DianaAfter successfully obtaining Theodore's hair, I went to the lab to get the testing done. But now I worried about what the technicians would think, and I had to navigate the delicate process of getting it tested without arousing suspicion.Being the supposed queen of the pack put me in the public eye. Gossip could spread like wildfire, and I needed to ensure this matter remained under wraps.I pushed open the door and slipped inside. The receptionist looked up as I entered and had a curious expression on her face. She recognized me and leaped off her chair.“My Queen,” she bowed.I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to reveal. "I need to get some testing done.” The head scientist, a man in his fifties with sharp eyes and a calm spirit greeted me. He didn’t strike me as someone who would spread rumors, but the people working under him might not be as silent."This is strictly confidential," I said, looking him straight in the eye when he led me to his office. "Can I trust
Asher My guest, Marcus, whom I wasn't particularly fond of but saw as someone I could see an advantage in allying with, had arrived.When he arrived, I had many back-to-back meetings and had to introduce him to Eddie earlier. Now, I joined them as Marcus bowed respectfully.“My pack sends their greetings,” he said, offering several boxes of gifts.“That wasn’t necessary,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. Internally, I wondered why I would need gifts from someone here to borrow money.“The queen has prepared us a sumptuous dinner; let’s join her,” I said, leading him to the dining room.The table was set, with the cooks and maids waiting to serve, but I noticed Lila’s absence.“Send for the queen,” I said, washing my hands. One of the maids bowed respectfully and left to fulfill my order.She returned moments later, bowing apologetically. “My king, the queen seems to be under the weather. She’s resting in her room, covered in a blanket, and has requested broth to be delivered t
Diana Arching my hips, I met Asher thrust for thrust and moved under him, moaning as he filled me.When the climax came, it came for us both. Our bodies fused in one shared hot, sticky release, and I shuddered, blasted by bombs of pleasure. Utterly spent, Asher’s chest rose and fell with each deep, relaxed breath. I smiled warmly as I watched him, this beautiful man who had become my entire world. My eyes were drawn to the trail of tiny hairs running from the base of his neck to his navel. Gently, I reached out and let my fingers brush against them, feeling their delicate texture.I began to rub his chest in slow, soothing circles, feeling the heat of his skin beneath my touch. The moment felt intimate and peaceful, but my mind couldn’t entirely escape the storm of thoughts brewing inside me.That menace Marcus was still here, somewhere in the house, and the thought sank my heart. I knew Asher loved me deeply and would do anything I asked, but how could I tell him to dismiss Marcus
DianaIn the past two weeks, I enjoyed an unusual period of calmness. It felt like a strange kind of sanity had finally returned to my life.I rested from the constant tension of looking over my shoulder. For once, I didn’t have to worry about Marcus lurking in the shadows or Eddie scheming to bring me down. Fear, I realized, had a way of eating away at your mind like cancer. Every move around the house felt weighted with the possibility of bumping into Marcus, and the mental toll was suffocating.During those dark days, anytime someone entered the house unexpectedly, I would stay upstairs and peek from the safety of the second floor until I was sure of the visitor. My nerves had been so tightly wound that I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to breathe freely. But now, with Marcus confirmed to be gone, the fear in my chest eased just a little.Of course, the lies and secrets still lingered. They were ticking time bombs, and I knew that Asher’s pain and rage would be unavoidable w
MarcusI struggled to wrap my head around the possibility that two people could look identical.The image of the Lycan Queen haunted my thoughts, making it impossible to think clearly. Whenever I pictured her face, I knew deep down that it was Diana. No one could convince me otherwise. Diana and I had been married for years. She had been my Luna; no one knew her better than I did. Her face, eyes, lips—everything was the same.Well, almost everything. The way the Queen smiled seemed different. It had a breeziness that Diana never used to show. But even if there were slight differences, her refusal to come downstairs and meet her guests during my visit to the King’s territory screamed that something was wrong. I could smell the secrecy. Still, the big question remained: how could my ex-wife Diana be the Queen?Before I left the King's estate, I discovered that the King had twin six-year-old boys. That fact alone caused endless confusion because Diana and I divorced only a few months
DianaEddie was in the house. I could smell his stench of trouble from a mile away, and I couldn’t wait for all of this to be over so I wouldn’t have to see his wicked face again. I had already told the maid to inform him I wasn’t home. Asher wasn’t around either, but I could hear Eddie yelling at the maid downstairs, demanding to be allowed upstairs. His voice grew louder, and I heard the unmistakable threat in his tone.I had stayed in Asher’s room since spending the night there, but when I realized Eddie was about to escalate things, maybe even hit the poor maid, I couldn’t stand by any longer. I tightened my robe, steeling myself, and walked to the bannister.“What do you want, Eddie?” I called from upstairs, my voice firm.He looked up, his angry scowl melting into a taunting smirk. “My queen,” he said mockingly, “since when did you start lying about not being home? I came to deliver a message.”I crossed my arms, staring down at him. “Well, I told the maid I didn’t want to see a
