LUXURIA.I have been waiting all afternoon to see the Alpha. I heard he went out of the pack. My heart raced. This was what I wanted, but the idea of Shikta threatening me with the wrong impression she got from last night unnerved me.I had informed Rorden about Shikta's threats. Although he wasn't bothered about it, he encouraged me to give the Alpha an excuse, saying I was doing this for our own benefit and not because of Shikta's threats.It was already sundown, and I was certain the Alpha was back. It wouldn't hurt to go and check.Just as I prepared to leave my chamber, a knock startled me.No. Not now. This wasn't time for an interruption. I couldn't let anyone in.I made sure I was ready to leave, so as soon as I opened the door, I'd dismiss whoever was there.When I opened it, I was surprised to see Gamma Urik standing there. He had a serious expression on his face that made me uncomfortable.We've never really spoken since I came into the pack. He seemed like a reserved perso
He leaned down slightly, his breath hot against my ear as he whispered, "You don't want to disappoint me, do you, Luxuria?"I shook my head, my voice lost somewhere between my dry throat and the tightening knot of anticipation inside me. His thumb brushed over my trembling lips, parting them slightly, his touch rough yet deliberate. The heat from his skin seared me, making my pulse race faster."Good," he murmured, his tone softer but no less commanding. "Now, open your mouth for me."I hesitated for a fraction of a second, but the pressure of his grip on my hair reminded me that this wasn't an option—it was a command. Slowly, I parted my lips, my heart thudding loudly in my chest as I forced myself to relax.He guided his cock toward my mouth, pressing the tip against my lips. His salty, musky taste filled my senses as he pushed forward, sliding past my parted lips. I gagged slightly at the intrusion, but his hold on me tightened, preventing any retreat."Take it all," he ordered, hi
LUXURIA.I had to come up with something. For whatever reason, the Alpha had decided to leave me behind. I was grateful, but keeping me confined to his chambers wouldn't help with my plans.Rorden would be waiting for me right now. And I hoped Shikta was able to go with the Alpha in my stead because, as it stands, I could boldly say I kept to my words."What do we do?" I asked my wolf, Xurie."I don't know. Maybe we could get help from someone on the outside," She replied, "but... I don't feel right about this. If the Alpha finds out...""He won't find out. We'll be quick about it." I retorted.Suddenly, an idea popped in.I opened the door and spoke to the guard again, "I need to see Dashi." I said, hoping they'd let me through."Forgive me, but we have strict instructions not to let you leave." One of the guards explained again."But we can bring her to you." The second guard said, and it was a bit relieving."Okay. Please bring her to me."Shortly after I went back into the room, th
LUXURIA.I was overly weak but kept moving. My body still ached, and I felt sore all over.Rorden knew all the nooks and crannies of the pack, and somehow, we were able to sneak past the guards. And even when we encountered two guards at the pack's Eastern exit, Rorden was able to go past them.They seemed very familiar with each other. Plus, I wasn't entirely popular among the Wild Wolf pack. So it was easy telling them a lie or two about me, and they let us pass.The sun was almost up, and I couldn't say I wasn't nervous. I willed for the horses to go faster than how they moved, but it was only a wish.The Wild Wolf pack was very enormous. To get to each border, one had to be intentional about it. The borders were quite far from the pack, especially the Eastern border.Rorden's men were more specific about where Amelia was spotted around the Eastern side of our border. She was somewhere around the Dolcanian mountains. Quite the hideout.It was a quiet trip. Rorden barely said a word
LUXURIA.My entire body stiffened, and for a split second, I didn't dare move. I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I felt my pulse thudding against my throat.I couldn't bring myself to turn around. I stood there, my back still turned to him, my body betraying every ounce of composure I tried to hold onto.He was a good distance away from the entrance to the fortress, but he had managed to see my unmistakable figure despite the cloak and hoodie I was wearing.Although he called my name with uncertainty, I knew a greater part of him knew I was the one he had just seen.I felt his footsteps drawing closer.I panicked. Every muscle in my body locked."Luxuria?" He called, and I contemplated running off. For my life. Because he'd kill me for disobeying him.A cruel Alpha like Parthe didn't need to raise his voice or his hand to break someone; his mere presence was enough to rip a soul apart.His steps quickened, the sound of boots crunching against the gravel-like ground sending sh
ALPHA PARTHE.She struggled against my firm grip. I could feel my demons creeping in. My blood boiled with rage."What? I... I have been indoors," She stuttered, swallowing hard."Wrong... I saw you out there, Luxuria. You can't fool me." I said through clenched teeth.I know I wasn't sure about that anymore. But I had to threaten her to tell me the truth. A part of me believed she was the one I saw, but... She didn't look like one who had left my chamber all day."I have been in here. You asked the guards not to let me leave..." She replied, almost in a whisper.My grip on her hair tightened further. "What was Dashi doing here?" I asked, hoping for a credible explanation for this coincidence."She brought me this..." She replied, opening her palms to show me an ointment in a small vial.I released my grip on her hair, taking a closer look at the vial, "What's in here?" I asked with furrowed brows."It's... It's for the aches and sores," She replied nervously, and somehow, it calmed t
