The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Kimmelly knocked on Izzy’s chamber door.Izzy groaned, rolling over. “What?”Kimmelly’s voice was eager, giddy. “You’ll want to hear this.”Izzy’s brow furrowed, but she sat up. “Talk.”The maid leaned in, voice hushed. “Last night, I saw Kieran hugging Elisa.”Izzy’s eyes snapped open, her body going rigid.Kimmelly grinned. “Looked pretty intimate to me.”Izzy swung her legs over the bed, heartbeat quickening. “Are you sure?”“Positive.”Izzy exhaled slowly, her mind already working. A hug wasn’t enough. She needed something bigger, something undeniable.But this was enough to start.Her lips curled into a smile.“I have a plan.”—-The grand hall was packed. Chandeliers cast golden light over the polished floors. The scent of roasted meats and spiced wine filled the air as nobles, warriors, and pack members gathered for the celebration.Elisa stood near the edge of the room, quietly watching. She wasn’t foolish. She knew the hierarchy her
—Back in the grand hall, the air buzzed with excitement. Nobles raised their goblets, warriors exchanged knowing grins, and whispers of a new heir spread like wildfire.Elisa stood in the eye of the storm, her heart still racing. She hadn’t planned to reveal it this way. But Izzy had backed her into a wall, and she’d had two choices: let herself be humiliated or fight back.And now, there was no turning back.Kieran stood beside her, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp. He hadn’t touched her—not yet. But she could feel the weight of his attention, the unspoken we will talk later lingering between them.Hector, Kieran’s father, had yet to speak. He sat at the head of the hall, silent, unreadable. The man was a force in his own right—respected, feared. Elisa knew he’d spent years grooming Kieran to be the perfect Alpha.Now, he was reassessing her.Finally, he spoke. “You should be resting.”It wasn’t an insult, but it was a test.Elisa met his gaze. “I’m not fragile.”A flicker of
“She might have won tonight,” Izzy murmured, pouring herself a glass of wine. “But the real game starts now.”Kimmelly tilted her head. “And what’s the next move?”Izzy’s lips curled.“Damon.”——The ride home was silent, tension thick between them.Kieran had barely let go of her since they left the hall, his hand resting against her thigh, fingers tapping lightly.He was thinking.Strategizing.Elisa knew him well enough to recognize it.The moment they stepped inside his estate, the warmth of the grand foyer welcomed them, but Kieran didn’t stop.He led her through the corridors, past the guards, past the servants, and straight into his private chambers.The heavy door shut behind them.Then—“Take off your dress.”Elisa blinked. “Excuse me?”Kieran’s gaze was unreadable. “I want to see.”A beat of silence.Then she understood.The pregnancy.Without a word, she reached behind her back, unfastening the delicate buttons of her gown. The fabric slid down her shoulders, pooling at her
Hector spoke then, voice calm. “The problem isn’t whether it’s true, Elisa. It’s that the pack believes it might be.”A cold weight settled in her chest.Kieran’s gaze darkened. “Damon is already using this to his advantage. He hasn’t said anything publicly, but that’s the point—his silence makes people wonder.”Elisa clenched her jaw. “He wouldn’t spread something like this. He’s reckless, but he wouldn’t use me like that.”Hector arched his brow. “Are you sure?”Elisa hesitated.No. She wasn’t.Because she had burned that letter.Because she didn’t know what Damon had planned.Kieran studied her closely, then said, “We need to control the narrative before this spirals further.”Elisa nodded, mind already racing. “I can address it. Publicly.”Hector shook his head. “Not yet. If you push too soon, it’ll seem like you’re covering something up.”Kieran sighed. “We need leverage.”And suddenly, an idea struck Elisa so hard she nearly laughed.She turned to Kieran. “You want leverage?”He
