LIAMI walked beside Selene, the soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet the only sound in the otherwise peaceful palace garden. It was a rare moment of quiet, just the two of us, surrounded by fragrant flowers and the distant hum of the palace. The sun was lower now, casting a soft orange glow on everything, making the world feel warmer, as if trying to make up for the coldness I could feel creeping in from within.One would consider this a romantic setting, and it would have been. Had she been my mate.Or someone I was actually attracted to.Selene’s presence was always uncomfortable in a way. "You’ve been distant lately, Liam," she said, her voice light, but there was a sharpness in it that made my stomach tighten.I glanced at her, trying to keep my expression neutral. “I’ve been busy,” I muttered, not entirely convinced by my own words. Truth be told, I hadn’t been entirely focused on my duties in the past few days. My thoughts kept drifting to the tension between Trinity and me
TRINITYI sat on the edge of my bed, the only sound in the room the quiet sniffles that seemed to come from deep within my chest. My hands clutched the soft blankets around me, but it didn’t bring any comfort. I was suffocating here, trapped in this grand, empty castle, surrounded by walls that weren’t just made of stone, but of expectations. Regret wrapped around me like a second skin, and the weight of it bore down on my shoulders.I had been foolish to return. Foolish to think I could step back into this life as if it hadn’t changed. The city had felt like freedom—clean air, new opportunities, people who didn’t see me as some weakling or embarrassment. But here I was. Back at the Crimson Moon Pack. Back for the Ascension Ceremony, a ridiculous event I never even wanted to be a part of.And look at where it got me.I regretted it the moment I stepped foot back in this place . Every corridor, every room seemed to echo with the weight of my past here, suffocating me further. I coul
NASIRI pushed open the door without a second thought, my mind consumed with the thought of Xerxes and the damn meeting he called.Where the hell was Liam? Damn him for making me look for his ass. I think I had seen Selene crying and running out of the gardens. I didn't bother asking her what happened, there was only one person capable of making her cry.Besides, I really do not care to know what conspired between them. If we can get rid of at least one of the Silverhade sisters, the better it will be for all of us. I searched the entire garden but my damn brother was nowhere to be found. There was one last place I could check.If he wasn't there then I would be forced to ask Selene.Please be at your damn yoga room.I passed by Trinity's room a couple of times, and just like the other days since she arrived, her door was shut.A part of me started to wonder if she died in there.Why do I care? If she is dead then the better it will be for my brothers and I. At least we would be fre
TRINITY“What do you mean, you almost kissed him?” Cara’s voice was still filled with disbelief.I laid on my bed, my eyes focused on the chandelier hoisted above my bed. I had my phone pressed to my ear as I spoke to Cara. I can't believe I haven't spoken to her after all this time here in the palace. After what happened this afternoon in the yoga room, I knew I needed my best friend.My room was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the late-night breeze coming through the window. I hadn’t realized how late it had gotten, but talking to Cara had a way of making the hours slip by unnoticed.I sighed, slumping back into my chair, letting the phone fall a little away from my ear as I rolled my eyes. “You know how it is, Cara. He was there, I was there. Things got... complicated.”“Trinity!” she nearly shouted. I could hear her excitement even through the static. “No way. You and Liam? Almost kissed? You’re not messing with me, are you? This is real?”I bit my lip, avoiding her
TRINITYI stood before Luna Mira, my eyes fixed on her ethereal beauty. The moonlight cast an otherworldly glow on her skin, illuminating her features and making her seem almost divine. Her hair, a rich, dark brown, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her eyes, a piercing shade of blue, seemed to bore into my very soul. She radiated a certain power that I had never felt before, a power that seemed to emanate from the very core of her being.I swear not even her sons radiated such an aura. I have always heard stories of the great Luna Mira, a woman known to have ended many of our potential pack wars just with her smile.I always thought the stories were a bit exaggerated but now that I look at her, I am starting to think that maybe they are not. Luna Mira's eyes narrowed as she gazed at me. The irritation and annoyance she felt was so clear to me. She looked at me like she couldn't even stand the sight of me.This was not my first time meeting with Luna Mira. I hav
TRINITYI sat quietly on the stone bench in the middle of the palace gardens, the vibrant hues of nature around me painting a picture more beautiful than any I could ever hope to capture. The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, casting a golden glow across the flowers and trees. I was lost in it, sketching the fluttering butterflies as they danced from one blossom to the next, their delicate wings a perfect blend of soft pastels and bright, intricate patterns.Each stroke of my pencil was a chance to bring a piece of the tranquility around me to life. I could feel the weight of my earlier encounter with Luna Mira slowly dissipating as I focused on the details—the way the leaves rustled in the breeze, the texture of the tree bark, the soft shadows playing across the petals. I had trouble sleeping after our little conversation on the balcony. Once again, I felt like a bird trapped in an inescapable cage.It was easy to forget everything when I was in the garden, imm
