Ellie.I carefully slipped out of my room, glancing down at the maid’s uniform that was still uncomfortably snug. I hated wearing it, but I couldn’t deny it was the perfect disguise to move unnoticed. Keeping my head low, I moved through the palace, careful not to attract attention.I weaved through the guards and maids, making my way to the kitchen garden, from where I’d exit the palace. My heart raced as I slipped through the doors, unnoticed. I was out.Now, I had to reach the Royal Hospital.Archer was there. My mate. My heart ached at the thought of seeing him again. It felt like I hadn’t seen it for so long when in reality it was just about two days.Two days was too many days of uncertainty, wondering if he was alright. But I was going to see him, and that was all that mattered.I kept my head down as I walked briskly through the palace grounds, trying to blend in with the other workers. My mind raced with thoughts of Archer, of the relief I would feel just to be in his presenc
Archer.Ellie slipped her shirt over her head, her back to me, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.Ian, stirred inside me, more animated than he had been in days.“She’s back. She’s really back!” His voice rang clear, vibrating with a strength that had been missing for far too long. I could feel it too—the warmth, the vitality slowly creeping back into my limbs, like a long-dormant power reawakening. I hadn’t realized how deeply I’d missed her until this moment.Two days. That’s all it had been since Raphael took her, but it felt like a lifetime. After two days of fury simmering beneath the surface, the thought of tearing him limb from limb only thing keeping me sane.“He’ll pay,” Ian growled. And I knew it to be true. Raphael had crossed a line he never should’ve dared approach, and now, the only thing left was to make him regret it.I clenched my fists as I recalled the moment Ellie had walked in, her scent mingled with his. I hated that and what it implied.“She follows him around a
Ellie.The palace was alive with noise, but the tension in the air was unmistakable. I sat in front of a large vanity mirror, staring at my reflection as the maids fussed over me, their fingers weaving through my hair and touching up my makeup. My dress, a dark green that hugged my figure, shimmered in the soft light of the room, yet it felt like a cage.Even with all the chaos around me, I had my telepathy active. I sensed every presence within the palace walls—the guards at every entrance, the nobles arriving one by one. But what really made me smile was the familiar presence of Julie, Tristian, Gilly, and Theo as they entered the palace. The squad had arrived.I could sense them even before the maids were done, and I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at the corner of my lips. Everything was in place.I knew Raphael would arrive soon. He always did, eager to parade me around, as if that would somehow make his pathetic impersonation of Archer more convincing. As if I didn’t despise
Ellie.“I am the real King Archer,” Raphael’s voice cut through the silence, calm and steady as if he wasn’t the one standing on a crumbling lie. “This is a plot, orchestrated by rogues to undermine the throne. To sow chaos.”A ripple of unease moved through the crowd. I could see the Alphas shifting on their feet, their eyes narrowing as they turned toward me. The suspicion was thick in the air, and I knew what was coming before it even started.“Is that true, Ellie?” Alpha Roderick’s voice was sharp, accusatory as he turned to me.“You’ve been quite... open to rogues lately, haven’t you? Taking them into Crimson Pack. What kind of Alpha does that?”“An Alpha rebuilding her pack,” I replied, keeping my voice calm, though inside, anger simmered. “I accepted rogues who were forced to do something they didn’t want to do. They are now serving their time, rebuilding the pack they destroyed.”Another Alpha scoffed. “Or maybe you’re building an army? You took in those rogues, and you won th
Ellie.Archer’s laughter echoed through the hall, and I couldn’t help but shiver. The sound of it was unsettling, like the calm before a storm. Raphael stood frozen, his reluctance to engage clear for everyone to see.“You’re no king, Raphael,” Archer said with a low chuckle, his voice brimming with amusement. His confidence was undeniable—this was the true King Archer.Archer began walking through the crowd, casually identifying the Alphas and nobles around the room, something Raphael could never do.“Alpha Marrow of Sky Pack,” he said with an easy nod, “It’s been a while. I trust your son’s healing abilities have developed?”Marrow’s face turned ghostly pale. The room fell silent as everyone exchanged stunned glances. That incident of his son’s failed ability had been a closely guarded secret, something only those within the Sky Pack, could have known. Even I didn’t know about it. Archer was proving himself with every word.He continued moving through the room, exposing hidden truth
Ellie.It had been a week since the banquet, and the whirlwind of meetings and endless paperwork had consumed Archer's time completely.It seemed like every moment was filled with another obligation—diplomatic issues, pack matters, rogues still being dealt with. I could barely catch a glimpse of him between all his meetings, but I understood. He was handling the aftermath of Raphael's decisions, and I had my own responsibilities. The rogues were gone, but the kingdom was still in recovery mode.Unfortunately for me, I'd been thrown into what felt like a never-ending loop of etiquette lessons. Julie, ever the perfect guide, had been at my side through it all, helping me navigate the complexities of my new role as Luna. I’d never cared much for etiquette before, but now it was a necessity, one I wasn’t able to escape. Being Queen came with its burdens.As we walked down the palace hallway toward yet another meeting, I couldn’t help but sigh. Julie looked over at me, a small smile tuggin
