Hera’s POVThe events that’d unfolded at Alpha Arnold’s birthday celebration had left me shocked beyond what words could possibly convey. There were several ways I’s have expected things to go south as it usually did during our celebrations of late, but the arrival of a supposed dead and cursed member of their family was beyond expectations.Just like most people in Crescent Valley that knew of the cursed tales regarding Ethan, I’d never have thought that he’d have survived long enough to be alive in his twenties. That conviction about his death had left me utterly shocked when he’s waltzed into the ceremonial hall like he rightfully owned it and everyone in it.I’d watched with an immeasurable awe while he proved his superiority by brutally killing the king who’d been the most powerful Alpha in Wandercoast, and afterward he’d crushed an elder’s skull without hesitation for speaking up against him.Despite the horrific sight it’d been to most people, it’d only spiked my admiration for
Ethan’s POVEverything had slowly began to fall into place in the past few days that I’d taken over the palace at Crescent Valley. Of course, the fear I’d immediately instilled in the hearts of the palace workers and the royal court alike had been largely instrumental in getting shit done just the way I wanted.The very night I’d chosen the dead King’s room as my dwelling place, I’d hated how his cowardly scent of betrayal hung over everything and it’d disgusted me to the pit of my stomach to have to ensure that.As soon as I’d sent my trembling mate out of the room, I’d barked out orders to the maids to get rid of Aragon’s junk that was lying around, replace it with my belongings and clean the place such that I wouldn't pick up the faintest scent of the deceased bastard.I’d also made it clear that there’d be dire consequences for them that could cost them their worthless lives if my instructions weren't followed to the letter, and they did well to remember that killing was an enjoya
Arnold’s POVWith dread, I and the members of the royal court had quietly prepared a funeral for my father because we didn't want to tick off that sadistic bastard Ethan. However, since he’d also died a lowly death that was unbecoming of a King who’d been held in high regard, it was the tradition to hold a small ceremony for such unfortunate deaths.However, we’d killed two birds with one stone by taking advantage of Ethan’s absence at the funeral. The elders and I picked a convenient time and place for a meeting of the royal court in hushed tones and communicated it with other members of the court secretly.We couldn't dare to hold our meeting in the regular hall at the palace because Ethan would easily catch a whiff of it and we’d most likely lose our heads ruthlessly before we could get a chance to explain our intentions.In the same light, he was the main topic of our meeting so it’d be absolutely foolish to have one where he’d be able to learn of our plans to overthrow his newly
Ethan’s POVMore than anything, I was sure that after how I’d threatened to kill the elders and Alphas present at their flimsy secret meeting, they’d never dare to go behind my back and pull shit like that again, except of course they had a death wish, and I’d wholeheartedly make it come through.After I’d left their shabby meeting place, I set out for the palace feeling rather pleased with what I’d done but for some reason, there was another unsettling feeling tugging at my guts like I needed something more to feel whole.I wasn't feeble enough to dwell on any emotion rather than my bloodlust so I instantly knew that those unsettling feelings in my guts were from my wolf. I also knew him well enough to know that he’d only developed those feelings when we first met our mate, and by stirring me he was fishing for another opportunity to see her.On a mission to calm his agitation, I involuntarily set out to find our mate to relax his nerves once and for all. As I walked out of my chambe
Ethan’s POVThe faces of both she-wolves before me distorted into shock the minute they’d heard a strange voice.I watched their irises dilate the minute they’d turned around to realize that I’d been the one that had intruded on their flimsy gossip session. Undeterred by their shock, I walked closer to them with my eyes trained on my mate like they could bore holes through her fragile skull if I stared a little harder.But right before I reached them, the maid beside her instinctively jumped in front of her which cut off my view. Her eyes narrowed at me in an attempt to appear bold but I could see her arms shaking slightly and I noticed that she couldn't even stare right at my face for more than a second.I’d frowned slightly at the unwelcome interruption and in that same moment, the maid spread her arms in a way that I assumed was supposed to pass as her feeble attempt to protect my mate from me.Luckily for her, I was more amused by her attempt than aggravated so I didn't feel the n
My throat dried up.My hands became unbelievably clammy.And for a minute, I thought time had frozen.It was incredibly shocking that a man that seemed like he could angrily rip my head off of my neck was suddenly kissing my lips mere seconds after barking threats at me. My hands were relating awkwardly at my sides, my eyes were shut tightly as though I was scared of what I’d be met with if I opened them and my heart was threatening to push past my lungs and explode.I had absolutely no idea what to do as his lips dominated mine fiercely and I just stayed rooted in one spot. What I knew for sure was that I’d never experienced anything quite like how he was kissing me, it was the direct opposite of the warmth and delicate motions with which I and Arnold kissed, his was one filled with immense hunger.As his lips moved against mine it’d felt urgent, demanding and like it was borne from a predatory craving to dominate me completely. A strange feeling washed over me as I realized that and
