Astrid's POV:Alpha Jonathan threw me across the room, and my head hit the wall. Before I could recover, he landed a harsh kick on one of my hips. Part of me knew what I did was a big mistake, and it meant punishment from the king. But another part of me wanted to know why it mattered so much to them that I had mated with my mate. It was such a common turning point of my life and everyone was aware that one day I would find my mate too. "She ruined it!” Princess Amaira screamed. “She snatched my happiness from me!"Clouded with doubt and confusion, I got to my feet. "What did I do?" I asked, my throat burning from crying and screaming.The fire in the king's eyes grew, and he grabbed my throat, lifting me into the air, choking me. I couldn’t breathe and feared I’d die if he didn’t release me."You seduced the Great Alpha Dominic Knight when he was drunk, and now you’re acting innocent? You ungrateful bitch! Amaira was supposed to be with him, not you!"Suddenly it grew too difficult
Alpha Dominic's POV:I could feel the pain my mate was sufferingand didn't hold Carden back from attacking anyone who came his way. He wantedto tear open the princess's heart, the one who had tried to make us intoxicatedenough to mate with her. Carden angrilyroared inside my chest and attacked the Alpha standing closer to us. Theconfusion and aggression arising because of the situation was tearing me down.But we knew that punishing the culprits was not as important as taking care ofour mate who was crying out in pain.And why did they want to kill my mate?I took her into my arms and carried her toa bed in the guest room. Her body was sore and she wasn't recovering at a goodspeed. I mind linked with my beta and ordered him to fetch the pack doctor.As I placed her on the bed, I noticed hersoft features. She didn't look a day older than eighteen—I hoped she was atleast that old. I moved a few strands of hair that covered her face.The footsteps of my men approached, and an
Astrid's POV:My eyes snapped open after a very horrificnightmare I had. My head was spinning and the memories resurfaced after fewminutes. My mate had saved me from being dead and he even fought off the Alphafor me. My back hurt and I wasn't able to lift my neck from the pillow. "Shift. We will heal quickly. You knowwe have done it many times. " Malessia spoke with a sweet voice. It was just as usual when the king orprincess used to punish me and I wasn't allowed to have a day off. I had beenbeaten worse than that and the only thing which I was proud of was the abilityof my wolf to heal in its primal form. With lots of struggle, I stood up fromthe bed and shifted. It was too painful and I was worried if it could go wrong.The open wounds on my limbs began fillingup and the fur came over my flesh. I heard few of my bones reassembling ontheir bone. It was unbearable and I wanted to howl in pain but let out amuffled voice to ease down the pain. After my wolf could no longe
Astrid's POV:Marilyn is a young maid with a deep set of brown orbs. Her curly hair was tied in a low bun, and the sleeves of her long gown were rolled up to her elbows.She quickly held the corner of my long gown, which was preventing me from moving. Her eyes ran over my few injuries, but she didn't ask me anything about them."How long have you been working here in the Royal chambers? " I asked her as we walked in the quiet and long corridor."It's around a year, Luna. I am not as experienced as others. " She worriedly replied as if I was asking her this question because I wanted to taunt her."You are perfect! For some reason, I never seem to have enough friends. With a grin on my face, she looked at me hopefully."You are so nice. The empire will love you, " Marilyn said in her childish voice.Within ten minutes, we stood before a beautiful chamber door. Marilyn asked me to enter it first while she followed behind me. The chamber was ten times larger than the small dungeon I lived
Astrid's POV:Alpha Dominic’s pheromones made me crazy as his fingers ran across my teary cheeks. I clutched his wrist as he encircled my mouth with his thumb.As we peered into each other's eyes, it was as though we were each searching for the answer to an unspoken question; the look between us said it all. Our connection couldn’t be broken. For our love was a truly special bond, as if we had been mated for a hundred years ago and knew each other well."Open your mouth, " he ordered. I followed his command, and he pushed his thumb between my lips. "Suck," he said, releasing a heavy breath.It was out of the ordinary for me to engage in sexual activity, but my emotions and his proximity rendered me shameless enough to do anything for him.He lowered his head and gave my collarbone a long, wet lick. I froze. My nipples, painfully erect, drawing my attention."I didn't tell you to stop!" He grabbed a fistful of my hair, stared into my soul, and pushed his thumb back into my mouth.Mem
Alpha Dominic's POV: "What’s wrong with you?" Carden shouted in my mind, angry with how I’d behaved toward his Luna.”And now, because of your mistress, she’s having second thoughts.” He demanded that we go for a run in the woods, so he could hunt some animals to relieve his frustration. "You need to calm down," I said flippantly. "Calm down? How can I calm down? What the hell were you going to tell her anyway? About your dead mate and that you don't need a woman in your life?” He wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t respond. What could I say? "Coward! Answer me," he demanded. "Yes. Okay. Are you happy now? Yes, I was going to tell her that she shouldn't expect anything from me other than a pack name and protection. Unlike you, I am not looking for love!" I roared. Carden quieted. Another fight with my wolf. I shook my head. Of course, because that’s what I needed at the moment. It wasn’t like I needed to focus on other, more important things. Ugh. I met with Beta Alexander, who was w
