Xeros Romanov
"Alpha King" Anakin yelled out, sucessfullly gaining my attention. I glanced at his strained form, hunched at the drivers seat. He didn't spare me a glance as his eyes were fully focused of the lands that lead to Nightwolf pack. "Is something the matter, Your Majesty". He asked after noticing that he had sucessfully gained my attention. I ignored his words, not quite in the mood to speak. A brimming trepidation was forming in me. Like something life changing was about to occur. What could possibly be life changing at a purge ceremony. The only the life changing event was that a few murderes were going to lose their heads. Well, not only their heads. From the corner of my eyes, I felt Anakin glance at me mulitple times until it was no longer ignorable. "I'm fine Beta" I stated before returning my gaze to the view from outside the car window. He took that as a cue to focus on driving. Soon enough, the borders of Nightwolf pack came into the view. I could feel the change in the dynamic, Ofcourse being an immortal Lycan, the entire pack was no match for me. But in their territory, their chances had increased from an obviously zero to a 10 percent chance. Travelling to foreign soil, weakens all wolves. Even a lycan wasn't immune to that. Once i had alighted from the car, Dimitri met me with the usual deference, his eyes scanning my face as if searching for signs of the turmoil within. "Welcome, Alpha King Xeros," he said, his voice steady, though there was an undercurrent of urgency. "The ceremony is about to begin. Please, allow me to escort you." I nodded curtly. "Lead the way, Alpha Dimitri." The path to the high table took us through the heart of the pack's compound, where members of the Night Wolf Pack had gathered in a tense, expectant crowd. The air was thick with anticipation, their murmurs barely masking an underlying excitement. My skin prickled as I followed Dimitri, my eyes flicking to the faces in the crowd, seeking a clue to the source of my unease. We reached the high table, a platform overlooking the central square where the executions would take place. The pyres were already set up, their dark forms stark against the twilight sky. I took my seat, my gaze drawn inexorably to the first pyre. The accused, a struggling young woman was dragged forward and bound to the stake. Erica Miller- Killed her husband. I had gone through her file a few days ago, she fed her husband liquid silver for months before finally killing. Before any pack could perform the purge, it had to be authorised by me and today- i was glad we had only one person to burn. I wanted to be in nightwolf no longer than I needed to be. The Last purge I had attended at Lakewood pack had 32 criminals up for burning. I had to go through each of their files, i had approved 25 and rejected 7. Dimitri stepped forward, raising his hands to silence the crowd. "Today, we witness justice," he proclaimed. "The traitors who sought to undermine our pack will face their punishment." The pack's response was a guttural cheer, the sound reverberating through my head. I watched as the pyre was lit, flames licking at the man's feet, rising swiftly to consume her. The crowd's fervor grew with the flames, their shouts of approval mingling with the crackling fire and the woman's screams. A wave of the peculiar feeling washed over me. The heaviness in my chest was almost unbearable now, my heart pounding erratically. I stood abruptly, drawing curious glances from those around me. "Excuse me," I muttered to Dimitri, who nodded in understanding. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside, a welcome contrast to the stifling heat and noise within. I took several deep breaths, trying to steady myself, but the unease only grew. I paced restlessly, my mind a whirl of fragmented thoughts and emotions. "What is wrong with me?" I wondered aloud, frustration coloring my voice. I had faced countless battles, endured unimaginable hardships, yet nothing had ever shaken me like this. I leaned against a stone pillar, closing my eyes, willing my racing heart to slow. Moments passed, and gradually, the chaotic storm within me began to subside. The night was silent now, the distant sounds of the execution muffled by the walls of the compound. I straightened, feeling a reluctant calm settle over me."Your majesty, you need to return now" Anakin's voice sounded in my head. A hint of urgency in his tone. It seemed i couldn't avoid my duties any longer. I needed to return.
With a resigned sigh, I made my way back to the hall. The scene that greeted me was eerily similar to when I had left, yet something felt profoundly different. A second pyre was prepared, and as my eyes fell on the figure bound to it, my world tilted on its axis.A second person?.
An unauthorised purge?
What exactly was Dimitri playing at?
I felt my breath catch, my vision narrowing to focus solely on the figure bound to the pyre. The noise of the crowd faded to a distant hum, and all I could hear was the pounding of my own heart. My lycan, usually a silent presence in the back of my mind, surged forward with a force that nearly knocked me off my feet."MATE" The word echoed through my consciousness, a primal howl that left no room for doubt. The heaviness in my chest, the erratic beating of my heart, it all made sense now. I had found my mate.
And then, I saw her.
She stood strapped to the pyre, her body motionless, her face turned toward the ground as if she had already accepted her fate. My breath caught in my throat, the heaviness in my chest now a crushing weight that threatened to bring me to my knees. Her scent hit me like a tidal wave—lavender and rain—a scent I had only ever dreamed of.
