GINA'S POV My eyes burned with rage, but I tried my best to keep it at bay. I glanced at the exquisite colours of the wallpaper that covered the walls and inhaled the fresh scent of roses and strawberry mist that filled the air.The elegance of her room's decor stood in stark contrast to the chaos and messiness of my own life at the moment.My mother stood near the large closet, her back against it. Absent-mindedly, her thin fingers ran through her dark, curly mane that was tucked behind one ear while the other fell over one side of her slim face.I was pacing the room, shifting my gaze from one corner to another, struggling to still contain my anger. I understood my father had a plan, but this? I definitely wasn't expecting it to be so dangerous.“Why did Father have to do that?” I demanded on the verge of tears. “I almost lost Van!”My mother clicked her tongue and scowled. “You don't love him, so why do you even care about him at all?”“I don't care about him personally, but he’s
GINA'S POVI could feel the tension in my blood reaching a boiling point before I even stepped outside the mansion, leaving Van behind as he watched me limp my way out.I needed space to think clearly and act without my mother or Van's questioning eyes on me.I took a deep breath as I passed the garden. The night's cool breeze tingled on my skin, and thoughts of the bastard waiting outside caused my hair to stand on end.I was trying to shake off the dizziness from the fall and remain as calm as possible, still limping as I went. My mind raced with thoughts of the person waiting outside and the implications of what they could mean for me.I glanced back at the garden and saw that everyone was still there except for my mother and Van. Before I left him in the mansion, I could sense his curiosity and concern but had no time to address them then or now. Though, I would never dare to address them.I looked back to make sure I wasn't seen or being followed by anyone. Thankfully, I manage
NARAH'S POVI watched Gina limp past the garden, her usual grace and poise compromised, but I didn't understand why. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern, despite our complicated history.I was talking with Hanadin and Rachael, before I decided to go after her. As I approached the gate, I noticed Kacy and Sharon were lingering nearby, their whispers and giggles carrying on the wind.“Hey, Narah!” Kacy called out, her voice husky and laced with an unspoken invitation. “Join us!”I hesitated for a moment, my eyes locked on Gina's disappearing figure.“What makes an elephant look like a fat whale on land?” Sharon asked, suppressing her laughter.What? That single handedly topped my list for the most ridiculous question I've ever heard in my life. And mind you, I've heard a lot of ridiculous questions.“That doesn't make sense at all,” I said, observing both of them as they burst out laughing and had failed attempts at hugging each other.But my attention was soon diverted by Gina
ALPHA VAN'S POV Moisture glistened softly in the corners of my eyes as I jolted awake, my heart pounding from an awful nightmare. Anakiyus's wolf tearing into Bryan's flesh, devouring his heart, and like a Kitsune, consuming his liver as well. The images were grotesque and vivid, and they left me gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from my body as I frantically yanked my cell phone from the drawer by the bedside. My hands were trembling, and I could barely dial the hospital number. I was finally able to dial the hospital line where Bryan was admitted. I had seen him the previous day; he was alright, but I insisted he stay so the doctors made sure he was completely fine before releasing him. “Hello, Doctor June,” I managed to say, my voice shaking. When Doctor June answered, her calm voice did nothing to ease my panic. “Alpha Killian, I was just about to call you,” she said. Without wasting a second, I blurted out, “Is Bryan alright? Did something happen to him?” “Yes… he—” Her vo
ALPHA VAN'S POVDoctor June’s worried expression made my heart race even faster. “What is it, Doctor? Is Bryan’s condition worsening?” I asked, my voice tied with concern.“It’s not about Bryan’s condition, Alpha Killian,” she said, her voice low and serious. “It’s about the attack on him. We’ve found something... unusual.”My mind raced with possibilities. “What do you mean?”Doctor June hesitated before speaking. “When Bryan was rushed in here, there was a wound in his chest,”“Yes, I remember.”“Well, it’s not just a physical injury, Alpha Killian. The wound has some sort of dark magic in it.”My heart sank. “Dark magic? What do you mean?”“Bryan’s condition was better, but then, he got worse. I had to call in the famous Doctor Rowan. I explained the situation, and he agreed to come see Bryan. That's when he confirmed that an enchantment had been used in the attack.”What else was I expecting when dealing with a witch? A sudden fear of losing Bryan engulfed me once more. “I need y
NARAH'S POV The morning sun cast its yellow glow upon the estate's exquisite surroundings, creating a small rainbow over the fountain that stood majestically in front of the mansion.As usual, I was already awake, along with the other maids, getting ready for our morning routine. After cleaning Gina's bathroom and fixing her bath water, I made my way downstairs to join Abigail in cleaning the living room.The sweet aroma of freshly baked croissants, smoked salmon, and cream cheese bagels swoon around like a spell, drifting up my nose and causing me to salivate.The chief cook, Mrs Flora, was indeed good.“Can you get me a new rag from the store?” Abigail asked, cleaning the table.“Sure, I can,” I replied. I left the living room and entered the kitchen.Its spacious layout had multiple work areas. The beautiful rectangular island, made of glass and seated in the middle, also served as a fish tank. It's usually where the chefs sometimes prepare for the meals, and we use it as our casu