XERXES I can't remember the last time I felt such uncontrollable rage.I had been standing at the edge of the garden, my eyes fixed on the Silvershade sisters as they stood before Trinity, their words sharp, their tones cruel. The cold, calculated veneer I had built over the years—the one that kept me untouched by the world’s trifling offenses—began to crumble, piece by piece. Watching them berate Trinity, seeing her flinch, her body tense, her eyes clouded with unshed tears, stirred something in me I could not control.I had spent years honing my control, learning to keep every emotion locked away, buried under layers of stone. But something about Trinity’s vulnerability shattered that control. It was like watching a part of me break, my stoic demeanor dissolving as I stepped forward, every instinct telling me that what was happening was wrong.The Silvershade sisters didn’t see me coming. They were too consumed by their petty cruelty, too wrapped up in their superiority. But whe
TRINITYI woke up with an unsettling grumble in my stomach, the kind that demanded immediate attention. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow through the curtains. But the hunger… that was impossible to ignore.I pushed the covers off and swung my feet to the floor, the cold hardwood sending a chill up my spine. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should just head back to bed and wait for breakfast. But my stomach made its opinion loud and clear—food first, bed second.I padded down the hallway, the silence of the house almost oppressive in the early morning hours. The air smelled faintly of something rich and warm, and I knew exactly where it was coming from: the kitchen.When I arrived, I was greeted with the sight of several maids, all moving around the room with an air of efficiency. But as soon as I stepped into view, the atmosphere shifted. Their eyes slid toward me—cold, judgmental, and full of contempt
TRINITY I had wandered through the palace for what felt like hours, drawn by the sprawling, labyrinthine halls that seemed to stretch on forever. I still wasn't over the little hunt Nasir placed on me. I had no idea how I ended up in my room. I suppose it must have been Xerxes’ doing. He was the one who hid me under the berry Bush in the first place. I am just glad all that is over now.The scent of polished wood and aged stone mingled with the faint perfume of something ancient, as though the air itself held the stories of centuries past. Every step I took echoed in the silence, and I couldn’t help but feel that the palace was alive, watching me.I’d passed the same grand staircases, towering columns, and gilded doors so many times that I began to lose track of where I was. The place seemed to change every time I blinked—another hallway that turned into an open space, a door that led to somewhere unfamiliar. It was disorienting, but there was something exciting about it. Something
MAIAI stood in the hallway, my eyes fixed on Nasir as he stepped out of Trinity's room. My heart sank, and a wave of anger washed over me. What was he doing with her? I demanded to know, my voice trembling with rage. That damn Trinity. How dare she just pop out of nowhere and threaten to steal what my sisters and I have worked so long to achieve. I would not let this happen, not under my watch.I could feel my pulse racing, and my palms grew sweaty as I tried to process what I had just seen."Nasir, what are you doing with her?" I asked, trying to keep my emotions in check. I took a step closer to him, my eyes blazing with intensity. I wanted to see the guilt written all over his face, but there was none. He didn't even have the decency to look away.Nasir turned to face me, his expression cold and detached. "I don't have time for an interrogation, Maia," he said, pushing me to the side. His touch was like a slap in the face, and I felt a sting of pain. I couldn't believe he was t
NASIR The night air is cool against my skin, the shadows of the palace stretching long across the courtyard as the last of the day’s light slips away. It’s been hours. Hours since I set the recruits loose to find Trinity, and not a single one of them has been able to track her down. The timer has long since expired, and still, she’s nowhere to be found. I can feel the irritation brewing inside me, a slow burn that’s growing into something far worse.Liam walks up to me, his fists clenched, face contorted with anger. Once the timer had expired, he too had joined the recruits in searching for Trinity. "You’ve scared her off, Nasir," he spits, his voice harsh. "This isn’t some damn game, you know. You can't be toying with our mate like this.”I roll my eyes at him. "You’re overreacting, Liam." My words are dismissive. I don’t care to hear his complaints. What does he know about training, about pushing people to their limits? Nothing. I did what I had to do.And besides, I didn't pla
