AzuraThe pain from Nicholas yanking my hair fuels the fire already raging inside me. His grip tightens, his sneer deepening with satisfaction, but he has no idea what’s coming. I twist my body with a surge of strength, planting my elbow into his ribs. Nicholas lets out a strangled gasp, releasing me as he stumbles back.The instant his hold breaks, my wolf surges forward, and without hesitation, I lash out with a swift, calculated kick to his chest. The force of it sends him crashing back to the floor, gasping for air once again. I stand over him, my chest heaving with fury, ready to finish what I started.But then Aria's mocking voice cuts through the moment. "Stop playing, Azura," she snaps, venom dripping from every word. "You want to fight back? Go ahead!" She challenges, stepping forward, slapping me across the face so hard my head snaps to the side.I taste blood. My lip splits open, but the sting is nothing compared to the fire of rage that floods my veins. Before I can retali
AzuraThe moment the words leave my lips, it feels as though a weight is lifted from my chest, the suffocating bond snapping like brittle glass. Nicholas’s face contorts in pain, and for a brief moment, I almost recall how I would have reacted if I had seen him in pain a few months ago. But then I remember everything he’s done—how he betrayed me, shattered our bond, and chose Aria over me. There’s no going back.He clutches his chest, gasping for air, his eyes wide with desperation. “Azura...” he pleads, but his voice is weak, breaking apart as if he knows it’s over. And it is, but he doesn’t want to accept it yet.I stare down at him, feeling no pity, no remorse. Only a hollow kind of satisfaction that justice is finally being served.“Give me a second chance, Azura. Please, I will become a better person,” Nicholas begs, rising to his feet and holding my hands in his. “Nicholas, I’m right here. How can you betray me?” Aria shrieks, gathering everyone’s attention.Retracting my hands
RykerPain pulls me from the darkness, a dull ache radiating through every bone in my body. I try to move, but the weight of exhaustion holds me down. My vision blurs, shifting between the glow of the healer’s magic and the blurred edges of a familiar face—her.Azura.Through the fog of pain, her scent surrounds me—wild, fierce, untamed, like the storm she embodies. The chaos of the world fades as I focus on her, feeling her hand clutching mine, grounding me in reality."Zuzu..." I manage to whisper, my voice barely a rasp. I don’t even care how weak I sound. Knowing she’s here—that she’s safe—it's the only thing keeping me from succumbing to the pain. I’m stunned to feel this much pain because my wolf should have healed me, but I’m pretty sure now that there are some dark powers involved, which means a witch has been on Nicholas’s side. She presses her forehead against mine, her touch warm and familiar. I can feel her heartbeat, rapid and strong, as if it’s trying to push away the f
RykerThe ache in my body is a constant reminder of just how weak I am right now. Every muscle screams in protest when I even think about moving, but I don’t mind the pain. Not when Azura is here, tending to me with a tenderness I’ve never seen in her before. Her strong, fierce hands, usually capable of bringing down anyone who dares to cross her, now move carefully over my wounds, dabbing away the remnants of blood and sweat. I love it when she feeds me with her hands and is always closer to me. I try to fight the weakness, to push through the fog clouding my mind, but my body refuses to cooperate. I can barely lift my head, let alone move on my own. My wolf should have healed me by now, but whatever dark magic Nicholas’s witch used has left me vulnerable. I hate feeling like this—useless, weak. But I hate even more seeing the worry etched on Azura’s face as she cares for me. I feel pathetic.“Stop fidgeting,” she mutters, her eyes focused on the task at hand. “You’re not going to s
AzuraThe moment my father leaves, the room feels suffocating. The silence between us, heavy and thick, weighs on my chest like a stone. I don’t know what to say, and Ryker’s cold words replay in my mind like a broken record."I will talk to your father and clear all the misunderstandings."Misunderstandings? There’s no misunderstanding here. I’ve always known the Alpha King would pull something like this, forcing me into an engagement I never agreed to since the moment I had seen him appreciate Ryker a little too much and express his desire to marry his daughter to him if he had one, but I hadn’t expected him to announce it this soon when Ryker is still in recovery. How can he be so selfish and eager to marry me off to Ryker? Shouldn’t he give me time to sink in everything that has happened?And now Ryker... he’s acting like none of this matters to him. But it does matter. It has to. I can’t be the only one who feels this... this thing between us, right? How can he be so indifferent a
RykerThe door clicks shut behind her, and I feel the air rush out of my lungs as if I’ve been holding my breath for far too long. Azura’s footsteps fade down the hall, leaving me in a silence so thick that it feels suffocating. I close my eyes and lean back, my body aching, not just from the physical wounds but from the weight of everything else—everything I can’t say, can’t let myself feel.I knew this was coming. I’ve always known the Alpha King would want us to be together, but hearing him announce our engagement so soon—no, forcing it indirectly—was like a punch to the gut. It’s not that I don’t want to be with Azura. Hell, a part of me can’t imagine anything else. But I can’t drag her into this. Not when I’ve already failed to protect her the way I promised myself I would.And now... the way she looked at me just now, like she was expecting me to fight for her. To want her in a way I’ve been too much of a coward to admit. The disappointment in her eyes cut deeper than any wound
AzuraI storm down the hallway, the sound of my footsteps echoing off the stone walls, louder than I intend, but I don’t care. My heart pounds, each beat a reminder of the tangled mess I’m caught in. Ryker’s silence—his cold, indifferent silence—cuts deeper than anything my father could have thrown at me. He had a chance to say something, to explain, to fight for us, for me. But instead, he looked at me like a statue, as if none of this mattered. As if I didn’t matter.I expected him to fight. I expected him to show me that this engagement wasn’t just another political scheme orchestrated by my father. But no—he let me walk away without a word, as if he didn’t care at all.The memory of his face, the way he refused to meet my eyes when my father announced our engagement, replays in my mind like a cruel, broken record. His hesitation... it stings worse than I thought it would. It’s the kind of pain that twists in your chest, a sharp knife that doesn’t relent.Why won’t he fight for me?
