Chapter 16 - Ethan's POVI waited patiently for Lucian to call his son to order. He was the alpha of his pack, the dominant ruler, and whatever he said goes. If he didn't force his son into the marriage, then it meant to show that he was just as bad as him. And by condoning it, I took it that he was soft like his son and also an oath breaker. The agreement was simple, and it was set in stone from the beginning of their lives, but now the son of a bitch was trying to annul it, thinking it was easy. His father had the power to stop him, to force him, and he wouldn't be able to change anything. But the man just didn't do so.I felt so angry that my hands balled into fists at my side, repeatedly watching the rest of the proceedings as it went on like nothing had happened at all. Okay, it wasn't all that normal—there was tension in the air, palpable tension between my pack and theirs. I could see a war coming, a very brutal one, because of this. Maybe that was something our father Lucian d
Chapter 17 - Jason's POVI felt incredibly disturbed. What was he talking about? A war? The words kept on ringing in my ears. Why would he suggest something like that? Did he know something? But he was just bluffing to make me feel scared. I hadn't been watching him, so I couldn't tell if he had spoken at all with his father. If he had, then I would probably be sure that he was for real, but now I didn't really have anything to work with.A war was something I wanted to avoid at all costs. If the break out between my pack and theirs was so severe, then was it worth my deeds, or would I change it if I got the chance again? I glanced at Lena, speaking with her parents at the back, and decided that I would do it all over again, no matter what happened. I wouldn't change a bit of what I did, except maybe how I handled Fiona. I really needed to go back home and think of that, think of what I should have said and done instead."Not a single apology," something in me chided as I walked towar
Chapter 18, Fiona's POVA week after the wedding, I was still brooding. Basically, I had locked myself up in my room, trying to pick up the shattered pieces of myself as much as I could. A couple of people came to visit, but I didn't let anyone see me except the people I had no choice but to let in. Dad came and offered his condolences, then my brother had come also to do the same.Although hinting a lot at revenge, I tried not to think that way, not wanting to turn into the monster he was for doing this to me by retaliating. But honestly, it was a bit appealing to the extent that half the time I was there crying, I was also plotting, wanting to do something about it all. The words he had spoken rang in my ears, even now that I was sitting on my bed, having no more tears to cry out."Crying won't help anything, it won't make you feel better. Revenge is the only thing that's going to soothe you a bit," he had said.I took in a deep breath, deciding to face reality. I wasn't getting bet
Chapter 19, Ethan's POVI stared at the stack of letters before me for a very long time. A lighter was in my hand already, waiting for me to set the pieces of paper on fire. What was Jason thinking by sending letters of apology the old-fashioned way? Did he think that it made it a little more sincere, or was it some kind of tradition to him? Well, whatever the case was, it was good not for him but for me, getting the opportunity to intercept the information before it got to her.I couldn't imagine her forgiving him just like that due to his apologies. If Jason was actually able to take the spite out of her and make her give everything up without any retaliation with his words, then I wouldn't be able to live with it myself. If she could forgive him, I could not, but that was the point. I wouldn't be able to do anything if she was against it, as Jason and I didn't have such a deep quarrel. Only when she was angry with him could I act on my own, so I had to make sure she stayed that way
Chapter 20 - Fiona's POVThere was something empowering about plotting the downfall of another. I didn't know scheming could be so sweet. But now that I was trying it for myself, it was very enjoyable. Ethan was the mastermind, coming up with brilliant ideas on how to torture Lena to make her pay for all that. I wasn't exactly interested in her torture, just her death, but anyhow he wanted it. It was fine with me, as long as I got her out of the picture and got Jason to reconsider.He'll come back begging, I told myself. He'll realize the mistake he made and we'll have a do-over. We'll have another marriage with me this time around, and everything will be just as it was supposed to be."Fiona, Fiona," someone called in the background. I blinked as Ethan's face came into focus. He was frowning at me deeply, with his finger pointing to a drawing he'd made on the paper. "What were you thinking about? You missed my entire plan on how our spy would get into the palace and still kidnap Lena
Chapter 21 - Fiona's POVI was still lost in thought when a knock came on my door. Maeve entered with her head bowed, looking a little scared."What's the matter?" I questioned with a frown on my face, wondering why she would act in such a manner when she was usually free around me, at least to an extent."Someone wants to see you," she said. "Your dad, he wants to talk."I blinked, not understanding what this was all about for my dad to suddenly want an audience with me. It needed to be something important. I thought about all the topics we could talk about and couldn't think of anything else other than the failed marriage between me and Jason. It was, after all, the hottest topic in town, and I didn't see how we had even gotten past an entire week without talking about it."Did you tell him I'm still depressed and figuring out myself?" I questioned, wanting to get out of the conversation as much as possible. I already knew the answer before she said it.She shook her head slowly, lo
