ALPHA PARTHE.Did I hear correctly? Me? A coward? My entire body went rigid, muscles tensing as I clenched my fists at my sides. The blood pounded in my ears, and a wildfire of anger ignited in my veins."Geth..." I growled his name through gritted teeth, barely containing the rage surging through me."Parthe, no matter what has happened in the past, we are still family," he continued, unbothered by my fury, his calm voice somehow more infuriating. "Your mother would curse me from the grave if I kept a solution from you. It doesn't matter if you don't like what I have to say." He added, almost as if he hadn't just called me a coward."Sit." He said, but I didn't make a move. "Sit down, Parthe!" His tone shifted from casual to commanding.I hesitated for a moment before dropping into the seat behind me, every nerve in my body still seething with anger."You are one of the greatest Alphas to ever live from your lineage. It would be a waste to let that legacy slip away out of foolishness
ALPHA PARTHE.I stiffened, my blood running cold as I slowly turned. Dashi stood there, her gaze locked onto mine, her brow furrowed in confusion.She had seen me peering into my mate's window like some lovesick fool. I could feel the heat of embarrassment creeping up my neck.For a moment, we stared at each other in silence. I could almost hear the questions forming in her mind, but she was too scared to ask.I knew she felt uncomfortable under my deathly glare.I glared at her as though she was the one invading my privacy and not me invading someone else's privacy.She cleared her throat and spoke, trembling slightly with confusion and panic, "I... I came to spend the night with her to make sure she's not alone and... And just in case she might need anything through the night." She paused, her eyes darting around, unable to meet my glare, "but I'll just head back to my chamber..." She said, turning to leave, but I stopped her with just one word."Stay."Then, without another word, I
LUXURIA.Dashi made sure not to leave me in the confines of my chamber. She had spent the night with me, and I was thankful. But I needed some more time alone.I felt better than yesterday. But I couldn't help the lingering weakness I felt... The weakness I had been feeling for some time now, even before the rogue attack. I couldn't tell what it was, but I had to talk to Rorden about it.He still wasn't back yet, and I worried. Had he left the pack again, just like before? I felt a slight pang of sadness at that thought.He wouldn't leave without saying a word to me. Not the Rorden I know.It was still very early in the morning, and just a few people were going about their duties. Dashi had insisted I go with her to her chamber to get ready for breakfast. Today, she was determined to drag me to breakfast with the rest of the pack, much to my dismay. She was tired of me keeping to myself."You can't keep on staying locked away," she scolded, though there was no real bite to her tone.I
LUXURIA.It's the night of the full moon. My breaths were shallow, each one laced with the anxiety creeping through my veins.My condition has worsened in the past few days. Rorden was still nowhere to be found. No one has seen nor heard a word about him yet.No Rorden, no potions.My potions stopped being effective, no matter how many times I tried to improve them.I grew from being worried to being angry. Why would he leave me at a point like this when I needed someone to talk to? Someone who really knows and understands my plight?He promised. He had promised to be by my side today.I trembled. It was getting dark, and soon, the full moon would appear in the sky.I had been avoiding Dashi since the symptoms returned. She got tired of my excuses and thought I was tired of her friendship. She was hurt, and it hurt me.Dashi has been nothing short of a good friend to me. But she wouldn't understand. It was for the best. I'll make things right as soon as I pass through this phase.I pe
ALPHA PARTHE.Shikta's new potion still did nothing to help with the effect. I had accepted my fate. Besides, I had less than two more years to deal with it.Before the curse finally took over, my thoughts drifted to Luxuria. I hoped she was fine and safe. I had told Leisha to make sure of that.As I charged out of my pack and into the woods, I headed straight for the border. I knew where I always caught worthy prey to feast on.As I ran, I heard a loud roar in the thick forest. I halted, trying to make out where the sound was coming from. My senses were on acute alert.If there was any unfortunate wolf around my territory at this crucial time, then I wouldn't be held responsible for their deaths.I moved forward, running in my gigantic wolf form, when suddenly, from a great distance from me, my eyes caught something... A movement. Fast and urgent.I snared, my nose flaring, trying to pick up any strange scent, but I couldn't.Perhaps I won't have to go hunting outside the pack today.