GINA'S POV“What are you doing here?” I asked softly, feeling the alcohol, doused in a little bit of wolfsbane, course through my veins. F**k! What was he doing in my room at this hour? I wondered “He's here for us,” My wolf Ria stated, smiling sheepishly at the man she loved. I staggered and gently settled into the plush grey couch beside the bed, cradling the glass of amber liquid in my hands and staring at him as he slowly walked up to me, a soft growl building in his chest.The soft glow of the fireplace danced jubilantly, casting a fine, warm ambiance across the room, while the flames flickered on the walls and ceiling.I took a sip of my drink, feeling the alcohol and wolfsbane mix take full effect. The tension in my head increased, and decreased simultaneously. As it fluctuated, my mind began to unwind.Ria stirred within me as he leaned close and nuzzled my ear.“What—what are you doing?” I mumbled, a pang of heat riveting within my thighs and a sense of desire within my he
NARAH'S POVI walked briskly down the hallway, my mind in a tumultuous whirl. The sight of Gina and Van together earlier was etched into my mind, replaying like a cruel, unending loop. The intimacy between them was undeniable, and while I understood their bond, it left me feeling an aching sense of isolation.I tried to shake off the feeling of sadness and focus on my tasks at hand. It rested at the back of my mind that if I didn't get them done on time, I'd get a scolding from Luna Tauriel and Gina.Why did I even care about Alpha Van and Gina? I wondered. My role was to ensure that I served her and her home, even if it meant dealing with my personal sorrows silently.The sight of the broken glass in her room had been an unwelcome reminder of the boundary I had crossed by witnessing Alpha Van going into her room last night. I had been a fool for thinking he felt something for me; for ever thinking that he could ever love…I knew the signs well enough now—Van and Gina’s love was eviden
NARAH’S POV“Babe, who is it?” Dahlia’s voice rang out, cutting through the stillness of the room.Arthur didn't respond. He just stood still, eyes wide and staring intently at me, wondering. Then, Dahlia appeared behind him, her head tilting slightly to see past his broad frame. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw me."Reina?" Arthur's voice echoed softly. He looked as though he were unsure if this was a dream or a nightmare and if he had seen a ghost.“Oh! Narah!” Dahlia exclaimed, her tone so full of warmth and recognition that it almost hurt.Before I could process her words, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug. My body went stiff at first, the sudden physical contact catching me off guard.I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I fought the wave of emotions that threatened to crash over me. She pulled back from the hug and turned briefly to Arthur. “It's Narah. She was the one I told you I met at the bridal shop who looks exactly like Reina.”Arthur
NARAH’S POV“What?” Zander asked, surprised.“Are you Mr. Mysterious?” I repeated, assuming he didn't hear me the first time.“No, I'm not,” he blurted out, disbelief thick in his voice. “How could you think that?”“Why wouldn't I? It seems to me that you pretended you'd never heard of the Moon Jade before you met me. You cast a fake mate bond on me, and for what?”Zander fell silent. His eyes darted away, his jaw tightening. Then, he moved closer to me, his demeanour shifting. There was an air of regret in his gaze, something I hadn’t noticed before, but it didn’t soften the storm brewing inside me.“I’m sorry I did that, Narah,” he said softly, his voice calmer now. “I didn’t mean to deceive you like that.”I stared at him, every word a new weight on my shoulders. My chest tightened as the truth hit me with full force. He wasn't denying it. I had been so foolish to believe his excuses before. So many signs, so many warning bells ringing, but I had ignored them all. He had played me
NARAH’S POVThe water ran hot, steam curling around me as I stood under the shower, letting the heat flow into my skin, washing away the remnants of the night before.Just as I tried to relax, I heard Liora’s voice scream, “Are you still going to wear that beautiful wedding dress?”I couldn't hear her properly, so I turned off the shower. “WHAT?”“The wedding dress!” she shouted. “Are you still going to put it on? Ellie is calling.”How did I forget about that? “Sure, I will. For dramatic effect,” I screamed back.“That's my girl,” Liora said, and a smile tugged at the edges of my lips.I turned on the shower again and let it all flow—my anger, my confusion, the stench or alcohol, the memories of Hendrix, Ophelia and Jenna, and the mounting pressure of everything I had just uncovered. It was all too much, yet not enough. The truth was a cruel thing, especially when you couldn’t unlearn it.But as the water ran cold, something else was there. A hollow emptiness in the space where my w
