Eleanor's pov
The last thing I remembered before the darkness swllowed my consciousness was me fighting for my life in the dark river and now, I was alive and not just alive but I was on my way to Sebastian's pack.
How in the world did this happen?
I looked down at my hands. The hands my rapists had stabbed when I tried to claw at their faces. There were no scars or bruises on them instead they were silky and smooth. I felt my face. I was warm and alive. The Moon Goddess really granted me my request.
The carriage hurtled to a stop and the horses snorted loudly. We had arrived at the BloodMoon pack.
The carriage door was held open and the coachman, a middle-aged man in black uniform, held out his hand for me.
“We're here, my lady.” Amelia said quietly.
For a moment, I hesitated.
“My lady?” The coachman repeated, his voice snapping me from my intrusive thoughts.
“Right.” I took his hand and was helped down from the carriage.
Amelia came down and held an umbrella over my head. “Shall we, My Lady?”
“S - Sure.”
The tailor's shop was just a few paces ahead and as usual, ladies flooded the entrance. They always did this time of the year. No female wolf missed this season's celebration — The Mating Ceremony. It was a period where everyone would meet their fated mates. 2 years ago, I was excited like they were. I danced like there was no tomorrow and I drank whatever wine was given to me. That same year, I thought I met my mate, not knowing I met the devil himself.
“Make way! Coming through!” Amelia yelled over the uproar. She grabbed my worst as she skewered through the crowd of ladies. Finally, we got in.
“Phew!” Amelia wiped an invisible sweat off her brow. “That was close.”
“I know, right?” I smiled, not because it was funny but because of what was about to happen next.
“Sister?”
“Eleanor!”
Came the voices of two people I never thought I'd see again — Gerta, my seamstress and Loretta, my backstabbing sister.
“You're late, Eleanor.” Loretta linked arms with me. “What happened? I told you to meet me an hour ago.”
Amelia answered in my stead. “She wanted to have one more taste of my apple pie.”
“You’re a greedy little one, aren't you?” Loretta pinched my cheek playfully.
I slapped her hand away, startling her. “Gerta, I want to see my dress, please.”
“Right this way, Eleanor.” Gerta led the way and I followed behind her to the dressing room.
My dress — a pink ball gown shimmering with diamonds and festooned with silver flowers. It was as radiant as it was 2 years ago and I had loved it. I still do.
“Try it on.” Gerta said with a smile.
“Okay.”
With Gerta’s help, I slipped into the gown. She made sure to tighten the corset and add silk where it needed to be added.
Then she took a step back to admire her work. “Gosh. This is the most beautiful dress I have ever made. Go show your sister.”
I bunched the flowing gown at the side and carefully stepped out of the dressing room.
Loretta gasped in suprise when I walked in and so did Amelia.
“Oh my Goodness. You look very beautiful, Eleanor.” Amelia's blue eye sparkled as she gushed over the dress.
“I know, right?” Loretta smiled even though it didn't reach her eyes.
Her dress was purple and was a much dimmer colour. It was difficult to make out the designs etched on the dress. 2 years ago, I had called it a washboard and she had laughed it off. If only I had know she would have her revenge on me.
“I love the dress.” A girl walking past me said with a smile.
I mumbled a “Thank you.” to her and she bade me goodbye as she left the shop.
“So? Are we ready to go? More embellishments?” Gerta pushed her glasses to her face, smiling proudly.
Amelia protested in shock. “Oh no. The diamonds are okay. Do you want her dress to blind everyone at the ceremony?”
Gerta laughed. “Yes. It'll make spending news : Eleanor Caddal and the blinding dress.”
Both women laughed. With a narrowed eyes, I watched Loretta. She tried aid heard to hold her smile. I could tell she was tired and so was I.
“I don't want the dress.” I blurted out.
The two looked at me like I had grown an extra head.
“What?” They asked in unison.
I repeated. “I don't want the dress.”
Gerta rushed to my side. “But why? You want more diamonds? I can make that happen.”
“No,” I laughed. I had almost forgotten how funny Gerta was. Then I cleared my throat. “I want Loretta’s dress. Shiny isn't really my thing.”
“Really?” Loretta asked. Fake tears were already building in her eyes. She really wanted the dress.
“Yeah,” I smiled. “You'd look perfect in it.”
Loretta threw her arms around me in a warm embrace. “Aww. Thank you so much, Sis.”