Astrid's POV:"I am sure Carden was hurt by his behavior, too,” Malessia said, her words echoing in my mind as I fled from Alpha Dominic. But her words didn’t sooth me. He’d called me a whore, and the enraged expression he wore when he’d said it was something I would never forget. My mind was in a panic, and I needed my mother. I caught a whiff of her scent and followed it across the hallway. I discovered her leisurely sitting with a couple of maids, one who did her hair while the other applied face cream. Seeing the joy on her face made me smile. Her bruises had healed, and her face glowed. This was the life I wanted my parents to have.Her head turned toward me, and our eyes met. I gave her a cheerful smile, and her face lit up, too."Astrid! My baby." She stood and opened her arms, taking me into a tight embrace. I rested my head over her shoulder and closed my eyes, forgetting everything, at least for a moment."Were you crying, sweetie?” she asked.It seemed pointless to lie to
Astrid's POV:My legs shook with fear while a maid helped the princess stand. Then, as the princess approached me, flashbacks of beatings and torture flooded me, vivid and haunting in their realism. The aching of my body, the burning sensation that coursed through my veins, the fear that gnawed at my soul—every moment had felt like an eternity of agony as my mind struggled to comprehend the horror that had become my life. The memories would stay with me forever.The physical pain had been agonizing, but the psychological pain had been even worse. I’d thought I would never be free of from her torture. I’d escaped it for such a short while. But now she was back and sure to make my life a living hell once again.Without thinking, I touched my uncovered face. She watched my every movement, and fear rumbled inside me. Would she hit me with all these people around?Alpha Dominic’s voice entered my mind though our link. "I am here for your protection,” he said. “Don't be scared. She can't do
Aeryn's POV:I had been running for half an hour by now and yet the woods seemed never ending. Leaving Dante in that critical condition and his life at danger had been the most difficult decision of my life. I would never let anything happen to him even if it meant for me to die in his place. He was wronged as a child and an adult by everyone around him. He deserved happiness and now when he wanted to ask for forgiveness from father and Kai was with those traitors, I knew they would be ready to accept Dante as my mate. With more determination and motivation, I didn't stop even when my legs started to hurt. But I promised myself that nothing could stop me before I reached pack. It was just another twenty minutes until I would be crossing the pack borders. A series of angry howls roared behind me and I froze in my steps scared of the truth that the rogues had gotten to me first before I could go to the pack. I turned behind to see the leader Rogue running after me with an army of aro
Dante's POV:Azriel had felt her presence in the woods as shown as she had stepped her feet in there. I could also feel her pain and I had hurriedly gone to search her only to find her in chains. Even though, I should have hated her for accepting Kai as her mate, I didn't like how she was crying from the pain and Alpha Grayson and was hitting her. "Keep your mouth shut! He isn't your mate anymore. We need know that you are going to fu*k Kai sooner than later. " Alpha Grayson spat angrily. I felt my fists clenching at his words, "What are you exactly doing here, Aeryn? Is it a trap? "She shook her head, " No, Dante. I will never betray you. I want to tell you that this war is not needed because we can stop it. I love you and I am never going to be with another man. "Her words sent a soothing feeling to my heart. I was happy that she chose to be here with me and had the guts to run away from her parents and come here among so much dangers. "Do you think you can go against your pare
Aeryn's POV :I was still shaking from anger after my parents and brothers left me in my room again. I had to fight against the injustice of them making me have another mate. Dante wasn't aware of his father's reality and his mother's suicide reason. If he would know, then I was sure he wouldn't be initiating a war against anyone. As a mate, I had to take the first step. I quietly made my way out of my room and ran to the corridor leading to Dante's chamber. It was extremely quiet there and I couldn't find anyone. Confusion dawned me and I went to the training ground to find him but he wasn't there either. The palace looked in a hurry, almost running guards everywhere around me. The environment didn't feel right. The air didn't seem comfortable. "What are you doing here? " I heard Alpha Kai behind me. I didn't like him around me for some reason because even though he knew that I had a made he was ready to be with me without any shame. "Nothing. Just looking for... " I hesitated.
