Hope's POVMy body ached badly by the time I woke up: my ribs hurt, probably from when I had fallen, and my back hurt as well. What was worse was the headache that threatened to split my head in unequal halves. I struggled to stand from the bed…A bed? I was on a bed? I darted around quickly as I took in my surrounding. The walls were painted, but the edges of the paint peeled off revealing the plastered walls underneath. There were ugly wet stains on the “what-was-once” white ceiling above.“Where am I?” I asked myself as I readjusted myself on the bed, trying not to move too quickly in fear that my head would fall off. My stomach rumbled, my core tightening as hunger ravaged my entire frame, I felt like I hadn't eaten in days.I gently stood up, placing my feet on the floor and the sharp edge dug into my soles. I winced in pain as my eyes adjusted to the proper condition of the room, if I could call it a room. It looked like it hadn't been lived in for years and had been carelessly
Hope's POV“Babe, I think she's ignoring you,” she whined again. I heard the chair scrape along the floor and his footsteps. My heart raced in my chest but I sat still, waiting.I felt his thick fingers wrap along my braids and yank it backward, slamming my head into the metal crown of the chair. I winced in pain as he tugged on my hair, afraid that my scalp would come out.“Did you hear what I fucking said!?” He shouted into my ear and my hands rushed to grab his hand that was yanking my hair violently. I gritted my teeth, determined not to give an answer, but my head burned from the places my hair roots were.I heard another scrape of the chair and I knew Kaia had gotten up, she walked around the table and my eyes followed her quick movements. She walked close to me and then…smack.The hall echoed with the sound of her hand connecting with my face: my cheek burned, but my eyes burned more with the reserved tears I didn't want to give them the comfort of seeing me shed.She tucked he
Hope's POVMy heart was racing as I sat on my bed, waiting. The sun had fully reclined behind the horizon, giving way to the cloak of darkness and I knew the time for the wedding rites was coming. With each minute that passed, it felt almost impossible to breathe any longer.I didn't know how to feel: excited or scared at the events that were unfolding. I was excited because I would be with my mate even though I hadn't fully gotten my wolf yet and scared because I didn't know what he was capable of.After the Alpha had told us about his plans during dinner, my stomach twisted into nervous knots as I observed the faces of Orion and Kaia. Orion had shoved his chair backward and had left his food untouched, storming out of the room. His father didn't bother to call him back, but continued to eat his food unbothered his son's reaction.When I slowly turned toward Kaia, I found her lethal gaze fixed on me. I could read the amount of hate that was pouring out of her darkened orbs and it mad
Orion's POVStanding by the altar and waiting for the ungrateful human, anger coursed through my veins like it was being pumped by my heart. The entire pack and I had been waiting for over an hour, but Hope still hadn't shown up . How dare she? What audacity did she have to keep all of us here? To keep my father waiting!?Inasmuch as I was livid at such outright disrespect to my father and the entire pack, there was a bud of happiness springing at the base of my chest. If she didn't show up in the next few minutes, then the rite would be shifted and the thought of not being tied to such a being was relieving and very freeing.I clenched my fist around the seat I was sitting on, my eyes darted toward the right where my father sat. From the grim expression on his face, I could tell that he was unhappy as well. I didn't want to be the one to tell him that this was his idea in the first place, I knew from the very start that it was a bad idea. If we had killed Hope for her treachery, it w
Hope's POVA frigid substance drenched my entire frame, yanking me from the clutches of darkness. I gasped awake, my eyes fluttering open as my skin tightened due to the drastic shift in temperature. My eyes burned harshly as the light from the single bulb swaying carelessly above, invaded it.I winced in pain as the water seeped into my eyes, causing me to blink rapidly to wad the feeling. A stinging feeling rode up my arm as I flexed my wrist to try and rid myself from the entrapment. I rocked back and forth but the stinging sensation ravished my torso and my feet.When my eyes didn't hurt as much, I squinted through my eyelids, getting accustomed to the lighting: my hands were tethered with chaffing ropes to the arms of the chair, round my midsection and my feet. My heart raced in my constricting chest as the cold seeped into my skin. It felt almost impossible to breathe and the more I forced the air through my nose, the more I felt it clog.My eyes focused on the room, but I could
Orion’s POVThe noise from the crowd drowned as soon as the last person who walked into the inner chamber slammed the door shut. The door reverberates as it seals and the attention of everyone turns to my father who looks uneasy.I could hear the heavy breaths of my father as he took calculated paces, his vibrating hands alternating between his lip and his hip. His eyes, burning with fury, would occasionally wander toward me and then Kaia, but stayed longer on her like hebhad things to say butbwas willing himself to keep quiet.Then, like a rubberband that had been stretched for far too long, he snapped.“How dare you embarrass the entire royal house like that!? Why didn’t you show it to us privately first before causing an uproar in such a deplorable manner!?” My father’s voice tend to deepen into an almost guttural growl when he was angry, and right now, he was livid.I understood why he was angry, he was saying that it wasn’t a smart move that Kaia made to rouse the entire crowd li
