DeneraThe maid stood silently as I ate, her presence both comforting and unnerving. I picked at the food, overwhelmed by the lavish spread in front of me.“Is there anything else you need?” I asked, breaking the silence.“No, my lady,” she replied, her tone respectful but firm. “I am here to assist you.”“Assist me?” I repeated, unsure of what that entailed.“Yes, I will be by your side from now on, to teach you our ways and to serve you,” she said. “I will only leave when the Alpha returns.”Her words surprised me. “And your name?”“Rachel,” she answered, a soft smile gracing her lips. “Shall we begin your day?”I nodded, still trying to adjust to this new life. Rachel led me to the bathroom, where she filled the tub with warm water, fragrant with herbs.As I sank into the water, I felt the tension in my muscles ease. Rachel began to wash my hair, her fingers gentle but firm.“You don’t have to do this, you know,” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt.“It’s my duty, my lady,” she replie
RockanI walked into the room, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Denera. I waited all day just to see her once again. She was sitting on the couch, her posture stiff and her eyes flickering nervously around the room. It was obvious she was still afraid of me, and I couldn't blame her. My reputation precedes me, and the half-mask I wore on my face did nothing to soften my image. But I needed to try, to show her that I wasn't the monster she thought I was.Well, I was, but I didn’t plan to become one with her. “I’m still figuring out what that means.” She tensed up and I shook my head. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You will, in time.”She was quiet, still very stiff, and afraid of my presence. I sighed internally. This wasn't going to be easy. She had been on my mind all day, and I had to constantly remind myself that the softness I felt towards her was because of the mate bond we shared. But was it really just the bond? I wasn't sure anymore."Denera
Denera “Please, stop,” I pleaded, hugging my legs tighter to my chest. There was fire everywhere. Nothing made any sense and I could hear the screaming of children from a far distance. It wasn't safe to be here but my legs would not move. “Help,” I croaked. I was surrounded by trees and they were all covered in flames, I watched as some fell to the ground and whimpered when the hot scattered pieces met with my skin. “Mum, Dad,” I cried out to no one in particular. “Denera!”***I jolted upright in bed, my eyes flying open wide as my heart raced frantically. Drops of sweat covered my entire body, with some trickling down my face. The sudden sensation of fear left me confused and uneasy.A dream - another vivid, unsettling dream. But this one had felt different, in it, I called out to my parents. I never really knew my parents. A heaviness settled in my chest. They were a blank space in my life, a big hole that my subconscious mind seemed determined to try and fill, even if o
TyrisI lay still on the bed, my eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling. My mind had drifted far away from this room, my thoughts consumed by Denera.Denera. The mere thought of her filled me with a powerful longing to have her here in my arms. But she was out of my reach, belonging instead to my own brother. I found myself thinking back to the first time I had seen her, that moment when I had realized she was my true mate.If only I had spoken up and acted more quickly, I could have claimed her as mine before my brother had the chance. The whole kingdom would already know that Denera was meant to be with me. For just a brief moment, I even felt a twinge of blame towards myself. After all, it was because of my own persuasion that my brother had agreed to hold this mate-picking ceremony in the first place. That decision ultimately led to me losing Denera to him.I sighed heavily, my heart aching with the pain of this loss. Denera should be here with me, not with my brother. But the ch
Denera“Morning, little mate,” I was awoken by the most masculine morning voice anyone could ever imagine. I felt strands of my hair being pulled away from my neck. I gasped as I felt his warm lips press a soft kiss on my skin. My eyes flew open at the sensation, now fully alert.Shifting into a more comfortable position, I became very aware of Rockan's strong arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close. The realization of our close embrace sent a shiver through me.Looking up at him, I smiled at my masked mate. His dark hair was nicely messy, making him look very handsome.A small smile was on his lips as he met my gaze. "Did you sleep well?" Rockan asked, his finger tracing a light path along my neck. The tender touch sent a pleasant shiver through me, the slight sting mixed with a pleasurable sensation.My hand instinctively flew to my neck, fingers tracing the sensitive, stinging spot where Rockan's teeth had sunk into my flesh. A shiver ran down my spine as the realization
BrunoShutting my eyes tightly, I quickly drank the rest of the strong, yellow liquid in the glass. The burning feeling as it went down my throat was calming, helping to settle the intense emotions inside my mind."More!" I demanded, my voice low and rough as I glared across the dimly lit bar at the bartender. The hazy, golden glow of the overhead lights cast dark shadows across the man's face, but I could still see the questioning raise of his eyebrow."Are you sure about that, Mr.?" he asked, keeping his tone neutral.The gesture only made me glare harder, my lips pulling back a little in a growl. "Are you questioning me?" I said, feeling angry at the perceived disrespect.The bartender held up his hands in a calming way. "I'm sorry, sir, but we have a strict rule about the maximum number of drinks a person can have at one time," he explained, his gaze briefly looking at the contents of my glass. "This drink has wolfsbane in it, you see, and it can be very...dangerous for a werewolf