“Less I forget.” Elisa said, her expression neutral.“What is that?” Kieran asked.“Strip Izzy off her position.”Kieran’s smirk was still in place as he studied Elisa, but there was something else beneath it—curiosity. A hint of suspicion.“You want me to strip Izzy of her title without telling her?” His voice was measured, but Elisa could hear the challenge beneath it.Elisa met his gaze without hesitation. “Yes. The wedding should happen before she even realizes what’s going on.”Hector let out a low whistle. “Cold.”Elisa ignored him. “If we announce the wedding now, she’ll have time to retaliate. She might try to gather support or cause a scene. But if we move quietly, fast—by the time she even understands what’s happening, it’ll be too late.”Kieran hummed, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair. “You really don’t leave your enemies room to breathe, do you?”Elisa tilted her head. “Should I?”Hector chuckled. “I raised you well.”Kieran’s gaze flickered to him. “I should’v
The shattered cup lay in fragments on the floor, the liquid seeping into the cracks between the stones. Elisa’s gaze didn’t move from the trembling maid.Emilia’s breath came quick and sharp as she turned to Elisa, her eyes wide with alarm.“My lady, she heard everything.” Panic edged her voice as she stared at the young maid standing frozen at the entrance.Liz’s face was pale, her fingers still trembling from the shattered teacup at her feet.Elisa didn’t move.She simply stared at the girl, her expression unreadable.Then, after a long, tense pause, she spoke.“Come here.”Liz hesitated.Emilia grabbed Elisa’s arm, whispering urgently, “She’ll tell someone. We can’t risk—”Elisa didn’t acknowledge her. Her gaze remained locked onto Liz.“Now.”The single word carried enough authority that Liz’s feet moved before she could think twice. She stepped forward, swallowing hard.“What’s your name?” she asked, voice deceptively calm.The girl swallowed hard. “L-Liz.”Elisa nodded slowly, s
The grand doors of Kieran’s mansion swung shut behind them with a deep, echoing thud. The crisp morning air greeted them as they stepped out onto the estate’s marble steps, sunlight glinting off the sleek black car waiting for them.Emilia was the first to exhale, running a hand through her hair. “That was exhausting.”Elisa didn’t respond. Her expression was unreadable, her gaze fixed on the long driveway ahead.Liz, still shaken from the confrontation with Izzy, hovered nervously at Emilia’s side. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”Elisa finally turned to her, arching a brow. “Are you suggesting I should’ve stayed in that office and let her keep playing her little power games over me?”Liz shook her head quickly. “N-No, my lady. I just meant—”“I get your point but you don’t really know, Izzy, she is cunning and would do everything to push me to an edge.” Elisa said.“I hate her guts.” Emilia said.“I have an idea.” Elisa said with a wide smile on her face.“No, I am sure whatever
Liz trailed after them, carefully balancing an absurd number of packages. “I think we bought too much.”“No,” Elisa said, reaching for the first bag. “We bought just enough.”Emilia dropped onto the couch. “That’s what a shopaholic says before they drown in fabric.”Elisa ignored her, ripping off the packaging from a sleek, black designer box. Inside, a pair of dangerously high stilettos gleamed under the soft light. She held them up, examining them with approval.Liz sat cross-legged on the floor, pulling out tissue-wrapped clothes and neatly folding them. “I still don’t understand why you bought a wedding dress.”Elisa smirked. “You’ll understand soon enough.”Emilia shot her a look. “I swear, if this is part of another insane scheme—”“It’s always part of an insane scheme,” Liz muttered under her breath.Elisa arched a brow. “What was that?”Liz quickly looked down, focused on unboxing a silk blouse. “Nothing, my lady.”Emilia snorted. “At least she’s learning.”Elisa unfolded a sl