Hope’s POVI stared as hard as I could through the dim lighting into the mask of the man in front of me, I needed to know if he was joking or serious about what he had just said. He shouldn’t even be saying such out-loud, no matter how upset anyone was about the rulership, speaking ill about them was tantamount to treason, but I had a feeling that this man didn’t care.“Ki-kill the Alpha?” The words stumbled out of my mouth, it didn’t make sense, what had he done?“Yes, and you will help me.”He had done a lot, I know for sure but…was it even sensible for me to feel some sort of pity for him or some sadness for the fact that this man wanted to kill him? The same man that had pronounced that I should be killed without the opportunity of a fair trial? A trial that they had conducted without hearing my side of the story?The father to a son who hated me with so much passion? I wanted nothing more than to punish him, to make him feel what I had felt all those years ago when I lost my fath
Orion's POVI felt my entire body run cold immediately after the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn't have disrespected him in the presence of everyone, but I was so angry. Why was he blindly following tradition when the evidence was glaring?His attitude was the reason my mother was no more, he had killed her!My father didn't reply to my words and his silence was becoming unnerving as each moment passed. He moved slowly toward a warrior who was holding his chalice on a silver platter, picked up the cup and drank wine content in it.“All of you, leave us,” he said it so calmly that the words drew goosebumps from my skin. He was never this calm, I was used to him shouting and demanding things to be done his way, but not this. I would prefer if he shouted and demanded I apologized in front of everyone, but not this.The people in the room bowed slowly and left.“You too, Kaia.”I turned behind and saw Kaia still standing by my side, her eyes flicked toward me as if asking if she sho
Hope's POVI let the events of the day swirl down the drain with the water. I wish I could wash myself clean of everything, every scent of him, every touch, every kiss. It was too difficult to forget that night, how his touches had made me feel so important, how his kisses made me feel like I was the most important girl in the world.My hands scurried down to my belly, the only thing keeping me alive. It was almost impossible to think that something was growing inside me, a life of another form. A few months ago, I didn't even think I was going to see another day, but now, I had found my mate and I was going to be a mother.I stepped out of the bathroom, already used to the depressing nature of the walls and the sometimes awful smell that would breeze through the windows. At least, it was better than sleeping on a cold cell floor.I spied the black phone Draven had given to me and it roped with it, a memory of the entire day. I didn't know what to think of him, he was…eccentric to say
Orion's POVI stared at the phone and read the message over and over again, trying to make sense of what exactly it was. “Pay me or I'll tell Orion everything you did to his father and who you truly are!”My father? What did she do to my father? I didn't know how long she had been standing in the doorway till she ripped her phone out of my hand and my eyes landed on hers.“What is the meaning of that message?” I flung my feet off the bed and stood, moving close to her.“How dare you go through my phone? Did you read my messages? You don't have that right!” She yelled back at me and I was stunned. Was that all she would say?“Look, I'm sorry, okay? But who the hell sent you that text message and what did you do to my father?”She scoffed and rolled her eyes, walking toward her closet. I was not done with having this conversation. I trailed her as she slid into the small gap she opened at the door and almost slammed it in my face.I wedged my feet into the gap. The sting that racked my
Orion's pov I gritted my teeth, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles ached. My mind kept replaying the way that bastard had looked at her, the way she let him—like a desperate whore. The sun was a blur of my rage and betrayal, blinding me as he drove home. I had ordered my men to shove themselves into the convoy because I wanted to be alone with Hope to fully address her as the vermin she was. The warriors had shared understanding glances and obeyed. Some subtly shook their heads knowing what was to come. I ignored it, I didn't give two fucks what people thought, but if they dared step out of line once, they would face immediate subjugation. "Slut." The word left my mouth in a sneer. "I should’ve known. Should’ve listened to Kaia." Kaia had warned me about the child, she had asked vital questions but I didn't listen. The more I thought about it, the worse it got. She had slept with that man even before our wedding. And now I was supposed to believe this child was mine? My stomach
