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
LUXURIA.Dashi tended to me. I winced as her gentle hands applied another cool layer of ointment to my wounds.I wasn't healing fast enough, which was a bit of a concern to me. Although the whip was dipped in Wolfsbane, it's been two days already, and there should be some signs of healing."I am concerned," Dashi murmured as she stepped back to examine my injuries. "I'll beg the Alpha to let the healers tend to you. You can't continue like this."I shook my head weakly, my voice coming out in a hoarse whisper, "No. It's all part of the punishment, isn't it? Anyone punished for stealing doesn't get the opportunity to be treated by the pack healers. Let me serve my punishment, Dashi." My words came with difficulty.Her eyes filled with something that looked like pity, and I hated it. I hated being looked at as if I was broken, as if I was something that needed to be fixed. The way she stared at the wounds told me they weren't healing well, and the dread in her expression only deepened t
UNKNOWN POV.I glanced at her as she paced back and forth, her fingers knotting into her hair in frustration. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.I had seen her like this before—when things didn't go according to plan. Her fury was like a storm, unpredictable and dangerous, but it wasn't my problem to contain it. She needed to calm down and listen."It's all useless! Can't you see?" Shikta yelled into my ears, and her constant nagging grates on my skin each time. I wonder how I'd have to deal with her by the time we finally win and take over the pack as planned."What do you mean, Shikta?" I asked, heaving a frustrated sigh."Koro says it's an infertility potion. The Alpha has been taking this for so long now. What if he is already permanently infertile?" She whirled around, her eyes wide with desperation, her fingers now tugging hard at her dress as if it could somehow unravel her frustration. "How am I meant to proceed with our plan if I can't get pregnant by him?"
ALPHA PARTHE.My eyes snapped open. Sweat dripped from my forehead. I panted, my gaze darting around the familiar space of my chamber.I just had a nightmare. Not the usual one that always tormented me. This was different. It felt so real that I feared it was my reality.I saw seven battle horses surrounding the seven gates of my pack. There was chaos everywhere. And right in front of that chaos was one of my own, someone I trusted so much, betraying me and standing with the enemy. But I couldn't make out a face.This meant something... Although I am not a seer, I don't need anyone to tell me my enemies are brewing something against me... Could this be linked to the intruder I had seen in the woods the other night?I had a lot of enemies, no doubt, but I can't tell where or who this is coming from. But whatever or whoever it is, nothing takes me by surprise.I have to limit the number of allies I trust. The person who betrayed me in my dream was certainly an ally. It can never be anyo
ALPHA PARTHE.Her lips parted, trembling, as though she wanted to say something, but the pressure of my hand against her throat silenced her. Her chest heaved, and I could feel the frantic pulse beating beneath my fingers.I leaned closer, inhaling the scent of her, the sweet, intoxicating mix of lavender and something uniquely hers.She was so small. So fragile. I was loosing every shred of control I had come in here with.My thumb brushed over her pulse, feeling the erratic rhythm beneath her skin, the fear coursing through her, feeding the dark hunger in me. My gaze dropped lower, drinking in the sight of her bare skin, the way her body trembled under my touch.“You want someone else to see this?” I hissed, my voice a harsh whisper against her ear. “You want someone else to lay eyes on what is mine? Is that what you want, Luxuria?”Her body stiffened, her nails digging harder into my wrist, but she remained silent, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps.The thought of anyone
LUXURIA.I wiped my palms against my dress, trying to calm the nervous tremor in my hands. I was on edge, heart racing with anticipation. It was time. Rorden should be waiting for me already by the stream.We had planned this for days, careful not to loose this opportunity we've finally gotten. Tonight was everything.I could feel it... I was so close to uncovering the mystery behind my predicament.I rehearsed the words in my mind, over and over. I would appeal to Sibille’s heart, explain how much I had suffered under this curse. Maybe she would listen, maybe she would understand and tell me where to find Amelia. I had to believe she would. There was no other option,Rorden had been the one keeping me sane with his potions. Although he had refused to tell me how he came about the recipe for his own potions, but... Who cares? As long as it served it's purpose.I reached for my black cloak, pulling it tightly around my shoulders, when I heard the soft creak of the door. The sound was f
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