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
ALPHA PARTHE.My guards at the border informed me that they had caught an intruder snooping around the pack in a very suspicious manner.I had been roused from a restless sleep, already agitated from the day's pressures. I needed an outlet. And this intruder, whoever they were, would provide just that.I jerked up from my bed and instructed them to bring the intruder to the fortress. I thought I had finally caught the intruder from the other night... a spy, perhaps, from one of the neighboring territories. Another attempt to test me. My blood roared with anticipation, already coursing through my veins like fire as I imagined the many ways I could make them suffer.Imagine my surprise when I saw who the intruder was. It was none other but my mate's former lover, Kahel.I felt something shift inside me, a storm brewing in my chest. The rage didn't leave me, but it twisted into something darker, more dangerous. I had expected an enemy, someone I could crush without hesitation. But Kahel?
LUXURIA.I was confused. Nothing was making sense.Kahel, beaten and battered.Alpha Parthe, accusing me of something I couldn't even understand...Oh, Selene!When I saw Parthe charging toward me, I made to run away because I saw the rage in his eyes. I was terrified. I sensed trouble even though I didn't know why they were all there and what Kahel was doing there.Trapped with the monster alone in his chamber, it made me white with dread. He was no longer the Alpha I used to know. It was almost as if something else was taking over him.His eyes shone a blinding shade of red... Almost identical to the one I was experiencing, but his was brighter, deadlier, scarier.It wasn't mere anger; it was madness. A deep rage rippled through him, his broad shoulders tensed as though he were struggling to keep something inside, something dark and uncontrollable, trying all he could to hold back from hurting me. But I do not know for how long he would be able to contain his fury. And I was scared.
ALPHA PARTHE.I didn't sleep a wink through the night. When I left my chamber, I headed straight for my private courtroom where I sat all night, pondering over a lot of things.I had almost hurt Luxuria. I almost let my demons take over. I didn't understand what came over me but I was thankful she was able to talk me out of it.I've never hated her. Not even when she openly refused me in front of her father and his people. No matter how hard she tried, I had never been able to hate her.I loved her. Gods. I really do and I wish there was a way I could show her the depths of my love for her.I am not a man of love. I've never been this in love before. I grew up without love and warmth. I don't know what it means to love. But I know when I am in love... And right now, I am so in love to the point that it's beginning to turn into an obsession.I couldn't bear the thought of another man being around her. It would kill me. That's why she has to be under my watch. I won't let her out of my
LUXURIA.I stirred lazily, enjoying the warmth I felt beneath my skin. It was so warm and comforting that I cursed myself for waking up, although my eyes were still closed.The strong scent of musk and warm cinnamon wafted into my nostrils, and my eyes snapped open immediately.I looked around frantically when I realized I was no longer on the cold floor where I had lay last night. I was on Parthe's bed.How did I get here? He'd kill me for this. To the best of my knowledge, no one touches his bed without his permission.I jolted up and was about to rush out of his bed when I heard his voice from where he sat on his study table."Easy now," He said, turning his attention towards me.I froze, biting my lip as my eyes dropped along with my heart. I couldn't bear to look him in the eyes. He terrified me. Especially after last night.He stood up slowly walking toward me.My heart drummed violently as fear flooded my veins. Thousands of thoughts flooded my head within a second. How would I
