Lucas POV The trial had been over for days, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling it left behind. Something was off—both Kurt and Maxwell were too calm, too assured of their positions. Amelia had noticed it too, pointing out the glances they exchanged during the proceedings. She was right; I’d seen it myself. They weren’t just accused—they were calculated, like men with a hidden plan.I sat at my desk, leaning back in my chair as I tapped my fingers on the armrest. My gut churned with suspicion, my mind replaying every moment from the trial. Every word. Every look. Every lie. Maxwell and Kurt weren’t just covering for each other; they were playing a larger game, and I needed to figure out what that game was before it cost us more than we could afford.Amelia’s voice echoed in my mind, her concerns still fresh. She had seen it in them—something cold, something dangerous. The fact that she noticed it before I did gnawed at me. She wasn’t just observant; she had a sharpness to her tha
Amelia’s POVThe palace garden stretched before me, a quiet oasis where I could breathe, though my thoughts were anything but tranquil. The sun was soft this morning, filtering through the leaves and casting shifting patterns on the cobblestone path. It should’ve been peaceful, but my mind felt like a restless storm.I walked without direction, brushing my fingers against the cool leaves and blossoms that lined the garden paths. Despite the beauty surrounding me, my thoughts kept pulling me back to yesterday—to the boutique and the moment Luna Lara revealed Sabrina’s schemes.I could still hear her calm, confident voice as she exposed the truth. My chest tightened at the memory. The gratitude I’d felt in that moment had been overwhelming. Sabrina’s plan to humiliate me could have succeeded if not for Luna Lara stepping in.I’d thanked her before leaving the boutique, my words barely scratching the surface of how much her intervention had meant to me. But the aftermath of it all still
Ethan’s POVThe conference room was stuffy, the hum of voices blending into a dull roar around Ethan as his pack discussed the logistics of their upcoming strategies. Ethan sat at the head of the table, his gaze locked on Mark, his beta, who was going over final preparations for the Alpha Ball and pack affairs during his absence.But Ethan wasn’t paying attention. His mind had drifted far from the table and the mundane discussions about patrol schedules or supply runs. He couldn’t stop thinking about the Alpha Ball, couldn’t stop imagining the scene that awaited him when he arrived.Amelia.Her name burned in his mind like a brand. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress the image of her standing beside Lucas, her head held high, the picture of grace and strength. It made his blood boil, the muscles in his jaw tightening until it ached.“You’ve no one to blame but yourself,” Magnus growled in his mind, his wolf’s voice a sharp jab against his already frayed composure.“She’s
Amelia’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, my fingers lightly tracing the delicate embroidery along the bodice of my gown. The emerald-green fabric shimmered like the leaves of the palace gardens after a rainstorm, and it fit me perfectly—a stark contrast to the chaos swirling inside me. The stylist had insisted this color would bring out my eyes. I stared at my reflection and had to admit, she was right.Not that it mattered. The gown, the jewels, even the flawless braids in my hair—they were all just a mask. Tonight wasn’t about beauty or elegance. It was about survival.The Alpha Ball. Just the thought of it sent my pulse racing. Everyone who mattered in our world would be here tonight—the alphas, the lunas, the councils, the powerful families. Every handshake and glance would carry hidden meanings. And then there was me: Amelia, Lucas’s wife in name only. A contract. A secret.I smoothed the gown over my hips, trying to steady my nerves. Tonight, I had to be perfect. Polished.
I wake up with a jolt, my heart pounding in my chest. Today is the day, my eighteenth birthday. But it’s not just any birthday. Today, I got my wolf and I can finally sense my mate. The moment my eyes flutter open I feel it, this deep pull undeniable pull. My heart skips a beat as I realize who it’s leading me to.“It’s him” a voice whispers in my mind, her voice trembling with excitement. Ethan is our mate, Amelia!I froze. “Are you my wolf?”“Yes silly, who else do you think can sense our mate?” My wolf giggle “My name is Snow, nice to meet you.”A surge of joy rushes through me, filling every part of my being. I finally got my wolf and she seems spunky too. Also best of all, Ethan is my mate. For two years, I’ve been with Ethan, loving him, dreaming of this moment and now it’s real. I can hardly believe it, because not everyone gets to be mated to their partner of whom they chose. I am glad the moon goddess, granted my wish to be Ethan mate and what better time for it to happen, ju
I don’t know how I make it out the ball room. Everything’s a blur- faces, voices, the oppressive weigh of pity from those who witnessed my humiliation. The further I get form Ethan, the more the pain seeps in, clawing at my insides like a wild animal trapped in a cage.“Amelia, you have to breathe” Snow’s voice urges me, but even she sounds weaker than before. The severance of the bond has left both of us raw and bleeding.“I can’t,” I whisper back. My chest is tight, and it feels like someone has ripped my heart out and left a gaping wound in its place. “It hurts too much know Snow. He rejected us, despite being mate.”“I know, but you’re stronger than this. We’re stronger,” Snow insists, but even as she says it, I can feel her sadness, her anger. She’s trying to hold us together, but the bond… It’s shattered us in ways I never imagined possible.I find myself outside, the cool air a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere inside. My legs carry me to the edge of the pack’s terri
