DENARA’S POVWe didn’t talk after the library incident. Rockan and I could barely even meet eye to eye. The weight of his earlier question hung heavily between us, an unspoken barrier that seemed to grow thicker with every second that passed. I felt the distance between us, an ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake off.The ceremony came to a close sooner than I anticipated, and the room began to empty as Alphas and their Lunas departed to their respective territories and packs. I watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. All I wanted was to retreat into the comfort of my room, away from the world and the weight of expectations. I stood in front of the mirror, practically glaring at my reflection. The day’s events played over in my mind, and I felt the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Rachel was undoing the pins holding my hair up, letting the strands fall freely around my shoulders. The thought of a hot bath after a long day filled me with a sense of
TYRIS’ POVI heard it all—the dispute between my brother and Denera. At first, I was furious to know they were still together after he revealed that side of him. But as the reality sank in, I found myself lost in thought. It disgusted me to acknowledge that they were both in love with each other. This was the perfect opportunity to get a hold of her. Maybe this time, she would finally see that I was the only one who could handle her with care and understanding.“Denera,” I called out, and she immediately turned on her heels. Her mind seemed occupied, like a storm brewing behind her eyes, but when she caught sight of me, I noticed the shift in her demeanor—her posture stiffened, her expression closed off.It was annoying how she looked at me, like I was the last person she wanted to see.“Prince TYRIS,” she replied, her voice lacking warmth. She didn’t even bother to take a step closer.“What’s going on?” I questioned, feigning ignorance. “You seem troubled.”“I’m looking for Rockan,”
Denera’s POVHe hated me.They both hate me now. I wouldn’t blame Rockan for his anger; I used him. He loved me, but I deceived both him and myself. The weight of that realization crushed me, pressing down with an unbearable force. My world spiraled around me, a chaotic whirlpool of regret and despair. Tyris was right. I believed my world here with them would be rainbows and sunshine, a fairytale in real life but now, I was trapped in a nightmare of my own making.The truth struck me like a physical blow: I was a burden to them, to everyone. The walls of the castle felt like they were closing in, the air thick and suffocating. Each breath became a struggle as Tyris’s words replayed in my mind, echoing like a relentless drumbeat. “You’re nothing but a burden.” The anxiety twisted in my stomach, a knot of fear tightening with every thought. I could almost feel the stone walls pressing closer, as if they were conspiring to suffocate me. I needed to find Rockan, to apologize, to expla
ROCKAN’S POVI overreacted. I felt the weight of that realization pressing down on me like a heavy burden. Things spiraled out of control in my mind, and I lashed out. I didn’t mean what I said to her; deep down, I knew she loved me. Yet the anger simmered just beneath the surface, fueled by the unsettling thought that she could be using me. But who wouldn’t?Denera was maltreated by her own family, and when she finally found herself in a position of power, of course, she would seek revenge. It was only natural.“I messed up,” I groaned, running my hands through my hair, gripping it tightly as if I could physically pull myself back from the edge of despair. In an attempt to clear my mind, I took a walk out of the castle, but the night had already settled in, wrapping the world in a cloak of darkness. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, its crispness helping to ease the tension coiling within me. I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, but it did little to calm the storm
DENARA’S POV It was dark and cold. I should’ve worn thicker clothing. The chill seeped through the layers I had on, biting at my skin and making my teeth chatter as I navigated the familiar but haunting terrain toward my old pack. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of memories pressing down on me like a dense fog.“Why did I think this was a good idea?” I muttered to myself, trying to break the silence that surrounded me. The only response was the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl, a reminder that I was alone in this endeavor.After about an hour of walking, I finally spotted the outline of the cottage behind Aunt Rosa and Uncle Austin’s house. The place where I had spent so many years felt like a ghost now, a shadow of the life I once lived. I crouched low, moving quietly to avoid drawing attention to myself. “Just get in, grab your things, and get out,” I whispered, forcing myself to stay focused. I didn’t want to linger, didn’t want to remember the pa
DENARA’S POV “Denera,” I froze in my tracks, my breath catching in the back of my throat. My eyes widened as the reality of the situation hit me.Someone saw me.“Oh my goodness, it is you.” The voice was unmistakable, sending a chill down my spine. I turned slowly, hoping against hope that I was imagining things.“Freya,” I breathed, my heart racing as dread washed over me. A long pause stretched between us, her frown deepening as she struggled to comprehend my presence. At that moment, I felt exposed and vulnerable. The fear of being recognized and outed gripped me like a vice. “What’re you doing here?” she asked, suspicion lacing her words as her eyes roamed over me, assessing, searching for any sign of wrongdoing.She probably thought I had come to steal from them. The thought of that made my pulse quicken, and I stood frozen, my mind racing with the potential consequences. She might end up calling out to her parents, if Aunt Rosa and Uncle Austin found me here, I knew exactly