UNKNOWN POV.I have been livid. The mere thought of the Alpha's closeness to Luxuria weighed heavily on me. I hoped against all things that he wouldn't go ahead and mark her just yet before our plan came to life.If he does, then killing her would be a disaster for him. It would affect him in more ways than we'd want... We still need him strong and healthy for now, at least until all our plans fall into place.Luxuria was gradually becoming his weakness. I could smell it from afar. If he continued like this, the enemies might leverage that, and he'd become vulnerable.I stood before the mirror, adjusting my hair, ready to step out for my task for the night, when the door to my chamber creaked open, revealing the last person I imagined to see.Shikta.Shikta's presence always unnerved me, her recklessness and arrogance unmatched. I turned away from the mirror, narrowing my eyes as I crossed the room, my hands tightening into fists at my sides."You're walking a fine line, Shikta," I gr
RORDEN'S POV."Rorden. It's happening. What do I do?" she cried out, her voice strained with terror as she wrapped her arms tightly around herself, trying to hold the chaos at bay.The sight of her—the woman I had longed for, writhing in pain, her body betraying her, her eyes filled with anguish—ripped something deep inside me. For a brief moment, all I could do was watch, rooted in place by helplessness and fury. But then instinct kicked in, and I rushed to her, kneeling beside her fragile form as she trembled on the cold floor.I pulled her into my arms, cradling her as tightly as I could without hurting her more. "Shhh... you'll be fine. Stay still," I whispered, my voice low and soothing, but I could feel her convulsing, her muscles tight with agony. She was slipping further into the curse's grip, and no amount of soft words would be enough.Her skin was hot—too hot—and I could feel the unnatural heat pulsing through her veins as if a fire was coursing through her blood. My heart
LUXURIA.TWELVE YEARS LATER.I jumped down from my horse, my warriors trailing behind me as I handed my sheath to Jaiya, my Beta."Take the day off, Jaiya. You need it," I said and smiled but didn't give her the chance to protest as usual.Between Jaiya and Niksha, I couldn't tell who was more stubborn than the other.Niksha, my best friend since girlhood, had insisted on joining my warriors the moment I took leadership. And I'd let her. After what I'd been through, it was clear—women needed to fight. To defend. To never be helpless again. I was living proof of that. So, I trained them myself.Since I became Alpha of the Ash Mountain pack after the death of Kahel – my mate handed the pack over to me, as it was one out of the numerous packs he had taken from the Alphas he killed in battle – I felt a better sense of responsibility, and I couldn't be more grateful for it. Like the world finally made sense. It felt like I had been born to lead."Luna! Welcome back," Rella called, jogging
LUXURIA.It felt like a dream.No—not a dream. A fracture in reality. A soft, trembling pause in the fabric of the world where time stilled and all I could do was watch my curse being lifted.Tervan lay on the altar with no iota of fight in him. He didn't even as much as struggle when my curse began to sip into him.Kalaril was the one who also carried out my own extraction, speaking in the Old Tongue—the language of root and fire, of night and blood. His hands had moved over me and then over Tervan, forming sigils in the air that shimmered briefly before sinking like glowing brands into our skin."Luxuria of Ash Mountain," Kalaril intoned, standing before me with a staff carved from ashwood and bone. "Do you come freely?""I do," I had whispered."And you offer your curse to another?""Yes.""Then let the exchange begin."And then I felt the curse rising in me like a serpent uncoiling from bone and blood. Cold and ancient and furious. It didn't want to leave. It clawed at my ribs. Sc
ALPHA PARTHE.Tervan was forced to his knees before me, chains clinking around his wrists like the music of retribution.The crowd fell deathly silent, the atmosphere filled with anticipation.He dared not lift his head.The coward couldn't even meet my gaze.I took a slow step forward, the earth seeming to still beneath my feet. My voice curled out like the edge of a blade."Tervan… my beloved Beta," I sneered, each word I spoke dipped in venom. "Look at you."I circled him, taking in the gaunt hollows of his cheeks, the grime clinging to his skin, and the tattered remains of the arrogance he used to wear like a crown."You look… ruined." I crouched before him, my face just inches from his. "What happened, old friend? Where did all that fire go? What went wrong?"I reached out, my fingers brushing his bruised cheek with mockery. He flinched and turned his face away."Ah," I breathed, a dark smile tugging at my lips. "That's right. You only know how to face someone when they're unarme
