Axel The degree of happiness I felt after Shahar told me that Crystal was his fated mate was damn near illegal. Joy settled deep in my bones, warming me from the inside out. My body felt lighter, as if a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers against the armrest. The relief was intoxicating. No more guilt. No more pretending I wasn’t betraying my closest friend. No more watching Eve force herself into a marriage neither of us wanted.I pressed my lips together, trying to suppress the ridiculous grin threatening to stretch across my face. Every fiber of my being wanted to throw my head back and laugh, to find Eve, kiss her senseless and and blurt out the truth just to see the look on her face. But it wasn’t my place to say anything yet. As much as I wanted to claim this victory, it was Shahar’s battle to fight.It was damn near impossible to keep it in, especially as I imagined Eve’s reaction when she found out that her dear b
Eve I stepped closer, my eyes locking with Axel's, with a silent challenge in my gaze. I knew the effect I had on him. His breath hitched, and his body tensed in anticipation. With a deliberate move, I pressed my lips to his, claiming his mouth with a boldness that left him momentarily stunned. But I wasn't one to be denied; tonight, I wanted to take the reins.“Fuck me,” I whispered in his ear.I heard a delighted chuckle seconds before our lips met. His mouth softened, yielding to my command. I could feel the raw desire that coursed through him. His body was a live wire, buzzing with pent-up energy, and at its center, a throbbing hardness that pressed insistently against my belly.My hand slid down, seeking out the source of his passion. I found him hot and rigid, the blunt head of his erection straining against his pants. “I'm all yours,” his breath caressed my neck as he spoke, causing a trickle of wetness to slide between my legs. He was ready.He led the kiss, pulling away fr
EveI was in heat for the next three days. It was messy. The worst kind. The kind that had me clawing at Axel like some insatiable animal, unable to get enough. I climbed him every chance I got. He didn’t complain, of course. He enjoyed it—loved it even. He loved that, for once, I was the one reaching for him, dragging him into me, kissing him first, begging to be ravished, instead of the other way around.It felt like a live wire was buzzing in my body, demanding more. I couldn’t stop. We did it everywhere—the garden at night, his study, the kitchen storage, the garage, his car, but mostly in my room, night after night, until I was sore, but still needing more.It had never been like this with Lance. Not even when we were good. Not even in the first year of our marriage when we were trying. The difference was so painfully obvious that I almost felt stupid for ever believing I had loved Lance. With Axel, my body responded before my brain even had the chance to argue. With Lance,
EveMy heart dropped into my stomach the moment I saw Shahar. He had caught Axel and me kissing.I had never felt such dread in my life. I had seen Shahar angry before, but this was different—he looked pierced, betrayed in a way that sent me running behind Axel like a coward.I broke into a sweat, silently begging the Moon Goddess that he wouldn’t cause a scene. People were moving back and forth through the hallway, and the last thing I needed was for the entire kingdom to witness its king tangled in a scandal with his best friend’s fiancée. If Shahar lost control, this could turn into a disgraceful mess, one that no amount of damage control could fix.Shahar’s voice was low but filled with restrained fury. "What the hell is this?"He wasn’t looking at me—his burning gaze was fixed on Axel, demanding an answer, demanding an explanation that would make this not what it seemed.Axel didn’t speak.His silence only made it worse. Shahar took a step closer, his fists clenched, his entire f
AxelNina could not take a hint. I didn’t want to talk to her. I didn’t want to sit beside her. I didn’t even want to be near her. But that didn’t stop her from shoving herself into my space like an overeager puppy, pretending not to notice how stiff my posture was or how my answers had been reduced to noncommittal grunts.My annoyance grew with every word she spewed. I wished she would just go away.It wasn’t just that I wasn’t interested—I had gone out of my way to introduce her to several nobles, making it painfully obvious that I was trying to push her toward someone else. But she played dumb, batting her lashes and pretending the entire room couldn’t see exactly what I was trying to do.I couldn’t wait for the night to be over.Eve was still furious with me, and I had no doubt she planned to bear this grudge forever. That pleased Shahar—he looked downright smug every time our eyes met. And a small, irritated part of me wondered if it was worth it in the end.But knowing Shahar ha
Eve I paced around Axel's chamber like a lunatic, a hot mess of emotions with no idea what I was even feeling.Angry. Sad. Relieved. All of the above. I was a walking emotional roller coaster, spiraling without a safety bar.Axel had exposed our intimacy to Shahar—just like that. No warning, no consideration, nothing. And yet, this same Axel had stood up for me, had my back, and sent Nina away without a second thought. It was distracting. I should have been focused on how unbelievably annoyed I was at him. I needed to get it together.Calm down, Eve. Pacing around the room like a caged animal isn't going to change anything.I shot him a glare. "Oh, so now you're a therapist? Mind telling me how I should feel—especially since you are the cause of all this?"Axel grinned, thoroughly amused. "Me?" He placed a hand on his chest in mock innocence. "I'm innocent. I just think you might get dizzy and make an anger track in my carpet."I narrowed my eyes. "This isn't funny.""It isn’t," he a
EveAxel had long since fallen asleep, but I lay wide awake, my thoughts running in circles.I hadn't even spoken when he told me he loved me and wanted to marry me. I couldn't. If I had, I might have cried,or worse, let the weight of it all crush me.So instead, I kissed him.I let my body speak for me.It was slow, deep, intense—the most passionate we had ever been. Maybe because, for the first time, my body recognized that Axel truly loved me. And despite everything, despite him not being perfect—despite me not being perfect, despite the secrets we both hid that could destroy us—there was something comforting about knowing that his love was for me and not just the mate bond.A small victory.Slowly, I sat up, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber. The sheets slipped down, exposing my bare skin to the moonlight.I turned my gaze to Axel, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. The lines on his forehead softened in sleep—creases that deepened when he smiled or frowned.