I patted her back softly. “Anything for my sweet sister.”
“Thank you.”
We pulled away briefly and I touched her hair. She had no idea what I had in store in her.
Night came as quickly as afternoon left and it was time for the mating ceremony.
I slipped into Loretta's dress. It was the perfect fit. I even styled my hair like she did 2 years ago. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I decide on my last look. I made a black dot on my upper lip with my lip liner. It was a natural look Loretta was born with but I couldn't let her wear it tonight. It'd ruin my plan.
When I was satisfied with my look, I pushed back my seat and went to her room.
“Hey, Loretta.” I greeted as soon as I arrived. “Let me do your makeup.”
“Really?” she asked with surprise.
“Of course.” I beamed her a smile.
“Thanks.”
I painted her face the same way I did years ago. I even hid her birthmark. Lastly, I tapped my finger on an open pomegranate and smeared it all over the lips.
“I'm done.” I passed her a mirror.
“Goodness. This is amazing. You have a gift, Eleanor,” Loretta rose to her feet, admiring her looks. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you, sis.” I wrapped my arms around her and quickly took the potion she had hidden in the flounce of her dress.
“I'll go get the carriage ready” she skipped away happily.
I took one look at the potion bottle. The same potion bottle that helped ruin my life. Before my death, at the mating ceremony, Loretta had slipped a drop of this potion into my drink and Sebastian's. Her plan was to make him sleep with me to avoid getting married to him and when that happened, father insisted I get married to him and being stupid, I happily agreed but no. History won't repeat itself. This time I'll have the last laugh.
We arrived at the pack and few minutes into entering the ballroom, a lot of people were calling me Loretta and Loretta, me. We'd laugh at the misunderstanding and correct them. While Loretta's was more of a joke, mine was a real laugh. I was enjoying the way things were playing out.
The moment the trumpetters announced the arrival of the Lycan King, I took that as my cue.
I grabbed two champagne flutes and slipped a drop of the potion into them.
“Hold that thought.” I poured the entire thing into both flutes and gave them a good swirl. “Good. Now, you can fuck each other to your heart's content.”
I carefully took both glasses to Loretta. “You must be thirsty. Here.”
“Thanks.” She grabbed the glass from me and took a sip. “You don't know how I've wanted one. I can barely breathe in this dress.”
Don't worry. Sebastian will rip it off your body.
“Can you hold this? I'll be right back.” I said.
“Okay.”
I literally flew out tof sight and hid behind a pillar.
Just in time, Sebastian appeared and began to talk to her. Then I watched him take the glass from her and down everything.
“Brilliant.” I whispered.
He linked arms with her and they disappeared from the hall. This was almost too easy.
I snatched a champagne flute from one of the maids and took a sip. Plan A was done. It's all down to Plan B. In two years time, I'll have my powers and I can't wait for it to happen.
Sebastian's povI sat in my office going over last night's event.Who started the fire and why?It was a question no one had an answer to. Not even I had an answer to it. There were no traces of gasoline or fossil fuel. There were even no traces of match boxes or a lighter or anything that could start a fire. It was as though the fire started on it's own and that was impossible. Fire didn't just started by itself. There had to be a manmade interference. Someone caused this fire but who?A light knock snapped me from my thoughts and I looked up. It was Luca, my beta.I leaned back into my seat, wondering why he was here. “Yes?”“Sir, the meeting is about to begin.” He said.Oh, the meeting with delegates from the Bloodfang pack. I had completely forgotten about it.“Sure. Let's go.” I said.Usually, I would take the shorter way to the meeting hall but this time, I felt like I needed to clear my head from last night so I decided to take a longer route though the hall leading to the gard
Eleanor's povThe joy I felt in my heart was something I hadn't felt in a while.By now Sebastian must have realized his mistake. The woman he had slept with thinking it was me, was actually my sister, Loretta. My plan had perfectly played out the way I wanted it to.I could imagine the look on Sebastian's face. My victory was a punch to his gut. Now, he had slept with Loretta, he would have to marry her.When Loretta heard the news, she was devastated. 2 years ago, she had planned this to avoid getting married to Sebastian because of the rumours about him. Sebastian wasn't exactly a benevolent king and the praises people sang about him were not cheerful ones.I watched Loretta sobs and pleaded with father to renounce the marriage pact with Sebastian and he refused. The deed had already been done.With a sly smile, I revealed to Loretta that I had intentionally deceived her and congratulated her on her happily hellish (married) life.While in father's office, Sebastian wouldn't stop s
