Justin A soft smile played on my lips as I adjusted the torchlight, lowering the beam so it wouldn’t wake her. I traced the curve of Marissa’s cheek with the back of my knuckle, memorizing the peaceful rise and fall of her chest. I’d never felt this kind of calm before, not once in my life, and I didn’t want it to end. She was the anchor I never saw coming, the balm to everything broken in me.Watching her sleep, I tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Who would’ve thought I’d ever feel normal again? It still didn’t seem real. It felt like I’d stepped into someone else’s life—a simulation too good to be mine. Like at any moment I’d wake up, cursed and hollow, back to being the joke of the royal house.But when I curled my fingers around hers and felt her warmth against my skin, I knew this wasn’t some delusion. This was real. It was here to stay. The pain, the pressure, the doubts… none of it mattered anymore. I felt overwhelmed in the best way—like I could fall to my knees
Marissa My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open the moment Justin blurted out his father’s secret family, right there in front of the Queen and Justine. The air shifted. Cold. Heavy. Like something sacred had just been desecrated. I couldn't dare glance at the Queen. Time slowed. Why the hell couldn’t Justin have kept that to himself?“Justin, this isn’t even funny,” Justine said, her voice sharp as a blade. She shot her brother a glare. “You can joke about a lot of things—but not this. This is too heavy.”“It’s true,” Justin said flatly, eyes fixed on his mother. “I’ve seen the woman. I dare him to deny it.”My hand trembled as I reached for him, trying to get him to stop before this turned into a wildfire. The Queen’s head stayed bowed. Sean looked mortified, and Justine actually stepped back like she’d been pushed.“My dear, it’s not how—” the King started, lifting his hand, “—Justin’s just trying to twist everything to suit his selfish narrative.”The Queen slowly raised her
Marissa We were just about done with lunch when the sound of heels echoed down the corridor.Justine paused mid-chew. “Shit… that’s Wendy.”I wasn’t afraid of Wendy, but a sour feeling stirred in my gut. Guilt. Heavy and cold. The kind that clung to your skin and settled in your spine. I hadn’t planned to fall in love with someone else's fiancé. But here I was, sitting next to him at the royal table. The same royal table that the world had assumed she’d own soon.Every magazine had painted their fairytale wedding. The Future Queen. Elegant. Regal. Loved. I’d seen the headlines, the edited spreads of her trying on designer gowns, the speculated venues, the flower arrangements, and the wild guesses about their future pups. She was meant to be Justin’s forever. And now I was the shadow stepping into her spotlight.Wendy stormed into the dining room like a queen without a throne. Her fiery red dress clung to her like armor, and her eyes scanned the room until they landed on me. I dropp
Justin “Justin,” Marissa hissed under her breath, her hand tightening on mine. “I don’t trust you. What the hell are you up to?”I handed her the simple plastic bag with the black satin dress I’d picked out, keeping my expression neutral even though I was fighting a grin.“There’s only one way to find out,” I said, tugging playfully at the edge of her tank top. “But I promise, it’s not a kidnapping. Yet.”She squinted at me, not amused. “I swear, if this ends in something ridiculous—”“Shh,” I interrupted, slipping behind her and sliding my arms around her waist. I kissed the soft skin just below her neck, right over the mark I’d given her. She shivered. Jackpot.“If you could read my mind right now,” I whispered against her ear, “you’d be blushing so hard, you’d need aloe vera.”Her reflection in the mirror gave her away. She was flushed. Trying not to smirk. Pretending to be above it, but I knew better.I spun her gently to face the glass and let my hand rest low on her hip. “You
SeanMy hatred for Justin grew like firewood stacked daily on a flame. Every time I heard his name, felt his presence in a conversation or headline, my blood ran hot. He was my target. I didn’t care that we shared the same blood. I was obsessed over this revenge. Over victory.Everyone thought I’d taken the loss like a man. Calm. Graceful. Accepting. But they had no idea I’d only swallowed my pride to buy time to burn him from the inside out.I would smile, shake hands, laugh when I had to. All while tightening the noose around Justin’s perfect little neck. One step at a time. One move after another.I didn't care whose blood got spilled in the process. Collateral damage meant nothing when I was playing for the crown.He didn’t deserve the throne. I did. I’d worked for it. Bled for it. But life had handed it to him like it was owed. The cursed golden boy with the name, the wolf, the face. While I stood in the shadows, planning how to take it all away.I parked a block away from the sa
MarissaGoing back to work for Justin felt like willingly stepping into a lion’s den. The moment I walked into the building, all eyes were on me and whispers followed me like perfume.Justin and Wendy’s separation wasn’t just public knowledge. It had become entertainment. And now that Justine’s mate was revealed to be a werewolf, people were foaming at the mouth, looking for scraps to gossip about.Everyone had something to say.Some were convinced I was a gold digger, clinging to Justin for luxury and status. Others swore I must’ve used some dark spell to trigger the mate bond. “No way the future king would bond with a mere werewolf,” they said. “Especially not one from a crumbling pack.”If I hadn’t already earned my stripes in heartbreak and humiliation, I might’ve cracked under it all. Even Justin and Justine were beginning to ask if I was okay. I always brushed it off."Trust me," I told Justine two days ago while she was getting her hair done, “you don’t know what survival looks
