CHAPTER 131: Karma Is A Bitch Third person’s POV:As Maverick left the living room, Steven StoneClaw angrily watched him leave. Pyra demanded everyone to go back to rest as the tension in the room grew unbearable. Her voice, sharp yet calm, carried an air of authority that even Steven couldn’t ignore. “We have much to discuss, but not tonight. Go rest. Now.”As Pyra stood in the living room of the Packhouse, she watched Maverick from a distance before turning her gaze to Steven, who walked to his assigned room; a crazy thought went through her head. “Are these men trying to fight for my validation?” Strangely, the very thought of that thrilled her as a small smirk appeared at the corners of her lips. If anything, she knew she was going to enjoy making Maverick so jealous that he would lose it. Steven coming at this time seems more like a blessing, Pyra thought, her gaze still focused on the retreating men, planning on how to use them both. “And what are you smiling at?”Pyra’s th
CHAPTER 132: The Night Messenger Luna Elodie’s POV:As Maverick hung up, a sly smirk appeared on my lips and I crossed my legs, resting comfortably on the couch. “Seems like I won this game,” I chuckled, the sound low and filled with satisfaction. The tension from earlier still lingered in the room like a thick fog, but now it worked in my favour. My fingers brushed over the armrest as I replayed every word he said.Natalie is gone, beautiful. Those words echoed in my mind, sharp and clear, causing the smirk on my lips to widen. I stood up, letting the luxurious silk of my gown slide against my skin, and I crossed the room to the wardrobe, retrieving my long black cloak. The elegant fabric hung on my figure, providing the aura of mystery that I needed for a simple conversation I was about to have that night. After I was done, the cold stones of the floor beneath my bare feet grounded me as I moved to the door and towards the dungeon. I walked without a care in the world. I no lo
CHAPTER 133: A Breakfast TalkPyra’s POV:The sun’s rays seeped through the gaps in the heavy curtains of the large window, casting golden streaks across the concrete floor of the FireHeart pack. The faint warmth kissed my skin, pulling me out of my thoughts as I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the bright light of the hallway. Today was going to be a long day, and specifically a long breakfast. Everyone was invited to dine with me at the dining table. I should have dreaded and demanded that I had my food delivered to my room, but for some unknown reason, I looked forward to this. I must have been so lost in thought that I didn’t notice someone greeting me. “Greetings, my Queen.”I turned in shock to see Maverick standing there in the hallway, his clear eyes staring intently at me. He was just one of the subjects of my thoughts; why do I have to pass by him of all people? “Greetings.” I acknowledged and continued walking, keeping my focus ahead, but I heard the unmistakable sound of h
CHAPTER 134: Breakfast Of BrawlsMaverick’s POV:The way Steven looked at Pyra made my skin crawl. I caught a glimpse of his grey eyes following Pyra’s every move, and I couldn’t help but question who he really was. Why was he so strange? And why do I feel like he’s interested in her in ways I couldn’t imagine? It wasn’t only the stare but the intensity in his eyes whenever he looked at her. The way it seemed to reach deeper, as if he saw something in her that I couldn’t.I couldn’t call it jealousy; there was just an irking feeling I always had whenever he was near. Steven turned a glaring eye at me, and I only stood there, my gaze following his every movement but mostly focused on his grey eyes. “Where have I seen those eyes before?” I questioned internally, trying to dig into my core memory for where I had seen such grey eyes. It was like the memory was at the tip of my brain, but whenever I wanted to pick it up and remember, it just vanished. Steven’s grey eyes could see that
CHAPTER 135: Found Guilty Luna Elodie’s POV:I dropped the phone, a smile graced my lips. Justice. It had been the elusive goal driving me for weeks, and now, it was finally within my grasp. Standing from my seat, I smoothed my dress and made my way out of the office.The courthouse loomed ahead, its imposing structure blending modern design with the gravity of the centuries-old traditions upheld within. Inside, the air was heavy with authority, the faint scent of polished wood and paper blending with the murmur of voices.The Ministers of Fangborn pack were already gathered, their robes immaculate, their expression stern and unreadable. Each of the ministers represented a pillar of the judicial system of the pack. At the forefront sat the judge in black robes. As I entered, all eyes turned to me, and my smile stretched wider. Yes, I thought, one by one, the traitorous rats within my son’s pack would be rooted out and punished under the wrath of Luna Elodie. Under my wrath until the
