Justin's POV
Two weeks later Bloodied and weak, I staggered out of the torture chamber. The metallic stench of blood clung to my skin. My vision blurred, but I blinked back the haze, determined not to collapse again. The physical pain was killing me, but none of it compared to the ache of seeing my mom cry. Her heartbreaking, silent tears cut deep. “Son, please, your physician must administer the last set of needles.”Each session in the chamber felt like another blow to her spirit, and that made my suffering all the harder to endure. I clenched my fists, feeling the sticky warmth of my blood coating my palms.
“I can’t keep doing this. There has to be another way—something that doesn’t make me feel like I’m losing my mind.”
She swallowed hard, trying to choke back her tears, but the pain in her eyes was undeniable. Every week, wolfsbane was pumped into my veins, designed to cripple my wolf. I was forced to inhale the milder version as a cigar in my human form. My body burned with an all-consuming rage that ate my sanity. The humiliation was unbearable—a future Lycan king reduced to this pitiful state. Weak, powerless, and shackled by a curse I never asked for. Before the healer left, he assured me that this dosage would last three days. "Isn’t there some other solution? I can't take this anymore" I grumbled, heading to the bedroom. “There’s nothing we can do,” mom replied gently. “We just have to hold on until you find your mate.” Only my mate could break this curse. But how was I supposed to find her when my wolf couldn’t sense anything but madness? There was no scent, no recognition—nothing. My twin sister, Justine, stood across from my mom, looking just as sad. I headed to the bathroom. The tub was filled with ice to numb the pain. I sank in, letting the cold seep into my bones. I dragged myself out and headed to my room to get dressed. Mom knocked softly and stepped inside. Her gaze scanned my slouched posture. "Why not pair those pants with a white shirt?" She walked to the closet, pulled out a shirt, and handed it to me. “Thanks,” I muttered, buttoning it up. "You don't have to go in today," she said softly. “Your father has plenty of people running the government house. You need rest, honey. Please." “The more I sit around here doing nothing, the worse it gets. I need something to take my mind off this." "I’ll pack your lunch. Make sure you eat. Oh, and Wendy complained to your dad that you've been ignoring her." A groan tore from my throat. “Fuck her.” “Language, young man,” she said, exasperated. “Your wedding is in two months, and this is for the pack’s good. If our packs unite, we’ll form a powerful alliance.” She followed me to my car, carrying my lunch bag. I was grateful for her constant vigilance over my diet and making sure nothing triggered my wolf, but it also felt like another layer of chains binding me. She kissed my forehead and wished me a great day. Once the door shut behind her, I sighed, gripping the steering wheel. A good fuck would get my mind off things. The temporary oblivion of losing myself in a woman's touch worked. I drove to work, stopping at the gates, where the security guards saluted me formally. My best friend Caleb stood by the lobby, waiting as always. "Your eyes are red-rimmed. You should've stayed home." “Don’t start. I’ve had enough babying from my mother." I brushed past him toward my private elevator, where Caleb leaned closer, smirking. "Your mom's pet project was recruiting werewolves into our workforce. The new hires are here.” "Werewolves?" I raised an eyebrow. "Yep, the best of them." Caleb chuckled. "I must admit, they’re smart and better educated than we gave them credit for.” “Maybe we should thank their greedy alpha,” I chuckled, pressing the button for the top floor. "I could use a hot assistant. Bring them to the conference room. Let’s see what we’ve got.” Thirty minutes later, Caleb informed me the werewolves had gathered. I stared at my glass of water, my medication sitting beside it. This cursed life was exhausting, and I downed the pills, wishing I could drown my problems with them. I entered the conference room, and my eyes scanned the crowd of new hires dressed in black jackets. I spotted Marissa, their alpha's daughter, immediately. Our eyes locked. Something flashed in hers. Lust and defiance. It intrigued me and made me want to mess with her even more. She hadn’t come to me after the offer I made and stayed away from me the moment Wendy arrived at their place. “Where were you assigned?” “The legal department,” she said flatly. She was undeniably stunning. Her dark blonde hair framed her forehead in bangs, complementing the light green of her eyes. She