Kaia’s POVAs soon as the door closed and Orion was gone, I flung the sticky sheets off my body. I had to pour a bit of water on the sheets and my body to ensure I was able to pull off the perspiration. There was gentle knock on the door and my heart skipped a beat, was that Orion? Had he come back to check on me so soon?“Who is it?” My eyes widened when I remembered I was supposed to be sick.I coughed and asked the question again in a sick voice.“Luna, I was asked to bring you some soup?”Oh, the maid. I scoffed and rolled my eyes, quickly changing from my sticky clothes before moving into the bathroom.“Come in and leave it on the table,” I shouted, then slammed the door. I heard the other door open and the footsteps of the maid as she walked into the room and dropped whatever she was holding.I pressed my ears against the door, straining to hear anything else after the door closed again for the second time. There was no one in there, I breathed a sigh of relief. I ripped the clo
Hope's POVI stared at his image in the mirror, my brain feeling like a blank canvas and my body was an empty husk. I turned toward the door, glancing at every corner of the room: there was no one else in the room with us. I swallowed hard and turned off the tap.“The men's bathroom is the other way,” I spoke softly without looking up. I didn't trust myself to hold eye contact with him, especially when that proud smirk was on his face.“I'm not lost, Hope,” he said. I didn't like how confident he sounded, it unnerved me for some reason. The way he said my name like he had known me forever.I quickly dried my hands and pushed myself away from the sink. I hit his body and I froze, he had moved closer to me…too close for comfort. He bent and I felt the tip of his nose grazing my skin, my entire body went rigid, like I had swallowed bags of concrete.“You smell good,” his hot breath fanned my entire neck. What was this? What was I doing? Orion was waiting for me and I was carrying his chi
Hope's POV“Emberfang?” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. A chill ran down my spine, seizing my entire body in an icy grip. No. This had to be a joke. Was Lucian toying with me? My breath came in short, shaky bursts as I slowly unwrapped my arms from Orion, dread clawing at my chest. My lips trembled, fear settling deep in my bones at the thought of returning to that hellhole—the place that had broken me piece by piece, the dungeon where I had wasted away for years. I would rather die than go back.“Yes…” the man drawled, his voice dripping with something unreadable.“Is your mate alright?” the so-called Alpha asked, his eyes flickering toward me. Before I could react, Orion’s hand shot out, gripping mine in a bruising hold. I winced, startled by the sudden pressure, my pulse hammering against my skin. My gaze darted between Orion and Draven, my chest rising and falling in quick, panicked bursts. I didn’t want to be here.“She’s not my mate,” Orion muttered in disgust.T
Orion’s POV“Babe, are you sure you can’t join me?” My voice was barely above a whisper as my fingers traced gentle circles on Kaia’s stomach. Her body tensed, her breath hitching before she let out a small, pained groan.She curled into herself, drawing her knees toward her chest as if the movement would somehow shield her from the pain wracking her body. My heart clenched at the sight. I hated seeing her like this. Hated how powerless it made me feel. No matter how strong I was, no matter how many battles I’d won, I couldn’t fight this for her.“I’m sorry, my love,” she murmured, her voice raspy. She dragged a trembling hand to her mouth, barely stifling a violent cough. “I know I promised to be there, but I just… I can’t.”I exhaled through my nose, swallowing the frustration that threatened to rise. It wasn’t her fault. It never was.“Hey, it’s okay.” I reached for the glass of water on the side table and brought it to her lips. “Here, drink.”She took slow, measured sips before w
Hope’s POV“What the fuck do you mean she’s pregnant? How is that possible?”Kaia’s scream cut through the room the moment the door slammed shut. The sound rattled in my skull, but I could barely process it. My body swayed, unsteady, as I stepped forward. My eyes burned, blurred with tears—unless that was the blade the Priestess had turned to water, slicing through me in ways I couldn’t comprehend.Each step forward sent a sharp chill through my skin, a reminder of how drained I was. Physically. Mentally. A cruel laugh bubbled up in my throat, bitter and jagged. I was supposed to be dead by now. I had been ready—ready for that quiet, eternal escape. But instead, I was here. Alive. And now… I was pregnant?A sickness churned in my stomach, and suddenly, the nausea I’d been feeling made sense. The strange sensitivity, the exhaustion. But how? Why?“The Alpha did sleep with her, didn’t he?” The Priestess's voice was calm, but her eyes flickered between Orion and me, searching for somethi
Orion's POV When I woke up, everything felt foggy to me. My head was spinning and there was a steady throb at the back of my skull. Every time I moved, it felt like my brain was being scrambled and juggled around by some circus freak.I groaned as I moved to stretch, that's when my hand hit a body. I froze when I did and immediately concluded that it was a figment of my imagination. There was no way there was any other person in this bed.I remembered clearly that Kaia had left, she had stormed out of the room in anger, or had I imagined it? I turned slowly toward the ruffled sheets and I saw her face, Hope's face. I shrieked and gasped, my breath clogging in my throat.No, this can't be happening. She isn't really real, no, no. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding faster than my thoughts, maybe if I just closed and opened, I wouldn't see her again.I would see only the ruffled sheets from me sleeping peacefully last night caused by a reckless sleep and nothing else. My eyes slowly pa