Morning came, but it didn’t bring relief. I cracked my eyes open, and my chest pressed deeper into the mattress as if it could swallow me whole.Waking up meant acknowledging reality, which was a cold, merciless thing. Last night had been an agonizing kind of heartbreak. Maya was satisfied, purring in contentment after finally being fucked by our mate—but I felt empty.Raw. Drained. Wounded.And this morning felt worse.The crushing weight of knowing exactly where I stood.I blinked at the ceiling, staring blankly before rolling onto my side. Axel’s delicious scent still lingered on my pillow. At least that meant it wasn’t a horrifying nightmare.He had been here. He had touched me. And I had let him.Thinking about it now made the humiliation double.Letting myself hope had been my first mistake. Now, I was paying for it.The general bell rang through the castle. I rolled my eyes and ignored it. Axel could starve for all I cared.Let him order someone else to make his damn breakfast.
Eve Suffocation clawed at my throat, and my body sat rigid in the passenger seat as nausea rolled through me. It wasn’t just discomfort, I needed to throw up.The sensation twisted in my gut, making me feel like I was losing control over my own body.Then Shahar leaned forward, attempting to kiss me again. Maya grew disgusted and furious, resisting every second of this.My breathing grew shallow as I tried to focus on anything else but the kiss.It didn’t help.His fingers grazed my neck again, and a violent nausea churned in my stomach. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay still and keep up the act.I couldn’t just bolt out of the car—not without making things worse.The nausea hit me again. My vision blurred. I couldn’t hold it in anymore.No matter how polite I tried to seem, I threw the door open, stumbling out and rushing toward the side of the road.I barely made it to a decorative ledge, where a gutter ran alongside the pavement, before vomiting hard.The force of it left
AxelI buried myself in more work, my pen scratching against the paper as I signed document after document. I drowned myself in kingdom matters, treaties, trade negotiations—Anything to keep my mind off her.But, of course, the universe had other plans. When I raised my head, my heart stuttered. Because she was standing right there.Beyond the threshold of my study, dressed in her nightwear, standing like an apparition—like a dream slipping through my fingers.Something was off.I could feel it.But still, I just sat there, watching her.Taking her in.She didn’t move or speak.And me, for all my control and discipline, felt the pleasurable waves of desire stir violently."Did you miss your way, or are you sleepwalking?"I drawled, my voice low, taunting."Or maybe I’m really so irresistible that you couldn’t last a few days without me?"She didn’t answer.My amusement faded.Giving way to concern.She was off.Realizing what I was doing, I reached out to her, tilting her chin—The m
Eve That night in the study had been the beginning of something reckless. I was torn between unease and arousal.But with Axel, all reason fled, leaving only the madness of desire. I needed him all the time. Round the clock.My mind should have resisted, but my body always betrayed me. Every time I saw him, I felt that heat. That freaking pull. That ache.He set fire to me, arousing every sense and thought. We were tangled in a mess of heat and desperation.It was wrong and yet inevitable.We never talked about it. Never acknowledged what it meant. Because that would make it real.So we continued meeting over and over.In the hidden parts of the castle, in the dead of night, in the woods, in his study, sometimes, in my room.My mind never questioned the insanity because Axel would still marry Nina. I was still dating Shahar.It didn’t stop either of us.The revenge plan was still on. I wasn’t trying to change the future. I was ignoring it and letting this affair run through us, consu
EveI stood at the Lycan train station, my eyes scanning the crowd for Crystal. Then I saw her, stepping off the train. Dressed in a dark coat, her red hair caught the light, making her impossible to miss.My heart tightened. This wasn’t just a visit. This wasn’t a simple reunion. This felt like judgment day.Crystal was here for one reason—revenge. And once she set her mind on something, once she decided that revenge was the answer, there was no stopping her. I had seen it before.As much as that terrified me, as much as I wanted to delay the inevitable, I rushed forward—and hugged her.Villain Era, Activated."Isn't it wild that my best friend is now a full-fledged villain?" I teased, trying to lighten the air.Crystal arched a well-lined brow. "Villain?"I lowered my voice dramatically. "Yes. A full-on, cloak-wearing, curse-muttering, soul-harvesting witch who has come to claim Axel’s life."She snorted. "Oh, I’m not just harvesting, sweetheart. I’m going to boil him, roast him, an
I stood with my fingers tapping idly against the armrest of my chair, watching as Shahar beat the hell out of two warriors. He was enraged, his fury barely contained as his fists connected with flesh, each strike carrying the weight of unspoken frustration. The warriors had barely lifted their arms in defense, but Shahar didn’t care—he wanted them to feel his wrath.Rumors of my inability to shift—or my problem with my wolf—were spreading like wildfire, slithering through the halls and streets like a disease. It had taken root, infecting conversations, making people whisper behind my back. Why has no one ever seen the King’s wolf? The question was everywhere.And it was true.Lycans shift in battle, but I fought like a man. It should have bothered me more than it did, considering my strength was my reputation, and doubt was a deadly poison that could rot the foundation of my throne. But I didn’t care. Not in the way they wanted me to. Let them talk, let them whisper, let them fill the
