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 looked pathetic. My legs trembled beneath me, and my body ached from the cruelty I had to endure from the Alpha for hours.My center burned, throbbing with an agony I couldn't fully describe. I could barely walk properly. It was almost dawn. It took that long for the Alpha to get his fill. When he was done, he left without saying another word to me.I walked as fast as my legs could carry me toward Rorden's chamber. I knew he would be angry to have waited without seeing me.Reaching his chamber, I didn't think to knock, driven by desperation. The door swung open as I shoved it with more force than I intended. My breath hitched at the sight that greeted me.Rorden, bare-chested, his muscular back glistening with sweat, was harshly thrusting into a young woman. Her cries of pain mixed with pleas for him to stop, but he ignored her, holding her by the hips, forcing her down onto his cock with an unmatched fury.His movements were harsh, his grip merciless, as though he were pu
ALPHA PARTHE.The hall was vast, with tall stone pillars stretching high. Lavish tapestries hung between the pillars, and the scent of rich spiced meats and wine filled the air. It was a grand ceremony, one the Ash Mountain pack had prepared for with meticulous care.I love such gatherings. It gives me the opportunity to read through every pretentious Alpha who might want to feign alliance with me for their own selfish reasons.The Ash Mountain pack had done well for themselves. They had grown in number and influence over the years. A few years back, I wouldn't have attended a ceremony hosted by them. But here I am today..."I uhm... I'd like to look for my friend, Niksha. I haven't seen her in a long time," the voice of my obsession pulled me out of my social thoughts.She was standing beside me in the crowded hall, a little bit nervous. She was a vision in deep crimson. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, flowing around her ankles in soft waves of fabric that gleamed in the t
LUXURIA.The cold night air clung to my skin as I paced the secluded veranda, waiting for Niksha to return. She promised to return soon. She only left to get something from her chamber.The growing weakness I felt was becoming a concern to me. At first, I thought it was the curse, but now it seemed there was more to it, and it bothered me.My wolf was becoming too weak, and sometimes, I could barely feel her.My mind kept drifting back to the hall, to Alpha Parthe, and the countless ways he would make me pay for slipping out of his sight. I wonder all that would be running through his mind if he didn't see me in the hall.But standing here, away from the prying eyes, away from Parthe, I felt a small flicker of freedom. Still, it wouldn't last. He would notice I was gone.Parthe's suffocating control was something I had to learn to endure. I was bound to him for life by fate.Just as my thoughts were starting to turn with worry, I saw a figure approaching, the soft sound of footsteps pu
LUXURIA.We had returned from the ceremony. Surprisingly, the Alpha never asked where I went and why I left him in the hall.His silence troubled me. But not as much as Rella's words. They haunted me. I came back feeling worse than ever - Rella's pregnancy, finally losing Kahel to her, her insinuations about the Alpha, and worst of it all, the fact that I hadn't been claimed by my mate just yet.It was a punch to my guts. Why was the Alpha keeping me if he didn't need me? I lived like a stranger in his pack.I scoffed. 'Selene, tell me why I shouldn't harbor feelings for another man?'Sometimes, I wished another man would just claim me so I could find the peace I truly desired. Another man like...No. Stop it, Luxuria.And as if the universe was against me, a knock sounded on my door. I was just about tucking myself to sleep.Could it be Zendaya? She hadn't served me food for some days, and I wondered why. Perhaps it could be Dashi.I froze when I pulled the door open and saw the figu
AUTHOR'S POV.Zendaya busied herself with the chore her mother had given to her. She was lost in her own thoughts. For some days now, she had been feeling a little guilty about slowly killing Luxuria.The last time she was in Luxuria's chamber to serve her food, Luxuria had complained about the unexplainable weakness she had been feeling. It had been a concern to Zendaya since then. But she couldn't go against Shikta."Zendaya?" Nevada's voice jolted her out of her thoughts."Mother..." She replied with a sigh. "You startled me.""You seemed lost in your thoughts. Is everything alright?" Nevada asked, approaching her daughter and examining her closely."You worry too much, mother. I am fine." Zendaya replied."But you don't look fine. What's on your mind?" Nevada insisted, leading them to the bedside where they sat."I've been thinking about something, mother... It's about Luxuria..." Zendaya began and she saw the switch in her mother's demeanor."What about her? Did she do anything t
LUXURIA.I glanced out the window again, my breath shallow, my heart racing faster than it had all day. Everything was clear now. It was time.Dashi had spent most of the day with me, and though I was relieved that we had reconciled, I couldn't shake the nervous energy thrumming beneath my skin. I had been so afraid she wouldn't leave before nightfall. But I didn't let it show. I stayed calm, forced smiles, and nodded at all the right moments. And when she finally left on her own, a quiet prayer of thanks escaped my lips.Nothing could hinder the plan tonight.I hurriedly pulled my black cloak around me, the fabric cool against my skin as it swirled around my legs. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door, and my heart pounded so loudly in my ears that I was sure someone would hear it. I paused for a moment, taking in a deep breath, willing my nerves to calm down. It's going to be fine, I told myself. You've come this far. There's no turning back now.With one last glance down th
LUXURIA.As soon as Rorden made that statement, we couldn't deny the change in her demeanor. At first, she was unwilling to speak about it. The hurt in her eyes made us understand her plight. But we had no time. I had to return to the pack before the Alpha found out that I wasn't there.Rorden explained my predicament to her when she was finally calm enough to listen to us. She'd been quiet since then, but thankfully, she was about to speak."It is not possible, child. You have to be from the lineage of Calandus for the curse to have an effect on you." Amelia said, gesturing for me to come closer to her.She took my hand in her palms and studied me intently, almost as if she was seeing something we could not."Did you say your father is Alpha Odren?" Amelia asked and I nodded in agreement. "Who is your mother?"Amelia asked the one question I always wished no one would ever ask me. How could I tell people that I didn't know my mother? Not even by her name? Wasn't it a disgraceful thin
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 b
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