LUXURIA.I decided to get myself busy with chores in order not to lose my sanity. The events in my life have been overwhelming and confusing.I was beginning to think of stupid possibilities - what if I am also becoming like the Alpha? Was his curse rubbing off on me? What if I was truly cursed like everyone in my pack thought?I had to clear my head before I made drastic decisions that I might regret.I tried to confide in Dashi, but it didn't feel right. She was a member of this pack and was obligated to report anything or anyone that seemed like a threat to the Alpha.Since I hadn't fully understood what I was going through, it was best to keep it to myself while doing more research.The weakness I felt was becoming a concern to me. Every day, it seemed my condition worsened, and sometimes I feared for my life. My body ached more than usual today. It was as if every ounce of strength was slowly draining out of me. It's almost as if whatever this was, it was trying to take my life,
LUXURIA.There was silence. My heart pounded so loudly that I wondered if Rorden could hear it. His hazel eyes were piercing, studying me so intensely that it made my skin prickle with unease.We had come into my chamber, and I wondered what he had in mind. He wasn't saying anything."Rorden..." My voice came out in a shaky whisper, barely able to form his name. But he didn't respond. He just kept staring, those sharp eyes of his raking over me like he was trying to decipher some unsolvable puzzle."When did you notice this?" He finally spoke, and I was thankful he did.I swallowed hard, hesitating. How could I even begin to explain this to him? I didn't fully understand it myself. But I had to open up to him because he already knew my secret either way. There was no need to hide it any further.I only prayed the Alpha would believe me when I told him I had considered telling him before I bumped into Rorden."A few weeks ago..." I replied.He didn't move. His gaze didn't soften. Inste
ALPHA PARTHE.I just rounded up a hectic day, and all I desired was a hot bath and some sleep. The Harlem brothers almost made me lose control over their dispute.Sometimes, I wonder why I still let them stay in my pack. They always brought more trouble than peace to those around them.Thankfully, I was able to settle the dispute without having to rip their heads off.A knock sounded on my door, and I grunted before answering it."Shikta," I called when she walked into my chamber, "what do you want?" I asked in displeasure. I was too exhausted to entertain anyone right now."Alpha. Sorry to barge into you at this time. I know you must be very exhausted," She said, hurrying over to where I stood as she helped me undress.She always knew what to do at every point. One of the reasons I liked her alot."Yes. And I want to have some rest," I replied tiredly."Of course. How about a massage to help you rest better?" She asked, pulling me into the bathroom.Knowing that she intended to help
SHIKTA.I eagerly walked into my chamber, my curiosity getting the best of me. I lifted my dress and brought out the small vial I had taken from the Alpha's chamber.I had been able to put him to sleep, and just as I was about to leave, the vial caught my attention. It was lying carelessly under his study table.Something told me this was the answer to my questions regarding why I had been unable to bear him an heir.The vial looked unfamiliar. I had never prepared any potion for the Alpha that looked like this one.I had to study it properly to know what potion it contained and what to do if it was what I was thinking.And if this potion was what I suspected, if this was the reason I hadn't borne Alpha Parthe an heir, then everything was about to change.As soon as I finish my research, bearing an heir for the Alpha will be inevitable."Shikta?" I heard someone call me, and my wolf almost leaped out of my body."Selene! Zendaya! Why would you sneak up on me in that manner?" I asked,
LUXURIA.It was dawn. Thankfully.No strange occurrences through the night. I woke up on my bed and not on the floor. No blood on my body.Ha! What a relief!Recently, I go to bed scared because I really can't tell what happens when I black out. But now that I know what is at play, it scared me even more. I hope I wasn't killing people just like the Alpha.I still pondered over why I had seen Nevada in my memory. That memory has haunted me since that night. It was a younger version of herself I saw and... I don't know what to make of it, but it has sincerely bothered me.She had a smile on her face in that memory... Was I beginning to see visions? But I wasn't a witch.I contemplated telling Rorden about it since he has decided to be of help to me.Some might call me foolish or desperate for confiding in someone I just met a few days ago but I had no choice. I had been dying in silence for so long, and he seemed to understand what was wrong with me.Without him, I probably would have
