It’s seems Nina is maltreating her child.
Benita's POV Nausea twisted in my stomach as the realization hit me—Nina was abusing her. She was hitting her child. Disbelief washed over me as I carefully moved closer, the gap in the door offering me a glimpse inside. The room was dimly lit, and I could just barely see Nina’s silhouette looming over a small figure curled up on the bed. The child—her child—flinched when Nina raised her hand as if to strike. This time, however, Nina stopped short. “I’m warning you,” Nina hissed, her tone dangerously low. “One more noise, and I’ll make you regret it.” The child whimpered but stayed silent, curling into herself, her tiny body trembling under the thin blanket. I couldn’t take it anymore. My hands shook as anger surged through me, stronger than anything I had felt in years. Without thinking, I pushed the door open and stormed inside. “Don’t you dare.” Nina’s head snapped toward me, her eyes narrowing as though caught in the act. “What the hell are you doing here?” she sneered, st
Benita’s POV Tears fell down my cheek as the realization of what I was seeing struck me. This little girl, this little fragile girl, was being tortured, not just by anyone, but by a woman who was supposed to be her own mother. My stomach churned with rage and anguish. My hand hovered over the scars, too afraid to touch them, too devastated to look away. “She’s been hurt. Badly,” my wolf said, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow. Lila whimpered softly, her tiny body curling into mine. I immediately softened, wrapping her in my arms as if I could shield her from the horrors she’d endured. “Shh, sweetheart,” I whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her fevered forehead. “I’m here now.” I whispered again and began unleashing my ability on her to subdue her fever. It worked really fast. Slowly, her breathing steadied, and her eyelids fluttered open. Her little green eyes, which looked so much like Theo’s, stared at me with confusion. “You’re here?” she whispered quietly, and
Benita’s POV Nina turned to Nathan, her face streaked with tears, her voice trembling. “Nathan, you know me! I would never lay a hand on her. The marks…” She choked on her words, glancing at the rest of the family before continuing. “The marks aren’t from me. They’re… they’re from a herbalist.” The room fell silent as everyone stared at her in confusion. Nathan’s frown deepened, and he stepped closer to her, his voice low and filled with anger. “What are you talking about?” Nina sniffled and straightened her posture, her hands clasped tightly together. “Lila’s illness worsened for a while. I… I was desperate to help her. So I took her to a herbalist. He said he could cure her, but his treatment involved… certain methods.” “Methods?” I scoffed, my anger bubbling to the surface again. “You mean whipping her with a cane? You’re lying, Nina!” Nina flinched at my words. “It wasn’t my idea! He said it would draw out the sickness!” she defended, her voice cracking. “Please, come wit
Alpha Nathan’s POV I stood speechless watching her walk away. My wolf growled angrily, urging me to go after her and explain things to her. How could she think I would support Nina over her? No, I wasn’t doing that. It’s just that it’s difficult to believe Nina could hit her child. I was finding it difficult to accept, and besides, Lila herself said the same thing Nina had told us. “You are making things worse for yourself, Nathan,” my wolf snapped at me. I frowned and went back into the room. Stepping back inside, I found Nina on the bed while Lila was wrapped in her arms as she stroked Lila’s hair tenderly. The sight was that of a loving mother and daughter, how could I believe Nina would do that? My eyes went to Lila, and she held my gaze, but nervousness flickered in her eyes, and she quickly looked away. Slowly, I walked over to them and placed my hand on Lila’s forehead, realizing her temperature was normal, and she seemed fine. “How are you feeling?” I asked softly a
Benita’s POV I had my reasons for wanting Nina to leave. In her absence, I could get closer to Lila and give her the courage to speak up and expose Nina for the monster she truly was. But none of that could happen if Nina stayed. The problem was whether Nathan would agree to it. “Alpha Nathan, I’m waiting for your response,” I demanded as I watched Nathan, who stood speechless, staring at me like I had just asked him to commit murder. It seemed my demands were more than he expected. I crossed my arms, tapping my fingers against them impatiently as I waited for Nathan’s response. His silence was starting to irritate me. Here he was, staring at me as if I had asked him to move a mountain. “Alpha Nathan, I’m waiting for your response,” I repeated, keeping my voice steady, though the frustration churned inside me. Nathan exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his dark hair before meeting my gaze. His jaw was clenched, a sign that he was struggling to find the right words. “Yo
Benita’s POV Reaching the courtyard, I was met with the exhausted but hopeful gazes of the sick pack members. Their relief was obvious, though they looked as if they had been holding on to hope by a mere thread. “How many are still infected?” I asked, scanning the crowd. “About a hundred,” Darius responded. A hundred. The number made my chest tighten. These numbers were still many, and I couldn’t heal them all—not at once. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose to compose myself. “I can only heal ten people for today,” I said softly. “Please bring forward the most critical cases.” Darius nodded and immediately began instructing the others to sort through the patients. The first patient was brought forward, a middle-aged man not much older than I. His pale skin was clammy, his breathing shallow. I knelt beside him, placing my hand gently on his forehead. “What’s his name?” I asked, my voice softer now. “Micah,” his mother said, her voice trembling as tears streamed d
