Sebastian's POV As I stepped into the Moonlit Maze of Reflections, I knew I was in for a serious challenge. The air was thick with an eerie fog, and the polished silver stone walls stretched on forever. All around me, faint, whispering voices tried to distract me from my goal. I knew that this maze was designed not just to test my strength, but to trick my mind.I began to navigate the maze with my senses on high alert. Almost immediately, it became clear that this was no ordinary obstacle course. The mirror illusions were so clever that I found myself turning in circles, unsure which path was real. Time was ticking away, and every wrong turn increased my frustration.I growled in anger, my Lycan instincts urging me to smash through the walls and force an exit. But I knew that brute strength would not work here. I had to outsmart the maze by using my wits. I took a deep breath and focused on my other senses as my father had taught me as a young wolf. I listened carefully to the echo
Alicia's POV I stood tall at the entrance of the grandest store in the shopping district, my eyes sweeping over the luxurious displays inside. This was my moment to show my status. As Sebastian's future Luna, I had to make it clearâI was a woman of importance, someone to be respected and feared.A fleet of sleek cars had brought me here, my maids and bodyguards following closely behind. The moment I stepped out, people took notice. Whispers spread through the crowd, but I paid them no mind. I had one goalâto make a statement.As I approached the store, I gave a simple nod, and my guards moved swiftly. Without hesitation, they cleared the space, ushering out commoners who had no place among the elite. I was the only elite. Some gasped in shock, others protested, but none could defy my orders, at least, not my bodyguards. Soon, the store was mine alone.Inside, the tailor greeted me with deep bows and eager hands, rushing to present the finest fabrics and most elegant designs. Every go
Alicia's POV I stormed into my room, my heart pounding with anger. I grabbed my phone and quickly scrolled through my messages. My worst fears were confirmedâSebastian was at Eleanor's pack, competing to be her Alpha and claim her as his Luna. My whole world felt like it was crashing down.I could not believe what I had seen. How had I been so blind? I remembered the night Eleanor came to the castle. She said she was there to help settle the dispute between Sebastian and Loretta and had ended up in bed with my Sebastain, but now I saw there was more to that night. Sebastian and Eleanor had spent the night together under one roof, and it hurt more than I could have imagined that I had overlooked it as a one night stand and nothing more sonce I never saw them together again after that.And now, Sebastain was in a tournament to win her? What was so special about the Caddals that he didnât see in me? Was it because I was not of royal blood? Did it truly matter? If Sebastain could defy tr
Eleanor's POV I paced back and forth in my room, my mind swirling with thoughts of Sebastian. Earlier that day, I had accepted that I might become his bride if he won the tournament, but now I felt a spack of defiance. I was tired of feeling weak, and a plan began to form in my mind. Perhaps if I confronted him, even threatened him, I could make him think twice about continuing.Determined, I left my room and made my way to the holding area where he was staying. When I arrived, I was told that he was outside. I followed his scent, my senses alert and ready for a confrontation. As I walked, I became aware that I could smell him clearly in the cool evening air. I tried to dismiss it, telling myself that it was only my power of scent that made it seem like I could sense anyone I thought about. It was not because he was my destined mateâat least, I refused to believe that.Soon, I found him lying on the soft grass, his face relaxed and a gentle smile playing on his lips. The calm in his
Sebastian's POV I was surprised when I heard that someone had come to see me. I assumed it would be Eleanor, trying to talk me out of joining the final game. Again. I was ready to meet her with confidence, sure that I would win the challenge and win her heart as well.When I stepped outside, however, I saw Alicia instead. Her eyes were full of tears, and she dropped to her knees, pleading with me to change my mind."How could you do this to me?" she cried. "You keep hurting me, again and again. Don't you see that I love you? Why can't I be enough for you? Why can't you make me your Luna?"Her words made my heart feel heavy, yet I also felt a mix of amusement, embarrassment, and annoyance. I knew very well where Alicia fit in my life. She was nothing more than a concubineâa role that I believed she should accept without question. I wondered why she could not see her place in the grand plan.âIf you can break traditions for her, why can't you do the same for me? Don't you love me the w
Sebastian's POV As I waited for the final game to begin, the hostâs voice echoed over the stage: âWhat is Eleanor hiding that she does not speak about, but her silence reveals?â I looked toward him, expecting him to explain further, but he simply walked away, leaving me puzzled and surprised.I thought the riddle was ridiculous. How could anyone possibly know what secret Eleanor kept? I turned the question over and over in my mind, trying to figure out the answer. The game was very seriousâone answer only, no changes allowed, and no mistakes.Standing among the other contestants, I began to wonder what Eleanor might be hiding. Was it something about her past? Or maybe a hidden side of her life that she kept silent about? I knew she would never allow herself to reveal those private details. Then one contestant stepped forward and suggested that Eleanor was hiding a dark secret from her past.I held my breath as the host responded sharply, âNo.â The contestant who had spoken was immedi
Sebastian's POV As the dark clouds gathered and the storm began to approach, my mind was not on the crowning ceremony or the announcement of me as Eleanor's husband. I had already won that battleâit was a given. Instead, my worry was entirely focused on Eleanor.I remembered seeing her earlier, sitting with her father, calm and composed. But now, in the midst of all the chaos, she was nowhere to be found. Panic quickly filled me as I frantically searched for her. My thoughts raced with dark possibilitiesâwhat if something terrible had happened? What if she was hurt?Then, through the rain and swirling wind, I spotted her in the distance. She walked slowly, her hand massaging her head as if she was in pain. The dark clouds seemed to follow her every step, and I saw her looking up at the sky with worry. It was then that I realized her strong emotions might be causing this strange storm.Her distress was clear. I saw how unsteady she looked, as if she might lose her balance any moment.