Shahar Axel's car screeched away. The sound slammed into me, igniting a fire that burned through my veins. I felt the urge to shatter something and unleash the fury that threatened to consume me.My growl echoed through the living room. It was a primal call that summoned the anger from the depths of my chest. My heart pounded hard.How dare they think they can waltz in here and police how I react?Axel truly hurt me. This was a deeply personal betrayal. The bond we shared went beyond familial ties. We were closer than brothers.We had fought side by side, bled together, and buried our dead together. He knew every dark thought I kept hidden, and I knew his. We didn’t need words to understand each other; a look and a twitch of the jaw was enough. That’s what made this so unbearable.The fact that he knew exactly what this would do to me and still did it anyway made me hate him. And until things took this ugly turn, I could’ve sworn I’d take a bullet for him without blinking. Now, I was
EveThe lack of light made it impossible to tell day from night. The shackles that bound my wrists bit into my skin, and I trembled as the door creaked open for another round of weeping. They struck me with leather-strapped clubs, and my screams were muffled by the cloth gag jammed between my teeth.Traitor.Dirty little werewolf.Slut.They flogged me while demeaning me with every word. Each blow left bruises shaped like knuckles across my back and arms. My gown hung in tatters as the whip cracked through the air and kissed my skin, searing ribbons of flesh.But I was grateful—because I had heard worse. From the neighboring cell came the moans of a man they had mutilated, his tongue cut out.Once finished with me, they walked away, and the clang of the iron door made me scream.The only light came from a porthole high above—too small to see the sky. My fingers found the stone walls, slick with slime and my own blood.A wooden bowl of unidentifiable gruel was shoved under the door. I
Axel My long journey was full of trials and haunting stillness, felt like a pointless march into madness. I stopped at the place where all vehicles were forbidden. From there, I began to walk. Each step dragged on, slow and heavy. Shifting into my wolf was not allowed—though not like I could even do that anymore. I carried my luggage by hand, water sloshing inside the pouch, and a few folded bills. My tunic’s hood shielded my face as I pressed forward, alone. The guards had been forbidden to accompany me. This pilgrimage demanded isolation.The first village I reached resembled a painting from a child’s sketchbook—mud huts with intact thatched roofs, placed too neatly, too still. Strangely, every window had black cloth nailed across it. The smell of rot and stagnant water rolled through the air like a fog. A woman pounded millet beside a well, and I called to her. She didn’t turn. A man leaning against a goat pen chewed without blinking. No one spoke. My voice echoed back like it ha
EveA relaxed smile crossed my face as I headed to Axel's closet suites which could be best described as a private showroom than any ordinary wardrobe. He had been in a hurry to pack and had made a mess of the place. It wasn't that messy, but I was bored. It had been more than a day since he travelled, and since I had no reason to be cooking and preparing recipes, I needed something to keep my mind busy.My ga scanned rows of drawers, racks, shelving units, and a relaxed smile crossed my face when I stared at his custom boot trunks. Everything about him was powerful. I began to unfold garments from his set of leather suitcases lying open on a velvet bench and separated his regalia from his casual wears and his battle dress uniforms. I was organizing his cufflinks and brooches when I remembered my ordeal with Crystal and Shahar.Crystal had called back after Gaia left, panicking."He's going to suspect that we are playing him," I said to her, feeling so frustrated."I know, I know!" sh
Eve“So…” a familiar voice drawled behind me, full of amusement. “How was the proposal?”I turned to see Gaia trailing behind me into the kitchen. Her brows did some kind of mischievous dance.“Did he go down on one knee?” she asked, barely suppressing her grin. “I know he didn't. His kneecaps would probably shatter from the sheer offense.”I laughed, despite myself. “Please, Gaia.”“I’m just curious. You're royalty now. We want to know how the King of Stone Hearts melted.”I groaned, dropping the tray on the counter. “Let’s just say I don’t know what I’m doing.”Gaia raised an eyebrow. “You seemed pretty confident back there, standing beside him like you were ready to snatch the crown yourself.”“I was winging it,” I muttered.“Winging it with grace,” she corrected, following me as I headed toward the private living room. She made herself comfortable on the couch across from me while I flopped into the seat.I rubbed my forehead. “Everything feels like it’s spiraling. One second I’m
