|Oliver|I went back to class like nothing happened after straightening my shirt and Annabel welcomed me with a warm smile, which I returned cheerfully. It would be a hassle if she finds out Bernard had disturbed me once again so I decided to just put an act up.During the classes, I could sense Bernard’s eyes on him. He kept staring at me and anytime I turned back to confirm, I was right.“It’s best you enjoy the fear of the unknown,” the end of my pen connected with my mouth as I chewed on it wickedly.****After school, I realized that my mother had sent over invitations for my birthday to the school. Only specific people were invited and I realized that Annabel and Bernard had gotten an invitation, thanks to their parents’ influences.“I still have to give her one by myself.” I concluded and waited in front of the dining hall till she came for dinner“My birthday is next Saturday. I am inviting you as my special guest, do you want to come?” I extended the red envelope to her in f
Oliver had noticed Annabel’s sudden coldness. She barely acknowledged him in class; her once warm and teasing remarks were replaced by curt responses or complete silence. But he didn’t let it get to him. He understood the situation and figured out that her engagement to Bernard was more than just a formality so it would make no sense to let him shake her.It was an unspoken boundary and a reminder of the impossibility of what he wanted. He respected that, even if it hurt badly.He tried to keep his interactions with her light, as if her coldness was nothing more than a passing mood. Every time she ignored him, he reminded himself of her obligations and of the weight she carried as her father’s heiress.If she needed to distance herself from him to fulfill those expectations, he wouldn’t make it harder for her. Still, her distant gaze and clipped words gnawed at him more than he cared to admit.****The day of his eighteenth birthday arrived, and the entire pack was abuzz with prepara
The party was in full swing, but Oliver’s sharp senses remained attuned to Bernard’s every move. Bernard’s smug demeanor and territorial attitude grated on his nerves so he didn’t let him escape his radar.This was Oliver’s night, his chance to set the tone for his future as Alpha, and Bernard needed to be reminded of that. However, he was doing all he could to hold back since he wouldn’t want to put the whole pack in danger just because of his own greed.He was coming back from where he went to greet the elders of the council when he witnessed Bernard dragging Annabel to the quiet side of the hall. Quickly, I followed them to see what it was all about and ended up hearing him lash out at her.“You told me that you were done with him? Why are you suddenly rushing to greet him alone back there? Were you hoping he would hug you and hold you in his arms?”Annabel didn’t say a word to all that he was saying. She just folded her arms across her chest and watched him fume and rant till he w
The night had taken on a strange quality, as if the air itself carried whispers of secrets too old to be spoken aloud. Annabel stood in the garden, gazing at the table adorned with trinkets meant for guests to admire and take as mementos. Her fingers hovered over a bracelet made of silver and lined with tiny, delicate runes. It was simple yet conplex, catching the light in a way that made it seem almost alive.Without thinking, she picked it up. The moment her fingers closed around it, the world seemed to shift. The cool night air grew heavy, and her vision blurred as an intense wave of dizziness washed over her. Images flooded her mind, fragmented and disjointed at first but quickly taking shape.***She saw a woman with striking green eyes clutching a baby to her chest. Fear etched deep lines into her face as she whispered hurried words of comfort to the child. The woman was hiding, her breathing shallow as she crouched in the corner of a dimly lit room. Footsteps echoed, drawing c
The morning sun broke over the horizon, casting a golden glow on the expansive training grounds where Oliver would begin his ascension tests. The air was crisp, alive with anticipation. This was the day he’d been preparing for and the day to prove his worth as the future Alpha of the pack. Despite the weight of expectation, Oliver stood tall with his chin up.He had prepared for this all his life and had come this far not to be intimidated by the scary tests. He just have to do his best and let the heavens deserve the rest.“Do you like your clothes? Or would you like to get it changed?” his attendant whispered by his side but he just shook his head“This is perfect” his gaze fixed on the mirror in front of him.As he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, the soft sound of footsteps reached him. He turned to see his mother approaching, her presence was commanding yet comforting. Her auburn hair was swept neatly into a bun, and her eyes held a warmth that cut through the tension in his ches
Lucas stormed through the dimly lit halls of the estate, his fists clenched at his sides. The news of Oliver’s steady success in the tests was a bitter pill he couldn’t swallow. How was it possible? Despite his injury, Oliver continued to prove himself, his strength and determination shining through every challenge.“This has to stop, I cannot just stand and watch him take what belongs to me!” Lucas growled under his breath as he entered the servants' quarters. His sharp eyes locked onto a young maid who froze under his furious gaze.“You,” he snapped, pointing a finger at her. “You’re going to help me.”His movement started closing in on the maid who trembled at his presence. He had always been a terror whenever he was around. Everyone runs from his gaze, attacks, or presence because he picks offense at any little thing.One thing about Lucas was that he doesn’t hide his jealousy or hatred for Oliver. He has always been vocal about how he wants the throne and would do anything to get