had a figure that was neither slim nor overly full but beautifully thick, with curves that could make any man pause. Her gaze held a depth that was hard to ignore. Even now, as she tried to mask her emotions, I could see through the act. Her eyes held a challenge, and I couldn't lie—it intrigued me more than it should have. Perhaps she was different, or maybe she was just better at pretending. Either way, she piqued my interest in a way that few had. I could have a little fun with her—explore this fire beneath the surface—before resigning myself to the cold reality of being shackled in marriage to Wendy. “That changes. You’re now my assistant.” I almost laughed at her comical expression. Her eyes widened, and her mouth gaped open as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard. “No way,” she stammered. “I didn’t spend sleepless nights in law school just to be reduced to an assistant.” Caleb glanced at me. A smirk tugged at his lips while whispers spread through the room. A smile pulled at my lips. She had a fiery spirit, and I liked that. "You’ll work directly with me. It’s not up for discussion. You start now, and I’ll double your salary.” Her lips trembled, her hands balling into fists. "I don’t care about the money—" I cut her off, my tone calm. "Make me coffee after this meeting. Consider it a trial." “Dismissed,” I said to the group. They filed out, but she stayed rooted, glaring at me. I loved this game. She thought herself beyond reach—It was time to show her otherwise. The door closed, leaving her and me in the conference room. Her breathing picked up, her defiance turning into something raw, unguarded. “Look,” she began, her voice shaky but filled with venom. “I won't be a pawn in your twisted game. I deserve better than this.” I walked so close that her face almost brushed against my chest. "You think I care about what you deserve?" My voice dropped to a low murmur. “Tell me, did your father force you to come here, or do you want a piece of me?” Her eyes flashed, and I saw her wolf peek through for a brief second. That fire was fucking interesting. I moved away, dismissing her without another word. She'd fall in line soon enough and beg for my attention, just as every other girl had.MarissaLeaning against the cool bathroom wall, my fists clenched at my sides; I swallowed hard against the painful tightness in my throat. The weight of everything bore down on me, making it impossible to shake off the suffocating frustration.The silence in the space was comforting—no footsteps, no voices, no curious eyes watching me break. I turned to the mirror, hating the reflection and staring back.I looked exhausted. Lonely.Why did my life feel like a never-ending cycle of disappointment? Everyone around me had something to celebrate—love, ambition, recognition—while I felt like I was slowly withering away, stuck in a reality that never quite felt like my own.Bitter thoughts ate at me. Maybe people saw something in me that I couldn't. Perhaps I was repulsive. Maybe I was ugly. Maybe I wasn’t enough.But nothing hurt as much as Justin’s silence.I hadn’t wanted to be here. I came only because of the Queen’s new initiative, opening migration opportunities for werewolves to wor
Marissa Knowing that my mate had a woman in his life caused an overwhelming sorrow in my heart. I almost collapsed in my seat and covered my face with both hands. Of what use was this bond that was causing me so much pain? It felt like my spine was curling forward, and I was at a loss for words.Why was the universe punishing me? Why did I keep imagining that seeing my mate after waiting for so long would be all bliss, where he would rush to hug me and ask where I had been all his life? I didn’t expect this cold silence and rejection.From how she glided into Justin’s office, it was clear she wasn’t the daughter of a pauper. She was effortlessly beautiful, wearing a statement dress and ridiculously high heels. One look at her, and it was obvious—this was a woman who had never struggled a day in her life.He chose her over me.A lump lodged itself in my throat as reality settled. Of course. This explained the absolute lack of acknowledgment. He wasn’t ignoring the bond because he was
