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
TERVAN.I paced the dark woods where I and Shikta always met. She was still late, as usual. Everything had been under control, but it seemed recently things were beginning to fall apart.The useless potion she claimed was going to kill Luxuria was obviously not working. Luxuria was still alive and healthy.Now, the Alpha is seeking a solution to his curse when, in fact, the solution was right here in his pack all along without our knowledge.It was all beginning to make sense. Nevada came into the pack many years ago when I was only a boy, seeking refuge. She had a little girl with her, who was barely five. She claimed not to have recalled what happened to her and how she ended up at our border. The previous Alpha, Alpha Candor, and my father, Beta Kai, took her in and observed her closely to make sure she wasn't a threat before making her one of us.They had concluded that she was obviously a survivor of a war or a raid and had lost her memory in the process.Now I understand better
ALPHA PARTHE.Fuck.I've never been so scared in a long time. My world had stopped tilting the moment I stepped into my chamber and saw her in that state.A lot of fearful thoughts ran through my mind in that millisecond that got me scared to my bones. So many what-ifs.I'd die if anything ever happened to her. I never knew the depths of whatever I felt for her until I saw her on the verge of death.The healers, along with Shikta, had come to tend to her.Shikta said there was nothing wrong with her and that it could all be due to stress, and I could only scoff."What stress? Physical, emotional, or mental stress?" I had asked before I could stop myself, and Shikta said it was a little of all of them put together.As soon as I heard the report, I immediately decided that I'd do everything within my power to keep her away from stress. No more tasks, no more hurting her emotions. I'd always try to make myself available to stop her from overthinking... Only the gods know how many resolut
ALPHA PARTHE.Two thousand warriors drew their swords for a battle they knew they'd lose either way.Fools. Lesser men always are so foolish.The battleground was charged with the kind of energy I liked. Fear. Panic. Terror. It poured from Lucius's men like a pungent stench, feeding the darker corners of my soul.Even though Lucius was too much of a coward to admit his wrong and decided to keep up with his pride, his men were obviously aware of what they were up against.I watched them with detached emotion. They looked pathetic.The image of my sleeping mate kept replaying in my head. She was so beautiful when she slept. Especially when in a deep slumber like the one I had just put her in.She'd thought I'd abandon this war? She thought wrong. I had to use my powers to put her in a slumber to be able to leave."You're sure about this?" I heard Urik ask from beside me."What? You think you need to leave?" I asked in a menacing tone without even looking at him.Urik had been against th
LUXURIA.Parthe has been too adamant about this war, and I have a bad feeling about it. That's why I did what I had to do."The men are ready, Alpha," Vixtin said, adjusting his armor. His pregnant mate was almost due for delivery. Why would Parthe put him in harm's way just at the peak of his life?"Tell the warriors securing the entrances of the pack to get more weapons if need be. We wouldn't want any surprises while we are out there," Parthe said, not lifting his head from the map he was studying.I gathered the courage I needed and entered his courtroom, "Parthe?" I called while approaching him."How much longer did you intend to stand there?" He asked so casually.Of course, what did I expect? He'd smelt me from where I was hiding and contemplating if I should talk to him or not.I cleared my throat, "Please don't go for this war. I have a bad feeling about it and... And..." I trailed off, my voice choking with restrained sobs.Even though we've both not been the best of mates,
LUXURIA.Of all people, I never thought I’d ever do anything to save the one woman who had always been my greatest problem in life. I was done sulking and feeling dejected when I decided to take an evening stroll—something I rarely do. I had gone to see Rorden but he was nowhere to be found. Just as I was making my way back to my chamber, I saw the commotion unfolding right in front of me. I didn’t hesitate to think twice before swinging into action and knocking the intruder off of Shikta. This might not be for Shikta. This might be for the greater good. I just want to believe so. Otherwise, this was a perfect opportunity to get rid of one of my problems on a platter of gold. “Speak!” The Beta’s fist collided with the man’s already bleeding jaw.The man knelt in the center of the dimly lit chamber, blood dripping from his nose, his face swollen and battered.He wasn’t healing. He’d been beaten with wolf’s bane long enough to weaken his healing ability.“Who sent you? What were yo