Nathan’s POV “What you did was wrong. You should have sent Nina away,” my wolf growled in my mind, sounding disappointed in my decision. I frowned, leaning against the balcony railing outside my room as the cool afternoon breeze brushed against my skin. Why couldn’t anyone understand? Sending Nina away was an option, sure, but it would only complicate things further. Lisa needed her, at least for now. No one seemed to grasp the bigger picture. Grunting in frustration, I raised my glass and took a long sip, the burn of the whiskey doing little to ease the tension coiling in my chest. My gaze wandered across the mansion’s expansive grounds. That’s when I saw her. Benita. She was barely visible in the distance, slipping out of the side entrance with hurried but quiet steps. My brows furrowed in confusion. Where was she going? Why hadn’t she notified anyone? Curiosity tugged at me, and before I realized it, I had set my glass down and was racing downstairs. Keeping my steps light,
Benita’s POV Racing back in my wolf form, I wasn’t surprised to find Alpha Nathan still waiting exactly where I had left him. Halting before the tree, I took a moment to catch my breath, only to notice something unusual. Alpha Nathan was leaning casually against the trunk, one hand shoved into his pocket, the other gripping my clothes and belongings. A growl of frustration escaped me. Why is he holding my things? I padded closer, letting my wolf eyes lock onto his smug face. Nathan smirked, clearly entertained by my predicament. “Shift back,” his voice drawled, smooth and taunting. “Unless, of course, you’re comfortable staying like that.” I bared my teeth in irritation but couldn’t hold the shift for much longer. With a frustrated huff, I relented. My wolf receded, fur melting into skin, bones cracking as I shifted into my human form. The cold air pricked at my bare skin, and I immediately crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “Give me my clothes,” I demanded through gr
Alpha Theo’s POVI could see the terrified look in her eyes as she waited for my command. There were so many things I wanted to demand of her—to ask her to call off her marriage with Oscar. Why would she want to marry a man she didn’t even love? I wanted to ask her to stop taking my breath away, to stop smelling so intoxicatingly alluring that I couldn’t control myself or my wolf. I wanted to tell her to stop making me feel this way—the unbearable urge to claim her, to mark her.For God’s sake, I was supposed to hate her. What the hell was happening to me?Composing myself, I looked at her, considering my next move. I needed to give her a task, something she couldn’t refuse. Then, something clicked in my mind.Her wolf.I hadn’t seen her wolf yet. And damn it, my wolf was growing restless, desperate to see it.“In twenty minutes, leave the mansion and wait for me outside,” I ordered.Lagertha’s brows furrowed. “Why?”I scoffed. “You’ll find out later. Now, unless you want to stand the
Lagertha’s POV “I'm so happy for you, Leggy. You deserve to be happy." Mother Lagertha had been buzzing with excitement all morning as we prepared breakfast. She seemed absolutely thrilled, going on and on about the wedding—about how Beta Oscar would be the perfect husband for me. I felt bad, knowing all of this was just an act. “Lagertha, Alpha Theo requests that you bring him a cup of coffee in his room.” One of the guards’ voices cut through my thoughts. A frown tugged at my lips, and my wolf huffed inside me. With a heavy sigh, I prepared the coffee just the way Theo liked it, grabbed the tray, and left the kitchen. When I reached his door, I hesitated before knocking, my pulse quickening as his intoxicating scent wrapped around me. “It’s open,” his deep voice called from inside, softer than usual, none of the usual harshness in his tone. Taking a steadying breath, I pushed the door open, stepped inside, and closed it behind me. Turning around, I met him standing at the
Lagertha’s POV I took a deep breath and stared at my reflection in the mirror. “You can do this, Lagertha,” I whispered, trying to steady my nerves. My wolf stirred within me. “Calm down. It's just a family dinner,” she soothed. But she was wrong. This wasn’t just any family dinner. It was my first time sitting at the same table with Oscar’s parents, Theo’s parents, Oscar’s siblings, Theo’s siblings, Theo and Oscar—all in one room. And I had to pretend to be in love with Oscar, right in front of Alpha Theo. My mate. It was a huge task. “You can do this," my wolf encouraged again. I exhaled deeply, forcing myself to push aside my emotions. Straightening my dress, I left my room and walked down the long hallway. My heart pounded with each step. The mansion was eerily quiet, aside from the faint clinking of dishes coming from the dining hall. The scent of roasted meat and warm spices filled the air, but it did nothing to settle my nerves. As I reached the entrance of th