After leaving the woods, I barely manage to pull myself together long enough to reach home. The moment I step inside, the walls of my room close in on me. I live alone, no parents, no siblings, nothing. Just amplifying the emptiness left by Ethan’s rejections.My parents died when I was just a toddler. I have to memory or recollection of them and I was an only child, I stayed in the pack house, until I was 16. With the savings my parents left for me, I used that to purchase a small house in the pack. I collapse onto my bed, the silence heavy and suffocating.My phone buzzes, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glance at my phone, it’s a call from my best friend Ivy. For a moment, I consider letting it go to voicemail, but something in me- a desperate need for distraction- makes me answer.“That fuck bastard Ethan! He doesn’t deserve you Amelia.” Ivy voice exclaim over the phone. I wince at her words. The news had reach my best friend too. I take it everyone knew. “Yea, thanks,” I mutte
The sunlight streaming through the curtains wakes me up with a start and head pounding and my body tangled in sheets that aren’t mine. For a split second, I’m disoriented, struggling to remember where I am and how I got here. But then, it all comes flooding back- the club, it the drinks, Ethan with that girl… and Lucas. I freeze my heart racing as I take in the room around me. I’m in a hotel.I felt a stir beside me and I look over. There lay Lucas, his perfectly define face. Deeply a sleep. The memory of our night together hits me like a tidal wave, and I feel my face flush with embarrassment.Shit!... Fuck! What have I done?I bite my lip, trying to keep my breathing steady as I carefully slip out from under the covers. I don’t dare to look back at Lucas, afraid that he might wake up and catch me sneaking out like some thief. I can’t face the questions, the looks, the inevitable awkwardness that will come when he wakes up. I need to get out of here. I spot my clothes in a heap on t
Amelia’s POVI stood in front of the mirror, my fingers lightly tracing the delicate embroidery along the bodice of my gown. The emerald-green fabric shimmered like the leaves of the palace gardens after a rainstorm, and it fit me perfectly—a stark contrast to the chaos swirling inside me. The stylist had insisted this color would bring out my eyes. I stared at my reflection and had to admit, she was right.Not that it mattered. The gown, the jewels, even the flawless braids in my hair—they were all just a mask. Tonight wasn’t about beauty or elegance. It was about survival.The Alpha Ball. Just the thought of it sent my pulse racing. Everyone who mattered in our world would be here tonight—the alphas, the lunas, the councils, the powerful families. Every handshake and glance would carry hidden meanings. And then there was me: Amelia, Lucas’s wife in name only. A contract. A secret.I smoothed the gown over my hips, trying to steady my nerves. Tonight, I had to be perfect. Polished.
Ethan’s POVThe conference room was stuffy, the hum of voices blending into a dull roar around Ethan as his pack discussed the logistics of their upcoming strategies. Ethan sat at the head of the table, his gaze locked on Mark, his beta, who was going over final preparations for the Alpha Ball and pack affairs during his absence.But Ethan wasn’t paying attention. His mind had drifted far from the table and the mundane discussions about patrol schedules or supply runs. He couldn’t stop thinking about the Alpha Ball, couldn’t stop imagining the scene that awaited him when he arrived.Amelia.Her name burned in his mind like a brand. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t suppress the image of her standing beside Lucas, her head held high, the picture of grace and strength. It made his blood boil, the muscles in his jaw tightening until it ached.“You’ve no one to blame but yourself,” Magnus growled in his mind, his wolf’s voice a sharp jab against his already frayed composure.“She’s
Amelia’s POVThe palace garden stretched before me, a quiet oasis where I could breathe, though my thoughts were anything but tranquil. The sun was soft this morning, filtering through the leaves and casting shifting patterns on the cobblestone path. It should’ve been peaceful, but my mind felt like a restless storm.I walked without direction, brushing my fingers against the cool leaves and blossoms that lined the garden paths. Despite the beauty surrounding me, my thoughts kept pulling me back to yesterday—to the boutique and the moment Luna Lara revealed Sabrina’s schemes.I could still hear her calm, confident voice as she exposed the truth. My chest tightened at the memory. The gratitude I’d felt in that moment had been overwhelming. Sabrina’s plan to humiliate me could have succeeded if not for Luna Lara stepping in.I’d thanked her before leaving the boutique, my words barely scratching the surface of how much her intervention had meant to me. But the aftermath of it all still