Eleanor's povAs I entered the room, I found a familiar silhouette.“Who are you?” I asked, fearing the worst.The person turned around and my heart skipped a beat.It was Sebastian.Sebastian stood in the center of the room, his green orbs piercing mine. He looked tired, like he hadn't slept in days and I wonder why.I narrowed my eyes as he took a step closer. “Alpha Sebastian, to what I owe… the surprise visit?”Sebastian cleared his throat. Despite his polished looks, there was something broken about it. Like I give a damn what it was. “You look different, Eleanor.”I raised an eyebrow. “Different… Is that all you came here to say?”His jaw tightened for a moment before he finally replied. “Loretta is miserable.”I let out a soft laugh. “And how is that my problem?”Sebastian took another step closer. “I don't know why she is but I figured you should know why.”I crossed my arms over my chest and scoffed again. I did not just leave my potatoes for this.“If anyone should know, it
Chapter 7Eleanor's POV The celebration was supposed to be my moment—an evening to honor my rise as the pack’s new Alpha—but of course, nothing ever went as planned. I couldn't stop smiling as I stood before the mirror, adjusting my long red gown. The silky fabric clung to my frame in all the right places, shimmering under the candlelight. Today was my day- my Alpha ceremony.Outside, the castle grounds were alive with movement. Red and gold banners fluttered in the evening breeze. The scent of roasted venison and spiced mead filled the air as pack members laughed and chatted in excitement. Everything was perfect. Except for one thing.Would he come? The thought made my fingers twitch as I fastened my bracelet. The last time Sebastian and I had spoken, his words had nearly made me falter. "You're the one I wanted." The sincerity in his voice had shaken me more than I cared to admit. But it was too late for regrets. I inhaled deeply, pushing the memory away. Tonight is about
Eleanor's POVI run blindly through a forest that has transformed into a living nightmare. Every step feels as though it reverberates through my very soul, the pounding of my heart matching the frantic rhythm of my feet against the damp ground. The trees around me have become sinister silhouettes, their gnarled branches reaching out like desperate, skeletal hands in the dark. Shadows twist and merge, creating a disorienting image that blurs the line between reality and terror.Breathless and suffocating under the weight of my fear, I can barely form the word "Help!" My voice, raw and hoarse, barely forms through the silence. Instead, I am met with the hollow echo of my own plea—a mocking whisper that bounces back from unseen corners of the dark forest. Every echo feels like an accusation, a reminder that I am utterly alone and helpless.I fight against the rising tide of despair and try to tap into the power I know lies dormant within me. I imagine a blazing fire, a fierce inferno th
Eleanor's POV I awoke with a steely resolve the next day, the lingering tendrils of the nightmare still clinging to the edges of my consciousness. The terror hadn't defined me, though; it had fueled me. I was stronger than my darkest dreams.With my rebirth had come a new persona that dared to face everything I bowed before in my previous life.My first move was to find my Beta, Ryker. His rugged presence was a source of both comfort and strength, his sharp blue eyes reflecting an equally sharp mind. Ryker was always ready to act without asking why."Ryker, I need your help," I said, my voice steady.His expression turned serious. "What is it, Alpha?""I want to investigate the werewolf hunters," I explained, a controlled anger lacing my words. "I need to know who they are, what they want, and why they're targeting us." The memory of their past attacks, their attempt to break me, was a burning ember in my gut.Ryker nodded without hesitation even though I was certain he knew nothing
Sebastian's POVI sit at my grand oak desk, its surface littered with scrolls and ledgers detailing the urgent matters discussed at the recent elders’ meeting—issues of state that demand my attention. Yet, no matter how earnestly I try to focus, my thoughts drift inexorably to her: Eleanor.Her memory is a persistent whisper in the back of my mind. Our last encounter replays like a mesmerizing melody—the tilt of her head, the spark in her eyes, the subtle defiance in her voice—all hinting at a connection deeper than any duty-bound liaison. There’s an undeniable sense that she, like me, has been reborn, carrying echoes of our shared past. I can’t shake the impression that she remembers not only our marriage but also the pain I once inflicted, the mistakes that still haunt me, and she wants to have nothing to do with me.Guilt and regret surge through me with each recollection. I recall how my ambition, my insatiable hunger for vengeance, blinded me to the needs and emotions of the one