CHAPTER 136: Avenge MeThird person’s POV: The land remained heavy with silence, as though the earth itself held its breath in such a situation. Not a single leaf stirred, and even the wind seemed to shy away from the hallowed ground of the Fangborn pack. In the heart of the Fangborn Pack’s vast territory was an open clearing, a place steeped in reverence and history. This was no ordinary ground. It was the ground for the cremation of fallen heroes who risked their lives for the betterment of the pack as a whole. A place where the goddess shall open her arms and accept her children into her kingdom. This was the purest of places in the pack, where the vile between the living and the dead stands thinnest. But tonight, the sanctity of this place felt tainted. In the middle of this clearing stood a stone podium surrounded by grasses and hay, and tied to its smooth surface was none other than Beta Derick; a man now considered as Derick Cresentblood for his titles had already been strip
CHAPTER 137: Detached Maverick’s POV:“I would like you all to go back to the Fangborn pack. You are to resume your duties as soon as possible.” I said, taking a sip of my coffee as I watched the expression of my ministers. Minister Scott, my new minister of secret affairs adjusted in his seat, the skin on his forehead folding. “Alpha, if we go, you will be all alone here in the FireHeart pack.”“I will be just fine alone here.”But Minister Scott shook his head. “Alpha, it’ll be unreasonable to leave you all alone here. Even if not for your sake or ours, but for your mother, Luna Elodie. I know her throughout my years in the pack and she would kill us with her claws if we ever left you here.”I growled, suppressing my anger and frustration. They kept questioning my order even when I left no chance for questioning. “Minister Scott. Don’t make me repeat myself. You are to go back to the pack and oversee everything. I can’t leave the workload of the entire pack all to my mother alon
CHAPTER 138: A Bit Of HopePyra’s POV:“I would go nowhere!”The deep baritone voice of Alpha Maverick echoed through the grand office, resonating with his unshaken resolve. I froze mid-movement, momentarily stunned by the sheer audacity of his words. Slowly, I lifted my head to meet his fiery gaze, my own eyes mirroring in challenge. I watched his towering frame as the room seemed to hold its breath, the tension crackling like lightning between us. How dare he? An Alpha, yes, but not my Alpha. Not the one to command me. I am the one true Alpha, and he dared disobey me?“Excuse me?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.“You heard me,” he replied, his voice low but carrying the weight of something I couldn’t decipher. “And I won’t repeat myself. Pyra…Oh, my apologies, Alpha Rhaella, have you taken a look at yourself now?”The more he spoke, the more shocked I was. What has prompted him to dare challenge or question me? I couldn’t even utter a word as I watched him step closer,
CHAPTER 169: Boxed FlowersMaverick’s POVThe morning air was crisp, carrying the lingering scent of pine and damp earth as I made my way toward the penthouse. The sun had barely broken past the horizon, casting long shadows over the quiet roads. It was rare for me to be up this early in the morning, but yesterday was restless, leaving me with no other choice.We were meant to eat breakfast with Alpha Rhaella, and the prominent figures of the pack but for a while now, Alpha Rhaella has stopped that act. Instead, everyone eats their meals in their own private space. Sure, I do understand her for the last few meetings we had in the dining room and it turned out to be disastrous. As I continued walking down the narrow road, I felt vibrations in my pants and fished out my phone, answering the call without looking at the caller ID. I knew who it was before her voice could pierce through. “Mother!”Why would she have called this early? Was there a problem or did she find out what I wanted
CHAPTER 168: Green Intruder Third person’s POV:The river roared through the heart of FireHeart Pack’s land, its currents swift and relentless, reflecting the fiery hues of the setting sun. This was the exact place where the infamous Alpha Rhaella, the Queen of Alphas was found half-dead. This place was the beginning and the birth of a legend. Beyond the river, the pack’s territory was vast, a stretch of dense pine forests and towering cliffs that cladded a well tiled road but yet, the sweet scent of damp earth and wild musk filled the air.This late in the evening, the riverbank was not a place of peace and serenity. No, it was far from that. It was alive with the sound of footsteps wading through the waist-deep water, their breath heavy, and eyes scanning the depths for a single object—the lost necklace of Alpha Rhaella. Steven StoneClaw stood in the waist-deep water, his powerful frame tense as he watched the flowing water with keen, vigilant eyes. The necklace was no ordinary
CHAPTER 167 : A Call Hindrance Luna Elodie’s POV:After Minister Scott, made sure he continued his investigations. I didn’t tell him much knowing if there was anyone who could tackle this problem, it would have to be me. I dug into my pocket, fishing my phone and instinctively dialing a single number. I watched the phone ring, the screen brightness doing nothing to deter my resolve. I waited for the call to be answered, standing from my seat due to restlessness. Now that I think about it, why would Maverick ask me to find out about someone? I’ve asked this question more times than I could count since given this mission, yet no answer played forth before me. Does he mean he doesn’t trust that person, or the person was a great danger?Steven StoneClaw! The name is foreign yet carries a weight of foreboding along with it. The call ended yet no one picked up the call. I paced around, watching the pack through the large window for several minutes, enjoying the peace that reigned today.