Marissa The cursor blinked on the screen, and I grew strongly aware of Justin standing behind me. His presence sent warmth flooding through my body, making my hair rise on my arms and the nape of my neck. I was trying so hard to focus, trying not to react, but his body inches from mine was a force that sent my nerves into overdrive.As much as I pretended to ignore him—just as he was doing to me—the bond wrapped around me, pulling me in, making me want to touch and explore. If I kept bottling up my emotions, I was going to go insane.A rush of heat ran down my legs, and I swallowed a gulp of air when his breath fanned against my neck, brushing the sensitive skin below my ear. My pulse pounded, and it felt like he was doing this deliberately, maybe waiting for me to crack and admit defeat so he could laugh in my face and reject me.My eyes fluttered shut for a split second. Get it together, Marissa.I couldn’t look at him or wonder why he was hovering so close. When I finally mustered
Justin I leaned against my seat and took a drag of the cigarette between my fingers, inhaling deeply. The acrid taste of wolfsbane filled my lungs like numbing poison.The aftermath of the meeting still clung to my brain. My dad couldn't even bring himself to pretend—it was clear he didn't like me, all thanks to that bastard Sean's attempts to undermine me.The cigarette smoke curled around my face as I exhaled slowly, trying to quiet my thoughts.Despite how hard I worked to prove to my father that I wasn't a failure, it wasn’t working. My cousin wanted my throne. That smug fool.Meetings and public events always ended like this. He found a way to undermine me and act like he was the more competent one, like I was some trophy prince keeping the throne warm until someone more suitable—meaning him, of course—could take over.The fucking nerve.I could still hear his mocking voice from today's meeting, casually implying I was overburdened, that maybe it was too much for me to handle a
JustinIt was clear that the Moon Goddess never created my mate. I wasn’t meant to have one. Maybe my curse had erased the very existence of the one person who could have freed me. And now my twin was feeling something for my assistant.The irony stung.I rubbed my temples. At least I hadn’t crossed the line with Marissa. That would have been a disaster. My sister would never forgive me for touching her.Justine sat opposite me, propping her boot-clad feet onto the table like she owned the place, lifted a cigarette from the ashtray, twirled it between her fingers, then wrinkled her nose in distaste before flicking it back into the tray."So, tell me. Why have you been avoiding Wendy?"I groaned, tilting my head back against the chair. "What does she want from me? Haven't I already agreed to marry her?"Justine laughed dramatically. "You sound like you're being sold into slavery.""Aren't I?" I shot her a dry look. "Tell your best friend to leave me the fuck alone.""You do realize you
Marissa Sitting cross-legged on my bed, I went over my notes in front of me. My laptop screen flickered with the last article I had found—one detailing the importance of scent projection in mate bonds.I adjusted the strap of my tank top and rolled my shoulders, focusing on what I had learned. For us werewolves to attract mates, the pheromones had to be turned on and enhanced, increasing our body's natural output so that our mates would never ignore our presence.If this didn’t work, If he didn’t react to my scent, there had to be a reason—either I was doing something wrong, something was blocking the bond, or maybe fate had doomed me. I had to exhaust every last option and do everything in my power before I even entertained the idea of confiding in someone else. Because if I did, I would be exposing myself and making myself vulnerable to a reality I wasn’t prepared to face.I was about to shut the laptop when I decided to check the pack’s social media. There was an endless stream of
MarissaI walked out, and had barely stepped out of the door when Justin started to cough. It was not serious at first, but then it became a fit as he kept trying to maintain control. I tried to ignore the sound of the harshness of his coughing, but I failed as my wolf grew restless, pushing me toward him.Each ragged breath he took felt like a knife twisting inside me. My fingers clenched around the tablet in front of me as my body screamed at me to move.Before I could stop myself, I was already halfway across the office. I pushed open the door and found him hunched over his desk, his body wracked with violent tremors. His breathing was labored, and when he tried to straighten, another coughing fit nearly sent him to his knees.I cried out in shock, seeing him doubled over."Justin!" I cried, rushing forward and grabbing a glass of water from his desk, pressing it into his shaking hands. He tried to wave me off, but the moment he tried to speak, another painful cough tore through h
