The moment I got to my bedroom, it felt like the walls of my room were closing in on me.I sat on the bed, staring at the door, listening to the fading sound of his footsteps as silence swallowed the space.Then, shame crashed down on me.My knees buckled, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, my hands covering my face. A choked sob escaped before I could swallow it down.What have I done?Shame squeezed the air from my lungs. This wasn’t supposed to happen. My body had betrayed me. His scent still clung to my skin, the sheets, the air— everything, and I hated how much I wanted to drown in it.My parents would roll in their graves.I pressed a fist against my lips, trying to silence the sobs racking my body, but the tears came anyway.My mother, who had once held me in the safety of her arms.My father had given his life to protect his family.What would they say if they could see me now—broken and undone by the very man who had destroyed everything they built?A fresh wave of disgust
AxelWith my arms crossed over my chest, I watched Shahar and a few of the warriors demonstrating different techniques to the younger recruits under the shade of the archway, while the others trained in the field.The young Lycans loved this challenge—an exhilarating test of their strength against seasoned warriors.Shahar laughed, easily dodging a boy's reckless swing and knocking him off balance with a mere flick of his foot."Come on, you’ll have to be faster than that if you want to win a real fight," he teased, offering his opponent a hand.The recruit took it, shaking his head in good-natured embarrassment, while the others waited, eager for their turn.I exhaled, adjusting my stance.Watching my warriors train had always brought me a sense of peace.Discipline. Order. Strength.But something about watching Shahar today made my chest feel tight.Guilt.That was it.I could feel it—dragging me down, refusing to be ignored.Every time I saw him, it reminded me of last night with E
EveI knew Axel was listening.He flipped through his puzzle book like he wasn’t paying attention, but I knew better.He was too calculating not to be listening, too intelligent not to be connecting the dots.That’s why I deliberately mentioned it.I wanted to see if he would react—to catch even the slightest shift in his gaze, anything that would confirm he was paying attention.My heart drummed in my chest as I waited for his eyes to betray something.Nothing.Not a twitch, not a glance, not even the faintest acknowledgment.I swallowed hard, hating the growing ache of disappointment.His fingers glided across the page as he solved whatever problem was in front of him.Maybe I was shooting myself in the foot, revealing too much too soon. Every word I spoke felt like a reckless gamble. I was playing with fire by mentioning my estate so openly, dangling a thread that, if pulled, could expose everything I had so carefully hidden.If Shahar dug deeper, my cover could be blown. The thoug
EveStanding in the shadows of the corridor, I watched Axel seated at the head of the table, speaking to his advisors. The plate of snacks I had placed before him earlier sat untouched.He hadn’t spared me a glance.Was he avoiding me?Of course, he was. Since that unholy night.Maybe he was regretting it, realizing it was a mistake. Maybe I should care less.I stacked the dishes for cleaning. He wasn’t silent with others. He still spoke to them, brief conversations, acknowledgments with his guards, even some of the maids.He was busy, but not too busy to speak to others.Just me.I hated myself for feeling frustrated. I should be relieved—his attention was dangerous. I had seen what happened to women who got tangled in his world, and I was not here for that.I was here for revenge.I wasn’t supposed to care if he ignored me.I thought I had at least a few days of peace, but then Nina walked back into the castle like she was reclaiming a throne.The moment I spotted her entering the h
AxelThe corridors were quiet, save for the murmurs of servants beginning their day. I descended the staircase, following the scent of food wafting from the dining hall. Instead of the usual rich aroma that stirred my appetite, there was an unsettling, burnt scent that made my stomach turn.The moment I saw Nina standing by the dining table, adjusting the placement of cutlery, the answer was clear. Eve hadn’t cooked this.At the mere thought of Eve’s name, my stomach twisted. I had been avoiding her on purpose, trying to pull my mind out of the madness of wanting her. Again and again.Nina turned at the sound of my approach, and her eyes lit up with excitement."Good morning, my love," she purred, stepping aside as she gestured dramatically toward the meal before me.My stomach clenched. Warning bells rang in my mind.I lowered myself into the chair, removing the lid from the plates. Eggs, toast, and what looked like some kind of stew. It looked passable enough, but the scent was off.
EveI woke up to a sharp, twisting pain in my stomach, dragging me out of my sleep like a cruel hand yanking me from a dream.Gasping, I pressed a hand to my abdomen, hoping it was just a cramp, some indigestion, anything but what I already suspected.I sat up and forced myself to stand. My body protested, the hot, uncomfortable sensation in my stomach making me feel like I was burning from the inside out.“No. No, no, no.”I shuffled toward the table where I had left a glass of water from the night before. I barely took a sip before a wave of nausea slammed into me.Stumbling backward, I choked on air. Then, the pain flared, hotter and sharper.Maya whimpered inside me.Or maybe she howled.Or maybe it was both.My fingers dug into the fabric of my nightgown
EveThe road stretched ahead of us, winding through the remnants of a once-thriving land. Nostalgia wrapped around me, suspending me between past and present.Everything felt different now.Even the air seemed thinner, lacking the same fullness it once had when I was a child, running barefoot through the Market Square, dodging merchants, stealing warm pastries with Crystal.The air smelled like rotten eggs now. Still, it was home.And I missed it.Beside me, Crystal linked her fingers with mine. She always seemed to know when my mind drifted too far, as if we shared some unseen bond."Remember when we were little? How we used to hold hands like this all the time?" She swung our hands between us, and a wistful smile played on her lips.I smiled. "Back then, we didn’t have to worry about politics. Or betrayals. Or
AxelThe mid-year party was in full swing. Music played in the background, setting the mood for celebration, but to me, it was nothing more than noise—distant, irritating.Nothing beyond that.I had already done my duty—acknowledged the elders, exchanged empty pleasantries, and offered a few words of wisdom to the warriors who had recently risen in rank. But now, I was trapped.Surrounded by a cluster of noblewomen who reeked of desperation and expensive perfume.Ever since Nina had made our supposed engagement public, the women had taken it as a challenge—thinking they still had a chance.It was pathetic and exhausting."It's shocking, really," Beatrix purred, tilting her head, her sharp gaze laced with jealousy. "We thought you weren’t the type to settle down, yet Nina managed to—how should I say it?—
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