The knock comes just as I exhale, sinking into the soft sheets of Caspian’s bed.Aries stiffens immediately, his presence flaring in the back of my mind. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he growls. "Can’t they let you rest for one damn minute?"I don’t respond, pushing myself up with a sigh. My muscles protest after the fight with Eden, the weight of the day settling on my shoulders. I cross the room and pull the door open just enough to peek out.The enforcer from earlier stands there, his expression unreadable.“The Queen requests your presence,” he says, voice steady but firm.My stomach tightens."No," Aries snaps immediately. "We’re not going."I swallow hard, glancing past the enforcer down the dimly lit hall. “She sent you personally?”He nods. “She did.”"I don’t trust her." Aries' voice is low, vibrating through my chest like a restrained snarl. "I don’t trust any of them."Neither do I, if I’m being honest. But rejecting a summons from the Queen is not an option.I exhale, ru
The halls stretch endlessly before me, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight streaming through huge tall windows. My steps are quick, almost urgent, but my mind races faster than my feet. I haven’t seen Caspian since the council meeting, and the memory of the accusations still burns inside me like an open wound.They called me a traitor.They said I was playing both sides.And Caspian… he had defended me. But barely.I inhale sharply, pushing down the frustration clawing at my chest. The mating bond tugs at me, invisible but insistent, pulling me in a singular direction. I follow it instinctively, my hands curling into fists at my sides.The study.Of course, he’d be here.I push open the heavy doors without knocking.Caspian sits behind the massive oak desk, his broad shoulders hunched as he pores over documents. Candlelight flickers over his sharp features, casting shadows beneath his eyes. He looks exhausted, but more than that—he looks distant."Really?" I snap, stepping inside
The dream isn’t a vision. I know that instantly.This time, it feels different—more vivid, more real. I’m not just seeing it. I’m living it.A man with silver hair stands beneath the moonlight, his arms wrapped around a woman. They look at each other with an intensity that makes my chest ache. There’s love in their eyes, the kind that’s rare, the kind that’s eternal.A little boy dashes around them, his laughter ringing through the night like music. I don’t know his name, but I know him. I feel it in my bones, in the way my heart pulls toward him. The same way it pulls toward the woman.The man watches the boy with a quiet pride, the woman’s laughter joining the child’s. They are happy. They are a family.Then everything shifts.The laughter is gone. The air is thick with the stench of blood. The woman is in the man’s arms now, her once vibrant face pale, her body broken. Blood soaks through her dress, staining his hands as he clutches her.In her arms, she cradles the body of the
The first thing I notice when I wake up is the cold. The early morning air clings to my bare skin, sending a sharp shiver down my spine. My fingers curl into the damp grass beneath me, the scent of earth and dew filling my nose. The sky is painted in soft hues of pink and gold, dawn stretching lazily across the estate. I blink blearily, trying to shake off the haze of sleep, and then realization slams into me like a freight train.I’m naked.Panic flutters in my chest as I sit up abruptly, my arms wrapping around myself. At some point during the night, I must have shifted back into my human form. And now, here I am, completely exposed in the middle of the garden.I groan, squeezing my eyes shut."Aries," I call out, my voice hushed but urgent. "I need you to shift."There’s silence, and then Aries’ voice rumbles in my head, thick with amusement. "Oh, do you now?"I grit my teeth. "Yes, I do. The entire pack house is awake, and I can't just waltz back inside like this.""Not my prob
I am not going to let him ignore me.Cassidy’s words ring in my ears as I march toward the kitchen, my determination burning hotter than the midday sun. I’ve had enough of this silence, of the avoidance, of the way Caspian has been acting like our mating is some kind of minor inconvenience rather than a sacred bond. If he won’t come to me, then I’ll go to him.The kitchen is emptier than usual. The moment I step inside, the few maids lingering around lower their heads and shuffle away as if my presence alone is enough to terrify them. It’s not hard to figure out why. Aries chuckles darkly in my mind."I think they’re scared of me," he muses."You think?" I scoff, surveying the room. Not a single soul dares to approach me. Even Priscilla, the usual one who prepares our lunch trays, is nowhere to be found. I exhale sharply. Fine. If they won’t help, I’ll do it myself.I gather the dishes, placing them neatly on a silver tray. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and warm broth f
I sit on the bed, my body numb, my mind spinning in circles. The argument still rings in my ears, every word cutting deeper than the last. "I don’t have the time or the energy to waste on your childishness." He had said before he walked out on me.The weight of those words presses on my chest like a stone, making it hard to breathe."You can’t just sit here," Aries growls in my mind, his voice sharper than usual. "You can’t let him walk away like that.""I don’t know what else to do." My voice is a whisper, shaky, uncertain."You go after him, that’s what you do!" He’s practically yelling now. "Did you not hear what Cassidy told you? Don’t let the distance grow to the point that it can’t be fixed."I press my hands into my lap, my nails digging into my skin. "Did he even love me, Aries? Or was it just the bond?"Silence.Then Aries sighs, long and tired, his usual arrogance absent. When he speaks again, it’s softer. "Don’t be stupid, little one. You know damn well he cares about you.