ALPHA VAN’S POV “I... I came because I—" She hesitated, clearly trying to find the right words again. Then Liam cut her short. “I invited her for my wedding tomorrow. I want her to be a part of it.” Mother nodded several times. “He's right...and I want to make it right to you, Liam, and Kacy. Especially you, Van.” The bitterness surged in me again. Make it right? Was this some pathetic excuse to ease her guilt after all these years? It was too late for that. I blamed Liam for inviting her without letting me know first. He definitely wouldn't have informed me because he knew how much I hated her, to the extent that I had prohibited anyone from talking about her. “As you can see, we're all doing just fine without you,” I said through clenched teeth. “You think a couple of tears and a half-assed apology is gonna make up for abandoning me? For abandoning us?” Liam, still oblivious to the tension in the room, stepped forward with his usual excitement. “Van, it’s Mom! You—” “No!” I
ALPHA VAN’S POV“I don’t believe Gina should be allowed to roam around freely the way she is.”I raised an eyebrow, the corner of my mouth twitching into a half-smile. “I’m pretty sure she isn’t helping much by being detained either. She insisted she didn’t help Anakiyus escape.”Not that I entirely believed Gina, but she seemed sincere. “Liars be sincere until they're caught,” Curtis chimed in, his voice a low growl at the back of my mind. “All evidence proves guilty. Guards wouldn't lie.”I dismissed his voice in my head. Briefly, I glanced at Jeremiah, feeling the familiar tension between us, but he only gave me a deadpan expression. "Besides, she's not allowed to leave the estate. So, her roaming is limited," I added, trying to push the conversation to lighter ground.Jeremiah chuckled, but it was a hollow sound. A short, fanciful laugh that made my skin crawl. “The Luna is under house arrest,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “How will the Alpha live!”I shot him a dry look. “W
NARAH’S POVOphelia’s final memories unravelled in my mind, jagged and raw, like shards of glass cutting through my consciousness. I felt everything she had. The coldness of her rage. The weight of her grief.The relentless power that surged through her as she slaughtered the entire Pack in the woods. The rogue Kings fell before her, their blood staining the earth as they crumpled in the dirt. Hendrix was last. She had saved him for last.I could feel the moment she tore his throat open with her claws—her eyes deathly cold and unwavering as his life’s blood gushed out, and the earth drank to its own satisfaction. It was a massacre, brutal and swift.She was unstoppable. The power of the silver wolf coursing through her veins made her a force no one could withstand.But what haunted me the most was how she didn’t hesitate. She didn’t flinch as she watched Hendrix’s body slump to the ground, his blood mixing with the dirt.Ophelia’s heart was a fractured thing, but she didn’t show it. A
NARAH’S POV (Still trapped in Ophelia's body, Ophelia's consciousness overpowered Narah's in this chapter, meaning everything that happened occurred exactly as it did in the past) A sort of hysterical laughter surged up in my throat, and I choked it back. I couldn't believe Hendrix's betrayal. I could taste the bile that had formed at the back of my throat as anger, frustration, and severe despair coursed through my veins. Still, I said nothing, my eyes fixated on Hendrix. He stood tall and proud at the front of the Pack, the rogue Kings behind him. I didn't know what to make of the situation. I just couldn't believe it. “Hendrix, how could you?” Jenna snapped, her brows furrowing. “Shut up, witch!” ordered one of the rogue Kings. “Hendrix has told the truth to all of us. Your atrocity is a disgrace. You are an abomination.” I listened to every word, and they rang like a tolling bell, ripping my heart out. But nothing hurt more than seeing the expression on Hendrix's face.
NARAH'S POV How would I tell Ophelia? Was there even a way for me to inform her about Hendrix’s plan? History had already taken place, and there was no way that I could change it. There was no turning back the hands of time. Just as I ran out of the cottage, the weird teleportation thing happened again, and this time, I found myself plunged into darkness. No—my eyes were closed. I just had to open them. When my eyes finally opened, I noticed I was lying on a hard, rough surface—hay, scattered around the floor like a crude mattress. My body ached all over, every muscle screaming in protest. The pain was so intense that I wondered if it was the side effect of being teleported multiple times. The confusion muddied my thoughts, and I tried to push through the agony to sit up. As I struggled to rise, a jolt of pain shot through me, more intense than before, and I collapsed back into the hay. A groan slipped from my lips. What in the world had happened to me? My mind raced as I
NARAH'S POV “What do you mean by that?” Hendrix asked, his voice calm but edged with something darker.“Only silver wolves can use the Moon Jade. I thought everyone knew that?”“Everyone? That's in the old times,” Hendrix sneered, his gaze hardening as he leaned closer to Ophelia. His fingers dug into her arms, a subtle but firm grip that made my stomach turn. “Isn’t your mate supposed to have access to the Jade? Isn’t the Jade supposed to make me powerful enough to wipe out an entire city?”His eyes turned completely dark as he spoke. His voice became awfully sinister, sending nothing but dread through me. Looking at Ophelia, the terror in her eyes and the quivering of her lips and the way her body flinched beneath his touch, I could tell he had that same effect on her.It was terrifying to watch this man who she was to marry inflict physical pain on her, and he wasn't aware that he was hurting her. Did the Moon Jade really have that kind of power, though? To annihilate entire citi