My chest rose and fell heavily as one of the many weird aftermaths of the kiss I’d just shared with my mate. The kiss with her has completely unraveled me and as a stranger to emotions, I had no idea what was raging within me.But it wasn’t just the emotions.The kiss had also felt overwhelmingly powerful, so powerful that I was confused if I was the one in control or if she was somehow dominating me the entire time. It didn't feel like I was in control despite the fact that I was doing all the kissing and she wasn't even kissing back.Kissing had never felt that way for me in my entire life, the few she-wolves I’d fucked meant nothing to me because they’d just been a means for release and I wasn't even particularly attracted to any of them.Then there was my mate, with her I felt an overwhelming desire to devour her by mapping every inch of her body and leaving marks in my wake to remind everyone that she was mine, and mine alone. I was constantly fighting the need to ravish her whol
For the first time in my life, it felt like the moon goddess had turned her back on me and I was going through a series of hardships without a plausible solution in view. I felt that way because it’d been a couple of days since Ethan barged into our secret meeting to overthrow him and his threats had caused most of the royal court members to back off to avoid losing their lives plotting against him.Since then I hadn't been able to come up with a foolproof plan to get rid of Ethan once and for all, and everything I’d thought of seemed feeble and unrealistic because I was up against someone that was empowered by a curse that made him no werewolf’s match.I also couldn't get out the fact that he also had plans to hold a Coronation ceremony soon because that’d mean that he would be king and I’d lose the throne that I’d worked so hard towards succeeding all my life.And as if that wasn't enough, he also had his eyes set on Layla, a woman who’d been a gift sent to me directly from the moon
Layla’s POV“If you stare at that dress any longer, you’ll burn it to the ground with your gaze” Nadia nagged me as I took one last glance at my wedding dress while I stood at the bathroom door, I was obsessed with it.Beyond obsessed, It’s beauty had become an extra body part of mine.“At least we’d die watching its beautiful flames ascend to the heavens,” I smiled dreamily while still staring at it with lost eyes.“Be fucking for real?” She laughed before she grabbed a button off the dresser and threw it me, luckily I was able to dodge it and if I hadn't it’d have hit my eyes.“You’d explain to Ethan in detail why his bride is walking down the aisle with just one eye” I picked the button up and threw it at her, and it landed on her feet.“If you're not ready in the next hour, there’ll be no bride to scrutinize while she walks down the aisle, I promise you” She shot me a glare just before she took a seat on my bed, pulling her own dress in her lap to admire it.“What? An hour? Why hav
He moved away from me I’d just pushed a dagger through his heart again, there was disbelief, confusion, and pain in his eyes but he only had those emotions because he didn't understand why I’d declined his proposal.After almost spending my life with the wrong man because of guilt, I couldn't say Yes to Ethan while guilt kept eating me up for the great of our lives. I’d be as much of a monster as Arnold was if I take advantage of his feelings for me and jump into marriage when guilt had been plaguing me like it was my second shadow since the day I watched him fall to his death.He stared at me again, long and hard before he walked toward the bed and covered himself in the duvet, an air of uncertainty hovering over him as he delved into thoughts of his own. However, it was as he covered up tag I realized that I was still naked and I slowly walked toward the floor where he’d dropped my dress and picked up. I quietly pulled it over my head and held my arms around my body tightly as thou
Layla’s POVI’d known Joy several times in my life, but the joy I felt as I confirmed that Ethan was real and he’d returned to me was boundless, it felt like an unreal wave of happiness had been injected into my bloodstream and life finally felt worth living again.Like the war was over, and the battle line had been erased, it was surreal.“Are you going to keep staring at me like I'm a ghost?” Ethan laughed as he continued to massage my sore joints.“You might as well be” I reached out and cupped his cheek, yearning to remain in contact with him so he wouldn't disappear into thin air.“Well, I'm real and I'm here, forever this time around” He suddenly pulled me off the bed and onto his laps and I laughed as a yelp left my lips in surprise.“So you can stop staring at me with those alluring orbs of yours” He pulled my face toward him and kissed my forehead, not the quick kind that would pass as a peck, this one lingered like he was trying to touch my soul through physical touch.God,
