Xeros Romanov I faced the council of elders, their curious eyes gleaming, excited to learn about their future queen. Their inquiries lingered in the atmosphere, escalating in urgency with each one.“How is she adapting?”“Has she shown signs of accepting her role?”“When will we meet her?”My jaw tightened as I gripped the table's edge, my knuckles turning white. Everyone was aware that she was not prepared for this situation.Not after what she had been through. And yet still, they pushed.“I will not answer any more questions,” I growled, the deep rumble in my chest silencing the room.“Your Queen is unprepared for any of that and will be taking her time until she is ready.”They shared worried looks and furrowed brows, but not one of them had the courage to confront me.They knew better.“She has been through enough,” I continued, my voice steady. “She needs time.”“Certainly, Your Majesty,” one of the older and more sensible elder ultimately stated, lowering his head in obedience.
Cassiopeia Nyx My fingers shook as I caressed my cheek softly, my wide eyes stared back at me from the clear bathroom mirror, I couldn't recognize myself, my eyes had changed from the regular dull brown to something entirely different, it looked identical to the Alpha Kings when he wanted to mark me earlier. I looked so different, almost as if I was looking at someone who looked really identical to me but wasn't me. My shock still remained as I stood—bare and naked before the full-length mirror, the large expanse of this extravagant bathroom swallowing me whole. I couldn't help the shiver or disgust that racked through me as I stared at my frail and fragile body. My ribs jutted out like a sore thumb, legs too thin, hips too wide and chest too small. But it wasn’t my body that made me feel disgusted. It was the scars that littered the front of my chest and my abdomen, a few on my legs but quite so many on my arms. I couldn't even dare to turn around to glance at my backside, If
Cassiopeia Nyx"I can never accept him Hera".Her presence was like a low hum, persistent, ever-present in the back of my mind. "Mate... bond," Hera growled softly, her voice echoing in my head with a raw, primal edge. "Him. He is ours. We are his. Forever."The way she spoke... it felt like i was talking to a different voice-different from the one earlier, her aura had changed and i could feel it, my words had evoked something in her, It was something deeper, more instinctual, something that tugged at the core of me. The Alpha King seemed to bring out her true and uncontrollable primal nature and that itself reflected in her speech and voice.I recoiled slightly, shaking my head even though she couldn't see me. "What does that even mean?" I muttered, my voice laced with frustration."Mate bond," Hera repeated, her voice lower now, almost a rumble. "Strong. Stronger than fear, stronger than pain. His soul calls to us. We must answer."Soul? Bond? I felt a wave of confusion and disbeli
Xeros Romanov"What do you mean—impromptu shift?" I barked in frustration, my heart already racing at the mere thought of Cassie's life being in danger.My mind reeled as I played the doctor's words over and over in my head. "She's weak for now, Your Majesty. If her wolf initiates a shift without her consent, her body may not survive the transformation. The strain could be too much." His tone was hesitanat, but the weight of his words felt like a blow to my chest.Cassie's body was fragile—she could barely eat, always struggling to stay awake. The scars she bore ran deeper than her skin. Hera—her wolf—had been dormant for so long that I wasn’t sure how either of them would handle this sudden resurgence. Cassie would resist Hera's primal urges, but Nox could feel Hera’s power, wild and restless, clawing for control.But Cassie… she wasn’t ready. Her human form was too broken, and the thought of her enduring a full shift terrified me more than any battle ever had. The shifting process i
Xeros RomanovHe didn't have to repeat himself before I was up and on my way, sprinting through the first floor. When I reached the balcony, without thinking twice, I leapt from the height, the cool night air rushing through my skin and hair before landing securely on my feet, Cassie still clutched tightly in my grasp.I shook her desperately as I knelt on the grass, making sure to place her directly under the moonlight.Her eyes fluttered open for a second, almost empty—devoid of life. "Am I going to die?"I couldn't help the anguish that swallowed me whole at her words, at the hope that lingered in her eyes at the thought of death."I won't let you die, love," I whispered, nuzzling my skin against her cheek. "Stay with me."The pain racked through her again, her body twisting in anguish as she writhed under me. A guttural growl escaped her lips. I could almost feel her anguish, her pain as she pushed away from me, scrambling to get to her feet only to fall back down. This time her e
