DeneraWho was Lena and why did this woman believe I looked like her? The question repeatedly tugged my mind. Rockan and his grandfather had disregarded her speculations, concluding that I looked nothing like the woman I was referring to. So with this, I chose to shrug the thought out of mind. It had been over thirty minutes since they arrived and we were finally at the dining room, ready for our meal. Being the traditional woman I assumed she’d be, Granny Yeneva blessed the meal. “Pause,” she blurted out before we could dig in. “I almost forgot. Where is my other grandson?”I froze in my spot, realizing that they probably had no idea of the dilemma going on within the castle walls. “I don’t know. He chose to be absent these few days,” Rockan shrugged nonchalantly but I noticed he didn’t dare put the food in his mouth after Granny Yeneva’s decree. “What?” Both grandparents chorused, I could see the anger begin to arouse from their expression and reaction to the answer Rockan gave.
Denera "Grandma!" The shouts echoed through the dining room, immediately drawing everyone's attention. Granny Yeneva's face lit up with a joyous smile as she recognized the young boy and girl rushing toward her. "Oh, Daniel and Daniella!" she exclaimed, practically leaping out of her chair to embrace the children.The boy, whom I recognized as Daniel, and the girl, Daniella who has a striking resemblance to him, making her his apparent twin sister, were breathless from their hasty entrance. Granny Yeneva enveloped them both in a warm hug, her eyes shining with love and relief."My darling grandchildren, I've missed you so!" she cooed, smoothing their hair and inspecting them with a doting gaze. "Look at how much you've grown!"Grandpa Jordan, seated at the head of the table, rose from his chair and strode over to the joyful reunion. A broad smile spread across his weathered face as he joined in the family embrace."There you are, my little rascals!" he chuckled, ruffling the childre
Denera It was another day spent in this castle, time was moving fast.I turned on my bed, excitedly hoping to meet with Rockan, as I remembered clearly that he fell asleep beside me last night. However, as I scanned the empty space next to me, a pang of disappointment washed over me. Memories of the previous day's events came flooding back. Prince Tyris and Rockan had engaged in another aggressive conversation, and it was all because of me. They had clashed over Rockan's decision to claim and mark me as his own, despite the fact that I was also mated to prince Tyris. The intensity of their argument had left me feeling caught in the middle, torn between the two men who cared for me.I believed Prince Tyris' plight was because I was not given a chance to choose from one of them. Anyone would have chosen prince Tyris at first glance over alpha Rockan. As I reflected on the situation, I couldn't help but wonder how my life would have been if I had chosen prince Tyris over Rockan. Princ
Denera “Rise and shine Denera!”My eyes snapped open and I jerked up awake from the abrupt sound. The door to my room had flung open and I stared cluelessly as Granny Yeneva waltzed in. Granny Yeneva swept into the room, her long skirts swishing behind her. "My dear! Today is a big day for you."I blinked sleepily, still trying to adjust to the sudden intrusion. "Granny Yeneva? Good morning… What's going on?"She clucked her tongue. "Well, it's time for your first lesson in royal etiquette, of course! You didn't think you could just waltz around the castle in your nightgown, did you?" She eyed my simple cotton shift with a disapproving frown.I remembered Rockan telling me about her lessons earlier this morning. I didn't know I fell back asleep. He left the room and I took a bath to clear my head but eventually slept again. I wondered what time it was. Just then, Rachal hurried in, a bundle of fabric in her arms. "Forgive me, my lady, I should have been here sooner," she fretted,
DeneraI slumped on the bed, Rachel quietly stood beside the bed as she watched. She had the most relaxed smile on her face and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.For one old enough to birth me, she acted like a child sometimes."You did well today Lady Denera," she chuckled and I groaned aloud."You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I sighed and she nodded as her chuckles got louder."I know you must be starving so I placed your food on the work table," she announced and I had to look at her in awe."Thank you so much," I said genuinely as I hurried off to the table. It was toast and a cup of hot cocoa.I started to munch on the food hungrily, remembering how I had to mind how much I consumed because of the corset I would have to wear.My belly almost did a flip, knowing I had to repeat the same process again tomorrow."My Lady, slow down," Rachel was almost laughing but I could hear composure in her voice."I'll be fine," I shrugged."I need to ask for a favor," she added, making me pau
DeneraMy head banged heavily as I stared blankly at the ceiling. I felt so weak last night that I slept off and did not even notice Rockan’s arrival. It was a new day again and like it was a routine, Rockan was already in the shower before the sun even rose. He explained he had to meet with the alpha of the Blue Moon pack to negotiate on how to atone for the attacker’s actions. I was still sleepy when he mentioned it to me this morning but I understood what he was talking about. How and why I felt so weak even after a long night of sleep was still a mystery. However, I couldn’t afford to let Rockan know about it. I had an idea of things he could do if he figured I fell sick. “Maybe it’s the stress from yesterday,” I muttered to myself. As Rockan stepped out of the shower, his muscular frame glistening with water droplets, I found myself stealing glances, despite the pounding headache that had been plaguing me since I woke up. His actions seemed almost deliberate, the way he move