DeneraTwo days had passed since Rockan marked me, and within that time, I found myself already getting used to the walls and layout of my new surroundings. While I didn't know every part of the castle, I had managed to learn the way out and the location of the big kitchen, thanks to the help of Rachel of course. She had been the only pack member I had talked to the most during these first few days.However, Rockan was hardly ever around, his time and attention taken up by his various duties as the Alpha king of different packs. He didn’t sleep in the same room with me last night either. As for Tyris, he had disappeared after the night he had found out about my... close experience with his brother. I honestly would not blame him for his pain and anger. He had announced that we were mates but the pull I felt towards Rockan was far much stronger than what I felt from any other person. Not even Bruno. The thought of Bruno crossed my mind, but I quickly shrugged it off. Where I stood
Tyris“Did Rockan mark you?!” I screamed out, my eyes bulging out in rage. I had been in my room for days, isolating myself from the pack, drowning in my thoughts and emotions. But eventually, I needed air, needed to clear my head. I needed to see Denera. I needed to understand what happened, and why she allowed it happen.I finally came out after so many days of isolation to reconcile and make things right and the first thing I see is the bite mark on her skin?!“Yes prince Tyris,” she breathed out, taking a step back from me. Knowing Rockan marked Denera hit me like a punch to the gut. It was as if my worst fears had materialized right in front of me. I didn’t even know I had this fear. I could almost see the look on Rockan's face, a mixture of triumph and defiance as if he did this to destroy me. And it had. The thought of them together and having sex took days to overlook and now seeing his mark on her, was too much to bear.“No!” I boomed, watching as both Denera and her mai
Denera“Your Highness,” a voice called softly, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My brows furrowed in concern, but I chose to ignore the words, hoping to drift back into my dreams. A knock on the door followed, and I groaned, forcing myself to open my eyes. “Come in,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.The door creaked open, and Rachel hurried inside, flanked by two other maids. My eyes widened slightly at the sight of them. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice still heavy with drowsiness.“I can’t honestly believe you’re still in bed on a day like this,” Rachel said, her tone a mix of disbelief and urgency. She moved around the room with purpose, her hands gesturing for the other maids to follow her lead.“What do you mean by that?” I questioned, watching as they began to scurry around the room, arranging things I was yet to comprehend.Rachel turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “What are they doing?” I pointed at the other maids, who were now pulling back the curtains, letting
DeneraHe was in my arms, and it felt both surreal and grounding. This was the first time I had seen Rockan so vulnerable—raw and exposed, stripped of the mask he usually wore to shield himself from the world. The sight of him like this stirred a mix of emotions within me, and my dislike for Tyris deepened. How could he force Rockan to reveal himself in such a painful way? It felt cruel, a betrayal of the trust Rockan had placed in those closest to him.But right now, I was grateful he was here, in my embrace. For the first time, it felt like I was the one keeping him safe, the one who could shield him from the harsh realities that had shaped his life. “It’s okay,” I whispered softly, hoping my voice would be a soothing balm in the tense silence.As I looked at him, the scar that brutally marred his face caught my attention. It was a stark reminder of the things he went through, both physically and emotionally. Anyone with such a mark would typically be forced to wear a mask, hidin
Rockan“Leave,” Tyris left, making the tension even worse. She hated me. Her gaze fell to the ground, and I could see the conflict churning in her heart. “I didn’t mean to—” she began, but her voice faltered, leaving the words unspoken. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, a wave of despair crashing over me. This wasn’t how I had envisioned this moment. I had wanted to show her my true self, to share my burdens and my past, but now I feared I had only pushed her away.“Do you… do you regret it?” I asked, my voice breaking as the question hung heavy in the air. The vulnerability I had sought to embrace now felt like a curse, leaving me exposed and raw.Denera lifted her gaze, and I could see the struggle in her expression, the way her heart fought against the fear. “No,” she finally said, her voice shaking. “I knew but I didn’t want it to be like this. This tension.”I nodded, my heart aching with the weight of her words. “I understand,” I whispered, feeling the gulf betwe