Alpha Theo’s POV Lila stiffened beside me, her discomfort obvious in the way she tensed. I could feel the weight of her pain pressing down on both of us, but she kept her expression carefully blank. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay composed, to not let my own emotions betray me. “They had to step out,” I said evenly, keeping my voice devoid of the frustration clawing at my insides. “Oscar had some business to handle, and Lagertha went with him.” It was a lie. I had no idea where they were. Mother’s brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. “I see. Well, we’ll have to see them soon. The wedding preparations must be keeping them busy. I heard it’s happening in two weeks,” Mother announced, and my brows furrowed. “Two weeks?” I asked in panic, unable to control it. Mother furrowed her brow and gave me a suspicious look. “Yes… do you have a problem with that?” she asked, and where I stood, my heart sank. My furious wolf howling loudly in my head. Not getting any response
Alpha Theo's POV I stood on the balcony, gripping the railing so tightly as I watched Lagertha step into the car with Oscar. Everything in me urged me to go downstairs and pull her away from him, but I forcefully forced myself to remain in place as I watched the car drive out of the mansion. “Do something,” my wolf growled angrily in my head, and I wished I knew what to do, but I was confused. Oscar had put me in a tight corner—I was cornered. The sound of my door creaking open pulled me from my thoughts. I turned, my chest tightening when I saw Lila walk in. Her green eyes—identical to mine—were red and swollen, her usually radiant face pale and lifeless. My protective instinct kicked in, and I rushed to her, gently holding her arms as I studied her pale face. “Lila, why are you crying? What happened?” I asked worriedly but also angrily. Lila’s tears had always been my weakness, and seeing her like this, utterly broken, shredded me from the inside out. Lila broke into a loud sob
Beta Oscar’s POV Three years ago. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched Lila chatting happily with some guests, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. Tonight was the mating ceremony, where aged wolves who didn’t find their mates after turning eighteen would participate in the bond. I had just turned eighteen a few days ago, and I was anxious—anxious about what lay ahead of me. I looked at Lila again—the only girl I had ever loved. I had liked her for as long as I could remember, ever since I truly understood what it meant to have feelings for someone. The three-year age gap between us had never mattered to me. I had convinced myself that if we were mates, she would see past it too. So I kept my feelings hidden, waiting for this night, clinging to the hope that fate would be on my side. I prayed every night for the Moon Goddess to grant my wish—to make her mine. And now, the moment of truth had arrived. We were all called to stand in line, but Theo refused, s
Lagertha’s POV The moment she walked in, I stood abruptly, my heart pounding. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. My body tensed as I met her gaze—her confused expression only making my nerves worse. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, Beta Oscar beat me to it. “Lila, you’re here,” he said, straightening to his full height. Then, unexpectedly, he wrapped an arm around my waist. I flinched but didn’t move away. I could see the stunned look on Lila’s face. “Lila, Lagertha and I are now dating,” he announced. My breath caught in my throat as I turned to Miss Lila, watching as a disapproving look flickered across her face. I swallowed hard as I began to wonder if the whispers among the other servants were true. According to the gossips I had heard, it was said that Miss Lila has feelings for Beta Oscar—that was why she had been rejecting all the eligible suitors that came for her. But I had never believed in gossip from the staffs. However, seeing the reaction
Lagertha’s POV I reached my room and leaned against the door, trying to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding, and my mind raced with everything that had happened. “Well done, Lagertha. You did well,” I murmured, offering myself a moment of encouragement. I stood there for a while, willing my pulse to slow, before finally pushing away from the door and sinking onto my bed. I kicked off my shoes and stared at the floor, my thoughts circling back to Theo—what I had said to him and the way he had reacted. If Lila hadn’t walked in when she did, I had no idea what would have happened. A sudden knock at the door made me jerk, but I quickly relaxed as a familiar scent filled the air—Mother Agatha. She always smelled like dried coffee, a scent I could recognize anywhere. The door creaked open, and she stepped inside, a warm smile spreading across her face. “Happy eighteenth birthday, dear Leggy,” she said cheerfully. A small smile tugged at my lips as I stood up. In her hands
Alpha Theo's POVI wanted to pull her back and tell her that I was never going to allow her to get married to Oscar. She could choose any of the men, and I would be able to live with it, but not my best friend… not him.“Theo… is everything okay?” Lila asked, concern lacing her voice. I sighed, turning my back to her. My wolf was howling in fury, sending a splitting headache through my skull. “Theo, please talk to me," she pleaded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I stood rigid, debating whether to tell her the truth. It was a risk. If she found out, she might tell our parents, and that could land me in trouble. “Are you in love with Lagertha?” Lila suddenly asked. I neither confirmed nor denied it. Lila sighed. “Theo, I noticed the way you look at her. You might pretend to others and make them think you hate her, but I know that you like Lagertha. I see the way you look at her when you think no one is watching,” Lila said, sounding so sure about it, and I didn’t bother to deny it