RockanI didn’t like the suggestion of bringing in a healer. We still had zero idea of what was wrong with Denera, and things had taken a drastic turn in a matter of minutes. She lay unconscious, her breath shallow, her face pale. I couldn't bear seeing her like this. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios, and I felt utterly powerless.Impatiently, I paced back and forth in the hallway outside her room. Every few steps, I would glance at the door, hoping for some miracle. Then minutes stretched into what felt like hours, each one a reminder of how helpless I was. The problem wasn't just that I didn't trust healers. I had a history with them, a history that had left me scarred in more ways than one. My face bore a mark that numerous healers had tried and failed to remove. Each failure had only deepened my resentment. Even my mother had lost her life trying to heal me completely. Her death had been the final straw, and I had given up on the hope of ever being whole again.And then t
Rockan Hours passed, and finally, Denera began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered, and she let out a soft groan. Relief washed over me, and I squeezed her hand gently."Denera," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.Her eyes slowly opened, confusion giving way to recognition. "Rockan?" she murmured."I'm here," I said, my heart aching with love and worry. "You're safe."She tried to sit up, but I gently pushed her back down. "Rest," I said. "You've been through a lot.""What happened?" she asked, her voice weak."You were sick," I explained. "But you're going to be fine now."She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "Thank you, Rockan."I kissed her forehead, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me. "Just rest now. We'll talk later."She nodded, her eyes drifting shut again. I stayed by her side, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Adriana's revelation had changed everything. I needed to learn more about Denera's past, to understand her abilities. But for now, all that mattered was th
DENARA’S POV I stepped out of the medical wing, the sterile scent of antiseptic still lingering in my nostrils. Each step I took felt heavy, as if I was dragging the weight of the world behind me. My heart was still racing from the news about Rockan, and the sharp pain in my lower abdomen reminded me of the fragile life growing inside me. I had to stay strong—for him, for our child. But as I walked down the dimly lit corridor towards my room, the weight only grew heavier. “Denera, are you sure you should be out?” Rachel’s voice trailed after me, filled with concern. “I need to see what’s happening,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “Please, just rest a bit longer,” she urged, her footsteps quickening to keep pace with me. I shook my head, the determination surging through me. “I can’t. I need to know.”As I approached the large window overlooking the courtyard, a low murmur began to rise outside. I paused, my heart pounding in my chest. I peeked through the curtain, and
DeneraHurriedly, I reached into my back pocket, hoping that what I kept there was still there. “What’s going on?” Rachel questioned, but I was too stunned to respond. I could feel my heart racing, a mixture of anxiety and hope swelling within me. Finally, my fingers brushed against the familiar texture. “Great!” I exclaimed softly, pulling out the piece of paper I had tucked away. I placed it beside the one from my neck and squinted at the writings. They were similar, but the new paper was old and wrinkled, the ink fading, making it difficult to decipher. Suddenly, the door swung open, and my head snapped up. “Is she awake yet?!” Tyris rushed in, his expression a mix of relief and urgency. The moment his eyes met mine, a wave of comfort washed over me. “Oh, thank goodness,” he said, releasing a heavy sigh. Relief spread across his features, but it was quickly overshadowed by something darker. “Where’s Rockan?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. The question hung in the ai
Denera….“Denera…”My brows furrowed at the mention of my name, the sound echoing in the void around me.“It’s okay, you can open your eyes,” a soothing voice added as if to reassure me. I obeyed, slowly peeling my eyelids open. At first, everything was blurry; my eyelids felt heavy as if weighted down by the grief and pain I had been carrying. But after a few seconds, the haze began to clear, and I started to take proper mental notes of my surroundings.“Am I dead?” I asked my voice barely a whisper, tinged with confusion and fear.I heard a chuckle that caught my attention, warm and familiar. Turning my head, I searched for the source of that laughter.“No, my love. You’re not dead.”My heart skipped a beat. My eyes widened in disbelief, and my jaw dropped as recognition flooded over me.“Mum…”There she was—my mother. Though she looked a bit older, I knew it was her, the essence of her spirit shining through. It felt surreal, like I was staring at a reflection of myself, yet she