Nina's POVNina pressed her ear against the door, trying to catch every word that Eve was saying to Gaia. She had always wondered why the priestess was so interested in an ordinary cook. Well, it seemed she wasn't so ordinary anymore—judging by the unexpected turn of events.Nina didn’t want to call what she felt jealousy, but that’s exactly what it was. Spiteful bitterness clawed at her. She believed this stranger—this harlot, this swat—had taken away Herman. It was clear she had slithered her way halfway into Axel’s life. Perhaps she fulfilled needs, styles, kinks, and fetishes Axel loved—ones that once led Nina to suspect he might be secretly homosexual.Nina gloried in her beauty. She was superior to other girls in talent, looks, wealth, and importance—and she was fully conscious of it. Women in the park and beyond humbled themselves before her. She was like a precious egg—darling in her parents’ eyes. She was supposed to be the one to win Axel, fair and square. She deserved to be
Eve“Axel, stop,” I groaned, struggling in his hold, though part of me wasn’t trying too hard. His arms were like iron bands around my waist, keeping me caged against him. I twisted, trying to free myself, but it was pointless.When Axel wanted something, he didn’t ask, he took it. His lips brushed the shell of my ear. “Why are you fighting me?” “You’re supposed to be holding court right now. They’re waiting. I can't go with you.”“Are you scared of the people who fear me? Those trembling cowards who shake in their boots the second I walk into a room?”His gaze on me was intense, that piercing hazel that seemed to burn straight through me. “I’m not scared of them. I'm not scared of you either.”A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and before I could say another word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to my neck. His kiss was hot, just above the place where my pulse jumped like a wild thing. I shivered.If he just opened his mouth and sank his teeth into that spot, jus
ShaharI drank from bottles, one after another. The liquor poured down my throat until I became drowsy and my head hit the table.Hours later, my eyes opened and I groaned. My neck hurt. My hand wiped the drool on my beard and mouth. The mattress sagged as I lay on it and my eyes closed as I hit the pillows.I woke up the next morning with one clear decision burning in my chest: to go find Crystal.The Wild Fangs Pack was about a four-hour journey by road from here. If I left before sunrise, I could make it there in time. I could’ve cut that time in half by air, but I hated flying. Something about being in the air, detached from the ground, felt unnatural. Most Lycans didn’t like it either. We were creatures of earth and instinct, grounded and primal. The air felt like a lie. You couldn’t scent your surroundings. You couldn’t feel danger. You couldn’t trust the skies. No matter how convenient air travel was, it always stripped me of control.Crystal knew her friend betrayed and manip
Shahar Axel's car screeched away. The sound slammed into me, igniting a fire that burned through my veins. I felt the urge to shatter something and unleash the fury that threatened to consume me.My growl echoed through the living room. It was a primal call that summoned the anger from the depths of my chest. My heart pounded hard.How dare they think they can waltz in here and police how I react?Axel truly hurt me. This was a deeply personal betrayal. The bond we shared went beyond familial ties. We were closer than brothers.We had fought side by side, bled together, and buried our dead together. He knew every dark thought I kept hidden, and I knew his. We didn’t need words to understand each other; a look and a twitch of the jaw was enough. That’s what made this so unbearable.The fact that he knew exactly what this would do to me and still did it anyway made me hate him. And until things took this ugly turn, I could’ve sworn I’d take a bullet for him without blinking. Now, I was
EveAxel had long since fallen asleep, but I lay wide awake, my thoughts running in circles.I hadn't even spoken when he told me he loved me and wanted to marry me. I couldn't. If I had, I might have cried,or worse, let the weight of it all crush me.So instead, I kissed him.I let my body speak for me.It was slow, deep, intense—the most passionate we had ever been. Maybe because, for the first time, my body recognized that Axel truly loved me. And despite everything, despite him not being perfect—despite me not being perfect, despite the secrets we both hid that could destroy us—there was something comforting about knowing that his love was for me and not just the mate bond.A small victory.Slowly, I sat up, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber. The sheets slipped down, exposing my bare skin to the moonlight.I turned my gaze to Axel, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. The lines on his forehead softened in sleep—creases that deepened when he smiled or frowned.