Ryker's POV As I stepped out of the room, a heavy feeling of disappointment weighed on me. I had felt this way ever since Eleanor had agreed to her father's decision to choose a male consort for her. I had been close to her for months, and I had come to see her as a strong, independent woman. I believed in her strength and independence, and now I feared she was giving up both by accepting her father's choiceâa choice that seemed designed only to control her.I was angry that she had not rejected her father's idea. Instead, she had allowed herself to be led into a future with SebastianâAlpha Sebastian, the werewolf I knew she despised. I did not fully understand why she held such strong feelings against him, but I could see in her eyes and hear it in her voice that she was not happy with his presence in the game or his victory.It seemed that this was only the beginning of a long and painful journey for her. With each decision she made, I saw her falling deeper into a trap. I began to
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. Rykerâs chest barely rose, his breaths shallow and ragged, his worthless blood staining my pristine Selene. That idiot, heâd 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 didnât resist as I pulled her across the deck, her steps steady despite the chains rattling around her wrists. She couldnât fight back, not with the poison Iâd been slipping into her meals for days, sapping her strength, dulling that wild power Iâd seen her wield. She was mine now, a tool to bend or break. Either sheâd lead me to the Capris Coven, or Iâd 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.âGet up,â I snarle
Rykerâs 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.âDonât you dare come in,â I warned, my voice a low growl, edged with the promise of violence.Klausâ dark eyes flicked to the blade, and a harsh, mocking laugh rumbled from his chest. âYou plan to stop meâĶ with that?â 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 didnât care what he thought. Iâd fight tooth and nail, hell, Iâd 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 Aliciaâs 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 shipâs charts, his gnarled fingers tracing lines I couldnât decipher. âWhere are we?â I barked, looming over him. âTell me exactly where this damned boat is!âTorin 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. âWeâveâĶ weâve been circling, sir. Same stretch of sea for days.âThe 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 hadnât just crawled out of the Capris Covenâs habitation a few days ago, as though he wasnât the one whoâd sworn he knew the way. And Eleanor, since that strange night when
Sebastain's POVI watched Leilaâs 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.âSheâs pregnant?â Leilaâs voice cracked, disbelief threading through every syllable. âHow could you not know?âThe question stung, sharp and accusing, though I knew she didnât mean it to wound me. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as ash, and forced the truth out. âI only just found out sheâd been using wolfsbane tincture.âLeilaâs brow furrowed, her frown deepening as she tilted her head, studying me like Iâd spoken in a foreign tongue. âWolfsbane tincture? That bitter mixtureâdoesnât it weaken a wolfâs abilities over time?ââWhat do you mean?â My voice trembled, betraying the dread coiling tighter in my chest.She lea
Leila's POVThe moment Nathanâs 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 brotherâs 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 securityâs sake, but it carried a weight that sank into my bones. I didnât 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 didnât relent. Night after night, they clawed at me, vivid and merciless, peeling back layers of truth I hadnât been ready to face. The pain was a constant now, a dull ache that throbbed in my chest and temples, but Iâd 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 foolâs 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 didnât 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 hadnât 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 didnât 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 wasnât 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 didnât 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 hadnât been the necessary