Annabel sat at her desk in the back corner of the classroom, staring blankly at her notes. The words on the page blurred together as her mind wandered, consumed by thoughts of Oliver. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since his birthday celebration, and the tension gnawed at her. Was he okay? Had the tests begun? The questions plagued her, but she couldn’t allow herself to reach out. Her father’s expectations and Bernard’s constant presence weighed heavily on her.Across the room, Bernard’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Annabel,” he called softly, leaning closer. “You’ve been quiet all day. Are you feeling alright?”She forced a polite smile, nodding. “I’m fine. Just tired.”She didn’t have any strength to fight him. The more she ignores him or frowns, the deeper he would press so it was better for her to just give out the smile he wanted to see.Bernard didn’t seem convinced even with the smile but he left. Later that afternoon, he approached her in the hallway, holding out a
Lisa stood before her ornate mirror, the soft glow of candlelight casting a golden hue over her room. Her emerald gown clung perfectly to her frame, the shimmering fabric accentuating her curves. She adjusted her earrings with steady hands, her reflection revealing a look of determination.Tonight was the council meeting where Oliver would formally address the pack. Rumors had swirled about him confirming his mate, but Lisa dismissed them as nonsense. She was certain that Oliver had no one in his heart, not any she’s aware of. She had worked tirelessly to position herself close to him, earning his trust and proving her loyalty to the pack. This evening felt like the culmination of her efforts. It was the night she would inch closer to her goal."He’ll see it," she murmured to herself, smoothing the folds of her dress. "He’ll see that I’m the one who belongs by his side."With a final glance in the mirror, she turned and left her room, her heart light with hope and expectation.***Th
“Nyssa? What do you mean you’ll go crazy if you don’t see her? How do you even know of her in the first place? She’s not someone just anyone can come across.” Oliver fired his questions at Annabel, his voice laced with both frustration and alarm.Annabel, still shaken from her dream, barely flinched at his reaction. She had spent the past few days trying to decipher whatever all the dreams she kept having meant, but nothing made sense to her.It wasn’t until that afternoon she finally got a hint of where to start from. The wolf had told her that everything she wanted to know will be revealed to her by Nyssa and she has no choice but to see her, and Oliver was the only one who could make that happen.“It doesn’t matter how I know her. I just do,” she shot back. “I need to see her, Oliver. You have to take me.”Oliver shook his head, his jaw tightening. “That’s not possible.”Annabel narrowed her eyes. “Not possible? You mean you won’t do it.”He sighed and turned away. “You don’t under
Oliver never let Annabel’s coldness get to him. He was just fixated on his own things and prepared aggressively for the final exams. Bernard, on the other hand, was always giving a gift or the other to Annabel so he could buy her love and favor.It was obvious to everyone that she was only tolerating him and he needed him just as he needed her.She was reading in the library when Bernard appeared with a box of chocolates to cheer her on but she was not in the mood to be disturbed, thanks to her dream that had been disturbing her for several days continuously.“Can you get this out of my face? I can’t deal with you right now,” she remarked, pushing it back to him"Oh, come on, Annabel. It’s time you stopped playing hard to get. We will get married anyways so why don’t you start tolerating me?”Those words hit Annabel on the wrong side. She flared up to the surprise of everyone, Bernard included.“Do you think all I care about is the damn engagement to you? I don’t care about you or you
For several days, Lisa couldn’t get the rejection out of her head. Nothing was pleasing to her. She refused all the water and food that were served and just got herself curled up under her blanket.Her mother, who was worried about her health, couldn’t bear her daughter sulking terribly because of a mate that didn’t belong to her in the first place.“Are you going to spend all week on the bed? I think you should get over this and move on to the next thing. As long as this doesn’t affect your relationship with Luna.”That only added fuel to the fire. Lisa flew up in anger. Her face laced with dried tears that strode down her cheeks in the past hours.“Do you know what this means? I sacrificed a lot to be by his side. How could he be so wicked? His mate rejected him; did he have to chase her over and over? I am here looking at him so why is he not looking at me too? I want to die right now.” As soon as she completed the sentence, she dived back under the blanket and continued her tears.