Chapter 22 - Lucian's POVThe moment I learned she was back from her mourning, I sent for her. My spies told me she'd had a long conversation with Ethan, and that was enough confirmation for me. Ever since what happened, I wanted a heart-to-heart with her, but I didn't force a conversation. She needed time to recover, and I wasn't about to talk to an emotionally drained girl and ask her to be strong or something like that. No, I would save the condolences for others. She had Ethan, and her confidence made me think they could cheer her up enough for me to talk with her normally, and finally, they had.I stared at her intently, seeing a bright star in front of me. This bright star had a blooming future, but now one door had been closed. By Jason. It was very unexpected, definitely not part of my calculations, and now because of it, I had to re-evaluate everything. I'd done a lot of thinking over the past couple of weeks, and now I wanted to let her know all my decisions and the plans I
# Chapter 23, Fiona's POVTears filled my eyes as he spoke each one of his words, a knife cutting into my flesh. He didn't hold back the truth, which was the one thing about him I didn't know if I liked or hated with a passion. Everything that I had tried to run away from came crashing down on me as he spoke, telling me everything factually, just the way they were.I felt like a useless person, like I had just been set aside for the casual stuff that everyone has been doing before me, and that feeling alone was suffocating. All my life, I thought that I was cut out for so much more. With his plan for me, and me basing my life on the greatness that would come with uniting the parks, I had done everything to ensure that I would be a good leader. I'd trained and worked hard, and now anything casual was below me, at least in my own eyes.Of course, it would be conventional. The people didn't expect much from me anyway, but that didn't change anything about what I expected from myself. Jas
Chapter 120: Fiona's POVDespite my determination, something had been eating away at the edges of my confidence. I wasn't scared of Mara. No, I had stared down danger before, had dealt with enemies trying to destroy me and my family, my pack. And I had always won out in the end. But this time… this time was different. This woman was not only powerful — she was primeval. Her magic felt like it infiltrated the soil beneath our feet, so that everything felt heavier, more oppressive.Tightening my fists as fiery rage pulsed in my veins, begging me to do something. I had to defend everything — my house, my family, people I loved. And then, just out of the corner of my eye, I saw him.My father.The patriarch of our family, Lucian Ashford, entered the courtyard. When I first saw him, my breath caught in my throat. He had this calming effect on me in the chaos, his presence an anchor in the storm. He was strong, he was powerful, and yet in that instant I was suddenly inundated with vulnerabi
Chapter 119: Author's POVMara cackled, her voice ricocheting off the cold, the courtyard as Fiona tried to fight through her magic. It was almost too hilarious — the belligerent young wolf, full of fire and fury, attempting to hold her ground. Mara had seen this all before — the resistance, the defiance, the faith that sheer will could do battle against centuries of power. But it was always the same. They never learned.“This is the best you can do little wolf? There was a note of mocking amusement in Mara’s voice. She watched Fiona struggle against the magic, and her age-old eyes sparkled with triumph. “Little flames of yours aren’t going to cut it. There is no fire that can kill me now."Fiona’s hands were still up, the flickering orange of fire dancing around her fingers, but Mara could feel the energy ebbing out of her. She was old—older than most of the men who crossed her path—but not old enough to beat Mara’s decades of practice. Fiona’s flames might roar for attention, but Ma
Chapter 118: Fiona's POV“She’s older than I thought,” I said, my voice steady in spite of the fear snaking up my spine. “Maybe 400 years or more. Her power is not merely about natural talent. It’s honed. Ancient.”Ethan’s gaze flickered to mine, the intensity in his eyes matching the weight of my words. “That’s how she’s been able to manipulate so much so quickly.” She has had time to hone it.”As the crowd began to disperse, the estate buzzing with uncomfortable whispers. My parents were still shaking, their faces looking pale, their eyes flicking to my direction, as if trying to comprehend what had just happened. I wanted to comfort them, but there was no time.But before I took another step, the very atmosphere around me changed. It was subtle at first — a ripple, a hum in the air that raised the hairs on the back of my neck.And then she was back.Mara’s shape coalesced in the center of the courtyard, dark and imposing. This time, she didn’t bother with illusions. The real her wa
