Alpha King's POV"Rita, your bracelet is beautiful. Can I take a closer look?" I grabbed Rita's outstretched wrist, and a subtle chamomile fragrance wafted from it. Her delicate face turned beet red, and she shyly looked down, whispering her thanks. Everyone at the table put down their cutlery and turned their attention to admire Rita's ruby bracelet with its elegant color and cute shape.I glanced at Charlotte out of the corner of my eye. She was intently eating her foie gras. She hadn't said a word throughout the meal, nor had she raised her head. Her indifference annoyed me. Ever since that Friday night three weeks ago, she had been avoiding me. That weekend, I picked a few roses and had them sent to her room, but she didn't appreciate it and stayed in her room all day. On weekdays, I occasionally crossed paths with her outside her office, and she always acted like she hardly knew me. I had never experienced such humiliation, so I responded by adopting an even more arrogant attitud
I immediately understood Louis' intention. He was giving me a chance to reconcile with Sebastian."No problem, thank you," I took the file from Louis.In the early evening, as the sun set, the castle was bathed in a dreamy golden light from the setting sun.Louis, Evelyn, Thomas, and others began leaving their offices. They had finished their day's work and were heading to the dining hall.Sebastian wouldn't appear in front of anyone until sunrise tomorrow. Tonight was a full moon night. A curfew started after seven in the evening. Besides the patrolling soldiers, everyone in the castle had to stay in their rooms and couldn't move freely.In the dining hall, two male servants and two female servants were packing up the vases outside to be taken to the basement later. They were doing this because tonight Sebastian would go berserk and cause extensive destruction.I walked to the door of Sebastian's office. A castle guard named David was putting on thick gloves to add a silver lock to t
Sebastian's POVI woke up in the soft moonlight. The room was bathed in a silvery glow. The shadows of trees danced on the walls.In the embrace of my mate, I found the peace I had lost for so long.Snuggled against my mate, I found that elusive peace once more. The events of this night were etched deep into my memory, every detail as bright as the full moon. While others avoided my presence as the moon rose, Charlotte had conquered her fears. She had bravely walked to me, and with her unwavering presence, her embrace was like a lifeline. No longer relying on Olivia's elixirs, no longer suffering from amnesia. When the full moon rose, I stood unharmed, a victory I hadn't known in two years.My eyes fell on the young woman nestled beside me, just coming of age. Bathed in the gentle moonlight, she exuded an almost divine radiance. She, a beauty rivaling the heavens. She was not my curse; she was my redemption.Her chest rose and fell with steady breaths. A serene and calming aura envelo
Sebastian held my hand as we exited the room. I walked with a proud and confident stride. This marked the first time I didn't have to bear the burden of a cursed and tarnished reputation. It was a moment of validation, recognizing me as Alpha King's mate instead of a covertly regarded slave. From now on, I could live and love without shame. What I did last night was a daring gamble, and I knew, I had won.As we entered the grand hall, all the maids present kneeled and bowed before me.My eyes wandered to the second-floor balcony, where Olivia, Gamma Casey, Gamma Thompson, Gamma Evelyn, and Gamma Thomas were stationed at the railings. Each one wore a different expression.Olivia maintained her customary faint smile, concealing her thoughts. Casey's eyes widened, showing a hint of apprehension, while her mate, Thompson, appeared dispirited, his face ashen. Evelyn radiated warmth and greeted me with a wave. Thomas remained unaffected, as though everything had no bearing on him.Sebastian
"Don't do this, it's working hours," I tried to push him away, but he stood firm as a mountain."This is my castle, and I determine your working hours," he chuckled, his left hand wrapping around my waist. Even through the thin layer of fabric, I could feel the heat of his palm.His right hand gently lifted my chin, leaning in. I closed my eyes, ready for our second kiss.Then, a series of knocks shattered the romantic atmosphere.Sebastian and I separated, his brow furrowing with irritation."Who the hell is it?" He muttered."Miss Charlotte, it's me, Casey. I've brought all the ledgers you asked for," Gamma Casey's voice came from outside the door."Alright," I said, opening the door. Casey stood outside, holding a stack of tall ledgers. She glanced up at Sebastian, her eyes wide with shock."Sorry, Alpha King, I didn't know you were here too," she said nervously.Sebastian nodded in her direction, waved her aside, and then left my office.Casey followed his departure with her gaze
"Stop denying!" Casey hastily interrupted Cedric, fearing he might spill the beans and expose her and Thompson. "If you admit your mistake honestly, we'll speak on your behalf in front of Beta Louis. Considering your many years of service to the castle, you won't have to return the money, and this matter won't be made public. We'll announce that you've retired.""Alright, I admit it was my fault. Thank you for interceding on my behalf," Cedric glanced at me and with some difficulty, managed to get those words out. Despite his reluctance, he accepted the blame to save his pockets.I stood behind, silently watching their performance, marveling at their cunning.After Cedric was dismissed, I recommended Elaine to fill the vacancy as the new Internal Affairs Director.In the evening, Sebastian and I had a date by the heart-shaped lake about a hundred meters in front of our castle. The lake got its name from its roughly heart-shaped form. The cool moonlight poured from the sky, illuminatin