The night stretches on, cold and empty, just like the space beside me in Caspian’s chambers. He hasn’t come back. Again.I sit on the bed, fingers curling into the sheets, trying to ignore the ache settling in my chest. I shouldn't care. I shouldn’t miss him. But I do.I hate fighting...the negative emotions, the feeling of not knowing where the other person stands. The feeling of wondering if the other person fucks with you or not."If you're going to mope like this all night, let’s at least do something fun," Aries says, his voice slipping into my mind with a lazy drawl. "I'm starting to think you enjoy suffering."I scowl. "And what exactly do you have in mind?""Hunting."I blink. "Hunting?""Yes, hunting. You do remember that I'm Aries the Conqueror, right? Ever since I manifested in you, you've barely let me stretch my legs. It’s cruel, really." He huffs dramatically. "I feel like a retired warrior forced to knit by the fireplace."A small smile tugs at my lips despite my frus
The moment the door slams behind him, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The sound still echoes in the silence of the room, a sharp punctuation to an argument that went nowhere. My hands are clenched into fists, my heart still hammering in my chest. He left. Again."Well, that was dramatic." Aries' voice slips into my mind, laced with amusement. "Do you think if he slams enough doors, he’ll eventually figure out how to open up instead?"I let out a humorless laugh, rubbing my temples. "At this rate? Highly unlikely.""You shouldn’t think too much about it," he continues, a note of something—concern?—underneath the usual sarcasm. "Give him time. He’s clearly incapable of sorting through his own emotions without brooding for a few centuries first.""Why do I always have to be the one to give him time?" I snap, pacing to the window. The moon outside is half-covered by clouds, casting uneven shadows across the floor. "Why can’t he, just for once, give me the time? Why d
The scent of blood lingers thick in the air, mixing with the damp earth beneath my boots. The moon barely cuts through the thick canopy of trees, casting long shadows over the fallen bodies. Their lifeless forms lie sprawled across the ground, the fight drained from them. It was over fast—too fast. Three rogues, dead before they even had a chance to scream. It’s not satisfying. It’s just... work.Ethan nudges one of the corpses with his boot, his expression bored. "Well, that was disappointing," he mutters, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was hoping they’d at least put up a decent fight. Maybe throw a punch or two. But no, they just flopped over like dead fish. Pathetic."I wipe the blood off my blade, watching as the crimson soaks into the dirt. The forest is quiet now, the only sound the rustle of leaves in the wind. "They weren’t fighters," I say, my voice even. "Just scouts. Testing the borders. Seeing how far they could push before we pushed back."Ethan scoffs, stepping
The market square is bustling, the air thick with the scent of fresh bread and ripe fruit. I weave through the crowd, my basket swinging at my side, when I see him. Darius. My heart skips a beat, then plummets. He’s standing by the fountain, his dark hair catching the sunlight, his posture relaxed and confident. But it’s not just him. There’s a girl beside him, her laughter ringing out like a bell, too loud, too close. She’s beautiful, with black curls and a smile that seems to stretch too wide. They’re leaning in, heads almost touching, and my chest tightens.I shouldn’t care. We’re not officially mated yet, but we’re fated. He’s mine, and I’m his. So why does it feel like a knife is twisting in my gut?His head snaps up, as if he senses me watching. Our eyes lock, and for a moment, the world narrows to just him. His lips curl into that familiar smirk, the one that makes my stomach flutter even when I know it shouldn’t. He raises a hand, beckoning me over. My feet move before
The dining hall hums with the clinking of silverware and the low murmur of conversation. The long wooden table is overflowing with roasted meats, steaming vegetables, and goblets of deep red wine that glisten under the flickering chandelier light. The air smells of rosemary and thyme, mingling with the faint metallic tang of the silverware. I move quietly around the table, refilling glasses and serving plates, trying to stay invisible. It’s a skill I’ve perfected over the years—being unseen, unheard. But tonight, my hands tremble, my thoughts a chaotic mess.At the head of the table, Alpha Rowan, my uncle, commands attention effortlessly. His hard golden eyes sweep over the council members as he discusses pack resources, his deep voice cutting through the room like a blade. He’s dressed in his usual dark tunic, the fabric tailored to perfection, the golden crest of Moonhaven embroidered on his chest. He looks every bit the Alpha, every bit the man who holds my fate in his hands.