Chapter 117: Fiona’s POVI wasn’t surprised.As soon as I arrived at the estate I felt her—dark, intrusive energy that didn’t belong. It made me creast, and boiled my blood that Mara walked through my house pretending to be me.It didn’t surprise me that Maeve, standing next to me, noticed the obvious: “She’s going to tell Ethan she’s the real you.”I grinned grimly, clenching the enchanted stone in my fist. “Let her try. Ethan will see through it.”Maeve arched an eyebrow, her faith in Ethan not as solid as mine. “You have a remarkably steady disposition if you’re being impersonated.”“Calm?” I scoffed. “I’m furious. But this is not the moment to hit the panic button. I have to catch her something that nobody can dispute.”Maeve crossed her arms with a twinkle in her eyes. “What’s the plan?”I raised my hand, allowing a small flame to dance on my palm. Waves come in, back out, suck it all back down for another run. “I will call upon elemental fire and bring her true face to light. Ma
Chapter 116: Mara’s POVI sat in her chambers — no, my chambers now. It was strange how quickly I’d settled into this space, how easily I’d commandeered everything that once belonged to her. My fingers rapped in measured time on the armrest of her chair. Servants moved about the estate, oblivious to the storm I was about to unleash on these walls. They believed I was her. Her parents were convinced, as was she. They had all accepted me, no questions asked, no doubts raised. They didn’t know the truth, nor did they need to.But then there was Ethan.Ethan was the problem.He was in the courtyard, pacing, as I had expected. He was never gone, always looking, always hoping for a slip, for something to tell him the truth. His suspicion had been building for days, ever since I had set foot on the property, and I felt it whenever his eyes landed on me, scrutinizing me, as if I were a problem he was determined to solve. It was maddening, but exhilarating. He was a challenge. And I always lik
Chapter 115: Fiona’s POVThe call with Ethan played in a loop in my brain, like a record that had skipped and wouldn’t stop skipping. The more I thought about it, the louder every word got. Someone was out there, wandering through my life, wearing my name, my face — living as me. It was not only unsettling; it sent a chill deep, deep into my bones. That thought clung to me like a second skin, cold and suffocating.Mara. She’d gone too far this time. Way too far.I sat by the fire, gazing into the dancing flames, but the heat did not comfort me. It was a jumble of hazy thoughts and fears I was afraid to voice. Next to me, Maeve quietly packed our things with an efficiency that was almost reassuring. She always knew what to do when the rest of the world seemed to be spinning out of control. Her calm steadiness kept me grounded when I felt like I was falling apart.“Maeve,” I said suddenly, shattering the leaden silence. My voice sounded odd even to me — hoarse and choppy, like it didn’t
Chapter 114: Fiona’s POVThe wood was disconcertingly silent, the sort of quiet that rubbed my frayed nerves raw. The fire crackled low between Maeve and me, the flames’ warmth no competition for the icy dread in my gut. The stars above us twinkled weakly, shrouded in thin clouds that echoed the haze of uncertainty that clouded my mind.My fingers traced the rough edges of the enchanted stone, the cool surface anchoring me. It hummed dully with energy, a slight suggestion of the link still kept with Ethan, however far away he was from us. He hadn’t replied before, and the lack of his familiar voice had made the pit of unease inside me sink deeper.Maeve shifted, her silver hair reflecting in the firelight. She kept her watchful eyes on me. “You’re going to call him back, right?”I nodded, swallowing the doubt that was choking me. “I have to. That’s not right, Maeve. If Ethan is able to hear me, I want to know what is going on.”She didn’t argue. “Good. If anyone can sort out this tang
Chapter 113: Fiona’s POVEverything in the forest had a life of its own; the breeze rustling the leaves and probably having a conversation of its own; the crickets never stinging still to voice their presence and every other moment the long-measured howl of a wolf that shivered down my spine. It was calm, yes, but not the kind of calm that comforts you. No, this was the kind of quiet where something seemed fishy, like the forest itself was holding its breath.I waited at the edge of the rogues’ training grounds, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching Maeve spar with one of the younger recruits. She was working with the thunderstorm — graceful and deadly. Her silver hair shone in the sunlight, the bright color catching the light every time she turned or crouched, which was not unlike the poor lad she was in training with. He was dirty, struggling to breathe as her blows fell on him. But he was clearly outmatched. Maeve did not give him an inch, honestly I didn’t know if she was
Chapter 112: Mara’s POVI walked through the grand hallways of the Ashford Pack’s estate, my steps slow, deliberate. The air was dense with their trust, their respect — a trust I hadn’t earned, but had surreptitiously plundered. They all thought I was Fiona, their beloved queen, the backbone of their beloved export. How quaint to watch them smile beatifically and bow their heads correctly as I passed. If only they knew what really lay under their fragile veil of loyalty.But not everyone was blind. Ethan. His look was the one scratch on my otherwise immaculate performance. I felt his presence, his eyes piercing, like all sharp silence, wherever I went. He stared out into the hall, observing, calculating, doubting — not like the others. And even though he hadn’t formally gone against me, the energy in his presence served as a reminder that I had to watch my step.I wasn’t going to let his scrutiny rattle me. No, I was Fiona in that part; I played Fiona to a tee. I listened to scouts dr