Alpha Dante's POV :F*ck! F*ck this pack! Aeryn was with Kai, he was holding her hand, he was walking her around, he had been all over her and Dominic was happy with the stupid arrangement. I was sure there was something going on between Kai and Dominic. He had suddenly appointed him as the border controller for his pack and also was given high status in the training for young wolves. "Maybe he wants Aeryn to be with Kai. " Azriel hissed. I smashed the vase into pieces and crushed it with my boots. No way in hell was going to let any man take her from me. She was my mate, carrying my Mark and had promised me a child. And even after that, I was going to keep her with me. She wasn't related to Dominic and Astrid's crimes. They had even lost her when she was babu, indicating they never cared for their only daughter and instead adopted a dumb human girl to take her place. They were power hungry and could go to any limits to secure their pack and throne. Even if it meant, making Aeryn
Aeryn's POV :I ran back to my room and locked the door behind me so that I didn't have to talk to anyone including my parents. I was Furious and sad to know that my own parents had decided to give me off to another man as if I was an object. They were blinded by power and rank of Alpha Kai. I should have known that being a princess meant to keep the family ties high by marrying into another powerful Clan. I was the most worthless girl in the whole Kingdom as compared to even the normal females in the Pack because of the reason that I didn't have my wolf yet. I heard a knock on the door and knew that it was mom but I was not going to talk to her until and unless she was ready to listen to me. But to my shock, I heard the lock turning in the door and both of my parents walked in with a key in their hands. Mom must have been crying because I could see her eyes were puffy and even my father was sad. They sat beside me on the bed and I turned my head to look away from them. Still, I fe
Aeryn's POV :I felt disheartened by the sight of my mate who was not trying to understand my condition and was in the wrong this whole time. Only if I could tell him about how much he was missing by being angry towards me and my family then we would have been together by now and fighting everyone else. I was going to be loyal to my blood even though I knew that the bond was supposed to be stronger than anything else. I forgot that Alpha Kai had been waiting for me after he left and he might have noticed the weird exchange we both had. "Coffee? " He offered as we sat together. I didn't want to be sitting there in the public with a fake smile plastered on my face but I couldn't just run away from everything because I was not feeling well. My dad was gone too after he checked that I was safe with Alpha Kai. if my parents at trusted this man then I was not at any risk from him. "Are you okay? You don't look comfortable enough. " He asked. I sipped my coffee, " It's nothing serious.
Aeryn's POV :I wanted to talk to him about his special treatment in the class but the teacher looked at me angrily, her eyes telling me to get away from the Alpha. I knew that she would never say something to the Alpha but she could only use her scary eyes on me. "Alpha Kai has been included in the team of the Alphas to keep the borders secure and the enemies away from the Pack house. " Mrs. Harrison told us and I realised I was sitting with one of the best warriors in the entire packs. He nodded his head, " I am still your student and would like to train more young wolves so that they can join the team. " Mrs. Harrison was overjoyed and enthusiastically opened one of the thickest books I had ever seen. She flipped through pages after a while pages and finally settled on one of the main chapters. She fixed her glasses and licked her lips before starting the lesson. "In a small town nestled among the hills, there was a visionary human teacher named Mrs. Johnson. " She said, " She
Aeryn's POV :I woke up at 5 AM precisely and took a shower. After getting dressed in a simple crop top and Jean I decided to put my hair in a high ponytail. By the time I was ready to go, it was already 7 AM and Emerald was waiting for me outside my room. She had brought the map of all the packs with her and we found a quiet corner in the school Garden so that she could tell me more about the ranking. The school Gates were still closed and we had around 40 minutes before the time the classes would start. "The North Packs are all under Alpha Dominic and these one marked in red are also ruled by him but they are having some sort of revolution because most of the Alphas want slavery to be legal. And Alpha Dominic is against the cruelty. " She said, running her finger along the lines on the map. I nodded, " But I don't think anyone will support them because in no one wants this type of ill practice in the packs in these modern Times. " Emerald scoffed, " You have no idea about the Ri
Aeryn's POV: "What were you thinking, Aeryn? " My mom shouted at me. I kept my head low and my face burned with embarrassment as her blaming eyes looked right through my soul. It was better that she hadn't told anyone else about it. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that. " I muttered. She rubbed her forehead, " I mean what if someone had seen you. This would have created a havoc in the pack. Most of them don't even know you have a mate. " " But mom, I have a mate and you know that. How can I pretend that he doesn't exist? " She sighed and hugged me, " I know and I am sorry for being so rude and harsh with you. But, honey you need to understand that he is not a friend of our pack. That guy wants to ruin you just like his father... " She stopped from completing her statement and something changed in her eyes. She grew angry towards Dante more and shook her head to ignore whatever thoughts were crossing her mind at this moment. " What do you mean, mom? Can you tell me about the