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
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
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 horror was a mixture of shock and fear, and my body froze.I forgot to breathe. Bile burned in the back of my throat. Everything was happening at once. So fast that I couldn't think. “That… that’s not possible,” I said with nervous laughter. “That can never be Eve?”Shahar angled his body away, and his arms hung useless at his sides.“I wish this was a lie,” he muttered.His words didn’t make sense. Nothing did.All this time, her smiles, touches, moments that felt like love, was it all a carefully constructed lie?The betrayal sliced like a blade in my ribs.I’d always thought I was a master at reading emotion, at spotting liars. I prided myself on sensing people’s motives before they even spoke. Yet I was the fool who let the enemy into my bed.“How could we have been so blind,” Shahar said, crossing his arms and shaking his head, eyes locked on the empty sky. “So stupid.”I pictured Eve’s face and curves. The way her eyes crinkled when she laughed. Those beautiful, innoce
EveThe morning sun slipped through the bars of my cell, and I felt a bone-chilling cold clinging to me. This was it.Axel was not coming to save me.My body screamed with hunger, and the sharp pain that had become my only companion gnawed at me. My skin was swollen from insect bites. I was getting weaker and weaker.Axel didn’t come. He didn’t even try. He didn’t believe me. He believed their lies.This was how it would end—this slow slide into oblivion. They would drag me out of here like an animal. They wanted my blood. My eyes fluttered shut. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain.A violent shiver rattled my teeth. I curled into a ball on the stone floor. My stomach burned, and my tongue felt thick and swollen, scraping against the roof of my mouth like sandpaper. I tried to swallow, but my throat was dry. I pressed my forehead against the stone as the ache in my head worsened.One guard, spitting a wad of tobacco juice onto the floor, gestured toward me.“You reckon they’re
Eve The cold steel of the handcuffs bit into my wrists as I walked with my head lowered beside Crystal. The clinking of the chains was a constant humiliation.Two guards who knew me flanked us. My gaze flickered between them—I had fed them once. I remembered their gratitude, their thanks for the food on their plates. But one of them was different. Hardened. Cold. There was no warmth in his eyes. He wanted me dead.He probably thought I had guts—to attempt to poison the king.The courtyard was a riot of color and sound. Drunk nobles clustered together, their wives staring at us like vultures. They loved their spectacle, reveling in our humiliation.I scoffed. It wasn’t like their lives were any better. All they did was drink and gossip, living empty, meaningless lives. The party roared on. Dread settled in my stomach. Crystal and I were forced to sit on the stone floor, our backs pressed against a pillar—like animals. Like prisoners.Three more guards formed a tight circle around us,
AxelA ChildThe words kept echoing in my mind. I couldn't comprehend it. That child in her womb was likely mine. Or was it?My hands trembled involuntarily. I was a coward to leave Eve alive. But to kill my own child, to add another innocent life to the blood on my hands, would be unbearable. I hadn’t even cleansed the familial curses threatening to strangle me. I didn't mean to add more burdens to myself.I stole another glance at Eve. She was pale, had lost considerable weight. I couldn't look at her—I couldn't bear it. Her motives stared back at me. She wanted revenge for her parents. I had killed them and destroyed her family. It made a twisted kind of sense.I've never trusted anyone. My experiences and position in life never gave me the opportunity to. But Eve's betrayal tore at my heart. She had tried to poison me but hadn't finished the job. I wondered where I would have been had she gone through with her plans.A small part of me whispered that execution felt excessive. But
EveThe sight of Lance made my rage bubble and sent a wave of nausea crashing over me.It was a sickening mix of anger and betrayal. He was here. He dared to come here. The bastard stood like he owned the place, wearing a relaxed grin.My gaze snapped to Axel. I didn’t need a prophet to tell me that Axel had invited him. Who else had the power? The realization cut fresh wounds into my already battered heart. He had dragged a nightmare back into my life without blinking, handing my greatest enemy a front-row seat to watch me burn.He believed Lance. Of course, he did. He believed the man who had tried to kill me. The injustice of it all made me scream. Memories of how it all started, how I had found myself spiraling into bouts of sickness with no cure, filled my head. Yet Axel believed Lance’s lies.I surged to my feet, and my furious scream tore through the silence of the night."You bastard! What have you come to do? You dare show your face after ruining my life? Have you come to fin
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