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.What did I expect? Of course, I expected nothing less.Not only did she spend her time smiling foolishly at another man, ignoring the task I had given her, but she also betrayed my trust in her.She was going to pay dearly for this.I was enraged, not just by the betrayal I felt but also by the fact that she was still close to Rorden despite my warnings.I stood in my courtroom with Tervan, Shikta, Tarik, and two other laborers who had worked with her.I heard the door open, and I turned sharply in her direction. I took long strides toward her, closing the gap between us as I circled my palm around her slender neck, slamming her back against the nearest wall.Her round, sapphire eyes widened in shock, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the burning rage that blinded me. And no one dared to come close to me.I tightened my grip on her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.Her feeble hands struggled against my firm grip, but it was futile."How dare you?" I gr
LUXURIA.I'd been weeping all night. I couldn't sleep. It was already dawn, and my heart raced. No one had come to visit. No food. No water. I was weak on the inside and on the outside.I clutched my knees to my chest, burying my face as more tears welled up.The fear of the unknown was the worst fear ever. I didn't know for how long I'd have to be locked up in here, neither did I know what punishment would be served to me.I hated my father with a passion. Why would I want to steal for him? I replayed yesterday's event repeatedly in my head, but I can't seem to recall making such a mistake.I had done my task diligently, desperate to please the Alpha, hoping he would be proud of me, but this is what I got.A sad smile played on my lips.The door to the dungeon creaked open, and I jerked my head up, my heart skipping a beat.Two guards stepped inside, their faces expressionless as they unlocked my cell door. For a brief second, I thought I was free to go. My chest swelled with a tiny
ALPHA PARTHE.A whimper caught my attention, and I shifted my gaze to Luxuria.She was pale. Too pale.The sight of her, so fragile and bound, weakened by their cruelty, made something in me twist. For a moment—just a moment—I faltered. The need to rip her away from these bastards ate at my insides like a beast clawing to get free."Luxuria..." I was only able to take two steps forward before the rope around her tightened, violently yanking her backward.She stumbled, her breath hitching, before crashing against the chest of that halfwit, Alpha Jalar. His thick, dirty fingers dug into her shoulder as he held her in place. His grip was both possessive and triumphant."Aha..." He exhaled, amusement curling at the edges of his voice. "Not that fast, Monster."My muscles coiled, every inch of my body screaming to lunge at him, to carve the satisfaction from his bones.He smirked, tightening his hold on her. "I told you, didn't I? That one day, I'd take her from you?" His lips curled wider.
ALPHA PARTHE.The atmosphere was thick with smoke and the scent of blood—metallic, raw, suffocating. It clung to my tongue, burned in my throat, and stung my eyes.Agonizing screams could be heard through the battlefield, mixed with the clash of steel and the snarls of shifting wolves.But I had no time to process all of that. They'd only distract me because those were my people being slaughtered.I lifted my eyes and saw Kira and the other witches running into the heart of battle. They were barely even up to thirty in total. The rest of them had gone to Valor Shield for the war.I was a bit more fucked than I ever wanted to admit.Men rushed toward me in a frenzied charge with their weapons glinting under the flames that burned through my very own pack. Their faces were twisted in a blind rage, but I saw no honor in their fight. No cause. Just slaughter.I didn't wait. I lunged while I made my way toward Rorden.I wanted to talk to him. Wanted to ask him questions...Questions like, '
ALPHA PARTHE.I moved quickly through the corridors, my boots slamming against the floor as I made my way back to my chamber. Chaos reigned outside—screams, war cries, the crackling of flames eating through wood and stone. The scent of blood was thick in the atmosphere, mingling with the acrid burn of smoke.As I entered my chamber, my gaze landed on the weapon mounted on the wall.A black-handled axe, the blade forged from dark steel, its edges still gleaming with the polish I had given it weeks ago.It was my father's axe, which was passed down to me. It was a weapon that had tasted war, that had been passed down through generations of Wild Wolf Alphas.I reached for it, my fingers curling tightly around the worn grip. The second it was in my hand, a strange sense of steadiness settled in my chest.But who the fuck was attacking us? And for what reason? We weren't weak. We had made no foolish moves that would warrant such an invasion. So why—My thoughts cut short as I turned toward
LUXURIA.It all happened like a bad dream.The kind where you're paralyzed, screaming with no sound, running but never moving—trapped in a nightmare that only tightens its grip the more you struggle.But this wasn't a dream. This was real.And I was forced to watch it unfold.The scent of blood clung to my tongue, my skin, my very soul.I saw those I once called my people being slaughtered like animals.Screams filled my ears from all sides as we took the Wild Wolf pack warriors guarding the gates by surprise. They never stood a chance against these vile men.A sharp pulse tore through my veins, curling up my spine like a searing brand.I sucked in a breath, my fingers twitching against the restraints as the sensation slithered through my blood.No. No, not now.The chaos was awakening something dangerous in me - my curse.The beast in me seemed to enjoy the sight before us, but I fought it back.For the past few days, Xurie had gone totally silent. I couldn't tell if it was because s
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