LUXURIA.We had successfully snuck into the pack and into my chamber. My emotions were all messed up. I was grateful for Rorden's timely intervention, but at the same time, I was still angry at him."Where have you been, Rorden? You just left without a word." I asked, trying not to sound upset."I am sorry. I got word from some of my spies about Amelia. I couldn't wait for you to return from the inspection with Tervan. I had to leave." He explained.I narrowed my brows. I never told him about the inspection. How did he know?"How did you know I went for inspection?" I sat up from my lying position, curious.He shrugged, "I saw you leaving with Tervan and Urik. I knew what it meant. I'm not a stranger to the pack, remember?" He answered so casually, but I wasn't satisfied with his response. "My grandfather told me what happened to you. How are you faring now?"I hesitated for a moment, my brain still processing his excuse. "I am better now," I replied simply."My men spotted Amelia aro
ALPHA PARTHE.I felt an ache in my heart when I saw her. She looked disappointed seeing Shikta on my bed. It took all the willpower in me not to hold her close and explain to her that it wasn't what she thought.Shikta had come to apply some ointment to my aching muscles after last night. It's a usual routine every time the curse takes over. I thought she'd be gone before Luxuria arrived, but Luxuria came faster than I expected.I couldn't look her in the eyes, not because I didn't want to, but because I couldn't bear to see the hurt in her eyes.Shikta, as valuable and as thoughtful as always, had suggested that I engage Luxuria in the pack's day-to-day affairs, starting with this trade.I saw a lot of sense in it. Since Luxuria set foot in the pack, she hasn't participated in anything productive. If I ever want to make her my Luna, she has to get familiar with the dealings of the pack.I hope she does this right. It's a simple task, though. I just hope she doesn't disappoint me. A t
LUXURIA.It wasn't an easy task, but surprisingly, I was almost done. Just a few more bags and the supplies would be ready to leave.My father's farms had always yielded too little to feed his entire pack. He always sourced food from other packs. Who would have thought that one day, I'd be in charge of sending out supplies to my cruel father?I was satisfied with my achievements so far. I made sure to work all day without a rest. A part of me wanted the Alpha to be proud of me that I didn't let him down. Now, he'd see that I was not just a liability to his pack. I could be useful.I can't wait to see the look on his face when he hears that I was able to sort out over eight thousand bags of grains in one day.Pride colored my cheeks. It felt so good to be useful.Just as I watched the laborers load the final batch of supplies, I saw Rorden approaching me."Rorden!" I could barely hide the excitement in my voice. Finally, one friendly face appears!"Luxuria," He smiled back, looking aro
ALPHA PARTHE.It was the hardest thing to do. Pretending to care when, in the real sense, I don't. Even though I had no mate anymore, I still felt like I was betraying the bond that I once had with my mate by allowing this woman to lay on my bed... The bed which I had promised my mate never to let any other woman lay on.I stared down at the woman in my arms, who was sleeping like she didn't have any care in the world.It looked like she was actually in need of this attention so much that as soon as I held her in my arms, it only took a few pats on her back to get her to fall into a deep slumber."Shikta?" I called softly, but her soft mumble was incoherent, a slurred response from a mind far too deep in slumber to process my call. I glanced at her face, slack and unguarded in sleep. The vulnerability of it—the complete lack of awareness—was almost laughable. This woman, who so boldly challenged my patience earlier, now rested in my arms as though she belonged there.But she didn't.I
ALPHA PARTHE."You should count yourself lucky we've come a long way, Urik," I growled, my anger simmering, barely contained, as I stared him down. "You've disappointed me more than I thought possible. I feel like I've betrayed my friend because of your paranoia."Urik stood before me, his lips parted, but no sound came out at first. He was scrambling for an argument, something to redeem himself.Finally, he found his voice. "You need to look beyond all this, Alpha," he urged, "What if he knew you were following him? What if he diverted his path just to throw you off?"He wasn't going to give up on this, was he?My glare darkened, and I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration, shaking my head in disbelief as I tried to shake off the obvious doubt his words stirred. "I was as careful as a hunter stalking prey, Urik. You should know better than anyone—there's no chance he saw me."There was silence. He knew the truth of my words. I was the shadow in the dark, the predator no one h
ALPHA PARTHE.Urik's words had refused to fade away since I had that triggering conversation with him. I wanted to dismiss it, but I couldn't.Just as much as I know he and Tervan hated each other, I never thought Urik would stoop so low as to make up such stories about Tervan.How could he ever suggest that Tervan might be up to something fishy against the pack? He also suggested, although without proof or enough conviction, that Tervan might know Luxuria's whereabouts.It made me laugh so hard, even though a tiny part of me was trying to betray the friendship I had shared with Tervan to believe what Urik was trying to say.Wearing this black cloak on this cold night, preparing to secretly follow Tervan, my trusted friend and Beta, to see if he was trying to betray me, seemed like a betrayal in itself. But Urik had insisted, and in order to prove him and a part of myself wrong, I agreed to trail Tervan tonight."Alpha, he's on the move." Urik mind-linked me, and I straightened up imm
