Xavier’s POVI watched as Elena stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her, and I stood there, unmoved, staring at the spot she had just been. The silence was peaceful, reminding me of my old days.Then Sam, my wolf, broke the quiet in his usual irritating way.“She has got spirit, I will give her that,” he remarked, his voice smug. “You pushed her too far.”I grunted, folding the contract with deliberate calmness. “It’s the best this way.”Sam scoffed. “Oh, best? You added those damn tasks today. You thought you could deceive her because she couldn't read it that night. But you are forgetting one thing, Xavier.”I raised an eyebrow, my fingers tightening slightly around the papers. “And what’s that?”“You don’t scare her.” His tone was almost amused. “And that should terrify you.”I scowled, shoving the contract back into the drawer and locking it. “I am not scared of a stubborn little girl throwing a tantrum.”Sam’s voice was a low rumble now. “Then, why don’t you follow her and
Elena’s POVLuna…The word sounded foreign coming from her, almost like it belonged to someone else.“Am I?” I chuckled. Honestly, I didn't know what I was anymore. Luna? The title? Of course. I had that for a year. But the honor? Never.She immediately began to bow, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I am so sorry! I didn’t recognize you.”I caught her by the arm before she could go full-on formal. “Please, don’t. I didn’t rescue you from an evil goose just to have you bow to me.”She straightened up, laughing awkwardly. “Right. Sorry again.”I smiled now, “Why would you be sorry again?”“I don't know. Maybe—” She pressed her lips and then shook her head. “Forget it. Tell me, what brings you out here today?” She asked. “Is our Luna looking for a little adventure or just trying to escape the palace?”I sighed, glancing back at the distant silhouette of the palace. “A bit of both, actually. I am trying to get used to this place, and I needed a break from the palace’s... intense atm
Xavier’s POVIn the morning, Dmitri had called me for an emergency, and I had to rush to my office before I could deal with anything else. I left Elena a note on the nightstand—just so she wouldn’t get any ideas that I was avoiding her. Not that I cared what she thought, of course.Now, I was sitting in front of piles of paperwork, the real kind of headaches that come with running a pack. The issue today? A woman had been found murdered near the border. She wasn’t one of ours, but the fact that it happened so close to our territory was a problem.Dmitri stood beside me, his face tense as we went over the details. “There were no signs of a struggle,” he said. “It looked like she trusted her attacker.”I grunted, flipping through the report. “We need to question everyone who had contact with her. Someone knows something. I want answers by tonight.”Dmitri nodded, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something darker. “I’ll handle it.”“Good.” I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my tem
Elena’s POVWe moved fast—too fast. The wind whipped through my hair, making it hard to breathe, but Xavier didn’t slow down. It was like he was a man on a mission, and I was just along for the ride. His grip on my hand was firm, almost possessive, but there was no warmth in it.Sameera scoffed. “Romantic walk.”Within minutes, we were deep in the woods, the towering trees casting long shadows over us. The air was cooler here, almost spooky. Xavier finally stopped, releasing my hand as if I had burned him. I stumbled back a step, catching my breath and trying to regain my bearings.“What the actual hell?” I snapped, glaring at him. “You could have just asked me to come along, you know?”Xavier turned on his heel and started walking deeper into the woods without so much as a glance back. I stared at his back, incredulous.“Seriously? No explanation?” I called after him, hurrying to catch up.He kept his pace steady. “You wanted to explore,” he replied, his voice clipped.“Explore? Whe
Xavier’s POVAfter we returned to the palace, Elena went back to the room immediately. She didn't say a word on our way back. She seemed a little mad. I could tell it was because of the dead body.She was perhaps wondering why I didn't bother at all. Oh, she had no idea.“Don’t you think you are making her hate you so much?” Sam barked in my mind as I walked through the hallway.“That's better. She will be leaving in a year anyway.”“Then why don't you just let her work in the healers’ wing?” Sam’s voice swirled through my thoughts. “Why does it bother you?” I wished I could break his ridiculous mouth, but since there was no way, I ignored him. Entering my office, I found Dmitri waiting for me. He was sitting across the table. In his hand was a silver ring of keys. Perhaps the one of the cell. “What again?” I spoke as I walked to the table and took my seat.Dmitri didn't bother to greet me as expected. His gaze was still on the key, blank yet cautious. “It was Paul.”The dead body
Elena’s POVSince the blood alone terrified me, I wasn’t brave enough to stay in his creepy bedroom alone. So I went to his office to ask him if he could stay there. But after hearing what he did, I couldn't hold back my anger or frustration or whatever it was.How could someone be so indifferent? How could he kill someone and not explain a thing to his mate?“Now we know why people called him ruthless.” Sameera chimed in.“I hate him.” The words slipped out before I could think twice. It felt good to voice it, even if it was just to myself.As if on cue, I stormed across the room and locked the door, taking a small measure of comfort in the click of the latch. I knew Xavier wouldn’t come after me, but the thought of locking him out felt great.The morning came too quickly, a soft knock on the door pulling me from my restless thoughts. I recognized Aveline's voice, bright and cheerful, as she called out to me. “Elena? Are you awake?”I unlocked the door reluctantly, revealing Aveline’
