Sadie’s POV
As soon as the words left his mouth, I was hit with a crippling pain. It felt like my heart was split right in half.
I let out a heart-wrenching scream and then I crumpled to the floor. I curled myself up into a ball while the pain of the mate-bond breaking ripped through me.
Delphine and Karter watching me writhe on the floor, smug smiles plastered on their faces. I became breathless, my heart hammering in my chest. I couldn’t believe it was over.
Karter was no longer my mate.
“What’s all this noise?” Luna Emma emerged at the door, a frown on her face.
I looked up at her, grateful to see her. I pleaded at her with my eyes. I knew she would be sympathetic. She’d always been so kind to me. Even though she was my step-mother, she’d always treated me as an equal daughter. She never slighted me in favor of her biological daughter, Delphine.
She would help me. I knew she would. She glanced down at me, her hands on her hips. I struggled to pull myself up to my feet, eager for Luna Emma’s warm embrace to help ease my pain.
“He broke our matebond,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I stumbled towards her. “I found Karter and Delphine together. They’ve betrayed me.”
I desperately tried to tell Luna Emma everything. She held up her hand, stopping me in place. I continued to tell her what had transpired here. But as I spoke, I saw a strange expression cross her face. It was an expression I’d never seen from her before.
She glared at me with cold, indifferent eyes.
“So what?” she scoffed. “Are you coming to me looking for sympathy? Is that it? You think you’re still a protected little princess?”
What? I blinked in disbelief. I opened my mouth but no words came out. She was being so…cruel. But why? What was happening? My mind spun.
“I don’t understand,” I said softly.
“Come on,” Luna Emma chuckled slyly, “What is there to understand? Your father is dead. He can’t protect you anymore.”
I stared at her. Karter and Delphine chuckled along. Their once familiar faces seemed unrecognizable now. Their expressions were hard and ugly. Evil even!
Protect me? Protect me from what? From them? But these were the people who had cared for me. I’d grown up, right here, with all of them. Karter was my mate, my love. Delphine was my trusted sister. And Luna Emma was my caregiver!
But they were being so cruel. All of them! Delphine had betrayed me. Karter had rejected our matebond. And Luna Emma glared at me with contempt in her eyes.
My once beautiful life was cracking apart at the seams. I felt like it was crumbling right in front of me. Had it all been a lie? My entire life? I grappled to understand.
“She slapped me!” Delphine said, rushing forward. She pointed at me as I stood on shaky legs.
“What?” Luna Emma said, her eyes now dangerous. “How dare you, you little bitch!” Before I could process what was happening, she lunged at me.
Whack.
She hit me hard across the face. My eyes grew wide. I cradled my cheek with my hand.
“You’re as worthless as your wretched mother!” Luna Emma cackled. Then she slapped me again across the other cheek.
Both my cheeks stung and my eyes brimmed with tears.
My mother? A worthless wretch?
How dare she? I was shocked to hear Luna Emma curse my mother like that. My mother had died when I was very young but I had a few vague memories of her. She was kind and gentle, with loving eyes and a warm touch.
My mother didn’t deserve this slander.
“Do not insult my mother,” I snapped back at Luna Emma. My pain and heartbreak gave way to anger. These were lies! All of them. My mother was a good, loyal Luna. She wasn’t anything like the picture Luna Emma was painting of her!
“Your mother was a treacherous woman,” Luna Emma seethed. “She used her ‘so-called noble blood’,” she used air quotes, her voice sarcastic, “to marry your father. Thankfully, she died though. The only real tragedy is that you didn’t die with her!”
“I…I…” I was shaking with rage, stunned by her true, wicked nature.
She was cursing me, too. Spitting out vile words about both me and my mother.
“I…I,” she taunted. Then she threw her head back and laughed. “What’s the matter, Sadie? Can’t handle the truth? You’re the daughter of a whore! And now that the King is dead, we can finally get rid of you once and for all. Your precious daddy can’t protect you anymore.”
I was so angry now, my hands were shaking.
“Call the pack doctor,” Luna Emma instructed Delphine. “Sadie is clearly mentally unstable. She needs some medicine.”
Delphine smiled sardonically, then she rushed out of the room.
