Dante’s POVThis has to be a joke. A sick, cruel joke of destiny.The woman I’ve been hunting, chasing like a lunatic across borders, through whispers and shadows was here. All along. In my own pack. In my own damn dungeon. And I didn’t even know.I made Liam find her like I was chasing a ghost. She was the first woman in decades who made me feel something—anything—and now fate spits in my face by telling me she has been a captive? A prisoner?Hector’s bride? A Rosetti Princess?What kind of fucking cosmic joke is this?She’s looking at me now. Those eyes—those eyes—they have lived in the back of my mind like a curse. Burned into every quiet moment. Every sleepless night. I close my eyes, and there they are.And now… now they’re staring back at me for real.I should be furious. I should be clear-headed. I should know exactly what to do. I’m the Alpha, for Moon’s sake. I give orders. I don’t freeze.But here I am. Frozen. Conflicted. Drenched in confusion and rage and something I
“You cannot tell the truth about yourself to Lady Elizabeth,” Vespara said quietly, her voice carrying the burden of something she didn’t want to admit. “I only wanted to get you treated. So I lied to her. I will confess... but only when the time is right.”I nodded slowly, the pain in my body dull compared to the ache of confusion twisting inside me.“Will you at least tell me,” I asked, “why everyone says I killed someone?”Vespara hesitated, then exhaled. “It’s not really about you,” she said. “We lost many soldiers in the attack. And... we lost our beta. Elizabeth’s grandson. He was very close to the Alpha—and to everyone else in the pack. His death was a blow none of us were prepared for. Now, everyone is angry. They want someone to blame. Your pack... and you, specifically, have become the target of their grief.”I smiled bitterly, the corners of my mouth lifting in something far from amusement. “Your people killed my mother,” I said. “Should I blame the doctor who treated me fo
Dante’s POVWhen I returned to my place, the silence didn’t soothe me. It only made her voice louder in my head.Scarlet.The same woman I once touched like she was sacred. The same woman who lay in this very room, tangled in sheets and moonlight, her breath soft against my chest as we unravelled one another.Now, she was a prisoner.And I... I was expected to decide whether she would live or die?What kind of twisted, merciless joke was this?I paced the length of my room like a caged beast, fury curling through every breath. I was angry at her for being here. Angry at fate for putting her back in my path. Angry at myself—for how I felt.I couldn’t find her when I needed to.Now I had found her and I might have to kill her?I spent the rest of the day like a miserable bastard. Brooding. Fuming. Thinking too much. Feeling too much.By the time the evening meeting began, the burden in my chest hadn’t eased.The pack gathered, the room filled with sharp voices and sharper memories. I st
As the council dispersed, a few elders approached me.“Alpha,” one of the elders said as the room began to thin out, “regarding your decision to appoint a new Beta... we believe the time is approaching.”I didn’t respond right away. I already knew what was coming.“We understand,” he continued, “that you’ve chosen to wait out of respect for the late Beta, to honour the mourning period. But the longer the seat stays empty, the more fractures will form within the pack.”He wasn’t wrong. The ambition was a restless thing, and the position of Beta had already become the centre of quiet scheming.“The politics have begun,” the elder added, lowering his voice. “They’re watching. Every candidate, every word you say.”Of course, they were.Another elder leaned forward. “Before his passing, the late Beta was heard saying there was no one better suited to lead beside you except Lady Vespara. If you choose to appoint her, we will not object.”But.The unspoken word hung between us like smoke.Th
Scarlet’s POV“How are you feeling, dear?” Elizabeth asked softly, her warm eyes scanning my face for signs of pain.“Better,” I replied honestly.It had been three days since I arrived in this strange but quiet corner of the pack. The medicine Elizabeth had given me was working faster than I expected. The ache in my throat had dulled, and the bruises no longer burned with every movement. I could finally breathe without wincing.“You have been cooped up in that little room long enough,” she said, gently taking my arm. “It’s hard to heal when all you see are four walls. Let’s take a walk. The air will do you good.”And so, the two of us strolled through her garden, a sprawling, private space tucked behind her home. There were flowers blooming in every direction, but the scent in the air wasn’t entirely floral. It was sharp, complex... something richer than petals and earth.“Doctor,” I asked, sniffing lightly, “why does it smell so strong in here? It doesn’t smell like flowers… even th
Scarlet’s POV“Scarlet, I need to talk to you about something,” Elizabeth said as she approached me, her tone gentler than usual.I turned to her, sensing the weight behind her words. “What is it?”“It’s about your wolf.”I blinked. “Red?”She gave a slow nod. “Do you remember when I mentioned that I have a team of disciples and a small research department?”“I do,” I said quietly, remembering how proud she had looked when she told me.“There’s a case that came up recently. A young girl—she’s past the usual shifting age, but she hasn’t shifted yet. Her parents believed she was wolfless.” Elizabeth paused, her brow furrowed with concern. “One of my disciples went to examine her. At first, he said the same—no wolf. But after I asked him to check for something specific, based on what I observed in you… the results changed.”My heart beat a little faster.“She does have a wolf,” Elizabeth continued. “A very small, dormant one. Not strong enough to surface on its own. And she has no control