“She wasn’t always like that,” Leo snapped. “You didn’t see the version of her I did.”“I saw enough,” Zarek said. “And I made the call no one else would.”“You made the call,” Leo repeated, voice quiet now. “You didn’t hesitate. You didn’t even try to talk to me.”“What would I have said?” Zarek’s voice rose now, the calm breaking. “That the woman you loved planned to turn half the supernatural world into slaves and the other half into corpses? That she used you as a weapon and you didn’t even realize it?”“I did realize it,” Leo said, fists clenching. “Too late. But I did.”“And what would you have done?”Leo met his eyes. “I would’ve stopped her myself.”Zarek’s breath hitched for half a second.“I loved her,” Leo continued, his voice cracking. “But I loved you too. And I hated you for making me choose between the two.”“I didn’t give you a choice,” Zarek said.“No, you didn’t.” Leo’s voice was calm now, too calm. “You gave the order, then buried me like I was the one who started a
Micah stepped out of the trees slowly, hands at his sides, not threatening. He looked older now, more tired, but the sharp edge of sarcasm hadn’t dulled in his voice.“I’d say I missed you, but that’d be a lie.” Micah gave a half shrug. “You look like hell, by the way.”Leo let out a dry chuckle. “That’s because I’ve been there.”Micah studied him in silence for a moment. “You don’t look like him anymore. The Leo we knew.”Leo finally looked over his shoulder. “That Leo died in a pit and crawled out a vampire.”“You crawled out something, alright,” Micah said. “But I don’t think it’s too late.”“I do,” Leo said. “I should’ve died down there. Would’ve made things easier for everyone.”“But you didn’t.”“Yeah. I didn’t.” Leo turned, his eyes darker now, but no longer glowing. “And now what? You’re here to convince me to come back to the pack? Ask for forgiveness? Be the brother again?”“I’m not here to convince you of anything,” Micah said simply. “I’m here because I wanted to see for m
KARAThe moment we stepped out of the woods, Leo vanished. One second he was there—forehead still resting against mine, fingers wrapped around mine like he was afraid of letting go—and the next, gone like smoke in moonlight.I stood there for a second, staring into the trees, not sure if I’d imagined it all. But my heart was still racing. My wrist still bore the shape of his grip. And my mind—my mind was full of things I didn’t know how to say out loud.We returned to the packhouse in silence. Delilah flanked me on one side, her expression carved in steel. Aria moved behind us, not saying a word. I could feel their eyes on me, like they were waiting for me to fall apart. I didn’t.Linda was already waiting on the porch, arms crossed, brows pinched with worry. She didn’t ask questions. She just looked at me—and somehow, she already knew.Inside the packhouse, Zarek was pacing the length of the main hall like a caged animal. The moment he saw us, he stopped. His eyes scanned me, then De
KARALeo didn’t flinch. His eyes locked on mine, feral, glowing faintly gold under the moon. But this was not the Leo we knew. Not anymore. Something inside him was wrong—off. He was supposed to be dead. Buried. Gone.And yet, there he stood. Breathing. Smirking.Delilah edged closer beside me, her voice low. “He shouldn’t be alive. We saw him die.”“Then we buried the wrong body,” I whispered.Leo’s gaze shifted. “Touching reunion. Too bad it won’t last.”I stepped forward. “Let go. Zarek loves you. He did everything to save you.”Leo laughed—harsh, broken. “Save me? He killed the one I loved.”“That girl,” I said, voice firm, “wanted to destroy the world.”“You don’t know what love is,” Leo spat.“And you don’t know what she was planning,” I shot back. “She used you, Leo. You were her puppet.”He flinched. Just for a second.“I don’t care,” he said, voice lower now, bitter. “I would’ve burned everything for her.”“And she would’ve let you.”“I chose her.”“No. You followed her. That
“You heard what?” Kieran asked, turning sharply.Izzy’s hand trembled, the silver wine goblet clinking against the table. “Leo is dead.”The words hung heavy in the hall, louder than the music playing in the background, louder than the laughter echoing from the guests.Mark straightened from where he was tying the last of the birthday banners. “Are you sure?”Izzy nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was her. Kara did it.”Kieran’s jaw tensed. “Of course she did.”“But today is—” Izzy glanced around. “Today is Ronan’s birthday. We don’t need this now.”“Doesn’t matter,” Mark muttered. “If Kara killed Leo, she won’t stop there.”“She's coming, isn't she?” Kieran asked, looking toward the window.Izzy’s silence was the only answer he needed.They didn’t invite the Golden Wolf Pack. Kara wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near their borders. But somehow, deep down, Kieran knew she was already on her way.The music played louder now. Guests were arriving, exchanging gifts, and laughi