My Lycan howled in my mind, the sound a primal, desperate cry that echoed through my very soul. It was then that I knew, with a certainty that shook me to my core.
She was my mate.
My mate
The one I had been searching for
The crowd roared, oblivious to the storm raging within me. My world narrowed to her alone, the firelight casting shadows across her delicate features. Every instinct screamed at me to move, to tear her from that pyre before the flames could touch her.
But I was frozen, rooted to the spot, my body trembling with the force of my emotions. The pack began to chant, their voices rising in unison as they demanded her death.
And then, the torch was lit.
Xeros Romanov My Mate.Their QueenMy LunaShe would have been dead in a matter of seconds had I decided to delay.My vision blurred with rage. I felt the beast inside me clawing at the edges of my mind, demanding to be let out. Every instinct I had screamed to tear apart anyone who stood between me and her. She was mine, and they had dared to touch her. Toharm her. I could feel my control slipping, my humanity waning as the lycan within me surged forward.I don't remember crossing the distance to her. One moment I was watching in horror, and the next I was at her side, ripping through the ropes that bound her with a single swipe. Her body fell into my arms, so fragile, so still. She whimpered just barely, and it was enough to make my blood boil. I was too late. Too late to protect her from whatever hell they'd put her through."Alpha King!" a voice called out, but it barely registered in my mind. I turned, my gaze locking onto Alpha Dimitri as he approached, his face a mix of fear
Cassiopeia NyxI awoke to a world shrouded in confusion. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar, an expanse of soft gray, nothing like the damp, cracked stone I had grown accustomed to. My heart raced as I tried to piece together the fragments of my last memories. The Purge. There had been darkness, a cold finality, the sting of pain, and then…nothing. How was I still here? I was supposed to be dead.My fingers curled into the sheets beneath me, the texture soft and luxurious against my skin. I glanced around the room. This was wrong. I shouldn’t be feeling anything. I shouldn’t be…alive. Panic clawed at my chest, my breath quickening as I forced myself to sit up. My body felt strange, heavy, as though it didn’t belong to me.Before I could make sense of my surroundings, the door creaked open, and a woman hurried in. Her movements were quick but gentle, her eyes filled with something I didn’t recognize at first—pity. She looked at me like I was something fragile, something broken. “ Oh
Cassiopeia Nyx.Another scream ripped from my throat before I could stop it, piercing the air between us. His grip on my wrist slackened, and in that moment, I could see the shift in his eyes—a flicker of concern breaking through the mask of intensity. It was the kind of expression I had only seen a few times in my life, and it unnerved me even more. He stepped back as if my fear had burned him, and I took the opportunity, heart pounding, to scramble away.I barely made it to the edge of the bed before I felt the tears blurring my vision. My body shook, each sob tearing through me as the reality of my situation crashed down. My mate. The Alpha King. Bound to him for the rest of my life, just like my mother was to my father. The thought made me tremble harder. I could see it so clearly—the endless years of pain, the torment that was sure to follow. My father’s cruelty was legendary, but this man… this Alpha King… he was a nightmare I hadn't even had the courage to dream of.I heard him
Xeros Romanov Sitting by Cassie's door, I felt trapped like an animal in a cage. The wolf inside me was uneasy, moving back and forth, its claws scratching at the interior of my head. Though she was right behind the door, it seemed like there was a vast space separating us, one that I couldn't navigate without causing harm. All my instincts were telling me to approach her, to embrace her, to shield her, but I was unable to. I would not. When she gazed at me with those eyes filled with fear, it was not the right time. This was not how it was meant to be. When I first discovered she was my mate, the connection clicked into place so strongly that I was almost brought to my knees. The desire to stay by her side, to claim her as my own, to shield her from all dangers and threats was overwhelming. However, I was surprised by the fear in her eyes when she recognized me. More than just a partner, but a leader of the pack. And not any Alpha, but 'the' Alpha King himself. His partner. She ap
Cassiopeia Nyx My fingers shook as I curled into myself on the bed, rocking my entire figure as if I could shake myself out of this nightmare. The Alpha King. My mate. I had lived my entire life surrounded by alpha males, but none like him. They ruled with strength, but he ruled with fear, and now my fate was tied to his—a fate I would never escape. I had been surrounded by alpha males all my life, and now I was bound to the worst and cruelest of them all. What more could the Moon Goddess want from me? Had my birth offended her so deeply? First, she let my pack shun me, marked me with disgrace. And now, she’d cursed me to this fate, bound to a man whose name alone made wolves tremble. Did she really hate my existence so much that she had to line up all these tragedies for me? Was I really cursed? Did I really deserve all this? Maybe I did. My life began with the end of another. A frustrated cry escaped my lips as I fisted my hair. I wouldn’t even be having this thought if I