DianaI couldn’t stop pacing around the room. My mind raced nerves and anxiety that refused to let me sit still. The end was coming; I could feel it in every fiber of my being.Asher was starting to piece things together, and his suspicions grew by the day. I needed to act quickly, to gather more forces to my side before it was too late. Eddie was relentless, determined to see this through, and I knew he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.This wasn’t just some petty feud against me anymore; it had spiraled into something far bigger. He wanted to take the kingdom from Asher, and his ambition was a fire that burned brighter with every passing moment. This power play could destroy everything.What terrified me the most was the possibility that Eddie might have figured out about Marcus. The mere thought sent chills down my spine. How did he find out? Who told him?Maybe Marcus had seen the pictures of Lila scattered throughout the castle. Perhaps those images had stirred somet
Diana After talking to Marcus, I decided to give myself some rest. There wasn’t much I could do other than wait. He had assured me he would be at the hotel. In the afternoon, I decided to call the boys to distract myself from my wandering thoughts. They were staying with Vera, and because seeing their faces always brought me comfort, I FaceTimed them, hoping for a bit of lightheartedness.“Mom, look!” Jaden exclaimed excitedly, holding up a box of homemade pizza. “It’s so good! I can’t get enough of it. I’m sure I’m going to turn into pizza and smell like it all day!”I couldn’t help but laugh. “You better eat in moderation, young man! Save the rest for later—and don’t forget to save some for Mommy too!”Jaden grinned mischievously, then handed the phone to Josh, who was sitting beside Diana. To my surprise, Diana was playing with him. Josh’s face lit up, and it was clear how much he enjoyed her attention.“Oh, Vera, I can’t thank you enough,” I said, my heart feeling lighter. “At l
Diana Asher and I watched Lila storm off in a rage to the other wing of the house. I sighed and turned to face Asher. He pulled me closer to himself, and I sniffed his breath."Have you been drinking?"He shrugged. Our eyes locked, and I wondered why he was so calm about everything. I knew it was his way of handling situations, but after seeing the state of things outside, it was hard to believe he wasn't affected. I trusted Asher, knowing that he understood the weight of this crisis. I just wanted it all to be over."Are you okay?" he asked, rubbing my belly before pressing a kiss to my neck, right where he had marked me. A shiver ran through me, but pleasure was the last thing on my mind when everything around us was falling apart."Are you okay?" I asked him back, watching his face carefully. He smiled, took my hand, and led me to the balcony."I'm on house arrest," he said, as if it was some kind of joke."It's not funny," I muttered, pulling away slightly when he tried to hold m
Asher Darkness clung to me like a living thing, wrapping around my chest like an iron vice. My heart burned with hatred at the injustice of it all.Some of these foolish packmates—people I had protected and fought for—were now standing in the streets, cheering for the coup. They had claimed to be dissatisfied with my government, even though it had been the most peaceful reign in over a century.Eddie and his vagabond uncle had introduced crime, lawlessness, and corruption. They had brought gangs into the kingdom, allowing them to run wild, unchecked, turning my lands into their personal playground of chaos.And yet—the people cheered for them.The same people who had benefited from my leadership. The ones who had walked my streets in peace. The ones whose children had been safe under my rule.It made me sick.I mobilized military units, armed vehicles, and trusted men, making sure every key location was secured. But the opposition was growing. They had spent years planting their seed
Diana Vera drove in silence. She wasn’t the type to shy away from speaking her mind, but I could tell she felt guilty about what she had said earlier. Maybe she thought she had been too harsh and direct in telling me that I was a source of danger to her family. But in retrospect, there was nothing wrong with what she had said—she was right.I was about to become a mother. I loved Jaden and Josh as if they were my own, and the last thing I would ever want was to put them in harm’s way. I knew that the moment Eddie set his sights on me, he would kill me without a second thought.“Getting worked up over what you said is funny, you know,” I said lightly, smiling as I turned to look at her. The car bounced slightly as we navigated the dirt road, heading toward the highway.Vera exhaled a sigh, her eyes locked on the road ahead. “You don’t deserve this. To think you’re even pregnant… What if you hadn’t gotten through to anyone? You could have lost the baby. I don’t like that you’re all alo