Marissa The Queen’s rage came with thunder. It wasn’t the typical raised voice or shaking hands kind of anger. It was primal, bone-deep, and terrifyingly loud. Her voice bounced off the ancient stone walls of the royal study like a storm crashing into a cliff. If Sean had been anywhere near her at that moment, she would’ve carved his name off the family tree with her bare hands.I stood still. A part of me was stunned, but the other part missed my own mother. I wondered how she might’ve defended me if she were still alive and if she would’ve gone to war for me too. Maybe it’s just something about mothers. No one quite loves the way they do."Well, I think you're going too far to be taken seriously," Justine muttered with her usual sarcastic flair, sipping casually from her glass.The Queen's head whipped around. Her eyes flared wide and wild. My heart genuinely skipped.“Too far?” she echoed, rising from her seat like storm-given legs. “Hell no. I haven't even started.”Justine bli
It was getting harder and harder to stay private with Justin. Our relationship had somehow become the kingdom’s favorite soap opera. Inside the castle walls, everyone had a theory, a rumor, or a “trusted source.” And outside the gates? The paparazzi were practically part of the royal staff.Everywhere we went, someone was snapping photos or asking invasive questions. It was exhausting. I hadn’t realized how many people tracked your every step when you were bonded to a Lycan prince. Now even my outfit, the way I walked, or how I blinked seemed to matter. I found myself second-guessing every detail—was my lipstick smudged? Did my heels click too loud?Justin held my hand as we approached the pizza spot I’d been craving for all week. As expected, the moment we stepped out of the car, the flash of cameras started. A few paparazzi who had been pretending to “just be around” suddenly appeared from all angles, walking backward to keep pace with us.“Prince Justin, is it true you're planning
Marissa I had made up my mind. I was going home.Not because I missed it, and definitely not because I wanted to see my father or his wife. I just needed a change of scenery.Brian said I could stay with him for a bit, or I’d get a temporary apartment if needed. But I also knew how that went at that crazy pack, how single women were bounced around when they didn’t have a man’s name tied to the lease. If I couldn’t get something decent, I’d check into a hotel and figure it out from there.I needed space. Distance. Time.I was in the middle of zipping up my second box when I heard a knock. Then came Justine’s voice before I could answer.“This is dramatic, don’t you think?”I opened the door to see her and Justin standing there. They both looked way too polished for a casual visit like they had somewhere else important to be, but they came anyway.Justine looked over my shoulder into the room. “You packed like you’re going to the moon.”“It’s just two boxes,” I said, trying to sound ca
JustinWhen I knocked on Marissa's door, I didn’t expect her to look happy. She stared at me like I was a piece of furniture.She wasn’t frowning. She didn’t slam the door in my face. But she wasn’t smiling either. Her expression was calm, like someone who’d already had the emotional breakdown and was now in full recovery mode.“Can I come in?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.She shrugged, stepped aside without saying a word.I hesitated before stepping in. Her room smelled of her shampoo, lemon-scented body mist and the bond. I held out the small shopping bag.She blinked. “What’s that?”I offered it again. “Just check it.”She gave me an unreadable look. Then she reached out and accepted it opened the bag and pulled out the velvet box, flipped it open, and rolled her eyes.Shit.“You don’t like it?” I asked quickly. “I can change it. There’s another set I saw, more silver—”She closed the box, dropped it back into the bag, and placed it down like it was a file she didn’t
JustinI paced the hallway outside the Queen’s study, heart racing like I’d just run a marathon. When my mother finally called me in, I didn’t waste time pretending I was calm.“She’s still ignoring me,” I said, not even bothering to sit.My mom looked up from the book she was reading, brows raised. “Who?”I stared at her. “Who else? She's acting like I committed a crime.”“Well…” she started, dragging out the word, “you did get another woman pregnant. No woman wants that, trust me.”I scowled. “Allegedly.”She shut her book and sighed. “Honey, I love you. But let’s not act like this isn’t complicated.”“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I muttered, walking to the window. “Wendy and I were barely even together. We hadn’t touched each other in months. The last few times, I used protection. Every time.”“Protection isn’t foolproof,” she said.I turned to face her. “I know that. But I also know Wendy. She’s not the type to sit quietly while being dumped. She’s petty. This whole thing feels ti