MarissaI groaned inwardly the moment the words left my mouth. A fake boyfriend? Really? Of all the excuses I could have come up with, that was the one I chose?Now I was trapped in a ridiculous lie—one that I'd have to back up with an actual person unless I wanted to look like a complete fool.I rubbed my temple, already dreading the consequences. Justine was going to be a problem. Worse—she was going to tell her brother.Would he even care? Make snide comments? Or, goddess forbid, actually believe his sister?The idea of him thinking I was entertaining another man felt oddly satisfying and, at the same time, a complete mess.Now I had to find someone to play the part or risk Justine finding out the truth.I didn’t like this.Not at all.---Employees trickled into the conference room, filling the seats around the polished table. A projector screen displayed the weekly milestones.I couldn’t concentrate. My foot kept tapping beneath my chair.Hector—who was my ex-boyfriend's best fri
Marissa "You're coming with me to the summit next week," Justin said, taking off his jacket, and I frowned."What summit?" I asked, confused."The Azuran Assembly. Surely, you must have heard about it. It's a big deal among Lycan provinces all over the world.""And why would I be the one to follow you?""Because you are my assistant. You assist." His tone was dry, but the smirk on his lips gave away his amusement."Do I have a choice?" I said, acting mock annoyed."You don't. Get a few nice dresses. You need to look good."My mouth gaped open. "Are you saying I don’t look good now?"A laugh sprang free from his lips, and suddenly, I wanted to claim every male inch of him. Desire raced through my veins at the thought."You rock whatever you wear," he said, then gave me a once-over, his hazel gaze lingering over my body, shamelessly checking me out. "This is a big summit, though, and I want you to look more put together. You know what I mean.""I don’t," I grumbled, even though my stom
Justin My patience was running thin as I waited for Justine to return from the club. By the time I got home last night, the housekeeper said she had gone out earlier. I sat, waiting for her at almost 10:30 AM. I glanced at the gift box on the table beside me. She wasn’t the type to be impressed by flashy gifts, but I knew her well enough to pick things she couldn’t resist. Inside was a pair of designer sunglasses, which she was a sucker for, an expensive headset, and a handwritten apology note. I wasn’t sure if she’d appreciate the last one, but I had written it anyway.It was rare for me to admit I was wrong, even rarer for me to put it on paper, but she was different—my twin, one of the few people who had always loved me unconditionally. And now, because of my own damn actions, I had hurt her.I hadn’t meant for things to turn out this way. If someone asked me to define what I felt for Marissa, I wouldn’t even know where to start. I was distrustful. I was emotionally repressed a
MarissaDinner at the lodge was as unappetizing as ever. A miserable mess of overcooked veggies and rice clumped together sat in front of me, untouched. At least the meat had some flavor. I poked at it with my fork, knowing I had to eat something. If I didn't, I'd wake up hungry in the middle of the night, and I wasn't about to suffer another restless night over lousy food. It was almost impossible to distract myself from anything besides Justin and his sister’s argument. It had been eating at me all day. After the fight, Justin buried himself in work, and we had no time to speak. I hoped this wouldn’t spiral into something bigger.Pushing my plate aside, I reached for my phone, ready to call my brother, when I heard excited voices. Hector burst into the dining hall, grinning like he had the best gossip of the century. He belted towards me, "Guess who just joined us, Rissa!"I rolled my eyes, sipping at my water. "I don’t care if an angel fell from heaven. I’m not in the mood."You’
MarissaSilence descended upon us like an explosion. My leaden tongue couldn't produce words. This was about to get dirty, and it had been my greatest fear.Justin's lips pressed together in a grimace, and his smile wavered. His sister's mouth opened, but nothing came out, and her eyes were wide and staring.Several years ago, I had been in her shoes, barging into the dormitory to find Alan and Genevieve in the act. Except now, this case was more complicated. At least Alan and Genevieve knew they were mates but were hiding it from me. Justin had not acknowledged the bond, and I felt nothing for his sister. Still, the guilt cut sharp at me.Her eyes darted between me and Justin, and I could see the pieces clicking together in her head. She increased her distance, looking like she wanted to attack and run away at the same time."I want to believe that what I saw is not what I think it is," she said, her voice shaking with restrained fury.