Azura“Love, what are you doing here?” A tall man, with striking green eyes and sharp features, asks her coldly. He appears to be in his early twenties, carrying an air of authority.Love rolls her eyes dramatically, her lips forming a perfect pout. “Oh, please! Don’t start acting like you’re my Dad.” Her sassy tone nearly makes me giggle, but I manage to suppress it just in time. She turns toward me, her expression softening. “She’s new to the pack and doesn’t have any friends yet. But since I’ve decided to be her friend, I can’t let her sit here crying. So, just leave, brother. You’re scaring her.” Love gestures toward the garden gate with a firm finger, standing protectively in front of me.Though grateful for the interruption because I don’t want to reveal my true identity to her, I smile and shake my head. “I’m not scared of him, Love,” I say with a smile that’s broader than I feel, wanting to show strength.Love sighs as though exhausted by the conversation. “My brother’s a sill
AzuraOne Week Later...The Blue Moon hangs like a glowing beacon in the night sky, casting its luminous glow over the packhouse grounds. Tonight is not just any night—it’s the rarest of nights when magic courses through the air, weaving a mystical tapestry between all who gather under its light. It’s as if fate itself has written this moment, for not only is it my wedding night but also the Blue Moon, a time when the most powerful bonds can be revealed. I pray to the Moon Goddess to give me Ryker as my fated mate, but even if she is up to some game and gives me someone else as my second chance mate, I’m determined to reject him in the blink of an eye. I stand in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman reflected there. My wedding gown, a masterpiece of silk and lace, hugs my body like a dream. The bodice is adorned with intricate silver embroidery, weaving the shapes of moons and wolves, while the long, flowing skirt spills around me like water, glistening with the light f
AzuraThe smell of sizzling eggs and freshly brewed coffee fills the air as I step into the dining room, the warmth of the early morning sun streaming through the windows. My heart still feels like it’s floating somewhere above my head, ever since last night. The proposal. Ryker. My soon-to-be husband.I smile to myself as I sit at the breakfast table, but the moment I do, I notice something strange—everyone’s looking at me. Elysia’s grinning, Dante’s trying to hold back a smirk, and even Rosie is practically buzzing with excitement.“What?” I ask cautiously, narrowing my eyes at them.Elysia leans over the table, wiggling her eyebrows. “Oh, nothing. Just that your fiancé—" she drags out the word with extra emphasis, “—decided to make a very public proposal last night.”“Very public,” Dante echoes, unable to hide his grin. “I mean, the whole pack was watching.”“And now,” Rosie chimes in, her eyes sparkling mischievously, “it’s going viral. The Alpha’s proposal is the talk of the town
Ryker“Nothing’s wrong,” I assure her, my lips curving into a smile. “In fact, everything feels right. More right than it’s ever been.”Her eyes soften, and I can see the question forming on her lips, but I don’t give her a chance to ask. Instead, I stand up, pushing my chair back as I get down on one knee.The gasps around us are immediate. The pack members who have been subtly watching our every move are now openly staring, their eyes wide with shock and curiosity as a few of them start recording it on their phones. But none of that matters anymore. The only thing that matters is the woman in front of me.Azura’s hands fly to her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. “Ryker, what are you—”“Azura,” I interrupt softly, pulling the ring from my pocket and holding it up for her to see. “From the moment I met you, I knew you were the one for me. Strong, fierce, and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen—everything I’ve ever wanted in my wife. You’ve challenged me, pushed me, and made m
RykerThe moment she steps out of the bathroom, wearing my shirt and looking both regal and relaxed, my breath catches in my throat. Azura—the one person who can shatter me with a glance and, at the same time, make me feel invincible—is here, wrapped up in my scent, my world, and for the first time in what feels like forever, everything seems right.Her hair cascades down her back, damp from the shower, catching the light in a way that makes her look ethereal, like some kind of warrior goddess who has walked straight out of legend. And yet, there is this softness to her that draws me in. The way her lips curve into a soft smile when she catches me staring, the subtle blush on her cheeks... damn, I’m a goner.I can’t help but shake my head as a light blush creeps onto my cheeks as I recall the moment she came to me, begging me to fuck her and make her forget everything else that’s been running through her mind. She is silly but cute and yet demanding; I absolutely love that about her.