Elena’s POVI was taken aback by Aveline’s question. My lips parted in shock. “You know?”“Of course. The way you looked at each other explained everything.” Aveline said.Kate gasped. “Our Luna had a ex boyfriend in our pack?”I chuckled. “He was my first love. At least I thought he was. We were together for years.”Aveline raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in slightly. "And what happened?"“He heard I was Alpha’s mate and he ran away… disappeared from my life without a goodbye. I tried to reach out to him but um… he ignored me.”Kate looked between us, wide-eyed, clearly eager for the gossip. “So he broke your heart?"I shook my head with a small, bitter smile. "I would not blame him." I paused. “I had to make a choice—my family’s protection or him.”“And you chose family?” Aveline’s voice softened, almost sympathetic now.I nodded, the memories of that time flashing through my mind. “I didn’t have a choice. Duty over everything else.”Kate sighed dramatically, pla
Madeline’s POVI followed Drake through the dimly lit corridors. It was weird. He was weird. The mirror maze, this place everything was so odd.Drake led me to a secluded part of the hall, where the torches flickered low. When he finally stopped and turned to face me, his dark eyes scanned my face as if he was searching for something.“You don't listen, Madeline… Do you?” His voice was calm, almost too calm.I crossed my arms, tilting my head. “I don’t know what you are saying.”Drake exhaled, a slow, measured breath that only confirmed that he was irritated. But he wouldn’t show it, not fully. He was too calculated for that.“You know exactly what I mean.” He took a step closer, and I forced myself to hold my ground. “Tristan. You should not be entertaining him.”I arched a brow. “Entertaining? We were having dinner.”Drake’s lips curved into a slow smirk, but there was no amusement behind it. “You think he is just here for casual conversation? That he suddenly cares about your favor
Madeline’s POVI followed Drake through the dimly lit corridors. It was weird. He was weird. The mirror maze, this place everything was so odd.Drake led me to a secluded part of the hall, where the torches flickered low. When he finally stopped and turned to face me, his dark eyes scanned my face as if he was searching for something.“You don't listen, Madeline… Do you?” His voice was calm, almost too calm.I crossed my arms, tilting my head. “I don’t know what you are saying.”Drake exhaled, a slow, measured breath that only confirmed that he was irritated. But he wouldn’t show it, not fully. He was too calculated for that.“You know exactly what I mean.” He took a step closer, and I forced myself to hold my ground. “Tristan. You should not be entertaining him.”I arched a brow. “Entertaining? We were having dinner.”Drake’s lips curved into a slow smirk, but there was no amusement behind it. “You think he is just here for casual conversation? That he suddenly cares about your favor
Elena’s POVI was taken aback by Aveline’s question. My lips parted in shock. “You know?”“Of course. The way you looked at each other explained everything.” Aveline said.Kate gasped. “Our Luna had a ex boyfriend in our pack?”I chuckled. “He was my first love. At least I thought he was. We were together for years.”Aveline raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in slightly. "And what happened?"“He heard I was Alpha’s mate and he ran away… disappeared from my life without a goodbye. I tried to reach out to him but um… he ignored me.”Kate looked between us, wide-eyed, clearly eager for the gossip. “So he broke your heart?"I shook my head with a small, bitter smile. "I would not blame him." I paused. “I had to make a choice—my family’s protection or him.”“And you chose family?” Aveline’s voice softened, almost sympathetic now.I nodded, the memories of that time flashing through my mind. “I didn’t have a choice. Duty over everything else.”Kate sighed dramatically, pla
Elena’s POVSince the blood alone terrified me, I wasn’t brave enough to stay in his creepy bedroom alone. So I went to his office to ask him if he could stay there. But after hearing what he did, I couldn't hold back my anger or frustration or whatever it was.How could someone be so indifferent? How could he kill someone and not explain a thing to his mate?“Now we know why people called him ruthless.” Sameera chimed in.“I hate him.” The words slipped out before I could think twice. It felt good to voice it, even if it was just to myself.As if on cue, I stormed across the room and locked the door, taking a small measure of comfort in the click of the latch. I knew Xavier wouldn’t come after me, but the thought of locking him out felt great.The morning came too quickly, a soft knock on the door pulling me from my restless thoughts. I recognized Aveline's voice, bright and cheerful, as she called out to me. “Elena? Are you awake?”I unlocked the door reluctantly, revealing Aveline’