CHAPTER 166 : To Be Real Luna Elodie’s POV: Following the instruction given to me by my son, I called in Minister Scott for a deeper investigation than I could provide. As I waited for his arrival, I took a few minutes to check the news. One would be surprised just how much information could be acquired from what others deem useless or not crucial. I, on the other hand, get all the information from whatever source was provided to me. The minutes passed quickly as I scrolled through the news, my mind processing each tidbit of information. The headlines were filled with the usual chaos: political unrest, corporate scandals, and the ever-present shadow of global tensions. But I wasn’t looking for any of that. I needed something different, something that was of great importance. Lunaria has always been filled with political wars for decades. I need not hear of them now. What I needed was something specific, something subtle that would give me an edge, something others might o
Chapter 165 : The Sweat Feelings Pyra’s POV:I approached the gym, wanting to work out. The air was crisp, and the sky was painted in hues of pink and orange. As I stepped into the gym, the familiar scent of rubber mats, metal weights, and the faint trace of sweat hit me and my eyes locked on a figure seated on the floor. Steven turned towards the door, his eyes locked on mine as he put away his phone. I frowned. Who was Steven talking to by this time? And who does he know to communicate with seeing that he was completely alone since he came to the pack?“Alpha Rhaella, greetings.”I nodded, acknowledging his presence. “Who were you speaking with?” I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. Steven shrugged, looking nonchalant. “And why do you want to know? Is the Queen of Alphas that curious to know everyone I speak to?”“Maybe…” I said, sitting across from him. “But I know that you know no one else but I and several others here at the pack. For you to know someone and even go
CHAPTER 164 : The Call Of EmberThird person’s POV: .The smell of sweat lingered in the large space, the sound of hard breathing rebounding the heavy walls of the room. Loud panting came forth, and then the colliding sound of fist to punching bag reigned supreme. A few drops of sweat fell from Steven’s face as he punched the bag with all his might, his muscles contorting against the pressure but it wasn’t enough. He wanted more, something more challenging but his mind kept whispering words to him:“No one looks up to me for anything important.”Punch!“I’m just another ordinary person here at the pack.”Punch!Steven gritted his teeth as he punched even harder than before, knowing even Alpha Rhaella didn’t want him for things of great value. “I will always be the second choice.”Punch!The thought of it made him rage. He knew now he was nothing but a tool to be used and when used, to be disposed of. Steven thought of Maverick and how that bastard is leading a pack to greatness. A
CHAPTER 163 : Smoke To The Heavens Pyra’s POV:For three days I’ve been locked up in the penthouse, deep in thought. Three days since the death of minister Elais and no amount of thinking could bring forth an answer to what he wanted to tell me, the night before his unexpected demise. Was what he wanted to tell me the reason behind his death? Did someone cause his death to hide something from me?No! I shook my head, sure it wouldn’t be close to that. None could betray me and it was a chronic heart attack that killed him, according to the forensic investigators, not that someone was trying to hide something. But could it be that he called because I was the closest to help him? Was he in danger? I held my head, furiously scrubbing my skull and hoping something logical would pierce out of my brain. This is how I’ve been for the past few days. Even when Mother said she had everything under control, I couldn’t help but think. The gaps in this case were too much to ignore and it was
CHAPTER 162 : The Stubborn Pretense Natalie’s POV:The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft beams across the room. I stirred slowly, blinking against the warmth that seemed to envelop me. I popped into a sitting position only to feel friction against my bare body. I frowned, moving the blanket and looking down only to find myself completely naked. My frown deepened as I tried to recall what happened that led to my current state. I suddenly felt a soft stir beside me and slowly turned to see a lump under the blanket. I stared at the middle of the raised blanket for the longest time as the memory of last night resurfaced. Slowly, my eyes trailed up and met the face of the person lying next to me. My breath caught in my throat, but that was it. I couldn’t panic, nope; I wouldn’t. I reached out my hands to touch his face, feeling the roughness of his beard as I massaged the gray present, a thought running through my mind. Never in my entire life did I think I’d get e
CHAPTER 161 : Pointy Fingers Maverick’s POV:I watched as Alpha Rhaella got into her SUV, the door shutting closed. But even with that, I saw how downcasted she was. Through the half-closed tinted window, I could see her head bent sadly, her mouth sealed shut. Minister Elais' death really must have had an impact on her. She turned and our eyes jammed and the SUV’s engine roared to life. Her eyes lingered on me for a split second, the silent tension between us thick, as if there was something unsaid, something unresolved. But then, the window slid up completely, cutting off the brief connection we had.I couldn’t move. Only stood there, frozen for a moment as I watched the SUV slowly drive off. The air suddenly felt a whole lot heavier, the weight of the moment pressing against my chest. I turned towards the slowly desolating conflict. The ambulance was long gone but the drama still unfolded as different Ministers came out to watch, their whispering dominating the whole place. The