AzuraA sliver of sunlight peeks through the curtains, dancing across my eyelids. I stir, blinking as the warmth wraps around me like a soft blanket. My muscles are sore, my body deliciously tired, but it’s the weight of the arms around me that brings a smile to my lips before I even open my eyes.RykerThe heat of him against my back is grounding, his heartbeat steady and strong, a rhythmic reminder of the night before. Memories flood back, each one sending a shiver down my spine. His touch, his words, the way he made me forget everything but him.I turn my head slightly, catching a glimpse of him still fast asleep. His dark hair falls messily across his forehead, his jaw relaxed, and his arm is draped possessively over my waist. Even in sleep, he doesn’t let me go.He looks so gorgeous even in sleep; his long eyelashes, sharp jawline, square face, and full lips make him look like a Greek god. I give him a small pack on his lips, nose, and forehead. A flutter of emotion tightens my
Ryker “Put me down, Ryker!” She snaps, her voice laced with fury, but I’m already halfway up the stairs, my steps heavy with intent. I don’t stop until I reach my bedroom door, and with one swift kick, I push it open. The sound echoes in the quiet hallway as I stride in, locking the door behind me.I toss her onto the bed, her body bouncing slightly against the mattress, but she quickly scrambles to her feet and tries to run away. Before she can make another move, I’m in front of her, pinning her against the wall, trapping her between my body and the cold surface behind her. Her breath hitches, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and something else—something that matches the heat blazing in my chest.“You want to know what I want, Azura?” I growl, my voice low as I lean in closer, my lips inches from hers. “I want you to stop pushing me away. I want you to stop acting like you don’t feel this, too.”Her breathing quickens, and for a split second, I see a flicker of uncertainty in her e
Ryker“You wanted to dance, right? Let’s go and dance,” I growl, holding her hand firmly when she tries to walk away.Azura stops in her tracks, her back stiffening at my words. She turns to look at me, her eyes blazing with anger, but I can feel the tension in her hand as I grip it tightly. She’s furious, and to be honest, so am I.How could she let another man touch her? Dance with him, no less, while I’m standing here, watching her? Did she think I’d just let it slide? Not a chance.But instead, she pulls away from me with a sharp yank, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Don’t play with me, Ryker. Go back to your bitch. I’m sure she’s waiting for you on the dance floor."My jaw clenches at her words. "Azura, I wasn’t dancing with her because I wanted to. The Elders—"She scoffs, cutting me off. "Are you going to give me excuses now? And do you expect me to believe you?" She crosses her arms, her stance challenging me, daring me to give her a weak excuse.I grit my teeth, trying
AzuraI can’t help but feel a pang of guilt gnawing at me as I sit quietly, picking at my food. Ryker’s question echoes in my mind. Did you not like the dress I bought for you? How could I have missed that? A part of me feels bad for not going to his room and checking out the dress earlier. He looked so hurt, but he was quick to mask it over with a smile when he got to know that I hadn’t seen it.I glance at him across the room as he chats with some of the warriors; he is looking so hot in that suit. Of course, the women would throw themselves at him. I scan the venue and find the girls staring at him with lovesick eyes. Sighing, I grab my glass of red wine that Xander had brought for me, only to spill it onto my dress accidentally. “Oh no!” I mutter under my breath, blotting at the grease stain with a napkin. Of all the times to be clumsy. As I try to clean it with the tissue, the stain doesn’t go away; it spreads on my dress. My wolf smirks at me; you did it intentionally. I sho
RykerThe chaos erupts when Elysia’s parents storm in. It feels like a crack of thunder, sharp and jarring. My body stiffens, my wolf on edge, ready to act. Elysia’s mother looks livid, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line while her father strides toward Dante with a fury that promises trouble."How dare you abduct my daughter?" Her father’s booming voice slices through the peaceful atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention. His eyes blaze with a mixture of anger and disbelief as he takes in the sight of his daughter in a wedding dress, standing next to Dante, who looks caught between panic and determination. I immediately step forward, my protective instincts kicking in, but before I can speak, Andrew and my grandfather appear out of nowhere, moving to intercept Elysia’s parents. Their presence is a calming force, and I see both of them exchange a quick glance before addressing the royal witches.“Wait,” Andrew begins, his voice calm but firm, as he raises his hands to sto