It seems Mara being an Alpha isn’t going to be an easy task. Or am I the only one seeing that?
MARA“Arrgh.” I whimpered.“You think I’d mark a lowly omega like you? A useless thief? No.”I pushed against him, tears stinging my eyes. “You never stop, do you?” I snarled, wiping away the blood from my lip. “Every time you open your mouth, it’s the same thing meanwhile you lost the throne yourself. The Moon Goddess chose me because you’re not fit to lead!”“You, Kael, were too drunk and too busy with your endless parties and Casanova lifestyle while spending the Pack’s money extravagantly to even think of being in control.”“Kael, you can't lead the pack to greatness, so the moon goddess really didn't make a mistake.” I said strongly with all the confidence I had left in me."How dare you!" That was the breaking point. He lunged at me, and started hitting me, landing numerous blows on my face, breaking my nose and matting my face with my own blood. Before I could even react, his hand was around my throat, choking the air from me and for a moment, I truly thought he might kill me
MARAHer heels clicked ominously against the white tiled floor and her perfectly manicured nails were like talons as she folded her arms and surveyed the scene. "What’s going on here?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing as she gave me a bitter look."He—he was trying to—" I stuttered, but Lola cut me off with a hot slap that was hard enough to send a shockwave through my body. The sting spread across my skin, but it was nothing compared to the betrayal that churned in my gut. I blinked through the pain, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth as I wiped it away, my fingers trembling.She asked me in a mockery tone. Don't tell me you're trying to hoard your useless virginity?" Lola’s laugh was sharp and grating, like nails on a chalkboard. “Oh, sweetie.” She said, stepping forward. “You can’t hide under that anymore.”Before I could process whatever was happening, Lola grabbed my wrist and pushed me roughly backward into the bed. My head hit the bed frame, and stars danced in my v
MARA“Stop struggling!” Kael’s growl was as cold as the night outside.I stopped floundering and simply gave myself to him just as he wanted.Kael is my mate and despite him attempting to force himself on me, I would enjoy anything he would do to me at least I had earlier enjoyed him fingering me. I didn’t want to. But I couldn’t stop. My mate, my so-called fated mate, had become my captor, and there was no iota of help in sight. My heart hammered like a war drum, drowning out all other sounds. “Kael, don’t waste time,” Lola hissed from the doorway. Her arms were crossed in a rigid and defensive manner. Jealousy dripped from each spoken word.“Lola, you’re not helping, what is it?” Kael snapped.“Reject her first!” She barked at him.“Do it now! I refuse to stand here and let her feel anything while you—” She cut herself off. I believe Lola would be too jealous since Kael was her mate too and she knew with the bond still intact, anything Kael would be doing to me will be passionate
MARAI ran out of the palace immediately because Alpha Shawn, who could be my only saviour, was out of the Pack for a very important meeting.I barely came out of the palace, so I had no idea where I was headed, but I kept racing into the woods. Suddenly, it began to rain. The rain lashed down on me like icy needles as I bolted into the woods, my bare feet slipping on the slick ground. Each step felt like freedom and doom all at once. My wolf, Ria, had taken over, her speed was unmatched as we soared through the forest, weaving through the towering trees that loomed like masquerades.The thrill of my first shift overpowered my fear. The sensation was unlike anything I had ever felt, as though I had been caged my whole life and now, finally, the bars had shattered. The forest blurred around me, every drop of rain sharper, every sound around me was louder. Yet my inner strength screamed louder still.“Run, Mara. Don’t stop. Don’t think.” Ria encouraged me.But my luck soon ran out—ju
MARAWith that, he turned, his footsteps echoed in the dead silence of the hall as he left.After he left, I felt as though the air was suffocating me. Watari grinned and pointed to a woman who was standing close by. Her face was emotionless and without pity as she handed me a set of lingerie. “Put those on.”The fabric was barely enough to cover me—a half-bra and a pair of thongs tossed into my hands like scraps. My fingers trembled as I slipped them on, the lace scratching against my skin and the thong stuck into my bums in an uncomfortable way.The dried flowers in the little purse she carried smelled bitter and horribly sweet as she placed them against my skin.“This will make you... presentable,” she said flatly, as if that explained anything.I wanted to scream at her, to ask her why she wasn’t helping me but I couldn't get the words out of my throat. Instead, I sat there with my thoughts racing and my body feeling numb. I had thoughts of breaking free and clawing my way out,
MARAIt stopped inches from my bare feet as it rolled over the blood-stained floor, its dead eyes widened and accusing. Around it, blood gathered and seeped into the floorboard cracks. A choked scream clawed up my throat, and my heart began to beat rhythmically. I felt like throwing up as the world began to spin around my eyes."Who...Who did this?" I spoke in a raspy mumble.The answer emerged from the shadows like a storm gathering strength. He stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. Despite the sharp features of a man who looked barely twenty, the depth in his cold eyes portrayed a soul burdened with years—sixty-five, maybe more. His lithe movements were swift yet deliberate, a predator among prey.Yet, I couldn’t see his face because the light was still on me. “So, it’s true.” His voice cut through the air like a blade. “This underground ring. You sell female wolves and omegas like livestock. And for what? Your fucking fetishised pleasures?”The room froze. The al