Eve The door shut, and the sound sealed us into a boundary I was happily willing to cross but also afraid of, because I didn't have the willpower to step away from it. Axel watched me silently, waiting for my reaction. My stomach clenched as desire filled my body."Let go of me," I said, taking his hands off my waist.He did, surprisingly, but did not take a step back."You're absolutely certain that your future cannot be dictated by me?" he asked, making a vague gesture in the air."That's what I said," I repeated.He tilted his head and then laughed. It was a dry one."That's interesting," he mused. "Because I have a feeling that you might try to run away from me but end up coming right back.""Or, who knows? You might be two-timing, acting like a loving wife to Shahar while sneaking away for a good fuck.”My mouth gaped. "You're delusional."He burst into laughter. It was crazy how much his laughter unsettled me. So very much. So pleasurable."Shahar is your friend. How can you do
EveI'd be a liar to say I had not fantasized about this for weeks. I couldn't help it. I wanted to fuck Axel, and every part of me begged for this. I'd enjoyed sex with Lance until it became a chore. But at his best performance, Lance had never made me feel like Axel did. “Something about you makes me come alive,” he whispered, running his tongue over my lips.“What is it?” I asked, teasing him by rubbing my clit against his crotch. He groaned and pressed himself more into me. “Tell me.” I ran my fingers over his hair. It felt so soft as his body shuddered with pleasure He chuckled lightly at my playful behavior but then pulled away from me. “Everything.” His voice was husky with lust. He leaned forward and kissed my chin before pulling me down on top of him. “I can barely contain myself. Your curves. Your sultry eyes. Your soft lips… they're enough to drive any man wild. It's time to take things to the next level.”His mouth covered mine, and I could taste him everywhere on my to
Alec I caught her scent before I saw her.Sweet, primal and alive.It hit me as I rounded the corner of the second-floor stairs.My heart slammed hard enough that I felt it in my throat. The bond snapped awake between us, yanking tight across my ribs.And there she was.Vanessa stood a few steps above me, gripping the railing, breathing like she had just run a mile. Her skin glowed under the lights, damp from a heat that hadn't touched anyone else. Her wolf was awake, I could feel it reaching for mine.Every muscle in my body locked.I wanted to take the last few steps and grab her.Bury my face against her neck.Mark her until she couldn’t belong to anyone but me.She took another shaky step down. Her knees wobbled like a newborn pup’s.I stayed rooted where I was.Her eyes found mine, like she'd been caught in the middle of a nightmare.Something primal shoved against my control.My wolf surged, howling for her.Take her. Now.Vanessa’s lips parted. She staggered. Her scent punched
Vanessa’s POVI couldn't let Nina's words slide without knowing what she was up to. I pushed through the servants, ignoring the stupid whispers.Nina was halfway up the stairs leading to the third floor, acting like she had no idea she’d just thrown a torch into dry wood. I ran up the stairs and caught up with her. She turned, calm as still water with a smile on her lips. “What are you up to?” I cried out, exasperated.Nina looked around and whispered, “Walls have ears. You don't want Isabella and Maya to hear this.”She smoothed her skirt and turned back to the stairs. Without glancing back, she said, “Follow me.”Rage crawled up my neck. I stood there with clenched fists, before forcing my legs to move.We didn’t speak as we climbed. When I stepped inside her quarters, my eyes widened.It was nothing short of beautiful and eccentric. The walls were painted deep blue, like the sky right before it surrendered to the stars. A colorful rug sprawled across the floor, alive with shapes
Vanessa The stench of blood hit me before I even reached the laundry hall. The metallic smell clung to my nose and throat, making every breath taste like iron.We were waiting, heads down, buckets lined along the wall. When the hunters dumped the bloodied clothes in front of us, the pile steamed in the cold air."Move," barked one of the guards.We dropped to our knees and started sorting. Thick leather cloaks soaked through, ripped and dark with blood. Some had claw marks. Others, deep slashes. My hands found a warm shirt. My stomach clenched. I bit the inside of my cheek and shoved it into the basin.The head servant, Marga, stormed past. "You're slower than a pack of drunk pups. Hurry up!"My fingers worked fast, scrubbing, rinsing and wringing. The water turned red instantly. A film of blood coated the surface. Every time I dipped the cloth back in, it felt like bathing in ghosts.The memory slipped in before I could fight it.I was thirteen years old, and my dad had just given