Xeros Romanov. I knew my hesitation and anxiety were visible. I couldn't control it. I was hesitant to see her or to even look at her because all that would stare back at me would be nothing but hatred. Mary made sure to inform me that sometimes people who have endured such a brute amount of torture never heal and end up hating everyone around them. Their mental health was fragile,most of them saw the world as a prison and couldn't wait to get off it. I was scared that if Cassie saw me , she would be reminded of her pain and by the heavens, she had been tortured enough, I wanted to spare her that. But i still couldn't stand by and watch her starve to death even if she insisted she wasn't going to eat. "I'm sorry," I apologized softly before stepping in without her consent. The fear that was always present in her eyes seemed to deepen even more and that only sent tendrils of pain towards my heart, the tendrils wrapped around and tugged at my heart in a painful fashion. The door
Cassiopeia NyxWhat have I done?My eyes flickered to where my trembling hand rested against his solid chest. I knelt beside him on the bed, my legs tucked awkwardly under me, frozen in shock. The room was silent, broken only by the sound of our ragged breaths. His came out in huffs while mine ceased completely. The ringing in my head grew louder until it vibrated through my entire being, a cruel reminder of what a horrible person I was.He was hurt.I hurt him.He let out a weary sigh as he raised his palm to encase mine, which was still wrapped around the hilt of the knife. He gently freed my fingers from their tight grasp, letting them fall limply by my side.He let out a painful grunt, pulling the knife from his chest in a single, swift motion. Warm, sticky blood splattered across my face, its metallic scent filling the air as crimson soaked into the white sheets, transforming them into a nightmarish canvas.My fingers immediately reached for him as the blood seeping from the woun
Xeros Romanov The sensual scent of Lavender was thick in the air as I forced my eyes open, immediately landing on the small figure that lay huddled into the wall. She had curled so far away from me, almost morphing into the wall like it was a second skin. I inched closer slowly, the sheets moving under my weight as I moved closer until her sleeping face was opposite mine. Despite the bruises and the blood that marred her face, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, her beauty was so pure that even the cruelty of people could not diminish it. With a longing sigh, I inched my finger closer to her face, aching to feel the softness of her skin again, like I did a few hours ago. If only she knew that I would let her stab me a thousand times over so I could revel in the serenity and peace her touch set into my soul. I wanted her to open her eyes and let me see the warmth she held for me in them, I wanted them to mirror into her heart, expressing her love for me, e
Cassiopeia Nyx"You can’t handle it."My heart constricted painfully in my chest as I leaned against the wooden door of his office. I wanted to run back into the room and implore him to tell me he didn't mean what he said, but the way he enunciated it, without hesitation… it made me believe that he really meant it.I had assumed that he didn't care that I wasn't strong enough, that his love for me had absolved me from all guilt, but now I see that wasn’t the case. It took a lot for him to slip up and show his true feelings.I thought I knew pain. I thought I had endured everything that could be thrown at me. But this? This felt different.It wasn’t physical, like the scars that marred my skin. It wasn’t something I could fight with persistence or defiance. It was deeper, more personal—a wound to the very core of who I was.I could handle him.But he didn’t believe that.Fuck. Even I didn't believe it. I was trying so hard to be strong, and his support made everything feel easier, but
Xeros RomanovThe moment she nestled into my arms, everything unraveled. The heat of her body, the soft tremble of her fingers as they wrapped around my torso, the scent of her filling my senses—it all became too much. Cassiopeia. My mate.My queen.Immediately, I recognized Nox's desire. I tried to run away, to put some distance between us, but it was futile. She was a force I couldn’t resist, pulling me in, tearing apart every shred of resolve I had left. And now, she was here, standing in front of me, despite me telling her to stay away... looking up with those eyes—filled with longing, trust, and something else… something dangerous.Desire.I could feel the heat radiating off her, searing my skin as if it were my own. My wolf, the primal force within me, roared in approval, clawing at the edges of my mind, desperate to claim what was ours. To mark her, to bind her to me in every way.But I couldn’t.The images flashed through my mind, unbidden and relentless—the scars that marred h
Cassiopeia NyxSomething was wrong.Not with Xeros—but with me.An unusual burning sensation spread through my entire body, starting from my lower abdomen. It was beyond what words could describe. It spread like a raging prairie fire, doubling in intensity with every wave of the wind and every second I remained still, threatening to swallow me whole. I could barely think straight as I watched the elders file out of the meeting hall, still whispering amongst themselves about Xeros's sudden and urgent disappearance.At the thought of him, my body began to ache even more. Hera growled ferociously from her position at the back of my mind. It was more feral than anything she had ever expressed to me, even when she tried to take over my body. The more she growled and pushed at me, the more the pain increased.My knees shook as I pushed myself up from the seat, beads of perspiration trickling down my chest and stomach.Where was Xeros?A groan tumbled from my lips as I forced myself to my fe
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,”