“No,” I said, shaking my head and backing away. I wasn’t unstable. There was no need for the pack doctor. This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.
“Shut up and stay right there,” Luna Emma ordered, her voice firm.
I didn’t know what to do. Luna Emma was blocking the door and Karter would stop me if I tried to bolt. I wanted to get out of there but I couldn’t.
Moments later, the pack doctor rushed in, Delphine by his side. Luna Emma’s demeanor shifted. She smiled sweetly at the doctor.
“Poor thing,” she cooed. “I guess her father’s death was just too much for her. She’s lost her mind.”
The doctor glanced at me then back at Luna Emma.
“Look at her,” Luna Emma said. “She’s a complete mess. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“No,” I shook my head. Surely the pack doctor would see that Luna Emma was lying. I didn’t need medicine. I just needed to get out of this room. I needed time to sort out my thoughts and emotions.
But the doctor’s eyes narrowed. “Yes,” he nodded, slowly. “It appears she has. She’s distressed. Unhinged. She needs medicine to calm her nerves.”
He handed Luna Emma a vile.
I gazed at the purple potion, fear prickling through me.
I recognized it immediately. It wasn’t medicine, I realized, in horror.
It was wolfsbane.
Sadie’s POV“NO!” I cried out. Luna Emma clutched the vile of wolfsbane tightly in her hand.“Oh yes,” she said joyfully. “Now come here, you little bitch. Take your medicine like a good girl.”I stumbled backwards. I looked at Karter.“Please,” I begged. “Don’t let them do this to me.”For a brief moment, I thought I saw a flash of sympathy. But then he averted his eyes.“Don’t make this difficult,” he said dryly.Luna Emma and Delphine charged at me.“Open your fucking mouth,” Luna Emma snapped. They forced my mouth open. Then Luna Emma shoved the vile between my lips.The wolfbane burned my throat as it slid down. They released me and laughed. I coughed, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.The effect was instant. A weakness spread through my muscles. My body felt heavy, fatigued. The potion pulsed through me.“There now,” Delphine said smugly. “You can’t compete with me in the Luna Selection.”I felt pins and needles in my fingertips. I needed to lie down. I felt like I’d jus
Sadie’s POVThe next day, excited whispers rippled through the maid’s quarters. Immediately after Luna Emma demoted me, I was brought down to the maid’s quarters. It had only been a day, but I was trying to adjust to my new life as a maid. I’d been put to work right away scrubbing toilets. It was hard work, much harder than anything I was used to.We were given the morning off though because the Lycan Prince was due to arrive any moment. The maids gushed to one another, starry-eyed, hopeful that maybe, just maybe, one of them would be selected.I wanted no part of it though. So I sat on my tiny bed and tried to ignore all the excitement. Just then, a maid burst through the doors.“The Lycan Prince has arrived!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together excitedly.The room exploded into a wave of giggles. And then they all rushed out of the room like little school girls.I stayed behind.“Come on,” Celeste said, standing at the door. “You have to come.”Celeste was the only maid who h
Sadie’s POVThe crows cawed loudly, a screechy sound that reverberated through the air. Their black bodies continued to circle around in the sky. People nodded, agreeing.Yes. This was a sign.It had to be.All eyes turned back to Delphine. She looked as convinced as everyone else. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Everyone talked in hushed whispers.“I knew it was her.”“No one’s more worthy.”“Just imagine, she’ll be Prince Griffin’s Luna now!”I looked from the crowd to Delphine. Then I looked up at the crows. I didn’t want it to be her. But even I started to believe the crows were a sign.Just then, though, as quickly as they’d come, the crows began to fly away. Their caws faded into the distance.Delphine watched them go, a puzzled look on her face.“Where are they going?” people whispered. The square fell silent again.Delphine still had her hand placed firmly on the slab. She looked uncertainly at the Beta, a fake smile plastered on her face. A few moments passed.Nothing
