CATHERINE The sun was beginning to set when Kane and I finally emerged from the forest. My legs ached from the relentless pace, and every breath felt heavier than the last. We were now in the city and I was obviously relieved.We were closer to safety. But that relief evaporated as soon as we spotted the guards stationed near the border, inspecting every traveler with unnerving scrutiny.Kane tensed beside me, scanning the checkpoint. He grabbed my hand gently, pulling me toward a shaded alleyway where we wouldn’t be spotted. “We can’t go any further, I guess” he said, clearly frustrated.I leaned against the wall, taking a moment to catch my breath. “What now?” I asked, keeping my voice equally hushed. “Aren’t the people you wanted to contact nearby?”He shook his head. “No. They’re outside the city. Far beyond the borders.”“So, what do we do?” I pressed, though I knew he didn’t have an answer yet.Kane didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the wall.“Give m
CATHERINE Kane walked forward, towards the men, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his presence instantly drew the attention of the two men.“I’m sorry, but I have a proposition for you both” he began calmly, the kind of tone that didn’t invite much argument.The men exchanged glances before the older one spoke. “Do I know you from somewhere?”My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they recognized Kane? No! That mustn't happen. “I doubt you do.” Kane replied but the man's eyes remained squinted, trying to recall if he has seen Kane before.“But you do look familiar.” the second man supported but Kane shrugged his words off, not bothering to respond to him.“I would like it if you can assist us out of the borders, please.”“We’re already pushing our luck with these two,” the man gestured toward the woman and her daughter, “so whatever you’re proposing—”Kane cut him off, pulling something from his cloak with a deliberate motion. The glint of gold caught the dim light, and I ga
Catherine's POV“Dearly beloved, it is with great pain and sorrow that we are gathered here today, to mourn the death of Alpha Darryl and Luna Alice,” I stared blankly at the priestess who stood on the podium addressing the great crowd. On both sides of her were two coffins. My parents' coffins. “I can't believe they're gone,” Camille, my elder sister, clutched my hand, weeping into my neck. And me, I just stared. There was no explanation for how my parents died. Werewolves were not simple creatures. And my father was not weak. He was an Alpha who had protected his pack for many generations. Yet, three days ago, my sister and I walked in to see them dead on our living room floor. No strangling marks, no silver in their blood, no cut or injuries. Just dead. “You will forever live in our hearts,” the priestess announced, lowering her head in a bow. Everyone else followed suit. I remained standing. Whoever did this, I would find them. I would hunt them down until the last o
Cathy's POVI woke up with a dull headache. My stomach felt queasy and it hurt to open my eyes. I was being carried, I think. Something rumbled in the distance and it took me a while to recognize the sound as thunder. My eyes flashed open when another boom hit the skies. The roof of a car stared down at me. I sat up quickly, gripping the seat with all my strength, so I wouldn't fall off. “What's going on?” I croaked. “And you're awake. Good,” I knew that voice. The Messenger. He sat in the passenger’s seat while the man driving looked ahead. Rain poured down the windshield, and there was the cracking of lightning across the sky in the distance. It revealed a tall huge castle up ahead. “Where's Camille?” I glanced around, trying to find out what was going on. Where was my sister? Why was I in the messenger's car? What had happened last night. Images flashed through my head. Camille giving me a drink. The stranger. I could hear his gravelly voice loud and clear. Hello
Catherine's POV I staggered, stepping back in disbelief, stroking my fingers over the bite marks. I had been marked. That would explain why I could hear the voice in my head. He had marked me. When? What sort of crazy person marked a woman without her consent?! My head throbbed heavily and I clutched at it, trying to breathe easy. None of this made sense. Nothing made sense. Come. My back straightened at the order. It was hard to ignore. I wanted to turn around, dump myself in my bed, but my wolf couldn't ignore the clear command that had been placed in my mind. Come to me. A scent, musky and delicious, pulled at me. It was faint, so faint, almost barely there. I found my legs carrying me towards the door in a trance. I grabbed a robe and shrugged it on , walking out of the room. There were a handful of servants around the hallway. I ignored their bows and followed the scent. I walked past the throne room, up to the north wing and then down a flight of stairs that led
Catherine's POV “I wasn't aware the Lycan King traveled,” I grumbled, trying to get out of bed. “He had those men pick me up in a hurry while he wasn't home. Then he can wait until I've had a good breakfast!” Mia gasped, shaking her head so fast, I almost thought she would have a seizure. “No, please, Luna,” “I am not your Luna!” I yelled, shoving her away from me. “I am Catherine Lionheart! And if I want to eat breakfast, he can wait!” Mia dropped to her knees, rubbing her hands, begging. Her eyes were clouded with tears. “Please, please, Miss. You have to see the King in an hour,” “It's my choice to go, Mia-”“I'll be punished!* She cried, grabbing my night robe. “I'll be punished. I was just punished two days ago when you wandered round the castle, I don't want to get punished again!” My eyes widened as she sobbed at my feet. I leaned down, cupping her face in my hands. “Hey, it's okay. What do you mean by punishment?” “It doesn't matter,” She replied. “Please, my life dep
