_Alina's POV_Alaric leaned in close to me, his eyes filled with deep concern. He carefully observed my complexion, looking for any signs of discomfort. "Do you feel unwell, Alina?" he asked softly.I felt his concern, and my nervousness eased slightly. I quickly shook my head. "No, I'm okay, Alaric. But why did you call me the Queen?"He hesitated for a moment, then explained, "During your coma, the king learned that you had completed your transformation and agreed to our bond. He announced at my coronation ceremony that you would be the new Luna Queen."I stared at him in disbelief. "The Luna Queen? But Alaric, there's something you need to know.""What is it?" he asked, his expression serious.Taking a deep breath, I confessed, "I am the legendary Moonshadow Wolf, and my wolf, Athena, is very special. She told me about the abilities and the story of the Moonshadow Wolves. Do you believe me?"Alaric's eyes softened, and he took my hand. "I believe you, Alina. I trust you completely.
_Alina's POV_After Alaric left, I felt a surge of determination. I needed to find Juliet and uncover the secret behind the drink. I couldn't believe that she would harm me without reason; there had to be a motive. Before Alaric discovered the truth, I had to act, or Juliet would face the grave accusation of attempting to murder the queen. The punishment for such a crime would surely be execution.I straightened my attire and prepared to leave the palace. I walked briskly through the corridors, my mind racing with thoughts of Juliet's unusual behavior. She had been my best friend, my confidante. Why would she poison me? There had to be an explanation.As I turned a corner, I unexpectedly saw a woman who bore a striking resemblance to me. I stopped in my tracks, my eyes widening in shock. She had dark hair, the same shade as mine, and her face was uncannily similar. It was as if I was staring into a mirror.Athena stirred within me, her voice a low warning. "Alina, this woman is not or
_Alina's POV_The world around me blurred and shifted. Everything went black.When I came to, I found myself in a dark, cold room, my hands and feet bound by thick chains. The woman who had captured me stood a few feet away, watching me with a smug expression."You must be wondering why you're here," she said, her voice echoing in the small space.I struggled against the chains, feeling the cold metal bite into my skin. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"She stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with malice. "I am Tanya, Caleb's ex-wife. You might have thought that I was dead, but clearly, you were mistaken."I felt confused at first, but as the pieces fell into place, a chilling realization dawned upon me. Tanya was the only one who looked just like me. The resemblance was uncanny. That was the reason why Caleb took me as his mate—because I resembled the woman he thought was dead. Everything suddenly made sense."Tanya? But Caleb told me you were dead."Her laugh was bitter. "Of co
_Alina's POV_As I ran through the maze-like alley, my heart pounded in my chest. The encounter with Tanya had left me shaken, but I couldn't let my guard down. Just as I turned around a corner, I ran straight into Lucas."Alina? What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his brow furrowing in concern.I forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside me. I did not want to involve him in my problems. "I was looking for Juliet and got lost. Can you point me in the right direction?"He gave me a puzzled look but nodded. "Sure, Juliet's café is just a few blocks down. Say hi to her for me.""Thanks, Lucas." I quickly made my way to Juliet's café, hoping to find some comfort in her presence. However, when I arrived, I found the place closed and shrouded in darkness. I felt confused as I stood there, staring at the darkened windows. Juliet was supposed to be here. A foreboding feeling settled in my gut. Had something happened to her?I was very worried. Where had Juliet gone? But then, I rea
_Alina's POV_Though I was almost relieved that Juliet was now out of the palace, a part of me couldn’t shake the lingering dread. Caspian was no longer able to harm Juliet. For now. But Alaric's words brought a semblance of reassurance."Alina, understand this: I wasn't protecting Caspian," Alaric began, his voice steady and filled with a gentle authority that always managed to calm me. "I know that you're worried about Juliet, but if you act rashly, you could put her in even greater danger. We both need to proceed with caution, especially now."Athena, my wolf, echoed Alaric's sentiment through our bond. "He's right, Alina. Rash actions could lead to mistakes which we can't afford."I nodded, though my mind was still racing. "I know, Alaric. But it’s hard to sit still when I feel like something terrible is unfolding right before our eyes."Alaric placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Thorian has noticed Caspian's recent unusual behavior. He’s been in frequent contact with Lady A
As Alina scanned the crowd, she spotted Caspian and Lady Amora sitting together, their eyes fixed on her. A cold shiver ran down her spine. She knew that they were plotting something, and she would have to stay vigilant.The tournament began with an unexpected announcement from Lady Amora, who, in her capacity as a judge, addressed the gathered crowd. Her voice carried a tone of authority and a hint of malice."Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed participants, we have a slight change in this year's rules," she began, her eyes briefly meeting Alina's. "To truly test the full extent of our participants' abilities, this year's competition will allow for full transformation. This means participants may use their lycanthropic abilities freely. May the best fighter win."A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Previous tournaments had been purely about swordsmanship, and this sudden change put many at a disadvantage, particularly those who had not trained for such a scenario. Alina felt
