“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
Liz’s lips parted, but no sound came out. She shut her mouth just as quickly.Izzy tapped her cane against the floor—sharp, precise. A warning.“You think silence will save you?” Izzy murmured, her voice dangerously soft. “Loyalty is admirable, but misplaced devotion? That’s just stupidity.”Liz clenched her fists in her lap, refusing to meet Izzy’s piercing gaze.Izzy sighed dramatically, running her fingers along the smooth wood of her cane. “Alright, then. Maybe your family will be more cooperative when they’re stripped of their place in the pack.”Liz’s head snapped up. “You wouldn’t.”Izzy smiled. “I would. And I will. One word from me, and they’ll be out in the cold like the pathetic rogues they are.”A sharp knock interrupted them. The door burst open, and Kimmelly stormed in. “My Lady, we have a problem. Elisa—”Before she could finish, a loud commotion echoed down the halls.Izzy’s eyes darkened. “What now?”Kimmelly barely had time to respond before the doors slammed open ag
Silence fell.Kieran’s fingers tapped once against the table. Kael’s gaze flickered to him, but he remained still.Emilia scoffed. “You’re joking.”“Does it look like I’m joking?” Tobias shot back.The murmurs grew louder.For the first time, Kieran smiled.It was slow, dangerous.“You’re saying that if I remove a corrupt Luna,” he said smoothly, “I should lose my own position?”Tobias didn’t waver. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”Kieran chuckled. “You forget something, Tobias.”Tobias raised an eyebrow.Kieran’s voice was low, calm. “I am not the one who let maids be beaten under my rule.”A few of the elders shifted uncomfortably.Izzy clenched her fists. “You’re twisting—”“Izzy,” Kieran cut in, “did or did you not allow Liz to be harmed?”Izzy’s mouth opened—then closed.She knew better than to outright deny it. There were too many witnesses.But Tobias wasn’t done. “Kieran, the pack does not belong to you alone. You rule because we allow it.”Kael’s muscles tensed slightly at t
The crowd dispersed slowly, murmurs still hanging in the air. Some glanced back at Izzy, their faces filled with unease. Others turned to Kieran, watching, waiting.But no one spoke against it.Because no one spoke against the healer.Izzy lifted her chin, victorious, and just as she passed Elisa, she turned—And stuck out her tongue.Elisa’s entire body went rigid with fury. Her fists clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms so hard she nearly drew blood.Kieran saw it.He saw all of it.His grip on Izzy’s wrist was firm as he pulled her toward the pack house. He didn’t look back. He didn’t slow down.He didn’t have to.The silence between them stretched until he dragged her into his office and slammed the door behind them.Kieran turned on her in an instant.His eyes burned. His jaw was clenched. His hands curled into fists as if he was holding himself back from doing something he might regret.“Tell me the truth, and you must never lie to me, if you lie about being p
“You just have a month, you will get tested in front of the pack members, everyone should see.” Kieran said.Izzy nodded understandingly. “Agreed.” Izzy stormed into the healer’s hut, her face flushed with determination. Elara, the healer, looked up from her work, eyebrows furrowing when she saw the intensity in Izzy’s eyes."I need it," Izzy demanded, her voice firm.Elara's gaze softened, but her concern was evident. "Izzy, you know it's dangerous. What you're asking for could have serious consequences."Izzy paced back and forth, trying to control her anger. “I don’t care. Kieran gave me a month to prove it. A month, Elara! I need to convince him, or he’ll never trust me again. The pack... They’ll all know we lied. And I’m not going to let that happen.”Elara sighed, shaking her head. “You don’t understand. You’re playing with fire. You’re risking your life for a lie.”“I’m not risking my life,” Izzy snapped. “I’m just trying to buy time. That’s all. Now, give me what I need.”Ela
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
KARAAnd we all walked away before Zarek could notice.We reached the mansion, and Liz approached me with a cautious expression.“You have a visitor,” she said.“A visitor?” My voice barely rose above a whisper.Liz nodded.I stepped into the pack hall and settled onto the chair with Linda, Liz, Aria, and Delilah by my side. The moment I looked up, I saw a woman standing at the entrance, dressed in simple robes.A monk.My brows furrowed. “A monk?”The woman stepped forward, her head bowing slightly in respect. “Luna.”I studied her carefully. She was older, her face lined with age and sorrow. Something about her presence unsettled me.“How may I help you?” I asked.She lifted her gaze, eyes filled with something that looked dangerously close to fear. “I came here to tell you a secret, Luna.”A chill ran down my spine. “What secret?”Her voice was steady, but there was an urgency in her tone. “It’s about Izzy, the Lycan King’s sister.”At that, I rose to my feet and took a step closer