Scarlet’s POVWhen I reached the Alpha’s estate, I realised it was the same place where he had thrown that extravagant ball. The estate looked just as it had that night. But now it looked empty. As if deserted.I was told the estate was divided into two parts. The front was for official business, and the back—the private side—was Alpha’s personal residence. No one was allowed back there.Of course. No one but me. Again.As I stepped inside, something twisted in my chest. I had been here before. This wasn’t just any place.This was that place.The same room. The same scent in the air. The same floor we had...I closed my eyes and tried to push the memory away. But it clung to my skin like a second layer. The shame, the heat, the confusion—it was all still there, just beneath the surface.As I moved further in, I heard the soft click of the front door closing behind me. The sound startled me, and for a moment, my breath caught. Then I let out a heavy sigh, reminding myself I wasn’t in da
Dante’s POVAs she left the room and shut the door behind her with more fire than strength, I let out a slow, amused smile.Did she make me angry?No.She tried to.But I saw the tremble in her fingers. The way her voice cracked despite the venom in her words. She was terrified yet defiant. And that defiance... stirred something in me I shouldn’t be feeling.She was trying so hard to stand tall. To be fearless.And gods, wasn’t she beautiful when she burned.It was maddening.The same girl who had clung to me like a lifeline hours ago now spat accusations in my face. She hated me like she had every right to. And yet, some part of her still responded to me, like her body hadn't caught up to her mind’s rebellion.And some twisted part of me... responded to her too.She had no idea what she did to a man like me when she stood there, voice shaking, but spine straight. Like a flame daring the wind to try and snuff it out.A contradiction. A storm wrapped in bruises and scars.Something unt
Scarlet’s POVI couldn’t accept it. No… this thought, this looming truth, it couldn’t be real. I didn’t know what would become of me. My life was spiralling out of control, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. I clung to him, desperately, like a drowning soul latching onto driftwood in a stormy sea. I held him as tightly as I could, because if I let go… I would fall.He was the only solid thing left in my world. My anchor. My pillar of strength. Without him, I would shatter.My mind was muddled, scattered, lost in fear, lost in the crushing weight of tomorrow. My trembling fingers reached for him, again and again, needing to feel every inch of him. But it wasn’t enough. No closeness could be enough.I wanted to be closer. So close, I would melt into him. So close, I could seep beneath his skin, flow in his bloodstream, hide within his heartbeat.Because if I had to leave him tomorrow, I didn’t want to exist as a memory. I wanted to become a part of him. A piece he coul
Scarlet's POVBlood-stained, fury etched into every line of his face as eyes blazing with rage but when he saw me, curled up and naked, covered in wounds and shame, in his closet something in him shattered.His jaw clenched as he turned sharply toward the soldiers behind him.“Everyone. Out. Now,” he commanded, his voice deadly calm.Boots shuffled quickly out of the room. The door shut. Silence.Then he knelt.He reached for me, gently, as though I would break at his touch.But I recoiled, tears blurring my vision. I pushed at him, trembling. “Don’t… don’t touch me. I’m dirty…” My voice cracked. “I’m spoiled… stained. Dante, please… don’t…”“Hush,” he whispered, pulling me into his arms anyway, as if to shield me from the very air around us.I didn’t resist for long.I collapsed into him.And I cried. I cried like a child. He held me through it, against his soul, not letting go. Not once.I don’t know how long I cried. Only that he never stopped holding me.Then he carried me in his
Hector grabbed me by the throat, his grip like a vice while choking the air out of my lungs.“You dared to call that bastard?” he growled, eyes gleaming with fury. “Let me show you who really owns you.”I clawed at his hand, struggling to breathe, my other hand desperately reaching behind me. My fingers brushed against the nightstand, searching for anything—something—to save myself. Then I felt it: a small glass vial. The poison. The one Alyssa had given me. It was the one meant for Dante. She had told me to pour it directly on his heart. It would kill him.But I wasn’t going to use it on Dante.As Hector bit into my skin, sinking his teeth with vicious hunger, I wrapped my fingers tightly around the bottle. My hand shook, but I didn’t hesitate. With one sudden motion, I uncorked it and poured the poison onto his back.He let out a bloodcurdling scream. It was inhuman, raw, guttural pain ripping through him. His skin hissed where the poison touched, like acid on flesh. I had never hea
Warning: The few chapters contains sensitive content, including references to sexual assault, trauma, and emotional distress. Reader discretion is strongly advised. If you are sensitive to such topics or find them triggering, please proceed with caution or consider skipping this chapter.It seemed Alpha Dante had been helping Vespara with her preparations because he did not return all night. Vespara had already left along with many of the soldiers she came with. The house felt too quiet for its own good. I suddenly miss Dante and Vespara. Although Dante was avoiding me because he thinks I will pounce on him, which I planned to, but is on hold for now, I still miss him. It was just as the first ray of dawn broke across the sky when I heard movement outside the bedroom. My heart lifted for a moment. I thought it was Dante. I hadn’t seen him since the morning, and the idea of seeing him again gave me a fleeting sense of comfort.But when I stepped into the living room, it wasn’t Dante.