Sadie’s POV“Impossible!”Luna Emma and Delphine immediately stepped forward.“She’s not fit to be Luna!” Delphine objected. “She has no wolf! And she’s a harlot! She tried to seduce her father’s Beta!”“Is this true?” Prince Griffin asked with furrowed brows.“I don’t have a wolf,” I said sadly. “That is true. But I didn’t seduce my father’s Beta.”“You most certainly did!” Delphine hissed. “We have witnesses. Some of our maids saw you!”Delphine nodded to a few maids. They stepped forward. They were the maids that had come into the room when I was struggling with Beta Jay. Their contempt for me was written all over their faces.“We can testify,” one of them said smugly.“We saw her. She had her hands all over Beta Jay,” another one chimed in.“It’s true. She was seducing him,” the third one confirmed.My heart sank. Prince Griffin looked at me with a concerned expression. He was clearly taken aback by this.His Beta touched him on the arm and said in a low voice:“Your Highness, the
Saide’s POVI decided to seize my last chance. To leave the pack I had grown up in. My Alpha father was gone, and I couldn’t allow myself to live in this hell any longer.After I nodded, Arlo smiled slightly and promptly took me away. Emma didn’t dare to say a word in protest. Yeah, no werewolf would dare to defy a Lycan.The palace lights shone against the dark sky as we arrived. It was already late at night, but the entire palace was brightly lit. The palace was enormous and it sprawled out with different wings and quarters. I’d never seen anything with so much grandeur. The atmosphere was solemn, which only added to my nerves.I fidgeted with my hands as I followed closely behind Arlo and Prince Griffin.We approached the front door and a maid rushed out to meet us. I could tell by her demeanor that she was the head maid.“Prince Griffin, Arlo,” she said respectfully, bowing her head. I peeked out from behind Arlo and her eyes lit up when she saw me. She smiled and bowed her head a
Sadie’s POVWithout a word, Arlo removed his shirt and tossed it onto the smooth floor. I stared in disbelief.His chest was magnificent, chiseled and muscular. I swallowed hard.I’d never seen a man’s naked chest this clearly before. I’d never been this close to a half—naked man. A rush of emotions ripped through me: curiosity, shyness, fascination.“Why so shy?” he asked softly.“I’m not,” I snapped back. I didn’t want him to think I was some sort of innocent child. And I certainly didn’t want him to know I’d never seen a man’s chest like this before.He chuckled softly. His eyes flitted to the blanket that was practically wrapped up to my chin. “Let me see you,” he said in a sexy growl.I bit my lower lip. I was immobilized by fear of the unknown. I couldn’t just take off the blanket.He tilted his head to the side and raised an eyebrow.Then he walked around to the side of the bed. He held out his hand.“I won’t bite. I promise,” he said, his voice like liquid. I gingerly placed
Sadie’s POVBefore I could even react, I felt a warm, wet sensation on my chest. It took me by surprise. It was an unfamiliar sensation. I didn’t really understand what was happening. I glanced down and saw Arlo’s head at my chest, his mouth on my breast.He was sucking my nipple!My face turned bright red. Of course I’d heard about this. I wasn’t completely naïve. It had just never happened to me and it made me feel a little embarrassed. But as he continued kissing my nipple, the sensation intensified. I watched and was overwhelmed by both the sight of his mouth on my breast and the feeling of his lips on my nipple.I felt something warm and wet flowing between my legs. I couldn’t help. It trickled down my legs.Oh my moon goddess! Would it soak the sheets?What was that wetness? Why was it coming from…from down there?What was happening? His hand reached up and kneaded my other breast. I didn’t fully understand. But this feeling washed over me. It was a longing.I longed for somethi
Sadie’s POVI changed into a beautiful gown given to me by a maid. Then I smoothed my hair and put a bit of makeup on. I was going to meet the Lycan King, after all, and I wanted to look presentable.A warrior was waiting for me at my door. He escorted me into a luxurious office. The walls were lined with books and documents. I ascertained that it was an important place – a place where the Royal Family conducted important business.There was a fireplace with a cozy fire blazing in the corner. There was a long mahogany table in the center. And to my surprise, the Lycan King, the Lycan Queen and the Lycan Prince were all present.The Lycan King looked at me with authority. The Queen’s face, however, was full of disdain as she eyed me up and down.I didn’t know what to do, so I just stood at the end of the table.“This is her?” the Queen scoffed.“It is,” Prince Griffin nodded. “This is Sadie Ambrose, daughter of the late Night Shadow Pack Alpha, Abram Ambrose.”“She’s the one who pass