DianaI paced around the house, bored and restless. I had cleaned the kitchen and rearranged the cushions on the couch, but none of it filled the emptiness that lingered inside me. The house felt like a beautiful cage.My fingers trailed along the edge of the windowsill at the front window, and I gazed out, hoping for some distraction. All I could see was the tall iron gate standing like a wall between me and the world outside. I sighed deeply, my breath fogging up the glass. I just wished Asher could come today. I missed him more than I could put into words. I missed the boys as well. Thinking about them gave me a bittersweet sensation.I wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge door and staring at the shelves. Then I grabbed a glass of water to drink. The house felt too quiet. I wondered what was happening at the castle right now. Were the elders rallying behind Asher? Were there whispers in the halls about the coup and the traitors? I closed my eyes, picturing it all. Asher wo
Asher I stepped into the house feeling several pounds lighter, which was the effect of being with Diana. She had such a beautiful name, and even though Lila’s name was beautiful as well, perhaps it was their personalities that made Diana’s more radiant. In a good mood, I whistled quietly and ascended the stairs. The house was quiet, and I thought the kids were asleep until I heard the unmistakable sound of sobbing. My good mood evaporated instantly, and I quickened my pace toward the children’s corner.The nanny was trying to comfort Josh, who was clutching his stuffed toy with tears streaming down his face. When Josh spotted me, he ran to me, and I scooped him up. He buried his face in my chest, his sobs intensifying.“What’s wrong, son? Why are you crying?”His cries were muffled against my chest, leaving me to turn my gaze toward the nanny.“What happened?” I asked her.She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. “The queen scolded him, Your Majesty.”“Scolded him? Why?”She shif
The metallic scrape of keys turning in my cell door revealed the female guard. She stepped inside without a word and pulled out a dark, hooded cloak, handing it to me. Her face remained indifferent."Turn around," she ordered.I obeyed and faced the wall as she helped me put on the cloak. She gave me gloves and ensured I was properly disguised."Follow my lead," she instructed, guiding me out of the cell.The dungeon was quiet, as most of its occupants were asleep. When we reached the exit, the guard signaled to someone outside. I heard the sound of a van’s engine idling, and soon the van door slid open. The female guard held me steady as I stepped up into the vehicle. My heart folded in my chest, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. The cloak draped over my shoulders felt suffocating, trapping the heat of my anxiety against my skin.I couldn’t trust anyone. Eddie had his followers everywhere. The guard driving must have noticed how I trembled because he assured me,"We’re on the k
Diana My heart pounded in my chest. I had seen Asher standing before me. I didn't even need to see who it was to feel the pull of the bond. My breathing grew shallow, and I rushed to my feet.He stood outside the cell for about a minute, watching me. His presence filled the space, and yet I couldn’t read his expression. His tall frame loomed in the light, his gaze locked onto mine. He was too composed—and that frightened me even more.When the gate swung open, he stepped inside.I couldn't move. My trembling hands fell to my sides as I waited for him to speak, to act, to do something. But he remained silent.I knew that, as a king, Asher would want to please his packmates and do the right thing by getting rid of me. I had been branded an enemy, and the laws were clear—traitors were not spared. But there was something else, something deeper in his stance, in the way he hesitated, in the way his eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn’t quite place.Was he battling with himself?Slowl
Asher I paced my bedroom, allowing my thoughts consume me. The tension in the back of my neck was a dull ache, and my hands occasionally brushed over it, lingering on the spot where Diana had marked me. It was crazy how I had to adjust to her name. I paused by the large window overlooking the courtyard, staring into the expanse outside.Ever since I threw her into the dungeon, I couldn't stop thinking about her. She was pregnant. My fingers curled into fists as I leaned against the windowsill. She was pregnant, but then, was it really my child?This question cut through me, and the doubt felt like a betrayal—to myself and the bond we shared as fated mates. The truth should have been enough to silence the whispers of suspicion in my mind.That child was mine. If Lila, who didn't love me, could have my babies, how much more my fated mate?I crossed the room to a side table where a decanter of whiskey and a glass sat. I poured myself a generous amount and downed it in one gulp.The burn
DianaThey shoved me into a musty dungeon, and I stumbled forward as the heavy iron door slammed shut behind me. My wrists, raw and sore from the guards' grip, throbbed as I struggled to regain my balance.My chest tightened, and my breaths came in sharp gasps as I tried to adjust to the darkness surrounding me. The air reeked of decay and rusted metal, thick and almost choking. I scanned the space desperately, taking in the bars that caged me and the narrow window high on the wall that offered only a faint reminder of the outside world.In the silence, faint sounds reached my ears—a low murmur, a harsh cough from another cell. These were the sounds of the condemned, and now I was one of them.My legs gave way, and I sank to the cold ground, pressing my back against the wall as fear clawed at me. My mind raced, but I forced myself to focus on Asher. He had a plan. He alw