Alicia’s POVI strode into Sebastian's office feeling utterly radiant, as if the morning itself had conspired to make me irresistible. I had spared no effort in perfecting my appearance that day—a luxurious dress molded to my curves, the fitted bodice drawing the eye to my delicate neckline while the playful, short hem revealed just enough of my toned legs. My hair, freshly styled into loose, cascading waves, framed my face with an effortless allure, and a dash of makeup highlighted my best features. The subtle, intoxicating scent of my perfume trailed behind me like a secret, affirming my confidence with every step.I expected the moment I crossed the threshold that Sebastian’s gaze would meet mine, his eyes lighting up as they took in the sight of me, never unpeeling them from my body. Instead, he remained absorbed in a stack of papers, his focus unbroken by my entrance. Undeterred, I set a gleaming silver tray of lunch down on his desk with a soft clink that demanded attention."Se
Klaus' POVThe boat rocked beneath my boots as I dragged Eleanor away from that blood-soaked cabin, her beta sprawled on the floor like a broken toy. Ryker’s chest barely rose, his breaths shallow and ragged, his worthless blood staining my pristine Selene. That idiot, he’d dared to fight me, dared to defy me, and now he was a mess of torn flesh and fading growls. I smirked, kicking the door shut behind us. Good riddance.Eleanor didn’t resist as I pulled her across the deck, her steps steady despite the chains rattling around her wrists. She couldn’t fight back, not with the poison I’d been slipping into her meals for days, sapping her strength, dulling that wild power I’d seen her wield. She was mine now, a tool to bend or break. Either she’d lead me to the Capris Coven, or I’d haul her back to the Crescent Moon pack and force her to my will. No more games.I shoved her hard, and she hit the deck on her knees, her auburn hair spilling over her face like a curtain.“Get up,” I snarle
Ryker’s POVI was trained to protect Eleanor, not to blindly obey her every word. That distinction had guided me through years as her beta, my duty was her safety, her life, above all else. So when the door burst open with a splintering crack and Klaus loomed in the threshold, flanked by two hulking guards, my instincts took over. My switchblade was already in my hand, its weight familiar and steady, and I thrust it forward, the steel glinting in the dim lantern light.“Don’t you dare come in,” I warned, my voice a low growl, edged with the promise of violence.Klaus’ dark eyes flicked to the blade, and a harsh, mocking laugh rumbled from his chest. “You plan to stop me… with that?” His tone dripped with contempt, his lips curling into a sneer as he took a step closer, his broad frame filling the doorway like a storm cloud rolling in.I didn’t care what he thought. I’d fight tooth and nail, hell, I’d tear this ship apart plank by plank, to keep Eleanor safe. She stood behind me, her v
Klaus' POVMore than anything, I despise being made a fool. The sting of it burned hotter than any wound, a festering humiliation that drove me from Alicia’s cramped cabin with a snarl still twisting my lips. My boots pounded the deck as I stormed toward the helm, the sea air sharp and briny in my lungs. I needed answers, and I needed them now. Ryker and Eleanor had strung me along for six miserable days, and I was done playing their game.I found the sailor hunched over the ship’s charts, his gnarled fingers tracing lines I couldn’t decipher. “Where are we?” I barked, looming over him. “Tell me exactly where this damned boat is!”Torin flinched, his eyes darting up to meet mine before dropping back to the parchment. He muttered something under his breath, then pointed to a looping pattern on the map. “We’ve… we’ve been circling, sir. Same stretch of sea for days.”The words hit me like a fist to the gut. Circling. My worst fear confirmed, laid bare in ink and cowardice. Rage surged t
Klaus' POVThe sixth day at sea stretched before me like an endless galaxy, the horizon a mocking line of unbroken blue. Not a whisper of the Capris Coven, not a shadow of land, just the ceaseless slap of waves against the boat and the briny tang of salt stinging my nose that I was already getting tired of. I stood at the deck, gripping the weathered railing, my patience wearing thin with every passing hour. And Ryker,damn him, his presence grated on me more with each day. I have been catching strange feelings from him for a while now, a quiet unease that coiled in my gut like a serpent.We had no reason to like each other, that much was clear from the start. But this? This was different. He moved through the ship like a ghost, detached, his eyes darting away whenever I tried to pin him down. He acted as though he hadn’t just crawled out of the Capris Coven’s habitation a few days ago, as though he wasn’t the one who’d sworn he knew the way. And Eleanor, since that strange night when