Cassiopeia Nyx My world was spinning and i was desperately trying to stay afloat, my hands were clawing at the surface but the currents of the water was too strong. Hera had taken control, but even she couldn't fight off whatever had just happened. I couldn't remember how long I'd been unconscious or where I was, but the cold, damp earth beneath me felt foreign. Distant. Nothing like the woods near the Alpha king's pack lands.One moment I was in the most torturous agony, it was worse than any pain I had ever felt in my life and then the next, I was flying through the air in the arms of a foreign presence.I was so tired. Of everything. Of Life.Slowly, my senses started to return back to their respective positions and immediately the stench of rotting flesh and damp dirty soil hit me wave after wave. I had push back the viscious liquid threatening to spill from guts. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't cooperate. Hera had receded, her presence barely a whisper in the back of my m
Cassiopeia Nyx."Shhhh, Love" He whispered, patting my hair lovingly. "You're okay now, we're okay now".He placed his head in between the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply as he clutched me tightly, his knees planted firmly into the ground while i was almost hovering in the air,my body pressed tightly against his.Normally, I would be so disgusted with physical touch after what happened but it was all I seemed to want right now, I wanted him to never let go. I wanted him to hold me in his arms forever and keep me there, basking in the warmth and comfort his touch brought.Ever since Hera’s appearance, my senses had almost tripled, I could feel every inch of his skin on mine, I could hear the way his heartbeat picked up, pounding against his chest forcefully. I didn't know which one of us was In control right now, as I could feel her presence balance with mine. But I knew i wanted this."I'm sorry" he whispered, pressing a small kiss to my temple. "After seeing Nox, I know you think I'
Xeros Romanov.My fist tightened in my lap as my eyes followed her every movement. It was like I was in a daze as she stood between my legs, her scent overpowering my senses as she tried to fix up my face. I wanted to tell her that it would heal in a few hours, but I couldn't bring myself to. Instead, I relished the feeling of her soft fingers caressing my face, the closeness between us. Nox howled in joy at the back of my mind, purring in love with the feeling Cassie evoked in us.I had to physically restrain myself from touching her slender figure as she worked, her breathing shallow and her fingers trembling—she couldn't dare meet my gaze. But still, I couldn't help but stare at her, even though I knew it was unnerving.She was still scared of me, but it wasn't as alarming as before—she used to look at me like I was the scum of the earth, her worst nightmare brought to life. Now, the look in her eyes was hesitant, almost as if she was contemplating whether to hate me or accept my l
Cassiopeia Nyx"Who could be so daring to attempt an attack on the king's private quarters" Elder Yousef asked, his dark face marred with worry lines, Whispers floated all through the large space of the meeting room. They looked apprehensive, this was the first time someone had brazenly attempted an attack on the king's private quarters.Xeros and i remained quiet as we watched them mull over the information we just shared, there was nothing more to say, Xeros was unconcerned but i seemed to drift towards the worried questions the elders seemed to throw at one another.Who could it be? What made them so fearless? Could it be an uprising?The more they spoke the more my anxiety levels spiked. Xeros's grip around my wrist was firm and comforting but he was distracted, his calloused thumb circled around the soft skin of my wrist. I didn't know what exactly had consumed his thoughts. His eyes were focused on me but they were dazed."Xeros" i whispered, shifting in my seat beside him. He b
Xeros RomanovI slipped through the door with pristine agility only to be met with Cassie’s terrified gaze. She stood right before me, her eyes widened in shock before morphing into relief. Her grip around the candle stick was fierce, as if she’d been ready to fight off whatever threat she imagined might follow me in here.A sigh left me as I took in her stance, her anxiety, and the hint of fear in her gaze. My eyes swept over her form, checking for any sign of injury even though I knew without doubt she’d been safe here. Finally, my gaze settled on the candle stick, and despite the situation, a flicker of amusement surfaced.“You were going to come after me?” I asked, my voice soft but edged with amusement.Cassie nodded, her expression shifting as she let out a breath she’d been holding. “I… you were taking so long, so I thought… something had happened to you.”Without hesitation, I crossed the room in a few quick strides, reaching out to gently ease the candle stick from her hands.