Layla’s POVNo, no fucking way.It was him all along? Arnold killed my foster parents? He’d watched me mourn them knowing that he’d orchestrated everything because they rejected his advances toward me?“They were all I had, and you knew that! How dare you speak of their deaths so lightly, you monster!” I screamed my lungs out in anger not caring what he’d do to me.Much to my surprise, a smile covered his face showing that he was pleased that I was in so much pain because of what he’d done, my heart was being torn into countless shreds as I recalled that there was a time when I loved him and I considered marrying him not knowing what a sick and twisted bastard he was deep down.“You watched me grieve them, you watched me turn into a shell of myself, you watched me be bitter that I’d lost the last links to learning of my heritage,” My chest heaved like bomb was ticking within it as I spoke.“You watched me almost lose myself and you promised me that you’d find the beast that killed the
Arnold’s POVThe day had come.The night hour had just struck, and I was about to recover all I’d lost and much more.“Are you ready?” I asked Hera who’d been seated in front of her crystal spell casting bowl and brr spell book for the past hour.“Never been more ready” She smiled at me so brightly it could’ve illuminated the underground hideout if we switched off all the other lights, her motivation was endearing to say the least.“Go ahead and cast the spell then” I flashed her a smile as well but mine was subtle and filled with anticipation.She nodded eagerly before she crossed her legs before her and held her hands out over the bowl, from where I was I could see that a visual of crescent valley had appeared in the water that filled the bowl like a reflection and I watched her mouth move as she muttered words in an unknown ancient language.I wasn't very close to her and yet I could feel the enormous amount of power radiating from her as she rolled her head from side to side and t
Arnold’s POVHera looked like she was about to offload the heaviest weight that had ever been on her shoulders and I just stared at her wishing that I could look through her and draw it out of her myself, still Hera was the only person of worth I had on my side so I decided to be patient with her as opposed to the thought in my mind where I was half considering yelling at her and shaking it out of her forcefully.“How long before you actually use your words?” I finally asked impatiently after about six minutes of deafening and irritating silence had passed by.She looked as though my words had just jolted her out of her train of thoughts and she replaced the lost look on her face with her usual demeanor that oozed confidence, raw and undiluted confidence.“You’re a beast, Arnold” She said while her eyed bored into mine searching for a befitting reaction to her revelation.Unknown to her, her words would've hurt and surprised me a few months ago, but as I heard them it only felt like a
Hera’s POVWeeks had gone by and each day I felt crazier than the last being holed up in a disgusting dungeon that wasn't fit for royalty such as myself.Layla had replaced all the guards that were loyal to me during her reign with guards from Ethan’s rogue army and they all hated me so my seductive tricks didn't work on them. I was hoping that I’d be able to seduce one of them into setting me free but they looked at me with disdain each time they came to fling plates of food at me every morning and evening so I eventually gave up on that plan.Life seemed hopeless and it felt like the moon goddess had finally abandoned me and shut her ears to my prayers, nothing was working out and it seemed like I’d suffered so much to reach the peak of my dreams just to have it shattered by a teenage whore.Still, I tried to pull through.It was night now and I was trying to fall asleep by replaying my happiest memories in my mind, the beautiful and wholesome moments that I’d spent as Queen before
Layla’s POVThe entire palace was still buzzing with life in the early hours of the morning as preparations from my impromptu coronation were in full swing. I could hear the clustering and swooshing all around as I woke up in the master bedroom that I’d taken over seeing as I was about to be made the official queen of Crescent Valley.As I stretched out my arms, I heard a soft rap on the door.“Who’s there?” I called out in a sleepy voice.“It's me, Nadia” Her soothing voice responded from behind the door.“Come on in” I yawned in between the words and drew my silk pink robe tightly around my waist as she opened the doors.“Hello your highness! How does it feel to be mere hours away from a coronation at eighteen?” Nadia swayed from side to side with some dresses held tightly to her chest and I guessed that there were the selections for the event.“Uh, nervous?” I told her truthfully as I made my way toward the bathroom to freshen up.“You’ll do amazing while making waves in the ancien
Layla’s POVHera’s eyes were blazing with a deadly anger, a type of anger that the old me would've been terrified of if she saw how it radiated off of her, but it was a good thing that I’d buried the timid me in the wilderness before I returned for the throne.“You can either leave peacefully or meet a disgraceful end that whores like you should be accorded” Hera’s eyes held a venomous look that didn't scare me one bit as she threw her empty and ridiculous threats at me.“That crown, that throne, this kingdom…” I punched toward her as I spoke and I could see a hint of surprise flash through her eyes on seeing how much nerves I’d gathered.“All of it belongs to me and I’d love to watch you come at me so we’d see whose blood would end up tainting these floors” My orbs changed from golden brown to the piercing red shade I took when I transformed into a witch.“How dare you!? You! A worthless rat that should’ve been left in the gutters where you belonged! How fucking dare you address me t