Kane's POVShe was beautiful. I had hoped she would not. I had also hoped that she would hate me. And judging from the way her blue eyes glared daggers at me, that seemed covered already. “This is ridiculous,” She gasped, taking a step forward then stopped as if catching herself from coming too close. “Your Majesty. This is the first time we've met each other. We can't have a mating ritual yet.” She was afraid. Just like everyone else. But she was the first to look me in the eyes and call me ridiculous. Most people were often too scared to speak or look me in the eye anyways. Mate. Our mate. Beautiful. So beautiful. “The ritual will hold,” I grumbled, trying to block out the beast and his ramblings. It was hard to hear myself think, when he constantly paced around my mind, restless. If it were up to him, he would have her pinned up against the wall, slobbering all over her face. I couldn't allow that. The minute I gave him more control, everything would go awry and Catheri
CATHERINE I couldn’t stop pacing. This was madness. I didn’t belong here, certainly not in this dress, and I definitely didn’t belong to him.“This is insane!” I snapped, twisting my fingers through the fabric of the ceremonial gown as Mia tried to pull it tighter around my waist. “I don’t even know him! How can I be forced into this?”Mia’s eyes showed sympathy as she tied the last ribbon, securing the dress around me. “I know, Catherine,” she whispered as she adjusted the collar. “But the King, his orders are absolute. There’s no escaping this.”“I’m not a prisoner!” I bit back loudly. “I don’t want to be mated to him! I can feel my real mate out there somewhere.” I pressed a hand to my chest, where a strange warmth pulsed.I had felt it faintly for as long as I could remember, the presence of my wolf, trapped in silence. She was there, but distant, her voice always muffled, as if something held her back.But that didn’t mean I belonged to Kane.Durmas, the priest, entered the roo
CATHERINE Kane walked forward, towards the men, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his presence instantly drew the attention of the two men.“I’m sorry, but I have a proposition for you both” he began calmly, the kind of tone that didn’t invite much argument.The men exchanged glances before the older one spoke. “Do I know you from somewhere?”My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they recognized Kane? No! That mustn't happen. “I doubt you do.” Kane replied but the man's eyes remained squinted, trying to recall if he has seen Kane before.“But you do look familiar.” the second man supported but Kane shrugged his words off, not bothering to respond to him.“I would like it if you can assist us out of the borders, please.”“We’re already pushing our luck with these two,” the man gestured toward the woman and her daughter, “so whatever you’re proposing—”Kane cut him off, pulling something from his cloak with a deliberate motion. The glint of gold caught the dim light, and I ga
CATHERINE The sun was beginning to set when Kane and I finally emerged from the forest. My legs ached from the relentless pace, and every breath felt heavier than the last. We were now in the city and I was obviously relieved.We were closer to safety. But that relief evaporated as soon as we spotted the guards stationed near the border, inspecting every traveler with unnerving scrutiny.Kane tensed beside me, scanning the checkpoint. He grabbed my hand gently, pulling me toward a shaded alleyway where we wouldn’t be spotted. “We can’t go any further, I guess” he said, clearly frustrated.I leaned against the wall, taking a moment to catch my breath. “What now?” I asked, keeping my voice equally hushed. “Aren’t the people you wanted to contact nearby?”He shook his head. “No. They’re outside the city. Far beyond the borders.”“So, what do we do?” I pressed, though I knew he didn’t have an answer yet.Kane didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned back against the wall.“Give m
CATHERINE “What now?” I whispered with urgency as my mind raced.Kane’s eyes flicked toward the entrance. “We have to leave,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “If Damon’s nearby, it’s only a matter of time before he finds us.”I frowned, glancing toward the entrance as though I might catch a glimpse of the man who had caused us so much pain. “Are you sure he didn’t trail you here?”Kane shook his head firmly. “No. I would’ve smelled him on the way.” He paused. “But it doesn’t matter how he found us. His scent is getting stronger, Catherine. We can’t stay here.”His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My mind raced with a million questions, but the one that came out was the most immediate. “Where are we going?”His lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze scanning the cave as though answers might materialize from the stone walls. “I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “But if we want to live, we have to leave.”My stomach twisted at his words. The raw seriousness in his voic