Justin The cancer of hate grew, and my blood demanded revenge. My wrath toward Sean would be his undoing. He was doing too much, and it was burning my soul.Sean had shown countless times that he was never on my side. So when I became king, with the sole power to banish and throw people out of my kingdom, he would be the first to be sent away.I was still stewing in my anger and thirst for vengeance when I heard Marissa’s voice, and Sean’s very irritating laughter. And because my protective instinct toward Marissa was growing in a very uncomfortably possessive way that I couldn’t stop, I rushed out.As I stepped into the hallway, I stopped. She was handling it well. I watched her effortlessly tear Sean apart with nothing but sharp wit. She was defending me and humbling him. Sean tried to be dominant, perhaps thinking he could use his male ego to bring her down, but his confidence was cracking with every remark she threw at him. It was so easy for her.Something warm settled in my che
Marissa The office was bustling because Justin was trying to meet a deadline.Knowing he was battling with things yet still trying to make up for it by being efficient made me sensitive to his circumstances. But whenever he was in work mode, it was always useless to help him, as one could even annoy him after his refusal.He hadn't spoken much except for the occasional request delivered in a business-like tone. I didn't mind the quiet. In fact, I welcomed it. The less I had to engage with him, the easier it was to pretend that nothing could go wrong between us.And, of course, I couldn't keep throwing myself at him like some desperate, sex-starved fool, so I focused on the mountain of letters I had been assigned to sort through for him. Most were appeals, requests, receipts—nothing exciting until my fingers paused on an envelope that stood out.It bore the seal of my pack. The red and white colors had alerted me, and it was directed to Justin.From my dad.An unsettled feeling rested
Marissa There was no claiming bite. No mark. No declaration of the bond sealed. Just heat and desire and an absence where his teeth should have grazed my skin.I wanted to say it, but something beyond me was holding me back. So I swallowed the truth and forced myself to untangle from him before I could do something reckless—like beg him to bite my neck.“So, are you going to tell me what’s been bothering you, or do I have to start listing possibilities? Because I have a few theories, and I’m very creative.”He chuckled and zipped his pants. “That’s a dangerous offer, sweetheart. I’d have to hear the ridiculous things running through your mind.”Sweetheart. He called me sweetheart!I blinked that thought away.“Did Wendy finally leave you heartbroken? Or maybe your cousin has been whispering nonsense again, trying to convince people that he’s more suited for the throne?”He paused for a bit before smirking. “You say that like you’re joking, but you’re not wrong.”I sobered and held h
Marissa Sitting at my desk with my fingers poised over my tablet, my focus was on Justin's door. He had walked in not long ago, but there was something off about him, and by the time I snuck a peek at him, he wasn’t typing, making calls, or reviewing reports. He was just staring blankly at the screen. I had spent too much time watching this man and knew when something was wrong.And now that I knew the truth—that he couldn't bond the way I did—everything made more sense. I wasn’t overthinking anymore or doubting myself, and most importantly, I wasn’t confused about where I stood. I had the power here.I let him sit with his thoughts a little longer, giving him space. Then, when I was certain he wasn’t about to snap at me, I stood and made my way into his office without announcing myself. Instead, I moved past him toward the machine behind his chair, pretending to be grabbing a file or adjusting something. Then I moved in.My arm slipped around his shoulders, pressing against his back
Justin"Mom, take that off my face," I warned, staring at her with restrained anger.Across from me, she stood like a military general, holding the enemy—a glass of water and a container filled with oversized, chalky pills that tasted like ground-up despair."I feel fine. You're overthinking this," I said, deadpan, leaning back against my headboard."Come on, honey. Just because you haven't had an episode recently doesn't mean we should get too comfortable."I sighed, exasperated. "Didn't you say some days ago that this was a sign I was healing? Things were looking better? So what's with the backtracking? Shouldn’t we be celebrating progress?""I'm being careful," she said. "We need to be careful."Her voice softened at the last part, and I knew she was worried. But still, the damn pills were massive."Fine. I'll break them to make swallowing easier," she offered, but I already knew she wasn’t budging.Then her voice took on that no-nonsense edge. "No matter how old you are, I’m still