TERVAN'S POV."We could do this all day, and you'd still not be satisfied, you know that," I teased softly, watching my mate as she trailed her fingers lovingly over her round belly. Her lips pouted as she looked up at me, her eyes full of that innocent, needy look she always wore when I was about to leave."I know, Tervan, but we need you. The baby needs you more," she murmured, her hand stilling on her stomach as if to emphasize her words. Her voice was sweet, pleading, and full of love—the same love that had made me fall harder for her every day since we first met.I sighed softly, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "I promise I'll be back as soon as I'm done at the camp. Just take care of yourself and the little one, and when I return, I'll give you a massage and sing you to sleep. How does that sound?"My mate. My world.I pulled back, strapping my sword in its sheath, ready to step out.She was so young and beautiful, innocent and naive. I bless
LUXURIA."Alpha?" I called when he kissed me to wake up. I didn't realize I had slept so late into the night."Call me Parthe," He said in response, stroking my hair and my cheeks heated up."Okay... Parthe..." I replied and he seems pleased."Did you sleep well?" He asked."Yes... Sorry for disrupting your day. I didn't..." I was saying but he kissed my lips, stopping me mid-sentence."It was worth every second." He stroke my cheek tenderly, "You want to say something?"I hesitated, not knowing if he'd be pleased with what I was about to say."I've told you, Luxuria, you don't have to be scared of me anymore. Feel free around me. You can do or say whatever you want to me, and it'll be fine. I promise." He reassured and I lifted my head from his chest where I lay, looking into his black eyes, and I saw assurance and sincerity in them.I smiled, "Okay," I said, resting my head back on his chest, "I wouid like to go to my father's pack..." I began, expecting a reaction but got none. But
LUXURIA.I stepped out of the bathroom, feeling fresh and energized. It's been a long night, and the most part of today had been far spent, too.Parthe almost didn't want to leave my side all day. We had made love all through the night until this morning, even before he stepped out.It felt... Perfect... I found myself falling for him even more. I liked this side of him when he wasn't being cruel or brutal or cold and all that.For the first time since I met him, I truly felt a connection between us. A connection that went deeper than sex and the mate bond. This connection was more intimate and exciting.The only worry I had now was the fact that he had marked me. I had stopped him too many times without a proper reason. I guess he was tired of waiting. I was his mate, after all. But Amelia's words kept haunting me. What if I was truly from the lineage of Calandus?Although the possibility of it seemed very slim, but what if...?Right now, all I could do was to hope not."What's my li
ALPHA PARTHE.Nothing ever prepared me for the surprise that awaited me. I didn't know what came over her but I was thankful it did.She seemed different.She teased me in ways my body couldn't bear. It took all the self-control in me not to snap that flimsy silk off my wrists, pin her to the bed and fuck her until she could no longer breathe."I am ready to love you, Parthe."Those words were all it took to snap the tiny thread holding my restraints. I'd waited so long to hear her say those words. I thought she'd never say them. I thought she'd never be able to love me ever again.But I was wrong."Unbind me, Luxuria!" I said, baring my teeth. I wanted to show her exactly what those words meant to me."Parthe..." She called nervously at my command and for a moment, the bravery she had put up slowly faded away."Scared?" I asked, arching a brow, "would you rather I break free myself?" Even I couldn't recognize my voice. Fuck, I was lost in her spell.I felt the nervous thrill that ran
LUXURIA.I waited nervously for his return. My heart drummed in my chest but I occasionally took in deep breaths to calm it down.I wanted to thank him for saving my life. I just didn't know how.The door finally swung open and he walked in, tired and sweaty."Luxuria?" He called when he saw me still awake, "Why are you still up?"I ignored his question, rising to meet him, "Welcome back. How was the meeting?" I asked, helping him undress.I had already prepared a very hot bath for him. As if I knew he'd return stressed, I had added some relaxing herbs and oils into the hot water."It went well. You still haven't..." He was about saying when I interrupted him."I prepared a hot bath for you. Come here," I said, pulling him into the bathroom.I didn't miss the surprise in his eyes. He looked at me as if I had been possessed by someone else.I guided him into the bath tub filled with hot water.He sat, letting out a long, relieving breath."Relieving, right?" I asked, managing a smile.