He fell into a silence for a moment, as if lost in thought, his mind wandering to other matters."Sebastian, would you do it?" I asked softly, cautiously. He had been silent for a while, and I was afraid I might have touched a nerve.He let out a quiet sigh and shook his head. "I'm afraid I can't. A month ago, I sent someone to the Crescent Tribe to investigate your mother's death discreetly. They found no evidence linking her death to Alpha Morgan."I pulled my hand away from his, took a couple of steps back, and looked at him with teary eyes, choking on my words. "Do you believe me?"His face showed a hint of regret as he responded, "I believe every word you've said. But with only your testimony and no physical evidence, I have no grounds to prosecute him. Alpha Morgan had already cleaned up all the evidence and paid off everyone in the tribe before I sent my people to investigate. Now they're all singing the same tune, claiming your mother died of natural causes and that her body w
The first rays of morning sunshine pulled me from my slumber. I opened my eyes to a sky as clear and blue as it gets, and it put me in a great mood. Sebastian was up way before I was. I crawled out of bed, retracing our steps from yesterday. Sebastian was in the middle of a transformation, his bones cracking like firewood. It took a while, but he finally asked, "Why?""This is a great chance for me to develop my management and coordination skills. I need this opportunity to prove that I'm capable of being Luna Queen," I replied with a reason I'd prepared in advance.He leaned on his chin, deep in thought for a moment, then said, "I agree to your request. But before making any decisions, you'll need to consult with Louis. Don't make any rash moves.""No problem! I promise!" I exclaimed, my excitement clear."Alright, let's head back. I need some rest; I couldn't sleep all night. Those stone beds are too hard and cold. You should go back to your room, take a shower, and change your clot
For a moment, the crowd was in an uproar. Participants competing freely? Didn't that mean there would be fights, possibly even fatalities?"Well, everyone, what do you think of Alpha Asher's proposal?" Sebastian asked with amusement.The crowd exchanged glances, unable to utter a word.Only Alpha Morgan had a satisfied and confident look on his face."I think Alpha Asher's proposal is excellent, adding more excitement to the competition," Morgan nodded, affirming."Good, if there are no objections, let's do it!" Sebastian looked around and gave the order, modifying the rules.On the way to the jungle, I heard people murmuring behind me."If later Morgan wants to snatch our prey, let him, no need to risk our lives for it, anyway, he's going to win.""Yeah, no one is his match."My heart twinged. Uncle Asher, does he really not fear death? Goddess, please let Uncle Asher win.Reaching the edge of the jungle, each Alpha transformed into a wolf, lining up neatly. Morgan's brown wolf was t
As the bastard Morgan entered the castle, even though I had mentally prepared myself, my body couldn't help but tremble.His gaze locked onto me, filled with the usual contempt, disdain, and mockery.A myriad of emotions swirled within me—anger, resentment, and... fear.I clutched my skirt, palms sweating profusely.Why? Why wasn't he surprised to see me at all? It was as if he had anticipated my presence here.He briskly approached me, a smirk playing on his lips.That smile transported me back two years, to that night he drained my strength.Painful memories surged, causing my legs to weaken, my body tilting backward, on the verge of losing balance.Fortunately, a strong pair of hands caught my waist. Even through the thin silk fabric, I could feel the warmth of his palms."Don't panic; you look perfect right now," Sebastian whispered softly behind my ear.His encouragement awakened me from the nightmares of the past.I straightened up, forced the most graceful smile, and welcomed m
Charlotte's POVJessica was found dead on the second day of her imprisonment, succumbing to cyanide poisoning.A farewell letter was left on the cell wall: "I regret what I've done. I can't bear the consequences."A bottle of cyanide was discovered in her wardrobe.The poisoning case concluded with Jessica's admission of guilt and suicide.Both Giselle and I doubted this outcome, but unfortunately, with the upcoming hunting competition, the castle had no extra resources to investigate further. The existing result was deemed the best under the circumstances.Jessica's death stirred up quite a commotion in the castle. The maids claimed Jessica's ghost roamed the third-floor staircase at night. The youngest, Julie, and Rita were so frightened that they fell ill with high fevers. The older maids took advantage of the situation, spreading ghost stories to scare Julie and Rita, paying no heed to Giselle's reprimands. The entire castle's affairs came to a standstill.On the eve of the huntin