Cassiopeia Nyx The room was quiet. The kind of quiet that made even the slightest sound amplified. i was curled into Xeros’s chest, my face pressed into his bare skin and his arms wrapped tightly around me. Normally, nothing brought me as much comfort as this,but as much as I tried to relax into his embrace, sleep danced just out of reach, like a strip tease, no matter how hard I tried to reach out for it, it eluded me.Something felt… wrong.My skin prickled, the hair on my body standing on edge. A strange sensation crawled its way up my spine, making the air in the room feel heavier, pressing down on me. It was just my mind playing tricks on me, maybe it was because tonight had been emotionally exhausting. But the feeling wouldn’t leave; it only grew more intense, like invisible eyes watching from somewhere in the shadows.I shifted in Xeros’s arms, careful not to wake him. His breathing deepened, but even in sleep, his arm tightened slightly around my waist, as if some part of him
Cassiopiea Nyx"It's me, Demetria." "What is she doing here?" Hera growled, her anger pushing through.Demetria nervously poked her head through the door, her dark hair cascading around her shoulders as she spotted me. Her eyes widened when she noticed who was at the door, and she took a few steps back in surprise." uhhh, good evening, your majesty," she bowed in apprehension.Xeros scowled, his eyes flashing red before he sighed, turing around to glance at me.I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to act around her. "The queen is very tired after having a long day. She doesn't want to see anyone," Xeros gritted, ignoring her greetings. Demetria nodded in understanding, but i couldn't help but notice that her shoulders drooped in dissapoinment, and her eyes grew clowdy. I hated this part of me, the one that just couldn't ignore."I'll come back some other time," She mumbled before bowing to Xeros and then to me."Goodnight Alpha, Goodnight Luna."She turned around to leave,
Cassiopeia Nyx My knees wobbled as Xeros led me back to the room. I could barely keep up, my body slumped against his as we walked. I had tried so hard to hold on during dinner, I tried not to cower away, I forced the food down my throat. The only thing helping me was Xeros, his grip around my hand grounded me, like he was sending surges of confidence through my skin. The problem wasn't the pack members or the food or the role itself, I was the problem. I just couldn't detach myself from the anxiety hovering around me.These past few days, I realized that whenever I was anxious , I seemed to close up my mental barriers. I shut Hera out. I couldn't help it, I didn't realize I was blocking her out until a few moments ago, when I wondered why she had been silent for so long. That was the same thing that was happening to me, the anxiety that I had pushed at bay, the uncertainty swirling around me—everything threatened to hold me down,to choke me. We finally reached the door and the
Xeros RomanovThis was the last step and the most difficult of all for Cassie. The first dinner. More like an introduction.The smell of spice, roasted meat and gravy wafted throughout the air as we made way towards the dinning hall. The pack members strictly adhered to rules i had set regarding Cassie but now that she was the Luna, i couldn't give them any excuse as to why they couldn't meet their Luna without tarnishing her image. Cassie’s hand shook softly in my grasp as we pushed through the doors and stepped into the dinning area, i knew she was doing her best to keep her head upright and her gaze levelled. I could tell she wanted nothing more than to cower behind me, hide away from their expectant gazes. Tonight would be our first real appearance together, a chance for Cassie to show herself to the pack, to become part of the world I’d grown up in. They all stood up as we approached, i spotted Anakin at the far end of the room, a small smile on his face. “Don't be scared,”
Cassiopeia Nyx"Do you, Cassiopeia Nyx," the elder began, turning to grab an ancient-looking dagger from the side table at the podium, "accept the role of Luna Queen, not only to this pack but to all shifters and werekind? Do you accept to be bound to this identity forever and to never be free from your responsibilities as the Luna Queen?"The elder’s eyes darkened at my silence as I stared at him, wondering why he was saying it like that. His posture and words carried an edge, as if he wanted me to fail, to feel scared. It seemed like he could see my fears and apprehension despite my facade.Xeros squeezed my hand softly, and my eyes flashed to his, settling in the comfort and reassurance in his gaze. I could almost hear his voice in my head."Don't let him scare you. I'm with you."I glanced back at the elder, whose gaze looked almost triumphant, before taking a deep breath. The murmurs in the crowd had stilled as if they were all waiting for me to speak, to make my decision."Go on
Cassiopeia Nyx "You look beautiful, Luna"I glanced at Rori, her long hair ruffled all over face as she smiled, the warmth exuding from her fought against the chills developing in my spine. My coronation day.Luna Queen.I ran my fingers over the soft fabric of the ceremonial robe that had been prepared for me. a deep green with intricate brown stitching and embroidery, at the sleeves and bottom of the robes, there was a small forest carefully embroidered. A gentle knock at the door startled me, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to see Martha, her face lit with a proud smile as she entered the room.She cooed, as she stepped closer to me."You look so beautiful dear". Her smile was uplifting, like physically uplifting. She fretted over how i was still thin but not in a condescending way, in a way that spoke of volumes of concern.Rori greeted her softly and they began to converse about me, and how to sneak more proteins into my food, totally ignoring the fact that i was standing
Xeros Romanov She tensed in my arms, her entire body freezing over in shock, our lips pressed against each others. She didn't seem to realize what she had awoken in me, The feeling of her lips against my cheek had sent Nox into a frenzy, his gripping desire to claim rising to the surface. My hand reached out to cup her face before finally moving against her lips. My entire body thrummed with desire as her soft and warm lips clashed with mine, a thousand sensations bursting in the air around us.My grip around her waist tightened possessively as i moved my lips. Everything she did, her feeble attempt to keep up with my intense pace, the way she grabbed the front of my shirt only intensified my desire and i couldn't help the deafening growl that escaped my throat. Every nerve in my body responded to her. She pulled me closer, her arms wrapping around my neck as if i was the only anchor grounding her to reality. The moment her lips moved against mine sent a jolt through me, an electri