MARA My legs were unsteady as I stepped out of the cave. Everywhere was dark. The earth, the trees, the whole forest were covered with dark grains. I paused for a second, hoping for…. Well, hope was a fruitless fantasy at that point. Just then, a shadow moved in the distance. And, there she was. Lola. Her smirk was wide and cruel, her eyes gleamed with the triumph of a predator catching its prey. “Finally,” she sneered. “You really thought you could hide from me, didn’t you?” Her fist hit my stomach before I could balance myself, and I fell again from lack of breath. Streams of pain sprang up as she pulled me to my feet. She growled and jerked me forward, "Let's go." Despite my best efforts to at least show my omega poweress, my body collapsed. My thoughts were disorganized and my head was spinning as I turned to look behind me and saw Kael. He was holding my maid Vespera, he blindfolded her and held a chain with which he used to bound her. A bag was pulled ov
NARRATOR I stand in front of the large mirror in my bedroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, which clings to my damp skin. My eyes are fixed on my reflection, and I can see the loneliness etched on my face. It's been three months since my Luna, Faye, passed away after giving birth to our only heir and every inch of this house reminds me of her. Her laughter used to fill this space, like the sun spilling over a dark forest, chasing the shadows away. Now, it’s just me—Alpha Kalen, mighty in title, pathetic in solitude—lost in a world that seems to have moved on too quickly. The pain of her loss still lingers, and I find myself struggling to cope with the emptiness that has settled within me. The bed creaks under my weight as I lean on it with my gaze fixed on the ceiling. I don’t know what’s worse. Maybe the memories of her or the absence of them. My body aches, not from battle or duty, but from a need I biologically should not starve my body with. It’s been a while sinc
MARAThe walk had been long, but not nearly as exhausting as the silence that accompanied it. With Isolde gone back to Steelpaw and Zander heading to Ashclaw to tend to his mate in labor, it was just the three of us now—Rolan, Elowen, and me. I hadn’t realized how much Zander had filled the gaps of silence with his presence until he wasn’t there anymore. The walk felt... longer. The road stretched ahead like an endless expanse, and my feet began to ache, but it wasn’t just my body that was tired. It was everything.I pushed the discomfort out of my mind and focused on the steady rhythm of our footsteps. Rolan’s long strides were ahead, as usual, but Elowen, her steps are slower and more deliberate. She stayed close to me, as if she knew the heaviness of the air around us.“You okay, Mara?” Elowen’s voice was gentle like a steady anchor in the chaos of my thoughts.I didn’t answer immediately. How could I? “Yeah,” I lied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. The truth was,
MARAIsolde pauses before speaking, giving herself a moment to take in the faces before her, each of us a stranger and yet, in some strange way, connected. The air feels a little thinner as she studies us all. Her eyes flick from one to the other, measuring us with quiet calculation. When she finally speaks, her voice is low and careful."You all don’t look like the rogues I remember," she says, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. Rolan steps forward, his posture commanding, but his tone softer than usual. “I am Rolan, Lycan King of Ashclaw Pack.”“We are here for your assistance on knowing more about the alleged slave trade going on here.”“I’m Mara, Princess of Ravencrest,” I say, my voice steady, though inside, my pulse quickens with the weight of the introduction.“And I’m Zander, Rolan’s beta,” he adds, a bit of a half-smile on his face, trying to ease the tension, though I doubt it’s working.Isolde nods, absorbing the titl
MARAThe soldier’s gunfire breaks the stillness like thunder, and my breath catches in my throat. The blinding flash of the shot seems to freeze time. The sound rings in my ears, reverberating through my bones. I don’t even see the bullet—only the grim certainty in the soldier’s eyes. Rolan. My mate.My heart stutters in my chest. He’s right in the line of fire. Before I can even react, I do what anyone would do—I close my eyes. I don't know if it's a prayer or a plea, but I beg the Moon Goddess. “Please. Just... give us a chance. Please don't take him from me. I don’t know if I can do this without him.”The seconds stretch, longer than they have any right to. My whole body is trembling. I don’t even know if I’ve breathed yet. I don’t know if it’s even possible to breathe in a moment like this. But then, just when it seems like everything is about to shatter, I open my eyes.And the first thing I see is smoke.But it's not from the soldier's gun.We’re no longer in the same pla
