CATHERINE “What do you want, King Kane?” I asked keeping my voice cool, letting the title drip with sarcasm as I refused to stare at him, still.“Is it so bad if I come here?” Kane’s tone had a casual lilt to it, but I could hear the taunt behind his words.I rolled my eyes. “And that’s exactly why I’m asking. What’s your purpose here?”“Maybe I don’t need one,” he said, crossing his arms, mirroring my stance.I gritted my teeth, spinning to face him. “Fine, then let’s make this quick.” I motioned to the extravagant pile of gifts. “Is this supposed to make up for your behavior? Sending things like… like you’re buying my forgiveness?”His gaze hardened. “You wouldn't seem particularly interested in speaking to me, so I assumed gifts would be a better alternative.”“Well, you assumed wrong,” I shot back. “I’m not some spoiled court lady who can be charmed with pretty flowers and sweets.”He gave me a long, measuring look. “Maybe if you’d listen for once instead of snapping, you’d unde
CATHERINE I’d drifted off to sleep far earlier than usual, enveloped in a sense of quiet I hadn’t felt in a while. But that peace was short-lived. I had a dream:At first, the dream was nothing more than a haze showing me nothing but an eerie kind of whiteness all around me, stretching out infinitely. I turned, trying to understand where I was, but each way I looked was the same, endless, silent, empty. Scared, I spun around, hoping for some sign of life or something familiar.“Hello?” My voice echoed, swallowed up by the blankness. “Is anyone here?”Silence. I began to walk, though each step felt like it led nowhere.And then, a shadow appeared on the horizon. I felt relieved that I have finally met someone, but then it turned out to be a massive, snow-white wolf. I started toward it. “Please, help me! I don’t know where I am.”The wolf’s blue eyes, sharp and almost too aware, fixed on me. There was something haunting in its gaze, something that made me slow my steps. As I got
KANE“No!” The sharp sound jolted me awake. The sound echoed through the quiet halls, slicing through the silence of the night. Instinctively, I sat up, on high alert. That voice…I knew it so well. Catherine?I frowned, rubbing a hand across my face to shake off the last remnants of sleep. I didn’t have to think long; that shout hadn’t come from my room. It had to be hers. I Quickly, I threw off the covers, grabbing my clothes in a rush.As I pulled on my shirt, I tried mindlinking Damon, but there was nothing. Just… silence. Not the time. I stepped out into the hall, flagging down the nearest guard, who snapped to attention immediately.“Get Damon,” I ordered curtly. “Put a call through, now.”“Yes, Your Majesty,” he replied, not missing a beat, and darted off to carry out my command.I wasted no time and headed toward Catherine’s room with long and purposeful strides. My mind whirled with questions. Why had she screamed like that? Had someone dared to enter her room uninvited? My j
KANE“Kane, she's stopped breathing.” Damon confirmed my suspicion, each one like a death knell in my chest.For a split second, the world narrowed, shrank into a tunnel that ended on Catherine’s still form. My mind wouldn’t accept it. She was right there, but lifeless… still as death. Fury and panic slammed through me like a hammer, and I turned to Mia, the one person who had dared administer her “remedy.”If not for her, Catherine would still be alive awaiting better options.Without thinking, I grabbed Mia by the throat, gripping hard with fingers pressed into her skin as I dragged her closer.“What did you do?” my voice sounded venomous, barely holding back the rage that boiled within me.Mia’s eyes widened in terror and her hands instinctively clutched at my wrist as she tried to pull free. “Y-Your Majesty, I did… nothing that would hurt her,” she gasped with a strained voice. “It was just valerian and hawthorn… herbs to rouse her from a faint.”My grip tightened as I leaned in
KANEI didn’t waste a second. What was Durmas doing here? He was the least person expected in Catherine's chambers.“What do you mean by that, Durmas?” I asked, all so serious.“The Luna must have seen something she wasn't supposed to see.”“What do you mean, she ‘saw something she wasn’t supposed to see’?” I demanded coldly and impatiently as I stepped toward Durmas. “I want a clear answer.”Durmas stood right there, on serving Catherine. “There are visions, King Kane. Some, only certain people can see. Catherine, it seems, had such an encounter. But it’s not the kind you’re thinking of.”I narrowed my eyes. “And how did you know this, Durmas?”His calm expression didn’t waver. “Because I am the priest, as you well know. And it is my duty to sense these things. When such disturbances occur in the realm between the spirit and the physical, I am alerted.”My patience was wearing thin. “So you sensed it,” I said through gritted teeth. “But I want details. What did she see? How did this