Xavier’s POVAfter we returned to the palace, Elena went back to the room immediately. She didn't say a word on our way back. She seemed a little mad. I could tell it was because of the dead body.She was perhaps wondering why I didn't bother at all. Oh, she had no idea.“Don’t you think you are making her hate you so much?” Sam barked in my mind as I walked through the hallway.“That's better. She will be leaving in a year anyway.”“Then why don't you just let her work in the healers’ wing?” Sam’s voice swirled through my thoughts. “Why does it bother you?” I wished I could break his ridiculous mouth, but since there was no way, I ignored him. Entering my office, I found Dmitri waiting for me. He was sitting across the table. In his hand was a silver ring of keys. Perhaps the one of the cell. “What again?” I spoke as I walked to the table and took my seat.Dmitri didn't bother to greet me as expected. His gaze was still on the key, blank yet cautious. “It was Paul.”The dead body
Elena’s POVWe moved fast—too fast. The wind whipped through my hair, making it hard to breathe, but Xavier didn’t slow down. It was like he was a man on a mission, and I was just along for the ride. His grip on my hand was firm, almost possessive, but there was no warmth in it.Sameera scoffed. “Romantic walk.”Within minutes, we were deep in the woods, the towering trees casting long shadows over us. The air was cooler here, almost spooky. Xavier finally stopped, releasing my hand as if I had burned him. I stumbled back a step, catching my breath and trying to regain my bearings.“What the actual hell?” I snapped, glaring at him. “You could have just asked me to come along, you know?”Xavier turned on his heel and started walking deeper into the woods without so much as a glance back. I stared at his back, incredulous.“Seriously? No explanation?” I called after him, hurrying to catch up.He kept his pace steady. “You wanted to explore,” he replied, his voice clipped.“Explore? Whe
Xavier’s POVIn the morning, Dmitri had called me for an emergency, and I had to rush to my office before I could deal with anything else. I left Elena a note on the nightstand—just so she wouldn’t get any ideas that I was avoiding her. Not that I cared what she thought, of course.Now, I was sitting in front of piles of paperwork, the real kind of headaches that come with running a pack. The issue today? A woman had been found murdered near the border. She wasn’t one of ours, but the fact that it happened so close to our territory was a problem.Dmitri stood beside me, his face tense as we went over the details. “There were no signs of a struggle,” he said. “It looked like she trusted her attacker.”I grunted, flipping through the report. “We need to question everyone who had contact with her. Someone knows something. I want answers by tonight.”Dmitri nodded, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something darker. “I’ll handle it.”“Good.” I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my tem
Elena’s POVLuna…The word sounded foreign coming from her, almost like it belonged to someone else.“Am I?” I chuckled. Honestly, I didn't know what I was anymore. Luna? The title? Of course. I had that for a year. But the honor? Never.She immediately began to bow, her face flushing with embarrassment. “I am so sorry! I didn’t recognize you.”I caught her by the arm before she could go full-on formal. “Please, don’t. I didn’t rescue you from an evil goose just to have you bow to me.”She straightened up, laughing awkwardly. “Right. Sorry again.”I smiled now, “Why would you be sorry again?”“I don't know. Maybe—” She pressed her lips and then shook her head. “Forget it. Tell me, what brings you out here today?” She asked. “Is our Luna looking for a little adventure or just trying to escape the palace?”I sighed, glancing back at the distant silhouette of the palace. “A bit of both, actually. I am trying to get used to this place, and I needed a break from the palace’s... intense atm
Xavier’s POVI watched as Elena stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her, and I stood there, unmoved, staring at the spot she had just been. The silence was peaceful, reminding me of my old days.Then Sam, my wolf, broke the quiet in his usual irritating way.“She has got spirit, I will give her that,” he remarked, his voice smug. “You pushed her too far.”I grunted, folding the contract with deliberate calmness. “It’s the best this way.”Sam scoffed. “Oh, best? You added those damn tasks today. You thought you could deceive her because she couldn't read it that night. But you are forgetting one thing, Xavier.”I raised an eyebrow, my fingers tightening slightly around the papers. “And what’s that?”“You don’t scare her.” His tone was almost amused. “And that should terrify you.”I scowled, shoving the contract back into the drawer and locking it. “I am not scared of a stubborn little girl throwing a tantrum.”Sam’s voice was a low rumble now. “Then, why don’t you follow her and
Xavier's POVI didn't even make it halfway to my room before I heard the familiar sound of heels clicking against the floor behind me. I knew who it was before she even spoke."Xavier."I stopped, my shoulders tightening. Great. Another lecture. I turned to face my mother who stood there with that glare. She didn't need to raise her voice to let me know I was about to get an earful."Mom." I said, pretended like she was the one I expected to see."Finally, you grace me with your presence." She said. Oh, I wished I hadn't. "You have been avoiding this conversation long enough." She added.I let out a low sigh. There was no escaping this. "I have been busy, mom.""Busy?" She scoffed, stepping close to me. "Too busy to sit down and have meals with your wife? Too busy to treat her with the respect she deserves? She is your Luna, Xavier. Not some pawn to push around."Sam decided to join her, "She is right, you know. You have been acting like a total jerk.I clenched my jaw, trying to hold