Sebastain's POVI watched Leila’s face shift as the weight of my revelation settled over her like a storm cloud rolling across a clear sky. Her hazel eyes widened, then narrowed, her lips parting slightly as if the words she wanted to say were caught in her throat. The dim light of the lantern flickered across her features, casting shadows that danced with her confusion.“She’s pregnant?” Leila’s voice cracked, disbelief threading through every syllable. “How could you not know?”The question stung, sharp and accusing, though I knew she didn’t mean it to wound me. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as ash, and forced the truth out. “I only just found out she’d been using wolfsbane tincture.”Leila’s brow furrowed, her frown deepening as she tilted her head, studying me like I’d spoken in a foreign tongue. “Wolfsbane tincture? That bitter mixture—doesn’t it weaken a wolf’s abilities over time?”“What do you mean?” My voice trembled, betraying the dread coiling tighter in my chest.She lea
Leila's POVThe moment Nathan’s urgent message reached me, scrawled in his hasty hand on a scrap of paper, I leapt into action. I lashed the reins of my carriage, urging the horses into a frantic gallop toward Bloodmoon Pack. The wind tore at my hair, the wheels rattling over the uneven road, but my mind was a storm of its own. Eleanor, pregnant with my brother’s child, had vanished on some reckless voyage to uncover her roots, without a word to Sebastian. And he, predictably, had gone berserk. The note was cryptic, lacking on details for security’s sake, but it carried a weight that sank into my bones. I didn’t understand it all yet, not fully, but I knew one thing I had to get to him before he went completely wild.The journey stretched across a full day, the sun climbing and sinking as the landscape blurred past, rolling hills giving way to dense forest, then the rugged outskirts of Bloodmoon territory. The horses frothed at the mouth, their breaths heaving in clouds of steam, and
Eleanor's POVThe nightmares didn’t relent. Night after night, they clawed at me, vivid and merciless, peeling back layers of truth I hadn’t been ready to face. The pain was a constant now, a dull ache that throbbed in my chest and temples, but I’d grown accustomed to it, numbed by the burning need to uncover the full details of the betrayal surrounding me. Each vision was a rough piece of a puzzle, and by the third night, the picture was complete, its edges sharp enough to draw blood. I woke that morning with the taste of anger on my lips, the echo of thunder still rumbling in my skull, and a clarity that felt both liberating and suffocating.After a sparse breakfast, bread and a sip of refreshing water that did little to settle my churning stomach, I summoned Ryker to my cramped quarters. The boat rocked gently beneath us, the sea deceptively calm beyond the porthole, its glassy surface mocking the storm brewing within me. I sat on the edge of my bunk, my hands clasped tightly in m
Sebastain's POVCapris Coven.The name alone sent a shiver racing down my spine, a cold dread that coiled tight around my chest. Eleanor was headed there, chasing some fool’s errand with our pup growing inside her, our pup, a secret she kept from me, a wound that festered deeper than I cared to admit. The last and only time I journeyed to that forsaken place, I had been a boy, barely old enough to understand the world beyond my pack. It was a nightmare etched into my bones, a blur of terror and misery that still haunted me decades later.I had been small then, clinging to my father's side as we sailed across a sea that seemed endless, its expanse swallowing the horizon. I didn’t know the route, only that it took days, each one worse than the last. The waves had tossed our rickety boat like a toy, the air thick with brine and the sour tang of my own vomit as seasickness wrecked my young body. I retched over the side until there was nothing left, my stomach a hollow pit.. I hadn’t under
Eleanor's POVThe secret of our pup, a fragile life growing within me, I had it kept locked away, hidden with lies about this journey. I had told him I needed to master my powers to understand it, when really I was on a journey to a land I didn't know, a people who were thought to be wiped from this realm. My deception didn’t absolve his, but it muddied the waters, blurring the lines between victim and villain. We had both wielded knives, and we had both drawn blood. None of us was innocent of hurting the otherBut Klaus and Alicia, those two were a different breed of poison. Their betrayal wasn’t born of love tbat turned sour for a moment or promises broken, it was calculated, cold, a blade aimed at my heart with no remorse. I didn’t need more visions to fuel my resolve. The ones I had seen were enough, their revelations shattering everything Ibelieved. My mind lingered on the Great War, a memory not from this life but etched into my soul by the visions. It hadn’t been the necessary