When I returned to the room, my breath was shallow and ragged, like I had been running for my life. In some ways, I had.Vespara looked up from the corner of the bed where she sat wrapped in silence, her eyes narrowing as soon as she saw me. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.I smiled.But it wasn’t the kind of smile one gives to reassure. It was the kind born of secrets, of plans stitched together in shadows. I had clarity now. I had a purpose. The destruction of the Moonlord pack wasn’t just revenge anymore, it was freedom. Solace. A beginning.I stepped closer. My voice dropped, quiet but steady. “Do you want to solidify your position as Beta?”She blinked, confused, frowning as if unsure she’d heard me right. “What?”I sat beside her, leaned in just enough for her to listen what I am going to say. If there are stronger wolves around us, they may listen to us. Dammit. I wish I could have a mind link right now. “On the outskirts of the Moonlord territory,” I
I stared at her, my throat dry. “And what if I don’t want to?”She smiled and it was worse than a threat. It was a promise.“You will return to the pack sooner or later. And when you do, you know exactly what awaits you.”Alyssa leaned in, her voice now a slow venomous drip.“Juno—no, Hector—he will punish you in ways you can’t even imagine. He will break you, Scarlet. You will be his wife, his property, his soulmate. Every breath will belong to him. And no one will stop it.”I felt something inside me crumble, just a little.“Kill Dante.” Her words sliced through the air. “Tonight. Or tomorrow, Alpha will accept Dante’s offer and hand you back. You will be dragged back in chains, Scarlet. Your silence will not save you. And your screams—” she smirked, “—they will be just the beginning.”I shivered. Not from the cold, but from the familiar darkness I thought I had escaped.“You think you can run?” Alyssa's voice slithered out like venom. “Even if you escape this pack, even if you fle
It was dinner time. Vespara didn’t want to go downstairs. Her face was pale and her shoulders curled inwards as if she was trying to disappear into herself. I didn’t ask why because her silence was answer enough. So, I offered to bring food up for both of us.She had confided in me. She had cried in my arms, shaken with fear, rage, and heartbreak. No one had ever trusted me like that before. And even if I didn’t understand everything she was carrying, I wanted to protect her in the only way I could. She became a friend to me in this time. She did not held back anything between us. Since we were already sharing secrets, she turned to me and asked softly, “Can I ask you something?”I had no idea what was coming, but I nodded anyway.Then came her question and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. “Did you come to the Alpha’s Ball?”I looked at her, stunned. There was no reason to lie. What difference would it make now?I nodded.Her eyes widened, and then she broke into a wide grin.
Scarlet's POVWhen we reached the room, Vespara sat silently on the corner of the bed, her back slightly hunched, her gaze lost somewhere in the space between the wall and the window. I watched her for a while, then finally asked, gently, “Do you want to talk about it?”She let out a breath, not quite a sigh, just air escaping from the cracks in her carefully guarded shell. “I don’t know,” she said. “What will I even say? What decision can I possibly make?” Her fingers tightened around the blanket beneath her.“If I keep the baby, my whole life turns upside down,” she whispered. “I will never become Beta. Rome will use it against me, call me weak, unfit, emotional. I will lose before I ever get the chance to fight. But if I don’t keep it—” her voice broke for a second, “—if I give up the baby for my future… how do I look at myself in the mirror after that? This baby is the only part of him I have left. The last piece of Killian. The last blood of Elizabeth. What do I do, Scarlet?”He
Scarlet's POV“This can’t be true! This can’t be true!” Vespara’s voice cracked as she stumbled back a step. “I can’t be pregnant!”She was panicking.I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. “Calm down. Hey. Hey, it’s okay. It’s fine. I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.”Never in my life did I think I would see someone like Vespara who was always so fierce, so strong fall apart like this. But here she was, completely cracking. She looked terrified, like her entire world had just crumbled. What kind of weight did this pregnancy carry for her? Why was it shaking her so deeply?She clutched the counter for support. “How can I be pregnant?” she whispered again, and then her strength gave way. Her shoulders began to shake as tears streamed down her cheeks. She broke down, sobbing.I hugged her tighter. “Vespara… It’s okay. You don’t have to do this alone. If you’re not ready to be a mom, there are always other options. You can—”“No!” she cried, shaking her head