Lucas POV The trial had been over for days, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling it left behind. Something was off—both Kurt and Maxwell were too calm, too assured of their positions. Amelia had noticed it too, pointing out the glances they exchanged during the proceedings. She was right; I’d seen it myself. They weren’t just accused—they were calculated, like men with a hidden plan.I sat at my desk, leaning back in my chair as I tapped my fingers on the armrest. My gut churned with suspicion, my mind replaying every moment from the trial. Every word. Every look. Every lie. Maxwell and Kurt weren’t just covering for each other; they were playing a larger game, and I needed to figure out what that game was before it cost us more than we could afford.Amelia’s voice echoed in my mind, her concerns still fresh. She had seen it in them—something cold, something dangerous. The fact that she noticed it before I did gnawed at me. She wasn’t just observant; she had a sharpness to her tha
Amelia’s POV The Alpha Ball was approaching quickly, but my mind was still occupied with far more pressing concerns. Kurt. His name lingered in my thoughts like a persistent shadow, creeping into every moment of peace I tried to snatch. I couldn’t shake the memory of Maxwell glancing at him during the trial, as if he held the answers to unspoken questions. I hadn’t brought it up with Lucas again, but I wondered how his investigation was progressing. Would he find anything? Or was it all just my paranoia playing tricks on me?And then there was my mysterious ally. Their sudden silence gnawed at my nerves. I had sent a message after the trial, wanting answers—needing answers—but there had been no response. Who were they? Why had they chosen to help me? And why did they vanish now, when I had so many questions to ask? The absence of clarity was maddening.Pushing those thoughts aside, I joined Lena for our morning training session after breakfast. The familiar routine helped settle my r
Sabrina’s POVThe audacity.Sabrina stormed down the corridor, her fists clenched at her sides. The nerve of that pathetic peasant to stand there, smug and self-assured, calling herself the crown princess as if the title truly belonged to her. Sabrina’s face burned with fury, the memory of Amelia’s condescending smile replaying in her mind like a festering wound.“How dare she?” Sabrina hissed under her breath, her nails digging into her palms.Her long, dark hair swayed behind her as she moved, her sharp heels echoing through the halls. Every step fueled her anger, every thought stoked the fire in her chest. Amelia shouldn’t even be here. That title—her title—had been stolen, handed to some nobody who had stumbled her way into Lucas’s life.The memory of Lucas once looking at her with admiration filled her mind, a bitter pang twisting her gut. He had been hers, or so she thought. Sabrina shook her head violently. No. He still could be. Amelia was the obstacle, and obstacles could be
Amelia’s POVI never thought etiquette class would be where my thoughts kept wandering back to Maxwell’s trial. Yet here I was, my quill idly tapping against the desk, my mind replaying every moment. Maxwell’s furtive glances toward Kurt… his rehearsed answers… Lucas’s firm resolve to investigate further. All of it swirled in my head like an unsolved puzzle.“Amelia,” Ms. Gentle’s clipped tone pulled me back to the present.I straightened in my seat, startled.“As I was saying,” she continued, her sharp gaze sweeping the room, “the annual Alphas’ Ball is approaching. This will be the perfect opportunity to put your etiquette training to the test. I hope none of you will disappoint—especially the crown princess.”Her gaze lingered on me a moment too long, and I felt a twinge of embarrassment mixed with irritation.The Alphas’ Ball. I’d completely forgotten about it.I’d heard about the ball for years—an extravagant spectacle where Alphas and their packs gathered to build alliances, for
Amelia’s POVI couldn’t stop replaying the trial in my head, even as the heavy doors slammed shut behind me. The sound echoed down the stone corridor like a final judgment, leaving me with this strange mix of satisfaction and unease. Maxwell’s sentencing was swift—death for his crimes. It should have been enough.But it wasn’t.Lucas had pulled me aside after the trial, his expression serious. I followed him into one of the quieter hallways, away from the lingering crowd. His steps were measured, his jaw tight. He didn’t speak until we were completely alone.“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice low.The question caught me off guard. Lucas rarely asked about my well-being unless it was strictly necessary. But today, there was something different in his tone—something softer.I hesitated, my fingers brushing against the fabric of my gown. “I’m fine,” I said, though my voice didn’t quite convince me.He nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on me, as if he didn’t believe me either. “Th
Amelia’s POVThe grand hall hummed with tension as I stepped inside, Lena close beside me. The air felt heavy, each whispered murmur from the council members sinking into my skin like pinpricks. Sunlight filtered in through the high, arched windows, illuminating the ornate carvings on the walls, but the light felt cold, distant.The weight of what was about to unfold pressed on my chest. This wasn’t just about Maxwell’s crimes—this was about me, my position, and my life hanging in the balance.Lena’s voice broke through my thoughts, soft but firm. “You alright?”I nodded stiffly, my gaze fixed on the council table at the far end of the room. King Luther and Queen Narissa sat side by side, their regal presence commanding the space. Lucas stood slightly behind his father, his posture tense but controlled. His expression was unreadable, as always, but I caught the slight clench of his jaw.I tore my gaze away, forcing my feet to move. I couldn’t afford to let my emotions show—not here.“