_Alina's POV_I braced myself for the pain, my mind racing with a thousand thoughts. This was it. This was how it would end. Elena was going to kill me and she would win.But then, in the last possible second, there was a blur of movement before me. I didn’t feel the expected pain. Instead, I saw Alaric, his body intercepting the blow meant for me. Elena’s sword plunged into his side, the blade sinking deep.A gasp escaped my lips as Alaric fell to the ground and blood started rapidly pooling around him. His face contorted in pain, but his eyes met mine, filled with a fierce determination and a silent plea for me to stay strong."Alaric!" I cried out, my voice breaking with panic and sorrow. I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands trembling as I pressed them against his wound, trying to stem the flow of blood.Elena's face twisted with fear and anger as her plan failed. She took a step back, her eyes darting around for an escape. I started screaming, "Help! Someone get the wolf doc
_Alina's POV_In the hospital room, I took care of Alaric. I felt both guilt and deep sorrow. The sight of him lying there, pale and injured, was almost too much to bear. I blamed myself for everything that had happened.As I sat beside him, Athena’s voice resonated in my mind, her tone almost teasing. "Alaric’s act of protecting you was very manly. Perhaps you should mark him soon."I sighed, glancing at Alaric’s bandaged side. "He’s injured, Athena. We should wait until he recovers."Katie, who had been quietly watching from the corner of the room, stepped forward. She had a gentle expression on her face. "Alina, my brother is usually strong enough to kill a bull. This is a minor issue for him."I managed a small smile at her words. I felt a bit more at ease. Katie’s confidence in Alaric’s strength was reassuring. I really hoped that he would recover soon.Shortly after, King Edgar and Queen Eleanor visited the room. Their presence was both comforting and commanding. The king’s expr
A few days had passed since the burning in the square and the capital had begun to return to a semblance of normalcy. The people felt safer and their faith in Alina and Alaric was stronger than ever. To mark the victory and bring hope back to the kingdom, Alina and Alaric decided to hold a celebration.The square, where the execution had taken place, was transformed. Banners fluttered in the breeze, and tables were set up, filled with food and drink. Music filled the air and the people danced and laughed. Their fear was replaced by joy.Alina stood on a balcony overlooking the square, watching the festivities. She smiled, seeing her people happy and at peace. Alaric came to stand beside her, his arm brushing against hers."They needed this," he said softly, his eyes on the crowd below."They did," Alina agreed. "And so did we."Alaric turned to her, his gaze searching her face. "You seem different," he said, his voice gentle. "Is something on your mind?"Alina hesitated. She had been
Alina stood over the witch and watched the last of the dark magic fade from the room. This battle was over but she needed to make sure there would be no more from Tanya or the witch.Alaric came to her side. "What do you want to do with her?" he asked."We need to send a message," Alina said firmly. "To everyone. They need to see what happens to those who use dark magic against us."Alaric nodded. "We’ll take them to the capital. We’ll burn them in the square for all to see."Caleb, who had been leaning against a wall, slowly walked over. His face was pale, and he looked exhausted, but there was a fire in his eyes. "I’ll help," he said.Alina looked at him. She was grateful for his support. "Thank you, Caleb," she said. She turned back to Alaric. "Let’s get them ready. We need to do this quickly."The warriors moved quickly. They tied the witch’s lifeless body and carried her out of the ruins. Tanya, still bound and furious, was dragged along. Her eyes were filled with hatred and fear
Caleb looked up at Alina. He felt relieved. He hadn't expected her to find him but now that she was here, he knew that they had a chance."Alina..." Caleb started to say, but she shook her head, her focus entirely on Tanya."You can't win, Tanya," Alina said, taking a step forward. "Surrender now, and maybe we'll show you mercy."Tanya snarled. "You think you can just walk in here and take me down? You're nothing, Alina! Nothing!"Alina didn't flinch. She raised her hand, and the palace guards moved forward, their weapons ready. "This is your last chance, Tanya," Alina said. "Give up, or we'll make you."For a moment, it looked like Tanya might fight back, but then she glanced around, realizing that she was outnumbered. With a frustrated scream, she lashed out with one final burst of dark magic, but Alina was ready. She raised her hands, and a barrier of shimmering light formed in front of her, deflecting the attack.The palace guards rushed forward, surrounding Tanya before she could