MarissaOnce I was inside my room, I locked the door, kicked off my shoes, and collapsed on the bed. I stared at the ceiling again. I could have called Brian. But I didn’t. What was I supposed to say?“Hey, Brian, remember that perfect mate the goddess gave me? Yeah, he might have knocked up his ex.”No. I couldn’t handle the pity in his voice.I made popcorn instead. Found a true crime series. Turned the volume high. And I got lost in cold cases. Somehow, it made mine feel smaller.Six hours later, I was still glued to the screen when my phone rang. Justin was calling.I stared at the screen for a few seconds before picking up.“Hello?”“Where are you?”“I went back to the lodge,” I replied, trying to sound casual.“Why?”“I needed space.”There was a pause. “Space from what?”“From the drama. Your ex announcing a pregnancy like it’s a royal decree.”He sighed. “I’m coming over.”“Don’t.”“Why not?”“Because I don’t know how to be around you right now. Everything hurts, and you being
Marissa Everything felt heavy. My heart, my thoughts, even my damn bones.The rules were simple, brutal, and old as time. The first woman to bear the future Alpha’s child, especially one destined to be Lycan King, had a permanent place in his life. It didn’t matter if they were mates. It didn’t matter if they were in love. It didn’t even matter if the woman was evil wrapped in silk.Rules were rules.And now Wendy had claimed she was pregnant with Justin’s child.I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to believe. My brain felt scrambled, like someone had cracked it open and stirred it with a knife.The Queen had tried to comfort me. She told me she was on my side. She said over her dead body would Justin marry Wendy.I appreciated her words but knew she was being overly positive. This kind of scandal could blow into a full-scale war.And in all of this, I was the outsider. The werewolf.Why couldn’t I just enjoy my mate for once? Why did it always have to come with some life
Marissa The court proceedings felt like I was the one on trial. I sat beside Justin, who strongly believed he'd win. He was calm, in control, and powerful.He didn’t speak much, but when he did, the courtroom paid attention. Every word came out confident and unapologetic. Sean, on the other hand, kept contradicting himself in every other sentence. His arrogance from the first day had completely crumbled. Even the judge looked tired of him.I felt so freaking proud. Not just because Justin was winning, but because he was doing it with so much grace and restraint.When court ended that first day, Justin turned to me with a boyish smile. “Are you hungry?”I laughed. “Starving.”He took me out. Just the two of us. We found a quiet rooftop restaurant and ordered way too much food.We didn't discuss court cases, politics, power or curses. We talked about stupid dares.That afternoon, I realized how much lighter he looked. Like someone had started peeling off the weight he’d been carrying
Justin I had no plan, neither did I rehearse my words. In fact, I didn’t think for a thousand years that I’d end up being so honest with the public the way I was. But it happened. The words came out of me with a strange calm, as though I had needed to say them all along.My mother allowed a soft smile to curl on her lips, subtle but proud. Meanwhile, Sean's expression twisted, the edges of his mouth tugging downward into a bitter frown. For the longest time, I had believed that vulnerability was weakness—a flaw that could be exploited. But now, as I stood exposed before everyone, I didn’t feel weak. I felt free. Let anyone try to twist the truth. Let them attempt to stain the bond I shared with Marissa. My mother’s smile said it all: sometimes, the ugly truths needed to be told to reclaim power.The judge fumbled with his papers, his fingers shaking slightly. He tried to appear unaffected, but I saw the stiffness in his movements. My mother must have spoken to him in private, perhaps
It was getting harder and harder to stay private with Justin. Our relationship had somehow become the kingdom’s favorite soap opera. Inside the castle walls, everyone had a theory, a rumor, or a “trusted source.” And outside the gates? The paparazzi were practically part of the royal staff.Everywhere we went, someone was snapping photos or asking invasive questions. It was exhausting. I hadn’t realized how many people tracked your every step when you were bonded to a Lycan prince. Now even my outfit, the way I walked, or how I blinked seemed to matter. I found myself second-guessing every detail—was my lipstick smudged? Did my heels click too loud?Justin held my hand as we approached the pizza spot I’d been craving for all week. As expected, the moment we stepped out of the car, the flash of cameras started. A few paparazzi who had been pretending to “just be around” suddenly appeared from all angles, walking backward to keep pace with us.“Prince Justin, is it true you're planning
Marissa The Queen’s rage came with thunder. It wasn’t the typical raised voice or shaking hands kind of anger. It was primal, bone-deep, and terrifyingly loud. Her voice bounced off the ancient stone walls of the royal study like a storm crashing into a cliff. If Sean had been anywhere near her at that moment, she would’ve carved his name off the family tree with her bare hands.I stood still. A part of me was stunned, but the other part missed my own mother. I wondered how she might’ve defended me if she were still alive and if she would’ve gone to war for me too. Maybe it’s just something about mothers. No one quite loves the way they do."Well, I think you're going too far to be taken seriously," Justine muttered with her usual sarcastic flair, sipping casually from her glass.The Queen's head whipped around. Her eyes flared wide and wild. My heart genuinely skipped.“Too far?” she echoed, rising from her seat like storm-given legs. “Hell no. I haven't even started.”Justine bli