AlecThe morning after Olga's prophecy was awful.I woke up with a pounding headache, like my skull was about to split open. But as memories of last night came flooding back, the headache was nothing compared to the deep ache in my chest.My mate.The one person destined to be my perfect match was Valen Hunter's daughter. Entirely unsuitable for me.The thought of being bonded to an enemy felt like punishment. I rubbed my forehead, trying to shake off the fog, but my mind kept circling back to the impossibility of it all.How could the goddess be so cruel?I’d always thought I was blessed and destined for power. Life had spoiled me with luxury, and now I was crowned alpha of one of the most powerful packs on the south coast. People envied me. But now, luck had turned its back on me.It felt like the moon goddess herself had said, "You’ve had enough blessings. Time for a change."And she had changed everything.A bond with Vanessa was unthinkable. Packmates would revolt and use it agai
Vanessa The bruises had faded, but the ache remained. It was so deep nothing could touch it. My wolf was still weak from Olga’s wolfsbane. She wasn’t silent, but her voice and cries were faint.I felt sorry for poisoning her in the first place. But if I had to do this over and over to suppress this bond, I wouldn't hesitate.The memory from last night rushed in. Lucas had tried to kill me, and Alec had stopped him, saved me, carried me... then stood over me and said I was a threat.He kept sending mixed signals, confusing me. He needed to pick a side already.Picking a side wouldn’t change the fact that he killed my father. I got dressed and headed out. The morning gong had rung earlier to wake the servants, but no one had woken me. They had all witnessed the horrifying event last night.No high-ranking wolf ever came down to the servants’ quarters.That changed yesterday because of me. Because of me, the Alpha punched his trusted Beta.As I stepped out, everyone stared at me like
AlecLucas slammed the door without knocking."If you’ve lost your damn mind, just say it out loud so I can send for the psychiatrist."I didn’t look up from the blade I was sharpening."Get out.""No. Not until we explain what the hell that was last night."He paced around the room like a rabid dog, chest out, pride bruised."You punched me in front of that servant girl!"My jaw tightened. "Stop whining, Luc. I warned you not to kill her.""And why should I listen to you? She's a traitor's spawn. We should’ve gotten her the moment the bond snapped into place. You think you can hide her? This isn’t about your feelings—it’s about what the Kingdom sees.""Stop it," I said flatly. "You’re beginning to sound like a broken record. I have a mind of my own.""Then use it," he snapped. "You’re showing weakness: This is not like you. I’ll keep reminding you every fucking minute if it keeps you from wrecking your life."I shot him a sharp look. "I hope you haven’t told your loudmouth wife anyth
Vanessa The pack house was riddled with immorality.The sounds of sex echoed off the marbled walls. Every corner reeked of wine and sex.Usually, I found my escape. It was a miracle I hadn’t lost my virginity while living in this immoral pack for eight years.Except for that one time when one of the servant boys, Zachary, tried to lure me into his bed. I always counted myself wise and lucky. My being in the main court was on purpose. I wanted to see Alec's reaction to someone manhandling me. "On your knees, traitor bitch," a drunken gamma slurred as he grabbed a goblet of wine, spilling it down my breasts. "Were you not trained to please?"I smiled, because that’s what servants do, and because I had caught Alec watching.Across the hall, he watched me. He stood at the throne, surrounded by well-wishers. His fiancée, Maya, clung to his arm like a jewel. I was glad that he saw me."I’m sorry, sir," I said softly, taking my time to unzip the drunken gamma.My heart fell. Alec's reactio
AlecShe was gone, but her scent was everywhere.Vanilla, honey, and pure heat underneath.I could smell her need. That scent of a bonded female aching to be claimed. And fuck, my wolf wanted to chase.Before she revealed her name, my heart leapt with excitement. It reminded me of easier times, before the weight of everyone’s expectations had crushed the part of me that used to feel alive.I pressed my back to the wall, breathing like I’d just come out of a fight. The goddess hadn’t given me a mate. She'd shackled me to the daughter of a traitor. Pain twisted in my chest. My wolf was restless, howling for her. I was one second away from losing control."Go to her," he cried. "She’s ours."I ripped the ceremonial robe and tossed it into the flames. Then I began punching the wall repeatedly. I punched until my knuckles bled. Still, the feeling didn’t leave."Shut the fuck up," I bellowed at my wolf, who was starved for our mate’s touch. "Do you even realize what you're asking me to do
Laughter echoed through the halls as they crowned Alpha Alec.He was the heir to a throne built on my family’s grave.I used to walk these halls in silk. Now I scrub their floors with raw hands and silent tears.Alec had been away for six years, training with Northern warriors. He was so ruthless that his bites could break bones. In his years of absence, I had plotted my revenge."You're wasting soap, rat."I flinched as cold water splashed against the side of my face. Laughter followed. Two maids, always eager to bully me whenever the head maid was busy, were at it again.“She thinks scrubbing harder will clean her filthy bloodline,” one of them sneered. Her broom handle knocked over the bucket beside me, spilling soapy water across the floor and into my lap.“Please stop,” I said, keeping my head down.“I hope Alpha Alec throws you into the dungeon so we don’t have to look at your evil eyes anymore.”They had no idea how dark my mind was. I played the meek servant, took all the abu