Archer.The day had finally arrived. I stood in my room, leaning against the wall, staring out of the large window that overlooked the bustling courtyard below. The entire kingdom was alive with excitement for my wedding—a moment I never thought would come, especially not like this. If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be standing here, preparing to marry Ellie, I would’ve laughed in their face. Marriage was never part of my plans, much less to a mate. And yet, now, I couldn’t imagine a future without her.Yet here I was, standing on the precipice of something monumental. A future I hadn't planned for but now couldn't imagine without her. I'd spent so long without a mate, that the thought of finding my mate just to stay alive felt like a chore for me, but Ellie–Ellie had changed everything.And now the thought of her not being mine sent a firestorm of rage and fear coursing through me."You look like you're about to wage war, not get married,” Tristian chuckled from behind me. H
Ellie.I had been awake for almost twenty minutes, but I couldn’t move. Archer’s arm was draped over me, his grip firm, like he never wanted to let me go. His warmth radiated through me, and I smiled, thinking about how different things were now. It was the day after our wedding, and I was officially Queen Luna of the kingdom.I was still reeling from what he told me while we both lay in each other’s arms.“It’s gone. You broke it.”Those words rang in my mind, and my chest tightened. Archer was out of every visible trouble. He was fully healed and his curse was broken, which meant he had no limitations whatsoever. I was extremely happy for him. For us.I glanced at Archer’s peaceful face. He looked so calm, so different from the powerful and commanding Lycan King everyone feared. I couldn’t help but trace the line of his jaw with my finger before nudging him gently."Archer," I whispered. "If you don’t wake up, we won’t have time to get everything done today."He groaned in response,
Ellie.I had been feeling different for weeks now. My appetite changed, my energy fluctuated, and lately, even my wolf seemed quieter than usual. I suspected the truth but hadn’t dared confirm it. Not until this morning.Standing in front of the mirror, I pressed my hand against my lower abdomen, feeling the faintest of curves. A small smile crept onto my face. There was no denying it now—I was pregnant. My heart fluttered with excitement. Archer had always wanted children, and now, the thought of telling him made my pulse race. But I knew I wanted to tell in a way that would make the moment special, so I went in search of my friends.“Julie! Gilly!” I whispered as I rushed into the room where they were chatting. Both of them turned to me with curious looks.Julie’s eyes widened, immediately sensing something was different.“Ellie, what’s going on?”“I think…” I began, but then corrected myself, “No. I know. I’m pregnant.”Gilly gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.“Oh, Ellie! This
Ellie.Archer’s eyelids fluttered open slowly, the usual sharpness in his gaze softened by tiredness. Relief flooded through me as I smiled down at him, a warmth spreading in my chest.Without thinking, I hugged him, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. His body was still weak, but his arms managed to slip around me, holding me close.He smirked, his voice low and slightly hoarse.“I really don’t know how I could ever live without you, Ellie,” he said, his lips curving into a half-smile, “You’ve saved my life more times than I can count.”I leaned back just enough to look into his eyes, brushing a few stray strands of hair from his forehead.“That’s only because you saved my life countless times when I was an omega,” I replied softly, my fingers still lingering on his skin.“Do you know… if you hadn’t taken me away from Crimson Pack that day, Vito would’ve killed me.”His brow furrowed, a shadow passing over his expression.“I meant what I said when I told you Vito and Nadine dru
Ellie.Archer stepped forward, fists clenched at his sides, muscles tense.“What do you want, Seraphina?” His voice was low, brimming with barely contained rage.She laughed softly as if we were sharing a joke, “Oh, I have so many plans,” she replied, a hint of malice lacing her words, “But most importantly, I’ve discovered something extraordinary during my time, going around,” her sinister smile intensified as she gestured to the far side of the room.I followed her gaze and felt my breath hitch. There, carved into a stone, was an intricate seal that pulsed with a dark, ominous energy. It seemed to throb with a life of its own, casting a strange glow that began to illuminate the room.“Behold,” Seraphina said, her voice dripping with excitement, “the seal of forbidden magic. A power so great that it could change everything.”“What are you planning?” I asked, my heart racing. I could sense Ru’s agitation, a low growl reverberating through our bond as we moved closer, studying the seal
