Chapter 68|| Elinda's POV ||I knew something was suspicious the moment I saw Clara pass Alberto like he was a stranger. She didn't look his way at all, didn't smile—nothing. Her cold, calm eyes zeroed in on the tall man who stood near the entrance. She approached him, her arms hugging him like she belonged there. And maybe she did.Alberto remained there, stiff, shoulders tightened, lips parted slightly as if he was about to say something… anything. But nothing escaped. I placed a gentle hand on his arm, attempting to question him."Who is she?" I whispered.His jaw tightened. "It's complicated."That was all he said. And I could tell he wasn't about to tell me—either because it was too painful or because uttering it aloud would make it so. I didn't push. Not now.The rest of the night was foggy. I remember little of the talk or the string quartet in the corner or the scent of wine drifting through the air. My head was still thinking around Clara and Alberto. When at last I was info
Chapter 69|| ALEXIS'S POV ||As soon as Elinda got out of the car, her eyes narrowed like blades. "Tell me you didn't call those neighbors," she said, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.I didn't respond.I couldn't. Because honestly, I had no idea that they would be gone so fast.But if I said it out loud, she would never believe me. Her trust was already on a broken—torn and ready to snap at the slightest pull.So I let the silence hang there. Let her fill it with whatever she wishes. Disappointment. Accusation. Hatred.She snorted and whirled away on her heel, mumbling something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch—but I heard the tone. She was done. At least for now. I watched her stalk into the hotel, shoulders braced, back straight. Like she was off to war.I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose between two fingers, trying to allow the pressure building behind my eyes to bleed off. I turned to enter myself when my phone rang. I looked at the screen—Leo.
Chapter 70|| ALEXIS'S POV ||My grandfather's words rang in my head like a curse I couldn't ignore."He won't wake up, Alexis. He was hit with spell-coated claws. It's not physical damage—it's dark magic," she said, wiping sweat from her brow as she examined my grandfather's motionless body.I gripped my palms in my fists. My strongest human being alive grandfather lay unconscious, his chest rising and falling shallow, unusual l breaths. I could sense Elinda standing behind me. Her cologne—sweet mix of wet roses and attitude—was oddly calming through the pain growing inside me."I can help," she whispered.I didn't look at her. "No.""Elinda—"I said no. Finally, I turned. "You're Royal. You don't just bleed for commoners. You know the rules. Your blood. it's not for everyone."She stepped forward anyway, her eyes burning into mine like fire on cold metal. "I don't care about the rules.""Elinda—"I said—" I was cut off by her with a ferocity that froze the entire room, "—a life is m
Chapter 71|| Elinda's POV ||The smell of fresh herbs and pine hung on through the open corridor, light footsteps padding down shiny stone. I hadn't intended to overhear, but the maids were whispering in that obvious manner, speaking out loud to be heard."He's going to choose a mate," said one of them, her tone low but with an excitement to it."From the ancestor clans, no less. The elders pushed him. It's only a matter of time now."I froze, halfway down the corridor that gave access to the east garden, fists clenched so hard that my nails cut into the palms of my hands. Something in me snapped silently—not dramatically but an obvious pain to my heart.A mate. Of course, he would. Why wouldn't he? He was Alexis Kozlov—the respected and feared Alpha Don. He had responsibilities that exceeded my understanding. I was just. A mistake. Past. Regret.I turned on my heel to leave but almost ran into someone."Elinda."It was Alberto.His voice had been different of late, not brotherly and
|| ELINDA'S POV || " You look stunning, Elinda. I envy you! You got everything that you wanted. A good grade..A FUCKING hot boyfriend..hmm.."My best friend, Kiana threw her arms at me. She was most likely half-drunk. I smiled back at her before grabbing onto her. She was stumbling but the words that came out of her mouth were sincere. Kiana and I had been best friends since our childhood. The other people in my small party were most likely closest to Leonid.Yes...my perfect boyfriend.The thought of him annoyed me and pleased me at the same time. The positive fact was that he was the perfect boyfriend that one could ever ask for. Rather than that, it came as the best gift from the moon goddess to me that he had turned out to be my mate, my one true fated mate. What could I ask as a present more than this on my 18th birthday?The annoying part was that Alexis was taking too much time to arrive at my party. It surprised me since he was never late anywhere. Even on our dates or hangou