ALPHA PARTHE.My fury knew no bounds. My knuckles cracked as they collided countlessly with the stone wall of my chamber, the sharp sting grounding me in my hot fury.My hand bled profusely, but I welcomed the pain. It was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me—nothing compared to the jealousy that ate away at my insides, tearing at the hollow pit where my heart should have been.I willed it all to go away. The anger. The jealousy. The hurt I felt inside.She thought I didn't know?I sensed her the very moment she crouched behind that window, listening to our conversation, caring about that pathetic excuse of a Beta.Every breath she took, every beat of her heart... I felt it all.I felt her every emotion. She still cared about that rat. She was hurt knowing that he was dying.I heard her soft sniffles. I could almost taste her tears, and it made me mad with rage.She was suffering, but not for me. For him.That thought... the very notion of her shedding even a single tear for
LUXURIAMy back pressed hard against the cold stone wall, my wrists pinned above my head. Alpha Parthe's touch was bruising, his body a storm of tension and anger.I felt his fury like a living thing—surging, consuming. His eyes blazed with a darkness that stole my breath.I had expected this. I knew he would punish me for what I'd come to ask. I had prepared for the roughness, the pain.I had come ready to sacrifice anything to save Kahel. But as I stared into those dark, storm-filled eyes, something twisted inside me—a desperate need to appease him, to soothe the rage I had caused. I wanted him to stop hating me.But as his lips claimed mine again, hard and demanding, I felt it—his anger... softening. His kiss was brutal, yes, but beneath that, something else was simmering.I gasped into his mouth, expecting more cruelty, but then something changed. It was as if a storm had suddenly passed, leaving behind a quiet calm.His touch began to shift. His hands, which had once held me with
UNKNOWN POV.It was getting late, and I was becoming impatient. She was always like this. Keeping me waiting. I wonder what joy she derived from doing this.The rustling of dried leaves caught my attention, and I knew she was the one. No one else knew this spot except both of us."It took you long enough," I said with a deep frown. She knew I was displeased."I'm sorry. I had to make sure no one was watching. You wouldn't want us to get caught, would you?" She asked with a familiar smile."What have you found out about the vial?" I asked, and she heaved a sigh."Nothing yet. I'll tell you as soon as I do." She replied."Shikta. There isn't much time to waste. There is every possibility that he'd crown Luxuria the Luna. I feel it in my guts. We have to act fast." I said in an urgent tone, and I saw the shift in her demeanor.She detested bitter truths."Don't say that. I'm already taking care of Luxuria, and you know that. She'd be dead even before she has the opportunity to wear that
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
ALPHA PARTHE.I had become a shadow of myself lately. Nothing interests me anymore. Life itself became nothing but a chore to me.Where had she gone? She couldn't have just fled into thin air without a trace. I beat myself up for ever passing such cruel judgment on her in the first place, even if it was the best thing to do.But... Maybe I should have sent my men to go after her much sooner than I did. Maybe I wasted too much time before sending them after her.What if Urik was right? He had made a valid point when we spoke yesterday. I mean, even though I didn't want to believe anything else Urik had to say, his point made a lot of sense – what if Luxuria had been captured by one of my enemies?The only reason I haven't raided the packs of all those I consider enemies was that one thing was holding me back – if she had been taken by one of them, they would have tried to reach out to me already, demanding ransoms and trying to reach certain ridiculous agreements by now.She was an ass
LUXURIA.My eyes felt heavy and sore. My whole body hurt with a strange kind of ache. I winced, forcing my heavy eyes open."Ah..." A small cry left my lips when a splitting headache tore through my head.I jolted up immediately when I recalled all that had happened that led to the way I was feeling. The entire room spun with the force, and I held my forehead at the impact I felt."Easy, child," I heard a familiar voice from beside me, hands wrapping around me.I turned to see Nevada with a small cloth in her hands and a bowl of something that looked like herbs on the floor beside her. My body felt wet. She must have been cleaning me up with the herbs."What... What are you doing?" I asked, searching around frantically, "Where is Rorden? What about my child? What happened to my child?" My breathing became erratic at once.I looked down at my stomach, shifting and trying to stand up to see if I'd be able to tell whether or not my child was okay, but Nevada held me by my shoulders."Rel