ROLANIt’s been a damn 18 hours. Eighteen long, grueling hours of bone-shaking bumps, car creaks, and the endless hum of the road. The kind of silence that presses on you until you can hear your own heartbeat loud enough to feel the throb in your teeth. I shift the car’s gear to park, the engine sputtering as the wheels stop in front of Steelpaw Cave. We’ve arrived. My legs feel like they’ve forgotten how to move as I drag myself out of the car, nearly tripping over my own feet. Zander’s already at the rear of the vehicle, unloading the bags. “It’s just up ahead, Rolan,” he says, without looking up. “You’re quiet.”“Quiet’s good for now,” I mutter, shoving the bag I’m carrying over my shoulder. “We don’t need anyone knowing we’re here.”Steelpaw Cave. A place we never thought we’d have to hide in. A cave of echoes, of betrayal. Isolde was supposed to meet us here. Thinking the Rogues will be waiting for supplies, supplies that would keep them breathing another day. But now, I’m
BRAXTONI stand at the window, my gaze focused on the dark expanse of the forest beyond the walls of the manor. Every rustle of the leaves, every distant crack of a branch snapping under the weight of the night, feels like a ticking clock counting down to the chaos I’ve just set in motion. It’s time. Time to put an end to this little game Mara and Rolan have been playing. They think they’re the saviour, that they can hide behind their naïve sense of justice. But they have no idea what’s coming.I grab the glass of whiskey on the table beside me, my fingers wrapping around the cool glass with deliberate slowness. I bring it to my lips, the amber liquid burning a path down my throat. The fire is a welcome distraction from the cold, calculating thoughts swirling in my mind.I’ve been patient. Far too patient. Now, I’m done waiting.I pick up the phone, dialing the number of my most trusted allies. The line rings once, twice, and then a voice breaks through.“Braxton,” the voice growls
MARALong shadows are formed over the hideout by the moon's golden light as it falls overhead. The crackling of a neighboring fire is the only sound to break the still nighttime hum outside where Rolan and I are seated. There is a slight earthy and woodsmoke fragrance in the air. This place is odd—so vibrant, yet so different from all I'm used to. It’s already late, and the refugees around us are settling in for the night. Elowen, Rolan and I are packing our belongings and getting ready for tomorrow’s journey.Elowen, the one who’s been guiding us through this strange world, has promised to take us to the place where Isolde meets with them.“She comes every Wednesday to give out provisions—food, water, anything that can help us survive another week.”“Tomorrow’s Wednesday, and the meeting is just around the corner.”Rolan and I are staying here tonight, among the rogue wolves. We don’t have much choice if we want to get to Isolde. The road ahead will be difficult, but we need to g
BRAXTONThe room is lit by bulbs and the big chandelier in the middle of the room, the atmosphere is filled with the scent of burnt tobacco and bitter herbs which my wife cooks every evening to purify the air.Lennox stands before me, his nervous energy almost palpable as he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. I lean back in my chair, fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. His news is both expected and inconvenient, but I keep my face impassive, waiting for him to finish.“You’re sure it was them, Lennox?” I ask, my voice low, steady. He nods, his eyes shifting around the room as if looking for an escape. “Yes, Braxton. It was them. I followed Mara and Rolan to the rogue hideout. They’re planning something big, and it’s clear—they’re aiming to take down the slave trade. I’ve never seen them so... committed. She’s leading him straight to it.”I already knew this. Still, hearing it from him feels like a sharp jab to the gut. Mara, the woman who’s been at the center of my
ROLANI watch as the rogue wolves huddle in the distance, their eyes wide with fear, a tinge of panic in the air. It's obvious—my scent, the scent of the royal Lycan blood, must've hit them. The same scent they associate with the secret slave camp. But then, something changes. Mara steps forward, and it's as if the tension in the air loosens. They stop pacing, the fear recedes, and a collective sigh seems to pass through the group. The same group that had once fled, running from horrors I can’t even imagine. Now they’re staring at her, some with uncertainty, others with a light in their eyes like a long-lost friend returning."You should’ve seen the way they froze at first," Mara whispers to me, her voice low but with that knowing smile she wears when she knows she has power over the situation. "But they trust me, Rolan."I glance at her, still trying to grasp everything. It’s odd, seeing her like this, the calm amongst these wolves who were so afraid of me just moments ago.One by
ROLANI’ve been awake for hours, but it feels like I’ve been waiting an eternity. Everything about Mara catches my attention. The way she thinks, how she holds herself, her sharp mind that cuts through every issue with ease—it’s… refreshing. When I’m around her, I see things from angles I never considered before. Leadership isn’t just about power or influence. It’s about vision, about knowing what needs to be done before anyone else sees it. And Mara? She’s got that in spades. Tonight, as I pull her into a conversation about the slave trade issue, I try not to come across as too eager. But hell, I’m *beyond* eager to hear what she thinks. We’ve just gotten home from the mess of a day we’ve had. Showered, eaten—chicken and vegetables, basic but satisfying. But now, this. This discussion of things bigger than us, things that have plagued my people for years, and I need her input. The room is quiet except for the occasional rustle of sheets of my bed which I’m lying on.I glance o