KARAMy throat burned from screaming his name.Zarek.For a second, everything went still. The cave. The cold. Even Leo.He tilted his head slightly, like he’d heard it too.“Still clinging to hope?” he asked.I spat at his feet. “You should be afraid.”Leo chuckled, slow and cold. “Your mate’s too late. He always is.”The hooded woman dragged me forward, but I yanked my arm back, digging my heels into the stone floor. “I swear, Leo, if you do this—”He stepped forward and pressed two fingers to my lips. “Shh.”I bit him.Hard.His blood hit my tongue like fire. I spit it out and shoved him with both hands. “Touch me again and I’ll kill you.”He looked stunned for a second… then smiled. “That’s more like it.”I turned to run. Anywhere. Anywhere but toward the altar glowing with red sigils and cursed candles.The woman caught me by the hair.Pain shot down my spine as she yanked me back. “You’ll walk, or I’ll break your legs and drag you.”“I’m not afraid of you,” I hissed.“You should
KARA"I told you, you will be my queen,” Leo said without looking back, his voice cold and indifferent. “But don’t expect mercy.”“Leo, I would never—”My voice caught.Everything around me cracked and warped. The blood, the stone floor, Izzy’s lifeless body—all of it shattered like glass.And I jolted upright, heart hammering.My breaths came in sharp gasps, my hands clutching the bedsheet like it was my only lifeline. My skin was damp with sweat, and the room was dark, except for the pale moonlight pouring in through the window. The scent of cedar and pine filled the air, grounding me. I blinked, trying to make sense of where I was.A warm hand slid across my back.“Kara?” came a deep voice, groggy but concerned.I turned my head slowly. Zarek. He was here. His brows were furrowed, eyes still foggy from sleep. But alive. Breathing. Real.“Oh goddess…” I whispered, voice cracking.Before he could speak, I flung myself into his arms. My body trembled as I clung to him, burying my face
KARAI knelt on the cold stone floor, feeling the weight of every breath I took. My body trembled, but it wasn’t from the cold. No, it was something far deeper. A sense of loss, of devastation, surged within me. Zarek was dead. The love of my life, the Lycan King, was gone, and now… I was alone.The wolves outside howled in mourning, their voices echoing through the darkened night. They were lost too, leaderless and broken. The sound shook the very foundation of the packhouse, and I couldn’t breathe through the crushing weight of it all. I couldn’t think.Delilah was dead. My closest friend. My protector. She had died for me, and there was nothing I could do to bring her back. The memory of her frantic attempts to save Zarek, of her rage, of her scream that had shattered my soul, replayed in my mind over and over.And now Leo stood before me, his presence as cold as the grave. He had destroyed everything.“I will take care of her,” Izzy’s voice cut through the silence, sending a chill
KARAI sat in my study, staring at the open book on my desk, but the words blurred together. My hands felt cold, my body oddly light. The exhaustion had been creeping in for days, but today, it was worse.A soft knock came at the door before Linda stepped inside, a small tray in her hands.“You haven’t taken your medicine today,” she said, setting the tray down. Her sharp eyes scanned my face, her brow furrowing. “Kara, why do you look so pale?”I blinked at her, confusion flickering in my mind. “I look pale?”Linda turned to Delilah, who had followed her in. “She looks pale, right?”Delilah crossed her arms, concern etching into her face. “Pale and lean. You don’t look good.”I forced a smile, trying to ease their worry. “Maybe it’s just the pregnancy hormones.”Linda knelt beside me, her fingers pressing against my wrist as she checked my pulse. “Your heartbeat is steady. The baby’s fine.” She looked up at me, eyes narrowing. “Then why aren’t you eating?”I hesitated. I had been eat