Caleb walked through the dimly lit streets. The night was heavy with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. He knew that Tanya was somewhere nearby, hiding in the shadows, but finding her was no easy task. Dark magic hung in the air like a thick fog making it hard to track her scent.His mind raced as he thought about what had happened in the square. Alina had been strong, stronger than he’d ever seen her before. She had saved the werewolves from the dark magic and proved herself as a true leader. But now, they were facing a threat even more dangerous than the chaos in the square. Tanya was still out there and her power was growing. Caleb had to find her before she caused more harm.Suddenly, he heard a soft sound, like a whisper on the wind. He paused and listened. There it was—a low, almost inaudible chant. It was Tanya. She was close.Caleb followed the sound, his steps quickening as he made his way through the narrow alleys. The chanting gr
_Alina's POV_As the door closed behind us, the weight of everything that had happened finally began to lift. For a moment, I allowed myself to breathe, to let go of the tension that had been building up inside me. Alaric was still holding my hand and I could feel the warmth of his presence enveloping me like a comforting blanket.He turned to me. “Alina,” he said quietly. “I missed you so much.”“I missed you too,” I whispered. The truth of it hit me hard. We hadn’t had a moment like this in so long—just the two of us.Alaric stepped closer, closing the small distance between us. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin. “I was so worried about you,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Every moment you were gone, I was terrified that something would happen, that I wouldn’t be there to protect you.”I leaned into his touch and closed my eyes as I savored the feel of his hand against my skin. “I know,” I whispered. “But I’m here now. We’re together
_Alina's POV_Tanya was somewhere inside the Capital and I had to find her before it was too late. As Caleb and I entered the city, the signs of chaos were everywhere. The streets were empty but the air was filled with darkness.We made our way to the heart of the city where I knew Alaric would be waiting. As we approached, I could feel his presence growing stronger in my mind. He was nearby and I needed to reach him before the situation spiraled out of control.“Alina!” Alaric’s voice echoed in my mind. “I’m at the main square. Hurry!”“We’re on our way,” I replied while quickening my pace.When we arrived at the square, the scene was worse than I had imagined. Werewolves were on the brink of tearing each other apart, their eyes wild with fear and rage. The dark magic was strong here. Alaric stood in the center and he was trying to keep order, but even he was struggling against the overwhelming force of Tanya’s influence.“Alaric!” I called out as I reached him.He turned to me. His
_Alina's POV_As Caleb and I moved swiftly along the dark road, my mind was focused on what lay ahead. The capital was in danger, and every second counted. The night was quiet, the only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. But I knew that this calm was deceptive. Something dark and terrible was waiting for us.We traveled in silence for a while, each of us lost in our own thoughts. But then, I felt a familiar presence in my mind. It was Alaric, reaching out to me through our mind link. His voice echoed in my heart, urgent and filled with worry.“Alina,” he called out. “I’ve found evidence of Tanya’s involvement. She’s here, in the capital, but the people… they’re blinded by fear and rumors. They refuse to believe that she’s the one behind this. Her influence is spreading and it’s causing chaos. Some of the werewolves have started to riot. The city is on the brink of losing control.”His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I could hear the desp
_Alina's POV_I knew that I had to return to the capital immediately. The urgency in Alaric’s voice echoed in my mind like a warning bell that wouldn’t stop ringing. The plague had returned and there was no doubt in my heart that this was the work of the witch. Tanya wasn’t dead, as I had once believed. She was still out there, and her influence was spreading like poison. The thought of her dark magic wreaking havoc sent a chill down my spine and I knew I couldn’t afford to waste any time.I turned to the rogues who had gathered around me. Their eyes were filled with concern and a newfound admiration. They had just been freed from the clutches of dark magic and they were still recovering from the ordeal. I could see the exhaustion in their faces, the lingering fear that had yet to fully fade. But I didn’t have the luxury of time to explain everything to them. They needed to rest and regain their strength. They had fought their own battles and now I had to fight mine.“Stay here,” I to
_Alina's POV_I stepped out of the room. My heart was still pounding from the battle with Caspian. As I moved into the open air, a chaotic scene unfolded before my eyes. The rogues, twisted by dark magic, were attacking each other in a frenzy. Snarls and growls filled the night as they bit and clawed at one another, their eyes wild with the madness that had taken hold of them.For a moment, I stood frozen, watching the carnage. These wolves, once proud and strong, were now reduced to mindless beasts, slaves to the dark magic that had consumed them. But then, I remembered the mission that had been entrusted to me by the moon wolf. I had the power to purify them, to free them from the darkness that held them captive.But I knew what I had to do. Closing my eyes, I reached deep within myself, calling upon the power that I had gained in the ruins. I felt it surge through my body. My mind and body merged with my wolf and I could feel her strength and courage flowing through me.When I open