Rockan “How in the world do you fall in love with someone you haven’t even seen?!” Tyris yelled, his voice piercing through the quiet of the corridor.“Tyris!” I snapped, stepping out from the shadows where I had been hiding, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and disbelief.“Great, speak of the devil,” he shot back, rolling his eyes as if my presence was nothing more than a nuisance.“What do you think you’re doing?” I glared at him, my fists clenching at my sides. The tension crackled in the air between us, thick and suffocating. Instead of backing down, he merely scoffed, his arrogance pushing me closer to the edge.“I’m trying to open her eyes to what she doesn’t see and understand,” he retorted, his tone condescending. “I know you, brother, better than anyone else. Let this girl go. Drop the stupid ego of yours.”His words ignited a fire within me, fueling my anger. “I thought you came back with a change of heart. What in the world are you talking about now?” I frowned, strug
RockanHours had passed, and I found myself once again drowning in paperwork that demanded my immediate attention. The desk was cluttered with files, each stamped with the weight of responsibility and pressing urgency. Every pack, every territorial dispute, each one requiring my approval before a conclusion could be reached. The sheer volume felt suffocating, a mountain of bureaucracy that threatened to overwhelm me.I rubbed my eyes, fatigue creeping in like a slow tide. Each page was a reminder of the burdens I carried, and the stress began to knot in my stomach. I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the stack of documents that seemed to multiply with every passing hour. The ink blurred before my eyes, and I could feel the tension pooling in my shoulders, a tight band that constricted with every moment spent poring over the files.Another dispute over hunting grounds. Another request for more territory. A pack claiming grievances over boundary violations. I sighed, flipping throu
Denera “Did you miss me that much?” Tyris smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. A part of me was glad to see him back home, but something about his presence right now did not settle well with me. I could see the unease mirrored in Rockan’s expression, his brow furrowed as he studied his brother.“What are you doing here, in our room?” Rockan asked, his voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. I hoped he wouldn’t choose this moment to be mischievous; we had enough on our plates without adding sibling drama.Tyris shrugged nonchalantly, strolling back and forth in our small space, his movements almost too relaxed for the gravity of the situation. “You know, Rockan, I looked up to you as my older brother,” he said, his tone mocking. “I thought you’d have a bit more sense of responsibility than to take what’s mine.”It was too early upon our arrival to have any form of argument with him. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, wishing he would just take his lea
Denera“Over there!” I heard a man yell, and my heart plummeted.“Mum,” I whispered out in desperation, hoping she’d come back to me. I clutched my legs tighter around my waist, hoping this nightmare would end, wishing we could go back to the peaceful drive, the laughter, and the warmth of my family. But then, everything froze when I heard my mother cry out. “Rosa, please, no!”…..My eyes snapped open, gasping awake as I blinked profusely, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to me like a thick fog. We were still in the car, with Rockan quietly staring ahead, the tension in the air palpable.“Are you good?” he questioned, not bothering to turn to look at me.“Yeah,” I replied with a nod, though I lied. I wasn’t good—not at all.The dream was a stark reminder of the darkness in my life, the shadows cast by Aunt Rosa and her husband, Austin. They had twisted my reality into something unrecognisable, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. I felt the familiar anger ris
Denera“Do you have to go?” Luna Danielle questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and warmth. “You can stay a little longer and learn more.”I smiled at her, appreciating her kindness. “I will visit very often. But you know we have things to settle,” I admitted, my thoughts drifting to the responsibilities waiting for us back home.Rockan was way ahead of me, ensuring our luggage was packed and ready to go. His broad shoulders moved with purpose, and I could see the determination etched on his face. But as I watched him, a frown appeared on my forehead when I realized we were missing something.“Wait!” I heard from afar, making Luna Danielle and I turn toward the sound. A sigh escaped my mouth when I realized that the one thing I was missing was her—Adrianna.She was running toward us, her long hair flowing behind her, holding a brown bag in her hand. My stomach twisted at the thought of her being with us throughout the ride; the idea was almost too disgusting to be true.
Bruno I woke up to the dull throb of a headache, the remnants of last night’s drinking still swirling in my mind. The memories were hazy—laughter, clinking glasses, and the overwhelming haze of too much alcohol. I groaned, rolling over in bed, hoping to find some comfort in the cool sheets. Instead, I was met with the sight of Freya, my supposed girlfriend, sprawled next to me, her warm, bare skin pressing against my side.I felt irritation flare up inside me. Her hands rested on my chest, and I pushed her away with more force than I intended. “Get off me,” I demanded, my voice rough from sleep and lingering irritation.Freya stirred, frowning as she woke up. “Good morning, you didn’t have to push me,” she muttered, yawning and scratching her eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her.“Well, it’s morning. Please leave my room.” My tone was curt, and I could feel my patience waning. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries, especially not after the chaos of the previous night.“