LUXURIA.It was hard to believe that Zendaya was the one who almost had me killed. She was the first friend I made when I arrived here. And despite everything, I wouldn't deny the fact that her death touched me.I wonder how her mother would feel. Nevada loved her so much.As the days passed, I felt stronger. The effect of the trauma I was exposed to in my unconscious state was beginning to wear off.It had been three days since I woke up, and Alpha Parthe had hardly left my side since. I wouldn’t deny the warmth his presence brought, though I didn’t fully understand why it comforted me so much. Perhaps I was beginning to get used to being around him."I can't believe you are back to us, Luxuria," Dashi said for the hundredth time in three days. She has been so overwhelmed with joy.“How many times do I have to hear that?” I teased, rolling my eyes, though a small smile tugged at my lips.“Until the day after forever!” She sat beside me, her laughter filling the room. Then her express
LUXURIA.It was all too sudden. I fell hard, right back into the darkness I was afraid of. It felt like a force had ripped me off the light and pushed me back into the darkness.I was terrified. My eyes were slowly shutting, tempting me to give in to the sweet sleep that threatened to claim me. I'd never felt so sleepy all my life, and this time, it was too difficult to resist. I was so tired. So unbearably tired. Maybe this was it—maybe surrendering to the darkness would be my salvation. What was the point in fighting it any longer?I allowed my heavy eyes to succumb to the pull, but suddenly, I heard it again.His voice."Luxuria..."My eyes slowly open. And this time, his voice held more power and desperation than the first time."Find me," his voice urged, "Come back to me, Luxuria. I know I don't deserve you. I've pushed you away… I've hurt you. But I need you to listen now. You're stronger than this darkness. Stronger than anything that's tried to take you from me."I wanted to
ALPHA PARTHE."Fuck! Lorita! What's happening?" My voice trembled. Sweat covered my bare body. I was wearing nothing but a doublet as I held onto Luxuria's almost iced-cold hands.I had her. I felt her. Although from a distance but at least she was there.She was scared. I felt her fear so much that I felt desperate and helpless at the same time. I was consumed by the need to pull her out of that maze at once.But what's happening? Why am I loosing her?"You need to stay calm and focus, Alpha. You are too desperate and it's ruining everything," I heard Lorita's voice from a distance in the background. My eyes were tightly shut as I was standing at the very edge of whatever world Luxuria was trapped in. That was the farthest I could go.I took in deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. I couldn't let my desperation ruin this.“Luxuria…” I called out again, forcing my voice to steady, but the tremble was still there. I couldn’t help it. Fuck, I couldn’t lose her.I heard her shaky voi
ALPHA PARTHE.I looked down at the blood splattered across the floor. My blood. Its dark red pools glistened in the dim candlelight, snaking along the intricate lines of the symbols etched into the stone beneath my feet.The ritual was at its final stage, and there was no turning back. Not that I'd want to turn back at any point. If this was what it would take to save her, then I was willing to do it without a second thought.The ancient words rolled off my tongue, as I could feel my powers which have been dormant for years stirring beneath the surface.I had almost forgotten what this felt like—this raw, untamed energy. It coiled through my veins like molten iron, heating every fiber of my being.“Are you ready?” Lorita asked but I didn't answer. The look in my eyes said it all.I dipped my fingers into the pool of blood before me, set for the final step of the ritual.With a deep breath, I smeared the blood over the jagged scar across my chest. The scar from the day I had locked my
TERVAN'S POV."Fuck it, Shikta! What happened? This wasn't meant to happen! How is she not dead?" I asked, pacing the dark, quiet woods."I don't know, Tervan! How am I supposed to know?" She replied, worry also lacing her tone."You're asking how you were supposed to know? You made the damn poison, remember? You said it was potent! You said..." I was still speaking when she rudely interrupted me."I know I did!" She half-yelled. I could feel the frustration radiating off of her. "I am as confused as you are. She wasn't meant to be this way.""Then what do we do now? This changes everything," I asked, rubbing my face with my palm. Everything seemed to be falling apart. Everything!"For now, there is nothing we can do about it. We can't kill her now. Not when we do not even as much as understand where and how she is trapped. We just have to pray she either dies or comes back to life for us to kill her again!" She said in a hurry through clenched jaws.There was silence. I was seething.