LANDONThe dimly lit bar was filled with the soft murmurs of conversations, clinking of glasses and loud music blasting through the speakers. It'd never been my kind of place, but I needed a distraction. Anything to get my mind off her.Rosanne.Staring down at my untouched whiskey in a transparent glass, a soft sigh escaped my lips. I should be anywhere but here. But at least here, I didn’t have to see her sitting between me and Mikhail, looking like she wanted to disappear.I brought the glass to my lips, letting the burn coat my throat. It didn’t help. Never did. "You look like you need a distraction ."I turned to my side, my gaze locking onto the woman who had slid onto the stool beside me. She was a blonde with pale blue eyes and soft curves. She smelled exotic, expensive, like someone who had always used her beauty to get everything she ever wanted. The opposite of her. I smirked, tilting my head, "And you look like someone who enjoys giving them."She leaned in slightly, th
ROSANNE'S POVDreams, they say, are messages from the subconscious mind, while nightmares are said to be warnings from the subconscious. I'd never had a nightmare, not even for a second, that my life would be ruined as soon as I turned twenty-one years old.At twenty-one, I should probably have been enjoying my youthful days in college with my mate, but here I was, standing in front of a dressing mirror, wearing a white wedding gown. The gown clung to my body, accentuating every curve.It was a masterpiece, a work of art designed to make me look like a queen.But I didn't feel like royalty.Who would feel like royalty when they are being sold off to the most powerful Lycan King of all time, not only as a wife but also as a breeder – a machine that produces pups? I felt like a pawn in a game I didn't understand.My mind wandered back to the events that led me to this moment. Axel, my older brother, had been arrested and thrown into prison for a crime I had only just discovered. Th
ROSANNE'S POVI stepped out of the catedral, the bright sunlight making me squint. My wedding gown felt like it was suffocating me, the layers of lace and satin felt heavier than it should. Landon signaled for me to follow him, and I did.We stopped in front of a black limo, with tinted windows. He opened the door, and I slid in, trying to pulling the long dress train. My mother's voice echoed outside, probably giving some sort of advice, but I ignored her, slamming the door shut. Her voice was the last thing i needed to hear.I closed my eyes taking in series of short breaths as I tried to calm my racing heart. But as I turned to sit back, my side gaze caught a glimpse of someone sitting beside me. I sat up straight, alarm ringing in my head. He was dressed in a black suit, his hair fell down like a curtain hiding most of his face. He scrolled through his phone like no one was in the car with him. He finally lifted his face and it turned out to be Xavier, Alpha ki
MIKHAIL’S POV Mate. That word always left a bitter taste in my mouth. While most wolves wished for it once turning eighteen. I never wanted to be tied down. I never wanted a mate. But I needed an heir, therefore, the only option that sounded good to me was a breeder. And so, when Rosanne's name had been brought up for an exchange. I took itIn fact, I'd barely given it a thought. She was a means to an end, nothing more. A pawn in my game of power and legacy. And I would use her as such. Besides she was a beauty and from an alpha family.I strode into my mansion, taking off my suit jacket and tie as I handed them over to my waiting butler. I rolled up the sleeves of my shirt, my eyes narrowing as I dialed Xavier's phone. "How did it go?" I asked, my voice low and even as I climbed up the stairs."It's been more than eight hours, brother," Xavier replied, his tone laced with mockery.I felt a spark of irritation burn within me. "I don't need you to tell me the time,"
ROSANNE'S POVI had not left my room in a week, unable to shake off the feeling of depression that had settled in. Every time I thought about how my dreams had been washed away, a fresh wave of grief hit me.I stood at the window, lost in thought, when a knock at the door brought me out of the daze. I turned to and my gaze met Anita. "I'm sorry to intrude, Miss, but Alpha said it's time to get introduced to the pack."I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, OK, scratch that i was very nervous. I had barely seen anyone since I moved here, and the thought of facing the pack seemed scarier than it should be."I'm not ready," I stuttered, turning back to the window.HAnita's voice was soft yet loud "I'm sorry, Miss, but Alpha said you are to come down or be dragged down."I took a shaky breath, nodding reluctantly. "Awesome, let's go."As Anita led me to the pack house, my heart raced with anticipation. The room was filled with pack members, all foreign faces. I searched for Mikhai
ROSANNE'S POV I was forced awake by the loud banging at my door. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Four men stood in my room, their faces stern."Excuse me, please, what's the matter?" I asked, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, my body's still aching from the fight."King Mikhail has ordered your presence," one of them replied, their tone firm.I was instantly wide awake, my heart racing. "For what?" I asked, tying the belt on my robe.The ginger-haired guard stepped forward, his expression unyielding. "We have been told to take you there with or without your consent."My eyes widened in alarm. "You're joking, right?" I asked, but no one answered. Instead, they closed in on me, three of the held onto my leg while i squirmed trying to get away. One of them cover my face with a damp cloth that smelled weird. I tried my best not to inhale but i lost. The gas did its job and soon i was out cold. ******* A splitting headache greeted me the mo