KANE “Lie down beside her, Your majesty. The connection must be strong, and for that, physical proximity is crucial.” Durmas turned to look at me.I moved to the bed without a word, lying next to Catherine, who looked even paler than before. If this was what it took, I’d do it a thousand times over.Durmas began to speak in an old language, in a low, rhythmic tone, but just then, Damon’s hand shot out, gripping Durmas’s shoulder. “Stop,” he said, glancing at me with full worry. “Kane, think this through. You’re not just stepping into a dream, you’re entering her nightmare, one you might not come back from. You need to consider...”“There’s nothing to consider, Damon.” I cut him off. “Catherine is trapped in a place where I can't reach her. If there’s even a chance I can get her out, then I’m going to take it. Besides,” I smirked, trying to lighten the heaviness pressing down on us, “when have I ever backed down from a fight?”Damon’s gaze didn’t waver. “This isn’t a fight you know ho
CATHERINE I stirred awake with my head pounding and a strange lightness making it hard to focus. Blinking, I took in the room. My gaze landed on Mia, who sat by my bedside, wringing her hands nervously.“Mia?” My voice came out hoarse and weak. I swallowed hard, trying to clear the dryness in my throat. “What… what happened?”Mia’s head snapped up, heaving a sigh with an eye roll. “Oh, thank the heavens, you’re awake, my lady!” She moved closer, adjusting the blanket around me. “You’ve been unconscious for hours. We were so worried.”I furrowed my brows, trying to piece together the foggy fragments in my mind. “Unconscious? What are you talking about? Why would I...” My voice trailed off as flashes of strange images hit me: the vast, white space, the wolf, the man, the beasts chasing me. My chest tightened. “Mia, what happened to me?”Mia hesitated, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her apron. “You suddenly screamed in your sleep, my lady. It was loud enough to wake half the wing
CATHERINE Frustration clawed at me like a relentless beast as I stood outside Kane’s quarters. The guards’ impassive expressions only added fuel to the fire. My heart was a riot of emotions; fear for what might have happened to him, anger at being kept in the dark, and an overwhelming determination to see him.“I need to see him,” I repeated for what felt like the hundredth time now. “It’s urgent.”The taller guard shook his head, his tone annoyingly calm. “The king’s orders stand, my lady. No one is to disturb him.”I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. “Do you even know who I am?” I snapped. “I’m his—” I faltered, the words catching in my throat. What exactly was I to him? A reluctant bride? A pawn in his grand schemes? Whatever it was, it should have been enough. “I have the right to see him!”The other guard, a stockier man with a heavy brow, stepped forward. “We understand, my lady. But the king has given strict instructions. It’s for everyone’s safety.” he so
DAMONWhen I was talking to Zelda back in the old house I kept Catherine, I suddenly something felt… off.The silence was wrong. The place was never this quiet. Little sound we're always made, be it footwear scraping the floor, the sound of bare footsteps, something must make a sound."Excuse me for a moment," I said, bowing my head slightly before leaving Zelda to herself. She nodded, waving me off dismissively. “Don’t keep me waiting, Damon. We have much to discuss.”I stepped out into the corridor, my senses immediately on high alert. The quiet was unnatural—ominous, even. The guard I had stationed outside should have been standing alert. But I saw nothing of such.The guard I had assigned to stand watch was slumped against the wall, his weapons discarded on the floor.I rushed to him, crouching beside him. His pulse was faint but steady—alive, though unconscious. A quick inspection of the maid confirmed the same as she was also in the same position as the guard.I clenched my fis
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