|| ELINDA's POV || His rejection tore my heart into pieces. Another howl built from the pit of my stomach. My eighteen-year-old heart couldn't take the pain of rejection.Alexis paused in his tracks, his face staying indifferent. He didn't show any remorse or pity on me. I asked again in a whisper, the voices on my back seeming non-existent," Why...??"We were an example of a perfect couple. I had never disrespected him or disobeyed him in any way. Even I didn't do anything that could upset him. We barely had any quarrel and I naively believed that it was love which reconciled us.Alexis breathed his words out slowly," You don't deserve me."That statement went deep into my heart. He believed that I wasn't worthy of him? Then what about the times when he saved me from the school bullies?Memories of the past began to play in my mind. When I was just a newbie in school, I encountered many bullies. No one had ever protected me except him. It was he who stepped in and pulled me out.H
6 YEARS LATER.... || ELINDA Vasiliev's POV ||" Is my brother coming tonight?"I asked in a polite voice, using the fork to cut the steak that had been served hot to me. My mother, Ginny shot me a cold glare as if I had asked for a bomb to blast in this house.Being part of the Royal family was exhausting. They had a thousand rules including the one that civilized people didn't talk to at their dinner table. Sometimes I wished that I didn't know my biological family ever. At least, I was a carefree soul with my foster parents.Papa, Alberto Vasiliev, the king of the Royal Lycans gave me a cold glance. He took the initiative to reply since my mother was too afraid to break the dinner table rules," We have notified him. It's up to him now."A little sigh escaped my lips. After coming to this family, I was close to one person only, Alberto Vasiliev,my twin brother. My life history was way more dramatic than any drama. Papa told me that I was born with Alberto and was stolen from the ho
|| ELINDA'S POV || The whiskey felt bitter in my throat. Nausea threatened to come out of my mouth. The party became non-existent to me. All I could see was the pair of blue eyes that haunted me in my dreams.Was I dreaming?Alberto's voice cleared the least amount of uncertainty that I was holding on to," Aah! Alexis. Sorry, you know that I forget everyone when I am with my sister."Alexis's eyes weren't leaving mine. He stood there numbly, his eyes darkening as if I was the worst thing that could happen in his life. My heart was pounding hard against my chest. Alberto pulled him up to me, his hand hanging around Alexis's neck," Elinda! Meet my favorite buddy, Alexis Kozlov, the Do...Aah...He is my best friend and the head of Dark Crescent Mauranders. We went to the same university."Fuckfuckfuck!Why did I have the worst luck?Alexis Kozlov? Why did I feel like I had never heard this surname of him before?I bit my lips together, unable to keep the rage and pain within me. Albert
Chapter 71|| Elinda's POV ||The smell of fresh herbs and pine hung on through the open corridor, light footsteps padding down shiny stone. I hadn't intended to overhear, but the maids were whispering in that obvious manner, speaking out loud to be heard."He's going to choose a mate," said one of them, her tone low but with an excitement to it."From the ancestor clans, no less. The elders pushed him. It's only a matter of time now."I froze, halfway down the corridor that gave access to the east garden, fists clenched so hard that my nails cut into the palms of my hands. Something in me snapped silently—not dramatically but an obvious pain to my heart.A mate. Of course, he would. Why wouldn't he? He was Alexis Kozlov—the respected and feared Alpha Don. He had responsibilities that exceeded my understanding. I was just. A mistake. Past. Regret.I turned on my heel to leave but almost ran into someone."Elinda."It was Alberto.His voice had been different of late, not brotherly and
Chapter 70|| ALEXIS'S POV ||My grandfather's words rang in my head like a curse I couldn't ignore."He won't wake up, Alexis. He was hit with spell-coated claws. It's not physical damage—it's dark magic," she said, wiping sweat from her brow as she examined my grandfather's motionless body.I gripped my palms in my fists. My strongest human being alive grandfather lay unconscious, his chest rising and falling shallow, unusual l breaths. I could sense Elinda standing behind me. Her cologne—sweet mix of wet roses and attitude—was oddly calming through the pain growing inside me."I can help," she whispered.I didn't look at her. "No.""Elinda—"I said no. Finally, I turned. "You're Royal. You don't just bleed for commoners. You know the rules. Your blood. it's not for everyone."She stepped forward anyway, her eyes burning into mine like fire on cold metal. "I don't care about the rules.""Elinda—"I said—" I was cut off by her with a ferocity that froze the entire room, "—a life is m
Chapter 69|| ALEXIS'S POV ||As soon as Elinda got out of the car, her eyes narrowed like blades. "Tell me you didn't call those neighbors," she said, her voice cutting through the silence like a knife.I didn't respond.I couldn't. Because honestly, I had no idea that they would be gone so fast.But if I said it out loud, she would never believe me. Her trust was already on a broken—torn and ready to snap at the slightest pull.So I let the silence hang there. Let her fill it with whatever she wishes. Disappointment. Accusation. Hatred.She snorted and whirled away on her heel, mumbling something under her breath that I couldn't quite catch—but I heard the tone. She was done. At least for now. I watched her stalk into the hotel, shoulders braced, back straight. Like she was off to war.I huffed, pinching the bridge of my nose between two fingers, trying to allow the pressure building behind my eyes to bleed off. I turned to enter myself when my phone rang. I looked at the screen—Leo.