MIKHAIL'S P.O.VA week had passed since I'd brought Rosanne to my room, and every night since then had been a repeat performance. We barely spoke, our interactions limited to the lustful urges that drove us together.I'd tried to push her away, to maintain some semblance of control, but my self-control had grown thinner with each passing day. Everything about Rosanne drove my wolf mad - her scent, the soft feel of her hair, the way she was perfect for me.I shook my head, chasing away the thoughts that threatened to consume me. "I need to go for a run," I growled, running a hand through my already scattered hair.My gaze drifted back to the laptop screen in front of me, trying to recall what I'd been working on, I had barely spent three minutes when Irene burst in, her face red and her chest heaving."This isn't a place for jogs," I said, not bothering to look up, my tone dismissive. I was already fustrated enough. I could not handle another contact with this pest."Tell me I'm wrong"
ROSANNE'S POVThe last time I saw or heard anything from Mikhail had been over week. The silence was deafening, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. Despite the fact that I hated him for ruining my life, I was getting used to his touch, to the way he felt around me very night.But now, nothing. No summons to his room, no whispered commands, no gentle caresses. It was as if I'd been deleted from his brain.I couldn't help but wonder what I'd done wrong. Had I displeased him somehow? The only silver lining was that Irene had backed off. She no longer taunted me or made stupid comments. We existed in an uneasy truce, each of us minding our own business. Anita walked in, and I responded before she could even speak. "I'm coming down for lunch," I said, laughing, feeling a sense of normalcy wash over me.As we walked downstairs together, I noticed the mansion was filled with unfamiliar workers. I tried to piece together the reason for their presence, but my mind came up bl
LANDONThe dimly lit bar was filled with the soft murmurs of conversations, clinking of glasses and loud music blasting through the speakers. It'd never been my kind of place, but I needed a distraction. Anything to get my mind off her.Rosanne.Staring down at my untouched whiskey in a transparent glass, a soft sigh escaped my lips. I should be anywhere but here. But at least here, I didn’t have to see her sitting between me and Mikhail, looking like she wanted to disappear.I brought the glass to my lips, letting the burn coat my throat. It didn’t help. Never did. "You look like you need a distraction ."I turned to my side, my gaze locking onto the woman who had slid onto the stool beside me. She was a blonde with pale blue eyes and soft curves. She smelled exotic, expensive, like someone who had always used her beauty to get everything she ever wanted. The opposite of her. I smirked, tilting my head, "And you look like someone who enjoys giving them."She leaned in slightly, th
ROSANNE‘I can't understand him anymore. Sometimes he's warm, other times he's utterly cold, it hurts my chest.’I knew he wasn't just doing this to keep me safe. He was toxic. And it was starting to suffocate me. He was too afraid I'd leave, get down with Landon instead, but he was only making it worse. The dining hall was eerily quiet, I literally heard my heartbeat in my own ears. The only sounds were the constant clinking of cutlery and the scraping of chairs against the ground. Sitting right in the middle of Mikhail and Landon made my skin prickle with unease, the urge to bury myself in this seat burning against my chest. Landon hadn't said a word since Mikhail invited him for dinner. I didn't say any either. But Mikhail was composed. Infact, his posture was so relaxed, you'd think we were a peaceful couple having a wonderful dinner—it was far from the truth. I hadn't touched my spoon for the past few minutes, but Mikhail kept placing small pieces of meatball on my plate
LANDONI walked into the war room for a normal meeting with the elders, but Rosanne was there, sitting quietly next to Mikhail. She wasn't staring around, not speaking, she was just there—like a piece of furniture. It was the first time Mikhail brought her to a meeting. What the hell was going on? The warriors and the elders were tense, each of them staring at the porcelain beauty sitting right next to him. It was probably because they were used to Rosanne being locked away, but now, she was here, just sitting. I settled into a leather chair and kept my eyes fixed on Rosanne. I'd tried not to react each time I saw her, but I couldn't control it. Mikhail started the meeting like nothing unusual was going on, but elders kept staring at him, the warriors included. And Rosanne? She began to scan the war room like she was searching for some sort of exit.I'd been away for only a few days and a lot had changed? “Rogues are starting to cross the line.” Mikhail began, his monotone voic