KANEThe moment I walked into the cave, Catherine’s eyes lit up. She sat up from the makeshift bed she had put together, her body language already radiating curiosity.“Kane,” she began with urgency, “what happened? What’s the outcome of your trip?”I shrugged my shoulders and sat down opposite her, trying to gather my thoughts. “I made it to the castle,” I said. “I encountered Durmas. He was the only one there, and he filled me in on everything.”Her brows knitted in confusion. “Durmas? What was he doing there? And what did he tell you?”I recounted the entire encounter in detail: Durmas's revelations about the council’s schemes, the kill order on my head, and the council’s plans to name Damon as Alpha Regent. As I spoke, Catherine listened intently, her gaze never leaving mine. She absorbed every word, her lips pressed into a thin line.When I finished, she sat back slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. Then, after a long pause, she tilted her head and asked, “Do you trust Durma
KANEThe quiet steps of Durmas echoed faintly against the stone walls as I followed him deeper into the castle’s underbelly. My senses were on high alert, eyes scanning for anything out of place, but my focus was split. Why was he here? And why hadn’t he sounded the alarm to the guards or Damon’s minions? As we rounded another corner, I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. "Durmas," I uttered. "What’s going on? Why are you here, and why aren’t you turning me in?"He stopped abruptly, his robes swaying slightly with the motion. Turning to face me, his expression was unreadable, but his eyes burned with intensity. "After the events of the mating ceremony," he began, carrying a voice that demanded attention, "a great many things unraveled in the aftermath."I crossed my arms and arched an eyebrow. "Such as?"Durmas let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting for a moment as if gathering his thoughts. Then, he began to recount everything that had transpired. "The council convened almo
KANEThe early morning air was crisp, the kind that bit at your skin and made every breath sharp in your lungs. I moved swiftly through the forest, the damp leaves crunching beneath my boots.I knew I shouldn’t have left so early, not in the state I was in, but I couldn’t stay idle any longer. Every fiber of my being demanded answers, even if it meant risking my life to get them. My destination was clear: the castle.As I made my way through the dense woods, my heightened senses picked up everything—the distant chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, even the faint sound of water flowing from a nearby stream. It was all background noise compared to the one sound I dreaded most: footsteps.The first sign of trouble came when I crossed the old stone bridge leading to the outskirts of the castle grounds. The scent hit me first, a group of Lycans. I took a moment to observe them and found out they were Damon’s minions.I crouched low, keeping to the shadows as I scanned the
KANEThe makeshift bed Catherine had arranged from the clothes she’d brought was a far cry from the luxury I was used to, but it served its purpose. She’d done what she could to make it comfortable, but the cramped space meant we had no choice but to share it. It wasn’t my type of thing, but I wasn’t going to complain—not when I knew how much she’d already sacrificed for me.We lay there, shoulder to shoulder and for a while, neither of us spoke. Finally, she broke the quiet. “Don’t you think I should call the doctor to check on you again?”I turned my head toward her, meeting her worried eyes. “I’m fine, Catherine,” I replied. “Now that I’m conscious and in a better state of mind, my healing abilities are kicking in. You don’t need to worry.”She frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line. “That doesn’t mean you’re completely okay,” she countered. “Just because you’re awake doesn’t mean the poison’s effects are gone. You might need—”I cut her off gently but firmly. “Catherine,
KANERoaming through the endless expanse of the forest, my legs felt like lead, dragging with every step. The ground beneath me was damp and uneven, but I hardly noticed anymore. My body was running on pure instinct, driven by a hollow ache in my chest that refused to subside. The world around me had become a blur of greens and browns.And then I caught it, a faint trace of her scent. Catherine.The smell was so faint, so fleeting, that for a moment I thought I’d imagined it. My breath hitched as the familiar odour sent different emotions crashing over me: longing, anger, and that deep, gut-wrenching hurt that seemed to have taken permanent residence inside me. But the scent was too weak, diluted with something unfamiliar. Someone else.I clenched my fists, claws digging into my palms. It wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. She wouldn’t be here, not after everything. And if she was... if she was, then why did her scent carry traces of someone else? The thought alone was enough to make my bl
CATHERINE Kane's face remained stoic, his piercing gaze fixed on me, but I could see the doubt in his eyes. He didn’t outright dismiss what I had said, yet I could tell he wasn’t ready to fully accept it either.When I opened my mouth to speak again, to plead with him to understand, he cut me off with a sharp shake of his head."I need to see it for myself," he said flatly, devoid of emotion."Kane, you can’t—"He raised a hand, silencing me. "I’m going to check things out," he stated firmly, leaving little room for argument.But he had underestimated me. I was no longer the timid woman afraid to speak her mind. My voice rose, tinged with frustration and desperation. "You’re not going anywhere, Kane!"His eyes widened slightly, more in surprise than anger. I didn’t care."Do you think I’ve been running around, risking my life for you to just throw it all away with your stubbornness?" I yelled, stepping closer to him, my chest heaving. "You’re not well! The doctor said you need time