TRINITYMy heart is pounding in my chest, each beat sending a tremor through my body. I take a shaky step back, the cold stone beneath my feet adding to the weight of what’s about to happen. The palace walls loom around me like silent witnesses to the cruel game Nasir has set in motion. I swallow hard, trying to steady myself, but the words that leave my mouth feel foreign, weak."Please, Nasir... don’t do this." My voice is a fragile whisper, barely louder than the breeze rustling through the courtyard.His grin widens, wicked and full of malice, as if he relishes every second of my fear. "If none of the recruits finds you in the next twenty minutes," he says slowly, letting the words hang in the air like a guillotine, "you’re free. And I’ll make sure they face punishment so excruciating, they’ll never forget it."My breath catches in my throat. My legs tremble with the sudden weight of his words. I can feel the pressure of all eyes on me, the other recruits waiting for my next mov
TRINITYThe air was thick with anticipation as the three of them—Nasir, Liam, and Xander—stepped forward, a united front against Xerxes. I could feel the tension building in my chest as I leaned against the doorframe, unable to tear my eyes away from what was unfolding in front of me. I had never seen anything like it.Nasir was the first to speak, his voice dripping with mischief and confidence.“Three against one, Xerxes. I’m curious to see how you handle it.”Xerxes didn’t respond immediately, his dark eyes flicking between each of the men. His lips twitched upward in the faintest of grins, his body still and ready for whatever came next.“I’ll take the challenge,” Xerxes said, his voice low and steady. My heart raced. How was he so calm? He wasn’t just facing one of them—he was facing all three. The three of them lined up, ready to go, and for a moment, all I could hear was the steady beat of my own heart.Then it began.And they were formidable, each of them possessing their o
TRINITYI had been wandering the palace for what felt like hours, my curiosity guiding my steps through every hallway, every corridor, and every room I hadn’t yet discovered. The walls whispered secrets, ancient and untold, and the flickering lights seemed to invite me deeper into the heart of the castle. I had no particular destination in mind—just the thrill of exploration.Plus, I didn't want to remain cooped up in my room.As I turned a corner, a low hum reached my ears, followed by the rhythmic sound of fists striking something like a steady thud that grew louder with each step I took. My feet instinctively followed the noise, curiosity piquing with every step.I paused at a heavy wooden door, cracked just enough for a sliver of light to escape into the dim hallway. Through the gap, I could make out shadows moving fluidly, their bodies engaged in rapid, precise movements. My heart picked up its pace as I leaned in closer, holding my breath.Then I saw him.Xerxes.He was sparrin
TRINITYI woke up with an unsettling grumble in my stomach, the kind that demanded immediate attention. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow through the curtains. But the hunger… that was impossible to ignore.I pushed the covers off and swung my feet to the floor, the cold hardwood sending a chill up my spine. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should just head back to bed and wait for breakfast. But my stomach made its opinion loud and clear—food first, bed second.I padded down the hallway, the silence of the house almost oppressive in the early morning hours. The air smelled faintly of something rich and warm, and I knew exactly where it was coming from: the kitchen.When I arrived, I was greeted with the sight of several maids, all moving around the room with an air of efficiency. But as soon as I stepped into view, the atmosphere shifted. Their eyes slid toward me—cold, judgmental, and full of contempt
XERXES I can't remember the last time I felt such uncontrollable rage.I had been standing at the edge of the garden, my eyes fixed on the Silvershade sisters as they stood before Trinity, their words sharp, their tones cruel. The cold, calculated veneer I had built over the years—the one that kept me untouched by the world’s trifling offenses—began to crumble, piece by piece. Watching them berate Trinity, seeing her flinch, her body tense, her eyes clouded with unshed tears, stirred something in me I could not control.I had spent years honing my control, learning to keep every emotion locked away, buried under layers of stone. But something about Trinity’s vulnerability shattered that control. It was like watching a part of me break, my stoic demeanor dissolving as I stepped forward, every instinct telling me that what was happening was wrong.The Silvershade sisters didn’t see me coming. They were too consumed by their petty cruelty, too wrapped up in their superiority. But whe
TRINITYI sat quietly on the stone bench in the middle of the palace gardens, the vibrant hues of nature around me painting a picture more beautiful than any I could ever hope to capture. The sun was beginning its slow descent toward the horizon, casting a golden glow across the flowers and trees. I was lost in it, sketching the fluttering butterflies as they danced from one blossom to the next, their delicate wings a perfect blend of soft pastels and bright, intricate patterns.Each stroke of my pencil was a chance to bring a piece of the tranquility around me to life. I could feel the weight of my earlier encounter with Luna Mira slowly dissipating as I focused on the details—the way the leaves rustled in the breeze, the texture of the tree bark, the soft shadows playing across the petals. I had trouble sleeping after our little conversation on the balcony. Once again, I felt like a bird trapped in an inescapable cage.It was easy to forget everything when I was in the garden, imm