ROSANNEIt'd been a full week and Mikhail's new rule was starting to suffocate me. We slept together each day, but we spent most of the time arguing. He wanted me caged—his own way of keeping me safe—but I wanted freedom. And he didn't just want me safe, he wanted to own me, to make me understand the fact that I belonged to him alone. He wasn't in the room during this peaceful morning, but his scent still lingered in the air. On my skin. Everywhere. I was sure his guards were outside, eagerly waiting for me to try to come up with an excuse to leave again. Mikhail didn't just restrict me from going to the training field, he restricted me from going anywhere. Sitting in this same room for the past week was starting to drive me insane. Pushing the comforter aside, I hurried towards the door. As soon as I pressed down the doorknob, about four strong men filled my vision. The same men that'd been guarding me for the past week. I sank my nails into my flesh and tried to walk outside, bu
MIKHAILHer answer was NOI wiped the small dagger in my hands, eyes fixed on the sharp silver blade. “the truth is—I don't know if I regret it or not.” Her answer still echoed in my ears. It was haunting. I didn't know why the fuck I cared if she regretted being with me or not. It made me uneasy for quite a long time. “If you're going to kill me, it's better you get this over with.” The rouge I'd asked Matthias to take away sneered, his wounded lips dripping with blood. I'd been here for only half an hour, but I took my time to wipe my dagger. “I'll start with a simple question.” I finally stopped cleaning my dagger and faced him. His hair was wet due to the sweat coating his forehead, T-shirt and pants soaked with the liquid that's turned to a darker shade. Blood. “Who sent you here?” “No one.” He spat through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with flames. He wriggled his chained wrists like he could get out the wooden chair, the screeching sound ripping through the air. “No fuck
LANDONI punched a guard's jaw. Hard. Brutal. It made my knuckles bleed, but I didn't care. Pain was a part of me, a tiny whisper lurking behind to drag me back to my present. I'd always been different from Mikhail. He was my little brother. The one who can't hide his demons. The one who badly craves control but doesn't beg for it. He gets whatever he wants. But me? I'd hidden the demons in me all my life. I was the eldest, the wisest, one who thinks before making a strike, but sometimes, I just wanted to be reckless. But I couldn't let my mask slip. I couldn't let the reputation I'd taken so long to build slip and crumble. The guard writhed beneath me, tapping my shoulder to give in, and I released him. Mikhail would keep on with the thrill, enjoy having someone beneath him. He called red his favorite, loved the way it spilled from the victim like a hobby. But I had control. A lot of it. But it was slowly starting to slip. I could feel it. Sense it. But I could still hand
MIKHAILAfter dinner, Rosanne walked into my room. She looked hesitant, like she was walking into a trap, but this wasn't just about her. It was about me. I was slowly breaking my rules for her, allowing her Into my private space. The last time she was here for a reason, but now, she'd be right next to me—and I'd have to do without touching her. “You really promise not to touch me?” She asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she folded her arm over her chest. With her long hair down, she looked like an innocent little puppy I couldn't wait to ruin. She was tempting, and the mere idea of not touching her was like fire in my bones. Was she sure I made the rules myself? Cause I wasn't so sure if I'd keep my promise. Her stabbed arm wasn't visible from her pjamas, but from how pale her face was, I could tell she was still in pain. I leaned against the headboard, crossed my legs and smirked. “Do you think I'd break a promise in just a day?” Lies. Fucking lies from the pit of hell
ROSANNEI walked through the hallway, still irritated from my last encounter with Mikhail. He kept making himself feel sort of important, and the fact that he was really important was upsetting to the core. It was almost time for dinner, but I wasn't even in the mood to eat. Suddenly, a hand covered my mouth, pressing hard against it as I was pulled into a corridor. I tried to struggle, but the asshole was so strong, my efforts were futile. He'd dragged me to a dark corridor, his features completely hidden behind a mask. “Keep quiet and I'll make this painless.” “Who are yo—” my words died in my throat as the man aimed for my stomach. In horror, I dodged his attack and got my arm stabbed instead. He pulled out the dagger viscously and pain exploded my whole body. I whimpered, staggering backwards as I clutched my bleeding arm, but he didn't stop. He stared at the dagger and smirked. “You shouldn't have dodged the first attack.” He took a step forward, and I took one backwards,
MIKHAILFrom a tender age, I'd always enjoyed being alone. Silence was my secret weapon. It calmed me, made me process my thoughts faster—it was literally my medicine. Sitting down in my quiet office was meant to make me calm, relaxed—but my thoughts were too loud, it was almost overwhelming. I'd tried to pretend the while shit didn't get to me, but it fucking did. Lex was restless. I was restless. We both saw the way Rosanne looked at Landon. She never gazed at me that way. He was like the angel with some white wings, dragging himself from heaven to save her, but I was the filthy demon who would gladly manipulate her.For the first time in my whole life, I began to wonder if I was too rough on her—Rosanne. Perhaps that was why she found comfort in Landon, my own brother. The mere thought of them together was enough to drive me insane. I stared down at the file before me and raked my fingers through my hair. Trying to work when my thoughts were occupied with Rosanne is a death