Olivia's POVThe castle prison was located on the basement floor of the tower. The bald walls and floor were made of gray cement, devoid of any decoration except for a glaringly white light on the ceiling, resembling a cement box.A silver-haired, stern-faced jailer led me forward. As he took each step, the keys on his waist swung, clashing against each other with a metallic sound.Entering from the outside, we walked through a long corridor with prison cells on both sides, densely packed like chicken coops. The cells were small, about two meters wide and two meters long, just enough to fit a barely usable small bed. The worn-out inmates, with haggard expressions, peeked through the cell doors whenever they heard footsteps, wondering if a new prisoner had arrived."Hey! Girl, why are you in here? Is it for adultery?" shouted a young male prisoner. He was sturdy, wearing an orange prison uniform, and had short, thick red hair.His words prompted laughter from other male prisoners. They
Five days before the hunting competition, news arrived that soldiers patrolling the swamp in the southwest had caught a middle-aged woman with suspicious behavior and a nervous demeanor. I was in the office, cross-referencing this month's procurement records with Eileen.Upon hearing the news, I walked to the window. On the asphalt road in the center of the castle's front lawn, two soldiers escorted a ragged woman towards the castle. As they approached, I recognized her as the fake maid who had brought me rose tea the day before yesterday. Despite changing her clothes, she was dirty all over, yet I could still recognize her.I wanted to see her immediately. As I stepped out of the office, I ran into Sebastian coming out as well. Upon learning that the culprit had been captured, he, like me, was heading downstairs to see what was happening."It's her, I recognize her!" I told him, grabbing his hand and running downstairs.The two soldiers brought the woman before us, pressing her shoul
"Is it her?" Sebastian pointed to a maid and asked me."No," I shook my head, answering.Sebastian waved his hand, signaling the maid to leave."What about her?" He pointed to the next maid and asked me."Still not her," I said somewhat frustrated.The maid who brought me the rose tea was not any of these five new maids. So, where did that person go? Such a conspicuous person disappeared in the castle."Have any of you seen any suspicious individuals?" Sebastian questioned the six guards on duty.The guards looked bewildered, pale-faced, shaking their heads, seeking Sebastian's forgiveness."You useless bunch! Any random stranger can come and go into the castle. What's the use of hiring you?" Sebastian roared at them, "The six of you, get out now!"The entire castle fell into silence, and no one dared to make a sound. They shrank, trying to hide themselves. No one wanted to become a target of Alpha's anger.The six guards knelt down, crying, pleading for Sebastian to give them another
Charlotte's POVToday, the castle is livelier than usual. The five temporary maids recruited by Eileen have taken their positions. After Giselle's morning training, they have started practicing, exploring every corner of the castle with various tools in hand.I sit in the office, organizing the dinner menu. Later, I will take the finalized menu to Molly for approval. She will estimate the required ingredients based on my menu, and then Eileen will go to nearby farmers to reserve the ingredients.Truffle lobster, Bordeaux beef, cheese lettuce salad, tomato sauce green peas, almond apple pie, cheesecake... I jot down the recipes on paper, occasionally interrupted by the footsteps and chatter from outside the office. I have completed the appetizers, main course, and desserts needed for the dinner. Next, I need to list the wines for the guests. As I finish writing, a knock on the door interrupts me. I pause and invite the unexpected guest in.A maid I have never seen before enters, holdin
After hitting the 'send' button, I promptly closed the laptop. Getting up from the couch, I lay down on the bed, attempting to catch some sleep. As I closed my eyes, a rush of emotions—anticipation, nervousness, anxiety—flooded my mind. My heart pounded relentlessly. Revenge plans swirled in my mind, making it impossible to sleep, almost driving me mad.To shift my focus, I got up from the bed. Opening the laptop, I checked my email to find a new message. With trepidation, I clicked on it, only to discover it wasn't Uncle's reply but a work list from Louis. It detailed the list of attendees: 48 Alphas, 7 senior wolves within the castle, and 5 elders in the courtyard, totaling 60. The attachment outlined past dinner menus, revealing at least 20 dishes. With only six chefs, five maids, and five manservants, the manpower was insufficient for a dinner of 60. I needed to recruit five temporary maids.Entering the third-floor office, both Jessica and Irina were present. Jessica had a long f
The first rays of morning sunshine pulled me from my slumber. I opened my eyes to a sky as clear and blue as it gets, and it put me in a great mood. Sebastian was up way before I was. I crawled out of bed, retracing our steps from yesterday. Sebastian was in the middle of a transformation, his bones cracking like firewood. It took a while, but he finally asked, "Why?""This is a great chance for me to develop my management and coordination skills. I need this opportunity to prove that I'm capable of being Luna Queen," I replied with a reason I'd prepared in advance.He leaned on his chin, deep in thought for a moment, then said, "I agree to your request. But before making any decisions, you'll need to consult with Louis. Don't make any rash moves.""No problem! I promise!" I exclaimed, my excitement clear."Alright, let's head back. I need some rest; I couldn't sleep all night. Those stone beds are too hard and cold. You should go back to your room, take a shower, and change your clot