went deeper than sex and the mate bond. This connection was more intimate and exciting.The only worry I had now was the fact that he had marked me. I had stopped him too many times without a proper reason. I guess he was tired of waiting. I was his mate, after all. But Amelia's words kept haunting me. What if I was truly from the lineage of Calandus?Although the possibility of it seemed very slim, but what if...?Right now, all I could do was to hope not."What's my li
ALPHA PARTHE.Nothing ever prepared me for the surprise that awaited me. I didn't know what came over her but I was thankful it did.She seemed different.She teased me in ways my body couldn't bear. It took all the self-control in me not to snap that flimsy silk off my wrists, pin her to the bed and fuck her until she could no longer breathe."I am ready to love you, Parthe."Those words were all it took to snap the tiny thread holding my restraints. I'd waited so long to hear her say those words. I thought she'd never say them. I thought she'd never be able to love me ever again.But I was wrong."Unbind me, Luxuria!" I said, baring my teeth. I wanted to show her exactly what those words meant to me."Parthe..." She called nervously at my command and for a moment, the bravery she had put up slowly faded away."Scared?" I asked, arching a brow, "would you rather I break free myself?" Even I couldn't recognize my voice. Fuck, I was lost in her spell.I felt the nervous thrill that ran
LUXURIA.I waited nervously for his return. My heart drummed in my chest but I occasionally took in deep breaths to calm it down.I wanted to thank him for saving my life. I just didn't know how.The door finally swung open and he walked in, tired and sweaty."Luxuria?" He called when he saw me still awake, "Why are you still up?"I ignored his question, rising to meet him, "Welcome back. How was the meeting?" I asked, helping him undress.I had already prepared a very hot bath for him. As if I knew he'd return stressed, I had added some relaxing herbs and oils into the hot water."It went well. You still haven't..." He was about saying when I interrupted him."I prepared a hot bath for you. Come here," I said, pulling him into the bathroom.I didn't miss the surprise in his eyes. He looked at me as if I had been possessed by someone else.I guided him into the bath tub filled with hot water.He sat, letting out a long, relieving breath."Relieving, right?" I asked, managing a smile.
LUXURIA.It was hard to believe that Zendaya was the one who almost had me killed. She was the first friend I made when I arrived here. And despite everything, I wouldn't deny the fact that her death touched me.I wonder how her mother would feel. Nevada loved her so much.As the days passed, I felt stronger. The effect of the trauma I was exposed to in my unconscious state was beginning to wear off.It had been three days since I woke up, and Alpha Parthe had hardly left my side since. I wouldn’t deny the warmth his presence brought, though I didn’t fully understand why it comforted me so much. Perhaps I was beginning to get used to being around him."I can't believe you are back to us, Luxuria," Dashi said for the hundredth time in three days. She has been so overwhelmed with joy.“How many times do I have to hear that?” I teased, rolling my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips.“Until the day after forever!” She sat beside me, her laughter filling the room. Then her express
LUXURIA.It was all too sudden. I fell hard, right back into the darkness I was afraid of. It felt like a force had ripped me off the light and pushed me back into the darkness.I was terrified. My eyes were slowly shutting, tempting me to give in to the sweet sleep that threatened to claim me. I'd never felt so sleepy all my life, and this time, it was too difficult to resist. I was so tired. So unbearably tired. Maybe this was it—maybe surrendering to the darkness would be my salvation. What was the point in fighting it any longer?I allowed my heavy eyes to succumb to the pull, but suddenly, I heard it again.His voice."Luxuria..."My eyes slowly open. And this time, his voice held more power and desperation than the first time."Find me," his voice urged, "Come back to me, Luxuria. I know I don't deserve you. I've pushed you away… I've hurt you. But I need you to listen now. You're stronger than this darkness. Stronger than anything that's tried to take you from me."I wanted to
ALPHA PARTHE."Fuck! Lorita! What's happening?" My voice trembled. Sweat covered my bare body. I was wearing nothing but a doublet as I held onto Luxuria's almost iced-cold hands.I had her. I felt her. Although from a distance but at least she was there.She was scared. I felt her fear so much that I felt desperate and helpless at the same time. I was consumed by the need to pull her out of that maze at once.But what's happening? Why am I loosing her?"You need to stay calm and focus, Alpha. You are too desperate and it's ruining everything," I heard Lorita's voice from a distance in the background. My eyes were tightly shut as I was standing at the very edge of whatever world Luxuria was trapped in. That was the farthest I could go.I took in deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. I couldn't let my desperation ruin this.“Luxuria…” I called out again, forcing my voice to steady, but the tremble was still there. I couldn’t help it. Fuck, I couldn’t lose her.I heard her shaky voi
ALPHA PARTHE.I looked down at the blood splattered across the floor. My blood. Its dark red pools glistened in the dim candlelight, snaking along the intricate lines of the symbols etched into the stone beneath my feet.The ritual was at its final stage, and there was no turning back. Not that I'd want to turn back at any point. If this was what it would take to save her, then I was willing to do it without a second thought.The ancient words rolled off my tongue, as I could feel my powers which have been dormant for years stirring beneath the surface.I had almost forgotten what this felt like—this raw, untamed energy. It coiled through my veins like molten iron, heating every fiber of my being.“Are you ready?” Lorita asked but I didn't answer. The look in my eyes said it all.I dipped my fingers into the pool of blood before me, set for the final step of the ritual.With a deep breath, I smeared the blood over the jagged scar across my chest. The scar from the day I had locked my