KARAThe Lycan King was carried in, his body limp, a pool of blood staining the floor beneath him. His death had shaken everyone in the room to the core, but the show must go on. The celebration continued, albeit with heavy hearts.Zarek stood by the throne, eyes blank, as the pack members murmured amongst themselves. “Zarek,” one of them said, “You should stay. You’re next in line now.”I watched him for a moment, but he didn’t show any sign of grief, only cold determination.“I’ll help,” I said quietly, stepping toward him.He didn’t respond. Instead, he just nodded, his gaze distant.Later, after the body had been bathed and the mansion was in disarray, we all gathered in the main hall for the next phase. The air was thick with anticipation.Linda glanced at Zarek, her voice quiet but curious. “Never knew your father was the king.”Zarek forced a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “This mansion, everything here… it’s all yours now.”No one smiled back. His words felt hollow, and t
KARAIzzy’s voice was raw with rage, her eyes burning with fury as she stood at the gates of the Golden Wolf Pack.Delilah didn’t move, her posture relaxed, almost bored. “And?” she said flatly.Izzy’s hands curled into fists. “Let me in,” she demanded, her voice shaking.“No,” Delilah replied simply.Izzy let out a sharp breath and moved to shove past her—only to be met with a firm grip. Delilah caught her wrist effortlessly, twisting it just enough to make Izzy stumble. And then, without hesitation, she shoved Izzy back.Hard.Izzy hit the ground, her palms scraping against the dirt. Her head snapped up, her expression livid.“How dare you!” she shouted.Delilah smirked. “How dare you come here and make demands?”And then I stepped out.Izzy’s eyes locked onto me, hatred pouring from her gaze like venom. Without thinking, she lunged.I didn’t flinch.Delilah moved first. She caught Izzy’s wrist mid-air before the slap could land, her grip like steel. With one sharp motion, she wrenc
Delilah stepped out of Zarek’s room and walked straight to the balcony, where she saw me.Her eyes, once filled with contempt, held something else now. Something unfamiliar.“I used to hate you,” she said suddenly. “But now, I like you.”Before I could respond, she grabbed my shoulders and gave me a firm shake. Then, just as quickly, she turned on her heel and walked away.Linda spotted her at the gate. “Where are you going?”Delilah didn’t stop. Her voice was calm, yet laced with cold determination. “To kill Kimmelly. Let me start from there.”Linda’s eyes widened. She stepped forward to block her path. “Delilah, wait—”Delilah’s head snapped up. Her brown eyes darkened, glowing like molten gold. “Don’t try to stop me.” Her voice was low, threatening.Linda hesitated.Delilah didn’t.She pulled out her phone and dialed Kimmelly’s number.“I know how to kill Kara,” she said when Kimmelly answered. “Meet me in the woods. Far from the pack. Alone.”A pause. Then Kimmelly’s eager voice.
KARA“You think I forgot? The way you controlled fire back there,” Aria said, stepping into the infirmary where I was checking on the wounded warriors.I smirked but didn’t respond.“So you’ve been hiding it for years,” she continued, crossing her arms.I nodded and then turned my gaze to her, my smirk fading. “Something is wrong with Zarek.” My voice was firm, steady.Aria frowned. “How?”“There’s this pill he always takes. I need to find out what it does.”Aria hesitated, her brows knitting together in thought. “The day Zarek slept in your room, I saw Izzy walk into his office with a bottle of pills. We crossed paths, and she dropped it. I didn’t think much of it then, but now…”My stomach twisted. “What color was the bottle?”“A white bottle,” she said immediately.We both froze. I turned to her, my heart hammering. “Was Zarek’s pill changed?”Neither of us needed to answer that.I spun on my heel and rushed back to Zarek’s quarters, my pulse pounding in my ears. I didn’t barge in—
KARA“You can’t come with me,” Zarek said, his voice final as he turned to leave.My blood simmered. What does he mean I can’t?I stepped forward, grabbing his wrist. “Zarek, watch me.”His golden eyes snapped to mine, irritation flashing across his face. “Kara, don’t be stubborn. This isn’t your fight, it’s my responsibility. I am the Alpha.”I scoffed. “Not my fight? The pack is under attack. My pack. My new home and it’s attacked by your sister and Kieran, anything that involves Kieran,count me in, I can’t wait to destroy him. So please don’t tell me to stay behind like some helpless Luna.”He exhaled sharply, jaw tightening. “You—”The study doors burst open again. Aria and Liz rushed inside, their faces tense.“This is bad,” Aria panted. “The northern border is drenched in blood. Our warriors are falling.”My heart pounded. “Then we need to go now.” I said heading forward but then Liz dragged me back.Liz shook her head. “No, Kara. You can’t go.”I shot her a sharp glare. “And wh
KARAI sat behind the large oak desk, the scent of fresh paper and ink filling my Luna office. My fingers traced the grain of the wood absently as I stared at the documents in front of me, but my mind was elsewhere.The door swung open without a knock.Izzy.She strolled in like she owned the place, her movements smooth, confident. She stopped in front of my desk, her sharp eyes scanning my face.“You actually lost your memories?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.I smiled, keeping my expression neutral. “I’m sorry I had to trouble you like that, sister-in-law. My apologies.”Izzy’s lips twitched upward, but the smile never reached her eyes. Without a word, she placed a small black box in front of me.“A gift,” she said.I hesitated before reaching for it. The moment my fingers brushed the lid, something cold and unsettling crawled up my spine.I opened it.Inside, nestled in dark velvet, was a pendant—a silver wolf encased in a delicate frame.At first glance, it was beautiful. T