LUXURIA.I had lost count of how long I'd been in this lonely hell. I hated myself. I felt like ending it all.Rorden had made me remember every single thing he made me forget, including the two times he made me betray my mate.I had cried out my eyes each time the memories came crawling in... The way he made me comply without a choice while he fucked me the way he pleased... It all made me hate myself even more for ever trusting him.All through my stay in his pack, he had refused to give me potions to take. In his words, he said, "I am preparing you for the big day ahead."What big day was he talking about? And why did I need to stay away from the potions that should help me feel better?The curse was coming back in full swing - the red flashes, the ache in my head, the uncontrollable anger, the hunger for blood and chaos... It was becoming overwhelming."Oh, Selene, please save me," I whispered as I curled myself on the bed, trying to shield myself from the pain I was feeling.My d
ALPHA PARTHE.Urik finally got my attention. Any topic that had to do with my mate was a welcomed one.He insisted on speaking with me alone, even after I told him to speak freely with Tervan here.I reluctantly dismissed Tervan, promising to see him as soon as I was done with Urik.The feud between these two keeps piling up, and I can't tell what is happening between them. I knew they were never best of friends, but I never expected it to turn into a full-blown hatred for each other.These were my Beta and Gamma, for Selene's sake!"This had better be good," I said, gesturing for him to sit, but he declined."I prefer to stand, Alpha. You aren't sitting either," He said with a small shrug."So. What about her? You finally have information about her whereabouts?" I asked, resting both my hands on the edge of the table. The tension in my muscles was becoming unbearable. I needed something to hold on to."Before I begin, please secure the place. I want your ears to be the only ones that'
ALPHA PARTHE.I was losing my mind. It's been two days now, and my warriors still haven't found a clue as to where my mate - Luxuria - has gone.Rorden was also nowhere to be found.Right from childhood, Rorden always left the pack and came back at will. I never saw the need to find out where he'd been going or where he had made his second home. It was never my concern.But right now, I wish I had paid attention to those details.Perhaps she had gone to be with Rorden to continue their forbidden love story.Fuck!I punched the wall behind me, and it cracked, bringing out dust and stone particles.My heart felt so empty, even though I had rejected her, and she was no longer a part of me.A knock sounded on my door, and it took everything in me not to yell at whoever was at the door, "Who is it?""It is I, Alpha," I heard Shikta from the other side of the door."What do you want?" I asked but didn't let her respond, "Leave. I'm busy," I said.It went still for a while, but I knew she ha
LUXURIA."I'll never be yours, Rorden! Not even in your wildest dream!" I summoned up the courage and spat in his face, "You are despicable. You made me trust you and ended up stabbing me in the back. How do you feel? Didn't you feel even a shred of guilt while at it?""No. I never felt guilty. I knew all I was doing was for the greater good." He turned around and walked toward the throne, "And, sorry, I killed your father. I know you won't think much about it because he was a coward, but just so you know... I was the one who killed him." He added before sitting.I stood with my fists clenched by my sides. I had stopped sobbing. All I felt for the man sitting in front of me was pure hatred. I felt like strangling him to death.Yes, I didn't think much about my father's death. I could say he deserved whatever death came his way, but Rorden? Why was it he who had to kill Odren?I took slow, cautious steps toward him, my fists still clenched tightly by my side.Suddenly, the door opened u
LUXURIA.The world was spinning, tilting on an axis I no longer recognized. I stared at him—at Rorden—my mind grappling with the truth I didn't want to believe."So it was all you? All along?" I didn't even know the right question to ask. I was confused, speechless, hurt... Scared. I was all alone with him. He had dismissed the girls who had brought me in, and I was now at his mercy. It's not like the girls would have been able to do anything to help me should they be here, and he tried to harm me."Yes," He replied, "All along."I shook my head, trying to piece together the shattered fragments of my thoughts, "Why, Rorden? Why would you do this? Why would you…?" My words faltered, tangled in the knot of emotions choking me.He closed the distance between us and gave me a dark smile."How...? Explain this—explain you! Why are you called the Blood Alpha? You're a wizard, Rorden!" I demanded as the questions kept coming in scattered bits.He smiled at me so tenderly that I would have be
LUXURIA.I had been walking for what felt like an eternity. My body ached. I also felt a slight pain in my lower abdomen. But... It wasn't that time of the month yet. Why was I...?My thoughts spiraled on their own, and the memories of all that had happened earlier came flooding in - Dashi's death, waking up in Rorden's chamber, the humiliation, and above all, my mate's rejection. I still felt the pain so fresh in my heart.I wished to pass from sleep to death, but Selene, in her infinite cruelty, refused to grant me that mercy. I guess she wasn't done punishing me yet. She didn't let death take me in my sleep.Wait.I had slept off on the wet ground somewhere in the woods. I was cold and shaking but had no choice after walking until sundown.But how was it possible that I was lying on something so soft and impossibly warm now?My eyes snapped open immediately, and every grogginess I felt dissipated immediately, replaced by a surge of confusion and wariness.This wasn't the wet ground