SHIKTA.I lay back on the bed, my hands resting on the swell of my belly, but the ache in my lower back made it impossible to find a comfortable position. Every shift of my body brought a sharp, jabbing pain, and my feet throbbed from swelling.I wanted to cry, but tears wouldn’t solve anything.I tried to talk with Parthe but he was enraged for reasons best known to him. I also went to spend some time with Tervan but he pushed me away. His words played over in my mind, his usual excuse for keeping me at arm’s length. “I need more time.” Time for what? I wasn’t asking him to love me. I wasn’t even asking for much—just his presence, his support, someone to lean on. I wasn’t the one who decided this pup would exist, yet here I was, facing the brunt of it alone.A lot of times, I need the father of my pup around… Or, at least, a man around. But I was mostly alone. The troubles of pregnancy weren’t something I ever envisaged bearing alone.It was a cool night, and taking my usual walk
LUXURIA.All eyes were on me expectantly. Every gaze felt like a weight pressing down on me, and the intensity of their expectations made my throat tighten.The hall was quiet. So quiet that the footsteps of a tiptoeing ant would be heard if there was any around.I swallowed hard, feeling the tremble in my hands. “I…” I began, my voice shaking slightly. My palms were damp against the smooth wood of the podium. My eyes darted to Parthe, his jaw clenched tight, his gaze like coal-black fire boring into me. I could feel his displeasure.Urik was disgusted. Tervan had a neutral expression.My eyes stung with tears. What’s going on? The last thing I remembered was standing outside with Rorden, wondering if I had actually seen Sibille or if it was just a figment of my imagination. How did I get on the stage? The speech I had diligently prepared and rehearsed for hours, all jumbled up in my head. I couldn’t even remember a line from it. “What is going on?” Parthe asked through the mind
LUXURIA.I was already coming to a decision. I had to. As painful as it seemed, I had to start accepting my fate—the cruel fate Selene had subjected me to.Perhaps I could swallow my pain and hatred and seek refuge with my father, Nelfas. Would he cast me away? I wouldn’t be surprised if he did. He never cared about my birth mother until she died at the hands of Odren. Odren’s pack was never an option. I’ll be more of a laughingstock now than ever. And Rella? She’d make sure to make my life hell than she used to, now that she finally had the one thing she could kill me for. Although the last time Niksha visited me, she told me Rella and Kahel’s union wasn’t as blossoming as it should be, but that they were getting better by the day and Kahel was learning to love and accept Rella really fast. My heart ached. Rella was finally having the last laugh. I thought I would find peace with my mate, instead, I lost the man I loved with my life, and now, my mate too. I wiped the tear that sl
ALPHA PARTHE“She needs you around, Alpha. It is a critical time for her. She’s weak and the unborn pup needs its father close always,” Dalia explained.She had found out. She fucking had.I wanted this to be a secret until I could figure out what to do but right now, more people were getting to know about it.I looked at Shikta’s almost unconscious form and I didn’t know what to feel—anger, hate, disgust?“Dalia. Not a word about this to anyone. Not even a soul,” I said and I saw the look of surprise that crossed her face.“As you wish, Alpha.” She bowed, “But she could grow weaker by the day and the pup is at risk of being unhealthy without the presence of its father. Please, make time out of your very busy schedule and spend around her. It will be beneficial to you both in the future.” She added.I only nodded casually and walked out without saying another word.I stood in front of Luxuria’s chamber, unsure if she’d want to see me. The realization of how I had spoken to her in the
ALPHA PARTHE."Search everywhere! Send spies to every other pack. She couldn't have vanished from the face of the earth without any trace!" I yelled at my warriors who had returned with nothing but bad news.I'd put in every effort necessary to find Eldora but all to no avail. It was eating me up rapidly. I needed closure. I needed to know if Zendaya was truly the one.A part of me refused to believe that I had ruined my chances of living with my own hands. I just... I just needed something... Anything! Fuck it! I just needed to see Eldora!Nelfas' daughter was out of the question. She was underage and without her wolf. I couldn't even take her as a substitute. There has to be another way!I slammed my fist on the table before me, shattering it to pieces. My rage has been almost out of control lately.My body trembled and I needed a release. I needed to take out this anger. Perhaps, I could go for a hunt tonight.The full moon was just yesterday and the hunt was less satisfying. It w
LUXURIA.I tried to steady the tremors in my hands and the rapid beating of my heart as I washed off the dirt on my body.I felt better after having a warm bath.I had been training with Vixtin all morning, and it was a great way of letting out some of the anxiety that was constantly plaguing me for no reason.Sometimes, when I let out some steam in the training process, it keeps me sane and tames the chaos that the voices in my head keep whispering to me.On several occasions, I've had to fight the urge to rip Vixtin into pieces for no reason. The urge to hurt people around me was becoming unbearable, but I didn't intend to give in to it.Not now. I wouldn't want to be executed.Last night was the night of the full moon, and I barely found any prey, save for a young rogue whom I regretted killing.The more I killed, the more I wanted to kill. It was intoxicating and it bothered me.I almost didn't need the full moon to crave blood anymore. I am totally scared because anyone could be