DENARA’S POV I had nowhere else to go now. The darkness enveloped me like a heavy blanket, and I could feel the chill of the night seeping into my bones. It was probably past midnight, a dangerous hour for anyone to be wandering alone, especially a woman. My heart raced with the thought of what could happen if I encountered the wrong person.But then a thought struck me like a beacon of hope. “The Smith’s bar,” I gasped, a wave of relief washing over me. It was always open through the night, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of my life.Mr. Smith had always been kind to me, a rare warmth in a world that often felt cold and unforgiving. He had given me shelter whenever my home became unbearable, always treating me like family. The memory of his reassuring smile filled me with a sense of safety as I quickened my pace, eager to reach the familiar haven.Each step felt both urgent and heavy, a mixture of gratitude and determination swirling within me. I could still hear Freya’s words echoin
DenaraThe day was finally upon us, the day the whole pack except me of course was waiting for. It was the day our next alpha, alpha Tim’s only son, was coming back home from his five year study trip.So it only meant one thing for us: the packhouse maids. More work! Though other maids could see a positive side to this, I couldn’t because it meant more people would visit the packhouse and more people visiting the packhouse would mean more errands for us.Running more errands wasn’t exactly my problem, the problem was running errands around people. I dreaded being around people because the more people in my space, the smaller I felt.“You have been on that spot for how long now?” The familiar voice of Freya, my cousin, made me turn to know who else was with her.It was Magda, the chief of the maids. I didn’t know when they entered because I was lost in thoughts.“And you are still standing there looking at what?” Magda asked. I quickly turned and continued what I was doing, hoping they
DENARA’S POV I had nowhere else to go now. The darkness enveloped me like a heavy blanket, and I could feel the chill of the night seeping into my bones. It was probably past midnight, a dangerous hour for anyone to be wandering alone, especially a woman. My heart raced with the thought of what could happen if I encountered the wrong person.But then a thought struck me like a beacon of hope. “The Smith’s bar,” I gasped, a wave of relief washing over me. It was always open through the night, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of my life.Mr. Smith had always been kind to me, a rare warmth in a world that often felt cold and unforgiving. He had given me shelter whenever my home became unbearable, always treating me like family. The memory of his reassuring smile filled me with a sense of safety as I quickened my pace, eager to reach the familiar haven.Each step felt both urgent and heavy, a mixture of gratitude and determination swirling within me. I could still hear Freya’s words echoin
DENARA’S POV “Denera,” I froze in my tracks, my breath catching in the back of my throat. My eyes widened as the reality of the situation hit me.Someone saw me.“Oh my goodness, it is you.” The voice was unmistakable, sending a chill down my spine. I turned slowly, hoping against hope that I was imagining things.“Freya,” I breathed, my heart racing as dread washed over me. A long pause stretched between us, her frown deepening as she struggled to comprehend my presence. At that moment, I felt exposed and vulnerable. The fear of being recognized and outed gripped me like a vice. “What’re you doing here?” she asked, suspicion lacing her words as her eyes roamed over me, assessing, searching for any sign of wrongdoing.She probably thought I had come to steal from them. The thought of that made my pulse quicken, and I stood frozen, my mind racing with the potential consequences. She might end up calling out to her parents, if Aunt Rosa and Uncle Austin found me here, I knew exactly
DENARA’S POV It was dark and cold. I should’ve worn thicker clothing. The chill seeped through the layers I had on, biting at my skin and making my teeth chatter as I navigated the familiar but haunting terrain toward my old pack. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of memories pressing down on me like a dense fog.“Why did I think this was a good idea?” I muttered to myself, trying to break the silence that surrounded me. The only response was the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl, a reminder that I was alone in this endeavor.After about an hour of walking, I finally spotted the outline of the cottage behind Aunt Rosa and Uncle Austin’s house. The place where I had spent so many years felt like a ghost now, a shadow of the life I once lived. I crouched low, moving quietly to avoid drawing attention to myself. “Just get in, grab your things, and get out,” I whispered, forcing myself to stay focused. I didn’t want to linger, didn’t want to remember the pa