Ellie.“This must be the doing of the witches,” Tristian said and I nodded.Since witches were known for experimenting with animals and even wolves, I believed it was possible.“Get ready,” Archer commanded, his voice steady and calm. His eyes flickered red, taking in every detail of the surroundings.Suddenly, the creatures appeared—animals twisted into monsters by dark magic. Their glowing eyes and grotesque forms lunged at us from the palace, snarling and snapping.Ru surged forward, and I shifted in an instant, claws tearing into the first beast that came at me. It was a tainted. I ducked as it swiped at me, saliva dripping from its mouth, I struck hard at its side, sending it skidding back. Its howl filled the early morning air, but it wasn’t done yet. It twisted back toward me, fury in its glowing eyes.Archer moved beside me like a protective rock.“Don’t let them surround us!” he shouted, his sword flashing in the sunlight as he cut down another beast, “Stay on the move!” He h
Ellie.The dawn was just breaking, casting a soft golden light over the assembled warriors.They had come from all corners of the kingdom in their large numbers, their expressions set in serious determination.Archer stood at the front, his presence commanding as he addressed them.“We are not waiting for the witches to come to us,” Archer’s voice boomed over the crowd.The warriors stood at attention, their eyes fixed on him.“We’re going to hunt them down. We’re going to seek them out, and we’re going to exterminate every last one of them.”A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd, the tension building in the air. It had been a week since we discovered the serum worked. I’d spent three days on lockdown, recovering after giving so much of my blood for the serum. It hadn’t been easy, but now, after my rest, I felt ready. More than ready. I needed to be out there with them.Beside me, Tristian shifted his weight, his gaze focused on Archer. He hadn’t wanted to leave Gilly’s side,
Ellie.“We found a way to make it work!”Archer and I exchanged a look, a slow smile forming on both of our faces. The tension that had been hovering over us for days seemed to lift just a little.“Show us, then,” Archer said, his voice calm but eager. He slipped his hand into mine as Julie gestured for us to follow her.We walked through the halls of the research center, the walls gleaming white under the fluorescent lights. The scent of chemicals and something distinctly metallic filled the air, making my nose twitch. My mind raced, trying to piece together how they’d done it—how they’d managed to do it.Julie led us into the main lab, where an animal—a sleek, muscular dog—stood next to a warrior wolf. The warrior looked calm, though I couldn’t help the slight edge of concern that rippled through me.“Is it safe to use a warrior for this test?” I asked, squeezing Archer’s hand a little tighter.Julie nodded, her smile not faltering for a second. “Completely safe. We’ve run simulatio
Ellie.In the following days, leading up to a week, I had a routine.Every morning, I’d submit more blood for testing, spend hours in the lab with Julie and the others, searching for a way to make it work, then I’d head over to the training grounds for training with the warriors.And Archer worried more with each passing day. I could see it in the lines forming on his face, the way his hands would linger on my shoulders, as if grounding himself to make sure I was still alive and well, when I returned.Today was no different. I had just returned from training with the other wolves, my muscles sore, when I found Archer in our room, waiting for me. His eyes flicked to the bandage on my arm before locking with mine.“This can’t go on much longer, Ellie,” he said quietly, standing from the chair he’d been sitting in, “If Julie doesn’t come up with something concrete this time, I’m putting an end to it.”I sighed, pulling my hair out of its messy bun and running a hand through it.“Archer,
Ellie.“Ellie, can I talk to you? Alone?” Archer asked, his voice was soft but firm.I nodded, following him out of the research lab. Julie stayed behind with the other seven wolves, their faces a mix of shock and curiosity.The door closed behind us, and the silence that settled between Archer and me felt heavier with each passing step. He wasn’t saying anything, his jaw tight, and I found myself pressing my lips together, wondering what he was thinking.We walked in silence through the halls until we finally reached our room and when the door clicked shut, and I turned to face him, the tension between us lingering like a storm about to break.“Are you angry with me?” I asked, unable to keep the question to myself any longer.Archer shook his head, but his eyes were serious as they met mine. He reached out, taking my hand, his touch soft despite the weight in his gaze.“No, I’m not angry, Ellie. I just… I need to know what your plan is.”I swallowed, my heart racing a little.“I’m wi
Ellie.As Julie and I walked out of the royal hospital, I could feel my heart banging loudly in my chest.But just as we stepped through the entrance, we encountered Jacob, who was making his way inside. He bowed respectfully, a warm smile breaking across his face as he greeted us.“Your Highness, Lady Julie,” he said, his tone a mix of formality and friendliness.“Jacob,” I replied, returning his smile. “How are things?”“Busy, as always,” he said with a slight chuckle. “But I can’t complain because everyone is going through it.”“You’re right,” Julie nodded.“Has there been any progress on your end? about Gilly?” I asked and he shook his head.“She wasn’t poisoned, so there’s no antidote she can be given. She wasn’t cursed, so there’s no ritual we can do to lift the curse. I think we just have to let her regain consciousness herself,” He said and I sighed.“Thank you, Jacob,” I told him and with a nod, Julie and I continued on our way, leaving the hospital behind.But even as we wal