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 1 PYRA's POV: I was in the middle of an open forest, encircled by towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky. The moon cast an ethereal glow, illuminating the fog that spread around me, making it hard to see beyond two arm's length. “Rhaella, my beautiful girl.” A gentle voice spoke behind me, and I veered sharply to the whimsical presence standing a few feet away from me. His face was obscured, but that didn’t hide the crimson-red eyes that shimmered despite the fog that shrouded his face. But what was most prominent was his fiery red hair, so similar to mine, except a darker shade that moved in a synchronized manner like that of the calming ocean as the wind blew against it. “W-who are you?” I stammered out. My heart rate, which was once elevated, suddenly became calm in his presence. I felt my legs move on their own accord and got closer to the strange man. “My pride, my Rhaella... Remember who you are.” He stretched his arms towards me, exposing a
CHAPTER 2PYRA’s POV:Alpha Maverick came to halt in front of him. His bright blue eyes locked into my red ones. His broad figure almost dominated the whole kitchen as his skin shimmered in the small sunlight that entered the kitchen. His hair, dark and messy.He stared down at me silently while I shook and shivered on the floor from Natalie’s brutal attack. I wondered what I had ever done wrong to deserve all of this. I emitted a soft, pitiful snuffle and picked myself up, my movement hesitant and awkward, and bowed respectfully.“Thank you, Alpha,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. Alpha Maverick grunted, his voice firm but not unkind. "You shouldn't let other people bring you down; you need to stand up for yourself, Pyra. There is no room in my pack for weak omegas.”His words stung, but he was right. But I couldn't stand up for myself, even if I tried. Only pain came the last time I tried. So now, I did what anyone would have done if they were in my shoes; lay low an
CHAPTER 3PYRA’s POV:It's been two days since I got rejected and I've been trying to avoid crossing paths with Alpha Maverick. A few times, he was close to discovering me, but I had experience with escaping people, and I knew every place within the pack, so it was easy to run from him.As I got dressed for the day's chores with the pain of his rejection still looming over my entire being, a knock sounded at the door. A few seconds later, the door opened, one of the other maids piped in as she glared at me.“The headmistress demands our presence now,” she said before I could say anything. Another normal day in the pack house, and by normal day, I meant filled with chores and having to not bump into Alpha Maverick, Natalie, or Connor, which was always hard considering I worked on the same floor they lived on and I had to serve them their food. I didn’t want to get up, but I knew what would happen if I miss today's briefing. We all gathered in the servant quarters, which was an ext
CHAPTER 4 PYRA’s POV: I rushed out of the alpha's wing, feeling the tears flow freely down my cheeks. I thought for a second that he had finally come through, that everything would be fine. The way he held me so closely convinced me, although I could smell the alcohol on him. The mate bond tricked me and my delusional mind into thinking that he wanted me. He didn't; it was all a mistake, and none of it was real. With my clothes in my hand and only my underwear for cover, I raced back to my room. It was still dark out, and everyone should have still been in bed. It was easier to run back to my room without being seen, and it would be easier for me to leave in the cover of darkness. I was never even going to stay after what had happened; I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that we had sex, and I later found out he never wanted me to begin with. I had been banished. Where I would go was the question I would figure out when I was out of the pack. I stuffed my
CHAPTER 5PYRA's POV:I groggily struggled to open my eyes, feeling the cold sink deep into my bones.No matter how much I tried to open them, to move an inch of my eyelid, they refused to bulge. It was as if they were heavily weighed down by an invisible force like a thousand bricks pressing down on them. 'Was I dead?' I wondered.Was this how the afterworld felt?I felt like a prisoner, imprisoned in my own body. I could remember unquestionably falling to my death off the cliff, the crashing impact with the water's surface, and the excruciating pain that still lingered vividly in my mind.I knew I was dead at that moment since no one could have ever survived that impact.But… the persistent throbbing of my heart and the feeling of the blood mixed with anguish coursing through my veins told me a different story.I realized I wasn't dead after all. The pain and coldness after my rejection were too real and intense to ignore.But where was I? Why was it so cold here?"Wake up, goddam
CHAPTER 6PYRA's POV:“Rhaella.” “Rhae…lla.” Oh No, not again. That same deep voice. I touched the ground, expecting to feel the cold marbled floor, but instead was met with something soft and cool. My memories came flooding back—the torture, the mistletoe, the silver burns. I shuddered, fear creeping up my spine like a slow-moving fog. Just then, I heard the voice calling that same name. “Rhaella.” The voice followed with a piercing howl, sending cold shivers down my spine. I forcefully opened my eyes, feeling confusion creeping in as I pushed upwards and knelt. Shockingly, I was fully healed with no injury in sight. “Where am I?” I croaked, scanning my surroundings. A figure stood before me. It was the same mysterious man, with red hair similar to mine and piercing crimson orbs for eyes. The crescent moon on his shoulder seemed to gleam with a soft light. “You’re closer, Rhaella.” He said, his deep voice echoing through the clearing. “Close to home, close to fulfilling you
CHAPTER 7Maverick’s POVI reviewed the papers on my desk, endeavoring to focus on what lay in front of me, but my mind wandered back to her again. I’ve been plagued by the constant reminder of Pyra. No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake off her crimson eyes and her scent off my head. I sighed as I picked up a file while standing up. The chair scraped loudly against the floor, and I paced around the office. My heavy footsteps echoed off the walls of my office but I couldn’t care less. I only cared about her. My line of sight directed back to my desk— the same spot where I took Pyra. I remembered the soft touch of her pale white skin, her bright piercing eyes boring into mine, and the electricity that sparked whenever our bodies touched. She was too weak to be my mate, yet her fiery spirit lured me into her embrace. Where was she anyway? I haven’t seen her for days now. I walked back to the exact spot and traced my hands where she once lay. I felt hot inside, the memory playing
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