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,
ALPHA PARTHE.I scanned through the reports on my table, but my attention was divided.I'd need these reports for the upcoming regional meeting, which is in a few days, and I have to get my head straight. But not with Luxuria constantly plaguing my thoughts.I was still mad at her for letting another man touch her. The feeling was maddening. I lost every ounce of control I ever had.She hadn't even come to apologize to me yet. She surely was the stubborn type.I craved her presence like an addiction, but I couldn't bring myself to go to her. Whenever I think about her, all I see is that filthy rat kissing her.It got to me more than I will ever be willing to admit.I had intentionally stayed away from her for a lot of reasons, anger and caution taking the lead.It was still very early in the morning, and I already felt the need to see her.Fuck.A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I said, knowing who was at the door.Nevada walked in, closing the door behind
LUXURIA.I felt extremely weak.A dull ache coursed through my body, my limbs heavy as though I'd been drained of every ounce of strength. I blinked slowly, the dim light of the room swimming before my eyes. The knock echoed again, sharp and impatient, pulling me from my haze.Groaning softly, I attempted to push myself up. That's when I felt it—slick warmth across my skin. My eyes darted down to my hands, and I froze. Blood. Crimson stained my palms, smeared over my arms, and streaked across my bare skin.A chill raced down my spine as I quickly scanned my body, searching for any cuts or wounds. But there were none. Not even a scratch.My heart pounded against my ribs as panic surged within me. How did this happen? How did I end up on the floor, naked, bathed in blood that wasn't mine?The last thing I remembered was taking the potion I had prepared and feeling restless and uneasy. Every other thing went blank after that. I had slid into unconsciousness.So... What was happening?My
LUXURIA.It's all happening so fast. My friendship with Dashi. She had come to take me to the local market, as promised.I wasn't comfortable since I was still trying to figure out what my life was turning into.She had come just minutes after I had taken my bath and cleaned up every trace of blood from the floor.I tried to recall anything... Just something to help me understand what was going on. But I was in the dark. There was a blank void in my head that I couldn't fill.I was going crazy. The kind of craze that would make you want to confide in the closest person to you, even though that person is an enemy.I needed someone to talk to.Dashi was still admiring all we got from the market. She had good taste, I just say. She had gone to buy more clothes for herself.Although she intended to buy more fancy underwear like the Alpha liked, but she respected the fact that I was his mate. She bought them for me instead.I was touched by her actions. She seemed really nice."Can I confi
ALPHA PARTHE.The silence stretched for so long. I stared at their faces. They were all curious and nervous as they waited for me to speak.I hated being summoned. I detested it. But when it had to do with the council, I didn't have much of a choice."I haven't made a decision yet," I spoke, hoping the meeting ends soon. They were prying into my personal life, and I didn't like it."You don't have much of a choice here, Parthe," A voice sounded, and I turned to see who it was.Only one person had the right to speak to me in that manner. Elder Geth. My late mother's father… My grandfather.Funny how people might think we'd be so close since he was my grandfather, but no. We had our grievances against each other. Some hatchets just can't be buried easily. Especially not when those hatchets had a lot to do with his son, Rorden."Why would you say that, Elder Geth?" I asked with every ounce of respect I could muster."You have found your fated mate. What else do you want? You haven't reje
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