ROCKAN’S POVI overreacted. I felt the weight of that realization pressing down on me like a heavy burden. Things spiraled out of control in my mind, and I lashed out. I didn’t mean what I said to her; deep down, I knew she loved me. Yet the anger simmered just beneath the surface, fueled by the unsettling thought that she could be using me. But who wouldn’t?Denera was maltreated by her own family, and when she finally found herself in a position of power, of course, she would seek revenge. It was only natural.“I messed up,” I groaned, running my hands through my hair, gripping it tightly as if I could physically pull myself back from the edge of despair. In an attempt to clear my mind, I took a walk out of the castle, but the night had already settled in, wrapping the world in a cloak of darkness. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, its crispness helping to ease the tension coiling within me. I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, but it did little to calm the storm
Denera’s POVHe hated me.They both hate me now. I wouldn’t blame Rockan for his anger; I used him. He loved me, but I deceived both him and myself. The weight of that realization crushed me, pressing down with an unbearable force. My world spiraled around me, a chaotic whirlpool of regret and despair. Tyris was right. I believed my world here with them would be rainbows and sunshine, a fairytale in real life but now, I was trapped in a nightmare of my own making.The truth struck me like a physical blow: I was a burden to them, to everyone. The walls of the castle felt like they were closing in, the air thick and suffocating. Each breath became a struggle as Tyris’s words replayed in my mind, echoing like a relentless drumbeat. “You’re nothing but a burden.” The anxiety twisted in my stomach, a knot of fear tightening with every thought. I could almost feel the stone walls pressing closer, as if they were conspiring to suffocate me. I needed to find Rockan, to apologize, to expla
TYRIS’ POVI heard it all—the dispute between my brother and Denera. At first, I was furious to know they were still together after he revealed that side of him. But as the reality sank in, I found myself lost in thought. It disgusted me to acknowledge that they were both in love with each other. This was the perfect opportunity to get a hold of her. Maybe this time, she would finally see that I was the only one who could handle her with care and understanding.“Denera,” I called out, and she immediately turned on her heels. Her mind seemed occupied, like a storm brewing behind her eyes, but when she caught sight of me, I noticed the shift in her demeanor—her posture stiffened, her expression closed off.It was annoying how she looked at me, like I was the last person she wanted to see.“Prince TYRIS,” she replied, her voice lacking warmth. She didn’t even bother to take a step closer.“What’s going on?” I questioned, feigning ignorance. “You seem troubled.”“I’m looking for Rockan,”
DENARA’S POVWe didn’t talk after the library incident. Rockan and I could barely even meet eye to eye. The weight of his earlier question hung heavily between us, an unspoken barrier that seemed to grow thicker with every second that passed. I felt the distance between us, an ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake off.The ceremony came to a close sooner than I anticipated, and the room began to empty as Alphas and their Lunas departed to their respective territories and packs. I watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion. All I wanted was to retreat into the comfort of my room, away from the world and the weight of expectations. I stood in front of the mirror, practically glaring at my reflection. The day’s events played over in my mind, and I felt the frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Rachel was undoing the pins holding my hair up, letting the strands fall freely around my shoulders. The thought of a hot bath after a long day filled me with a sense of
DENARA’S POV“Denera,” Bruno insisted, pulling me back but I felt Rockan’s protective presence looming in the back of my mind as I glared at him almost immediately. Before I could react further, I felt Rockan’s hand gently brush against my shoulder, grounding me. “Is there a problem here?” he asked, his voice low and steady.Bruno straightened, his demeanor shifting as he met Rockan’s intense gaze. “No problem at all, Alpha,” he said quickly, stepping aside. “Just catching up with your Luna.”Rockan’s grip tightened slightly around my waist, and I could feel the tension in his body. “Let’s keep it civil, shall we?” he said, his tone firm.I stepped past Bruno, grateful for Rockan’s presence. As we moved back into the crowd, I felt a rush of relief wash over me, knowing I wouldn’t have to deal with Bruno’s antics for the time being. “Are you okay?” Rockan asked, concern etched on his face as we navigated back into the festivities. His brow furrowed slightly, and I could see the tensi
Denera“It’s an honor to be here, Alpha Rockan,” Bruno said, that infuriating smirk still plastered on his face. I held back the instinct to hiss at him. Instead, I focused on the floor, feeling the tension in the air rise. “Thank you,” Rockan replied curtly, nudging my side gently. I felt his urge for me to respond, forcing me to give both of them a curt bow of apprehension. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I followed his lead, knowing that I had to maintain calmness.My anger towards them knew no bounds. Heaven knew I wanted them to rot in suffering. They were the exact offspring of the wickedness their parents bore in their hearts, and now they were in my pack, pretending to be at peace with me. I could feel the resentment boiling beneath the surface, but I promised myself I would show my best behavior in front of the other Alphas. These two would not ruin that for me.They turned away from us to mingle with the rest of the crowd, and Rockan’s hand snuck its way around