I sift through the files in my father’s royal study, the scent of aged parchment and oak filling the air. The fireplace crackles in the corner, casting flickering shadows across the dark walls lined with books of law, history, and the many conquests of Golden Crest. My father’s meticulous handwriting marks the margins of various documents, but one file catches my eye—a thick, yellowed folder labeled 'Moonhaven Case'.I pull it out and flip through the contents, my brow furrowing with every page. Moonhaven. The wolf pack that somehow broke out of Golden Crest’s authority. A lawless land, untouched by the kingdom's rule. And yet, here it is—a case file, an unresolved issue, one that should have been dealt with ten years ago.I clench my jaw. How the hell did my father let this slide?I slam the folder shut and lean back in the chair, my fingers drumming against the polished wood of his desk. This is unacceptable. A pack operating outside of our rule is a direct threat to our sove
The kitchen is hot, steam rising from the pots on the stove and clinging to my skin like a second layer. My arms ache from carrying the pail of milk, the weight of it pulling at my shoulders. I’m not built for this—not like them. My human body is weak compared to theirs, and the cook never lets me forget it.“Hurry up, girl!” she snaps, her voice sharp as a whip. “You’re slower than a snail in winter. What’s taking you so long?”I bite my tongue, forcing myself not to respond. She’s been scolding me all morning, even though I’ve been on my feet since dawn, scrubbing floors, peeling vegetables, and hauling supplies. Nothing I do is ever enough for her. “I’m sorry,” I mutter, setting the pail down with a thud. My hands are trembling, and I can feel the blisters forming on my palms. “I’ll try to be faster.”“Try?” she scoffs, her hands on her hips. “You should be doing, not trying. Useless, that’s what you are. A human in a wolf’s world. What good are you?”I flinch at her words, but
Theo’s room smells like him—like rain and something faintly metallic, like the edge of a storm. I’m on my knees, scrubbing at a stubborn stain on the wooden floor, my hands raw and stinging from the soap. The pack house is never clean enough for them, and neither am I. But Theo’s room is different. It’s quieter here, softer. The walls are lined with books, and the bed is always unmade, like he’s just rolled out of it. I don’t mind cleaning this space. It feels like the closest I’ll ever get to being part of something.The door creaks open, and I freeze. He’s here. I don’t look up, not right away. I keep scrubbing, even though my hands are trembling. I can feel his eyes on me, heavy and unreadable. “You don’t always have to do that,” Theo says, his voice low and steady. I finally glance up, and there he is, leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed. He’s wearing a dark sweater that makes his hair look even lighter, almost golden in the dim light. He sends me a small smi
The grand hall of the estate is eerily silent, save for the steady click of my father’s polished shoes against the marble floor. He stands in front of me, arms crossed, exuding the usual 'I-am-your-father-and-you-will-listen-to-me' energy. My mother is beside him, a perfectly composed ice sculpture in a designer dress, her sharp grey eyes—our sharp grey eyes—assessing me with the usual judgment."You're in charge while we're gone," my father announces, his voice firm and unyielding, as if he hasn’t already said this a hundred times.I don’t respond immediately, my hands shoved into the pockets of my tailored jacket. Instead, I glance out the tall windows, where the late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the estate grounds. The weight of his words settles over me, heavy and familiar. "I’m aware," I finally say, my tone low and measured.He raises an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my lack of enthusiasm. "This isn’t a joke, Caspian. The rogues are becoming bolder. They’re not
(Before Goldencrest)The scent of pine and damp stone lingers in the air as I scrub the floors of the waiting area in the packhouse, the soapy water cool against my raw, reddened palms. The bristles of the brush scrape against the wooden planks, the repetitive motion soothing in a way that almost lets me forget where I am—what I am.Almost.Boots clunk against the floor, tracking dirt and grime over the freshly scrubbed surface. No one spares me a glance, no one acknowledges the work I do. It’s expected of me, the human among wolves, the weakest link in a pack that prides itself on strength. Even if my mother was once Alpha. Even if my uncle is now the reigning one. None of that matters. I’m nothing but an obligation, a stain they haven’t yet scrubbed away.A shadow falls over me, and before I can look up, the metal bucket beside me clatters to the ground. Water spills across the floor, soaking into my pants, drenching the small space I just finished cleaning."Oops," a voice draw
The music swells around us, soft yet powerful, the perfect melody for a moment like this. My hand rests in Caspian's, and my other rests lightly on his shoulder as we glide across the ballroom floor. The golden chandeliers overhead bathe us in warm light, making everything shimmer—my silver gown, the golden embroidery on Caspian’s regal suit, the crown atop his head, and the one newly placed upon mine.The ceremony was breathtaking, a moment forever etched in my soul. I was not just Caspian’s mate now—I was his queen, standing beside him in every sense of the word. And now, at the reception, with laughter and celebration all around us, I finally allow myself to breathe, to feel the joy that tonight has brought.Caspian pulls me closer, his breath teasing my ear as he murmurs, “I have half a mind to steal you away from all these people.”I smile, tilting my head up to meet his gaze. “And risk the wrath of Cassidy? She’s spent a week planning this. I don’t think even you, King of Gol