The late-night silence in Annabel’s room was broken by her sharp gasp as she bolted upright, her chest heaving with each passing second. Her sheets were twisted around her legs, damp with sweat, and her heartbeat drummed loudly in her ears. The dream—no, the memory, as it felt more and more like, was still vivid. She had been standing in a forest bathed in silver moonlight, her hands outstretched as if summoning something. Shadows danced around her, and a voice she didn’t recognize kept whispering her name.But just as she thought she could grasp the meaning, the image dissolved into darkness, leaving her with only fragments she couldn’t piece together. This wasn’t the first time. For weeks now, these dreams had come, each one pulling her deeper into confusion and fear.She threw her legs over the side of the bed and walked to the mirror. Her reflection stared back, but it didn’t feel like her own. Her hazel eyes looked darker, almost stormy, and her usually calm expression seemed ten
The corridors of the school buzzed with the usual energy as students prepared for the final stretch of exams. Oliver walked through the hallways with quiet determination, his focus set on his studies. After the whirlwind of emotions and confrontations at his birthday party, he had resolved to put his energy into his academics and let other matters settle themselves. His decision wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.A lot was going through his mind as he found his way to class. So many tasks were ahead of him. Once the final exams were out of the way, he would have to advance to Alpha classes. He would be attending meetings with his father, ruling over some affairs, and learning several things before his ascension in six months’ time, when he’s expected to have found a mate.He wasn’t sure if anything would change between him and Annabel because she seemed to have made her resolve and was firm with it. She suddenly became distant and would not even spare him a glance. The fact that she c
Lisa stood before her ornate mirror, the soft glow of candlelight casting a golden hue over her room. Her emerald gown clung perfectly to her frame, the shimmering fabric accentuating her curves. She adjusted her earrings with steady hands, her reflection revealing a look of determination.Tonight was the council meeting where Oliver would formally address the pack. Rumors had swirled about him confirming his mate, but Lisa dismissed them as nonsense. She was certain that Oliver had no one in his heart, not any she’s aware of. She had worked tirelessly to position herself close to him, earning his trust and proving her loyalty to the pack. This evening felt like the culmination of her efforts. It was the night she would inch closer to her goal."He’ll see it," she murmured to herself, smoothing the folds of her dress. "He’ll see that I’m the one who belongs by his side."With a final glance in the mirror, she turned and left her room, her heart light with hope and expectation.***Th
Annabel sat at her desk in the back corner of the classroom, staring blankly at her notes. The words on the page blurred together as her mind wandered, consumed by thoughts of Oliver. She hadn’t seen or heard from him since his birthday celebration, and the tension gnawed at her. Was he okay? Had the tests begun? The questions plagued her, but she couldn’t allow herself to reach out. Her father’s expectations and Bernard’s constant presence weighed heavily on her.Across the room, Bernard’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Annabel,” he called softly, leaning closer. “You’ve been quiet all day. Are you feeling alright?”She forced a polite smile, nodding. “I’m fine. Just tired.”She didn’t have any strength to fight him. The more she ignores him or frowns, the deeper he would press so it was better for her to just give out the smile he wanted to see.Bernard didn’t seem convinced even with the smile but he left. Later that afternoon, he approached her in the hallway, holding out a
Lucas stormed through the dimly lit halls of the estate, his fists clenched at his sides. The news of Oliver’s steady success in the tests was a bitter pill he couldn’t swallow. How was it possible? Despite his injury, Oliver continued to prove himself, his strength and determination shining through every challenge.“This has to stop, I cannot just stand and watch him take what belongs to me!” Lucas growled under his breath as he entered the servants' quarters. His sharp eyes locked onto a young maid who froze under his furious gaze.“You,” he snapped, pointing a finger at her. “You’re going to help me.”His movement started closing in on the maid who trembled at his presence. He had always been a terror whenever he was around. Everyone runs from his gaze, attacks, or presence because he picks offense at any little thing.One thing about Lucas was that he doesn’t hide his jealousy or hatred for Oliver. He has always been vocal about how he wants the throne and would do anything to get
The morning sun broke over the horizon, casting a golden glow on the expansive training grounds where Oliver would begin his ascension tests. The air was crisp, alive with anticipation. This was the day he’d been preparing for and the day to prove his worth as the future Alpha of the pack. Despite the weight of expectation, Oliver stood tall with his chin up.He had prepared for this all his life and had come this far not to be intimidated by the scary tests. He just have to do his best and let the heavens deserve the rest.“Do you like your clothes? Or would you like to get it changed?” his attendant whispered by his side but he just shook his head“This is perfect” his gaze fixed on the mirror in front of him.As he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt, the soft sound of footsteps reached him. He turned to see his mother approaching, her presence was commanding yet comforting. Her auburn hair was swept neatly into a bun, and her eyes held a warmth that cut through the tension in his ches