ALPHA PARTHE."How do you feel?" I asked my wolf, but he was too weak to reply.We had been bound to the beast for so long that, in many ways, we had become one. And now, with that darkness torn from us, the absence felt unsettling.I exhaled slowly, feeling the exhaustion settle into my bones. I felt uncharacteristically weak. My limbs were heavier than I had ever known them to be, my mind sluggish, but I couldn't linger in weakness. I had to see this through. Luxuria's ritual was meant to happen immediately.There was no time. Mine had taken up to half an hour.I raised my hand to stop the cheering crowd."Bring him," I said to Urik who stood beside me and he bowed slightly before walking toward the dungeon.I watched him go, a strange emotion settling in my chest.I'd been thinking of ways to thank him but none seemed enough to show how thankful I truly am to have him by my side.Apart from Luxuria, Urik was the one person I doubted a lot for years. I always picked Tervan's side ov
ALPHA PARTHE."Let's begin," Kalaril said before leading the way to the large chamber that had been prepared for the rituals.The chamber was a vast, dimly lit expanse with air so thick with the scent of burning herbs and potent ancient power.The witches stood in a circle, their dark robes pooling around them like ink seeping into the floor. They hummed low chants that resonated through the chamber, carrying a tide of old magic.Kalaril stood in the middle of the circle, and for the first time since I had known him, he looked entirely in his element—an AshBlood wizard in his full, terrifying glory.The crowd waited outside.They weren't meant to witness what was about to happen. This moment belonged to the witches, to Kalaril, to Luxuria, to Sibile—and to me.Sibile lay on the cold altar, barely breathing, her face waxy and drenched in sweat. The gaping wound on her neck had turned an ugly shade, the blood flowing sluggishly. Her body was losing its battle against time.Too much time
LUXURIA.I ran breathlessly into our chamber and couldn't hold back the torrent of emotions threatening to consume me.He was still the same selfish man I had known. The same ruthless creature who saw lives as mere tools for his own survival.Why should I trust all he had said to me earlier? He only thinks about himself and no one else.I clawed at my arms as if trying to hold myself together, but the anger, the grief, and the sheer disbelief were too much.How could he even consider this?Why would he even think of using the poor girl for this purpose?Sibile had lived her entire life running, fighting to survive, and carrying a burden she never asked for. And now, at the very end, she was to be nothing more than a sacrifice?A broken sob burned my throat, but I forced it down. My hands trembled as I wiped at the tears that streaked my cheeks, furious at myself for even shedding them.Then the door creaked open behind me.I stiffened, knowing exactly who it was before I even turned.
LUXURIA.I woke up feeling better than I felt when I regained consciousness yesterday.I had woken to warmth. A steady, familiar heat pressed against my back, the feel of a strong arm draped over my waist, holding me close. The scent of cinnamon and musk surrounded me—Parthe.For a moment, I simply breathed him in, relishing the security of his embrace. It felt surreal, almost fragile, as if one wrong move would shatter the moment like delicate glass. But this was real. He was real.A soft clatter had drawn my attention to the bedside table. A tray of steaming food awaited me, the rich aroma wafting through the air. My stomach twisted with the overwhelming realization of how much had changed within the last few hours.I was here. Safe.But not everyone had been so fortunate.My heart ached for Rorden, I must say... The good side of Rorden.He was my friend and confidant at one of the most crucial points in my life. And I couldn't take that for granted.A single tear slipped down my ch
LUXURIA.The world felt unsteady. My head was light, my body weightless, as though I were drifting between reality and something far less tangible.My eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the soft glow of the room. Everything around me was familiar—the scent of embers and musk, the dark tapestries, the heavy warmth of the space.Parthe's chamber.Our chamber.A tremor ran through my chest. I was home.And if the figure sitting in front of me was truly who I thought he was…My throat tightened, my vision blurring as I stared at him.My heart leaped, but not out of fear. I was finally safe. Away from Rorden. Because, if this was truly Parthe sitting in front of me, it meant one thing – He had saved me from Rorden.I couldn't remember anything about how I ended up in Parthe's pack or chamber, but I was grateful I did."Luxuria..." Parthe called in that voice I had been longing to hear for so long now.It seemed like a dream to me.A sob slipped past my lips. My chest ached with t
ALPHA PARTHE.I stood over her, afraid to breathe. Afraid to even move.Luxuria lay motionless on the bed, her body so still that for a terrifying moment, I thought I had already lost her. The weak rise and fall of her chest was the only thing tethering her to this world.It felt as though the air had been sucked from the room. As if the gods themselves were holding their breath, waiting for me to break.It seemed like the life she was holding onto would slip away if I even as much as shifted.Gods. How did I ever let myself be this blinded by the ones around me?The people I had called my confidants—the ones I had believed would never betray me—had been the very ones who tormented her. And I had let them.I had believed their lies over the truth that was in front of me.I had doubted her every single time.And now, she was caught in some silent battle between life and death while I could do nothing but watch.I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palm.Fuck.I didn't deserve L