Chapter 68|| Elinda's POV ||I knew something was suspicious the moment I saw Clara pass Alberto like he was a stranger. She didn't look his way at all, didn't smile—nothing. Her cold, calm eyes zeroed in on the tall man who stood near the entrance. She approached him, her arms hugging him like she belonged there. And maybe she did.Alberto remained there, stiff, shoulders tightened, lips parted slightly as if he was about to say something… anything. But nothing escaped. I placed a gentle hand on his arm, attempting to question him."Who is she?" I whispered.His jaw tightened. "It's complicated."That was all he said. And I could tell he wasn't about to tell me—either because it was too painful or because uttering it aloud would make it so. I didn't push. Not now.The rest of the night was foggy. I remember little of the talk or the string quartet in the corner or the scent of wine drifting through the air. My head was still thinking around Clara and Alberto. When at last I was info
Chapter 67|| Alexis's POV ||The atmosphere in that hotel room was so tense that I felt it choking me. My claws stretched out under my skin, the beast inside me snarling for power as I stood face-to-face with Alaric. His presence just fueled the fire burning inside me. I wanted to wipe that look off his face.But then her voice cut through the warmth like a knife."Get out! Both of you!"Elinda.Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, her body trembling with rage—but not the trembling of weakness. No. She was done with us. Done with our fight over her. And she meant it."Elinda—" I approached her, but she pushed away."Out!" she shouted again, waving toward the door. "I said out!"There was no room for argument. I let the bitterness sit on my tongue and walked out in silence. Alaric glared at me as if he wished to murder me.He wasn't punched. Not yet. Not after what had just been done to her.I just stood outside the door like an idiot. I didn't feel like leaving her alone. My wolf did
Chapter 66Alexis's POVI held her—more closely than I ever had. Her body trembled against me, not from the cold but from something much darker, something more heavy. Elinda hadn't spoken a word since we'd left that blood-soaked warehouse. Her hands were still stained, despite my having washed them clean. The first kill always leaves a mark that water can't wash away.I kept one arm around her shoulders as I controlled my men with the other. My voice was steady, cold, calculated—giving orders I'd given a hundred times before, but each word meant something this time. "Burn everything," I told them. "No bodies, no bullets, no fucking whispers. Nobody hears what happened tonight. Nobody at all."Yes, Boss," my second-in-command, Viktor, replied as he was already getting our cleanup crew moving.Elinda flinched at the word "bodies." I drew her closer, pushing her toward the car parked beside. She moved as if she was walking through sludge-or memory. I recognized the feeling well. I had be
Chapter 65|| ELINDA'S POV ||The ride had become an eternity.I have no idea which part of me figured this wouldn't be a trap. Perhaps desperation. Perhaps guilt. Or perhaps the weak part of me that still believed that monsters—people, even—had a boundary they wouldn't cross. But I should have known better. Liam never did have a boundary. He was born to break them.The GPS beeped as I stopped. The address was hanging in front of my sight.It wasn't some hidden estate or underground bunker that I had expected. No. It was a god-awful roadside bar stuck between dying pine trees and an ancient billboard that said "Heaven's Brew"—as if heaven hadn't already borrowed it.I pulled up, took a breath, and stepped out.The smell arrived first— alcohol, filth, something dark underneath.Some men looked in my direction as I walked inside. Their eyes never blinked. One of them had a bit of blood streaked on his chin. Simply sitting like that was not anything.It wasn't a bar. This was a kill zone.
Chapter 64|| ALEXIS'S POV ||An hour ago.I stood behind the frosted glass, arms crossed, jaw clamped in place as I gazed at them through the window of this top-floor restaurant. Every nerve in my body screamed for control, but the moment Alaric made contact with her hand, I felt something deep within me awaken—possessive, animalistic, deadly.Elinda smiled, that fake,vacant smile of hers, that she would display at royal pageants and scripted press events. But her face—stiff, strained—gave away the show. She didn't like it. And he did know that. That bastard got closer to her, ran his fingers against hers like he belonged. Like he was her mate already that I stood but a couple steps away, ready to let this all go up in flames inside.I reached into my jacket pocket and flipped the button on the comm. "Marcus."His voice sprang to life, crackling on the way. "Yes, Alpha?""Get him out of there. I don't care how—just do it. Now."There was a moment's silence. Too long. I heard him brea
Chapter 63|| Alexis's POV ||I glanced down at my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen as I considered whether to answer or not. It was Alberto—my best friend, but also the one who made it painfully clear that my feelings for Elinda were a problem. I sighed and pressed the green button."Alexis," Alberto's voice cracked through the speaker, sharp and to the point. "Have you found Elinda's previous mate yet?"The words hung in the air, and I knew what he was really asking. Alberto was so desperate to find out who had hurt Elinda, and I knew why. But the guilt twisted in my belly as I prepared to lie to him."No," I said, my voice was calm even though as I seethed inside. "I haven't found out yet. She's hiding it, and she's not making it easy."There it was. The lie. The simple words that made the reality of the situation easier. Alberto had no idea that Elinda's mate was me—that it had always been me. I was not going to admit that, not to him, not to anyone."Well, you know how mu