DENARA’S POV He killed Bruno…“No,” the word escaped my lips as a desperate whisper, my heart plummeting into an abyss of fear.I rushed away from Freya’s still form, her lifeless body haunting me even as I sprinted toward Rockan. Each step felt like a weight bearing down on me, but I couldn't stop. I needed to get to him. I needed to know he was okay.As I reached Rockan, horror gripped me at the sight of blood pooling beneath him, soaking through his shirt. I dropped to my knees beside him, panic surging as I placed my trembling hand over the wound, trying to staunch the flow of crimson. “No, no, no! Please don’t die. Don’t leave me,” I cried out, my voice breaking.“I’m not dying, little mate, I’m not,” he chuckled weakly, his hand reaching up to touch my face. But I could see through the lies in his eyes. The bullet had gone through him. The force of the shot, aimed at him, had struck true, and he was losing strength by the second.“Rockan, I have to tell you something,” I manage
DENARA’S POV She was gone.The realization hit me like a physical blow, the weight of it crashing down on my chest. I could feel the warmth fading from Freya’s body, her heartbeat growing fainter until it vanished completely. I lost her even before I could forgive her. At that moment, the world around me dulled into a blur of chaos and noise. I could still hear Rockan and Bruno struggling, their bodies colliding with a force that sent shockwaves through the air, but it felt distant like a storm raging far away. All I could focus on was the lifelessness in my arms, the way Freya’s body felt so heavy and still. “You’re a monster!” I screamed, the words tearing from my throat with a rawness that surprised even me. I didn’t know if I was addressing Bruno or Rockan, or if it was a self-directed accusation—maybe a little of both. All I knew was that the pain in my chest was unbearable, an agony that consumed me whole. “Freya!” I sobbed, cradling her head against my shoulder, feeling the
FREYA’S POV “No!”My body moved on its own, a reflex born from instinct. Time seemed to slow as the world flashed before my eyes, each moment stretching into eternity. I could hear the chaotic symphony of shouts and struggles around me, but all I could focus on was the glint of metal in Bruno’s hand. The gun.I didn’t think it through. I just acted.In that split second, I lunged forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “No!” I screamed, but the word felt like a whisper lost in the storm of emotions swirling around us. The sound of the gunshot echoed, a deafening crack that shattered the tension in the air. I felt a sharp pain, a searing heat that radiated from my inside. It was a sensation that took a moment to register, the bullet found its mark, and it was me. “Freya!” I heard Denera’s anguished scream cut through the chaos, a sound that struck deeper than the bullet itself. I glanced over at her just as she launched toward me, her eyes wide with fear, her expression desperate.
DENARA’S POV It was very noisy out there, the sound of war or gunshots? But why would anyone shoot guns so consistently? Unless it was something else, but my mind was too foggy to come up with anything else.“If you’re hiding her, you’re making a grave mistake. I won’t hesitate to tear this place apart.”I jolted awake, the harsh reality cutting through the fog of unconsciousness. My lungs burned as I forced air down, each breath a struggle. “Rockan,” I breathed out weakly, though I knew no one could hear me. He had come to find me, and tears stung my eyes at the realization. The weight of my situation pressed down on me, but a flicker of hope ignited in my chest. Determined to escape the dark corners of this room, I scanned my surroundings. The dim light barely illuminated the space, but I could make out the remnants of the broken glass that had earlier wounded me. Wounded me? I thought I had miscarried my baby.Bruno must have cleared the room, probably thinking I would use a sha
Bruno’s POV “Son, you have to hide, quickly!” My mother burst into my room, her face pale and fear-stricken.“What? Why?” I questioned, my mind still foggy from the alcohol. The haze was lifting, but it left a lingering confusion in its wake.“He’s here,” she announced, her voice trembling.“What? Who?” I was still piecing together the situation, my heart racing.“The masked Alpha,” she replied, her eyes wide with panic.“Fuck,” I cursed under my breath as I rose to my feet, adrenaline flooding my system. I rushed to the window, glancing outside to confirm her words. My heart sank as I saw him—Rockan, striding into the pack house like he owned the place, with Freya trailing behind him. The sight of her ignited a firestorm of anger within me. Betrayal coursed through my veins, making my vision blur. How could she? After everything we had been through, after everything I had done for her, she chose to stand with him. My world spiraled out of control, and the walls of my room felt lik
DENARA’S POV I blinked awake, a dull ache pulsing through my head and radiating over my body. Panic surged as I tried to move, only to find myself firmly bound to a chair. The cold, hard surface pressed against my back, and my wrists felt raw from the silver-like ropes digging into my skin. Memories flooded back—the last thing I remembered was Bruno's face, twisted with anger before everything went dark.“Bruno,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. The betrayal cut deeper than the pain in my head. My heart ached not only from the physical torment but from the realization that I had been taken—kidnapped by someone I once trusted. The words he said echoed in my mind. Why would a person hate her own sister so much that she would perpetuate her and her husband’s murder? I shuddered at the thought, my heart racing. I had always believed family was supposed to protect one another, not destroy. “Sevyn?” I called out softly, hoping my wolf would respond. It felt as if a heavy fog