Tessa’s POV“Get out of bed, you lazy idiot! It’s time to make breakfast for the pack!” the head maid snapped at me, rudely yanking the blankets off me. I groaned and looked out the window. The sky was still dark; it wasn’t even dawn yet!“I’m getting up,” I groaned, as my heart sank at the thought of the chores that lay ahead. I was the Alpha's daughter, but ever since Luna—my mother—died giving birth to me, I became the pack’s disgrace. Everyone in the pack, including my father and brother, utterly despised me.I climbed out of bed, my body weak and frail from years of malnourishment and abuse. I was assigned the dirtiest, most grueling, and most exhausting chores in the pack, and when I made even the smallest mistake, I was punished harshly for it.The head maid flung a tattered gown at me and threw me daggers with her eyes. I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I changed, and I turned away quickly, disgusted by the scars and bruises all over my body.An hour later, co
Tessa’s POVI sat quietly in the attic, waiting. I waited all through the night, watching the shaft of moonlight creep across the floor. The entire night passed, but my wolf never came. Despair engulfed me.Why didn’t I have a wolf? Was it because I was malnourished? Had my lack of nutrients physically weakened my wolf?Or was it something else?Was it… because my birth was too sinful? I had, after all, killed my own mother, just like everyone in the pack said. I was personally responsible for the death of the noble Luna. Perhaps the Moon Goddess had refused to bless me because of it. As silent tears streamed down my face, the attic door creaked open. I lifted my head to see my brother, Sandon, step inside. Normally, the first thing Sandon would do when he saw me was kick me. He reveled in my pain and misery. But today, he simply stood in the doorway and announced with a mocking tone, “Your punishment game is over.” I braced herself for my next round of chores. I could only
Tessa’s POVI felt my stomach churn violently, as bile rose in my throat. For a moment, I feared I was going to vomit up everything I’d just eaten. I pushed the plate away and sat, trying desperately to blink back my tears.This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t real, I told myself as I sat, staring at my half-eaten plate of food in shock.Surely, Father couldn’t be that cruel! Marrying me off to Alpha Charles was a fate worse than death as far as I was concerned. What had I done to deserve this?‘You killed your mother,’ a voice inside my head said. ‘Your brother is right. You are a sinful freak.’But even so, why couldn’t I just stay there, with my pack. I would do any chore asked of me and I wouldn’t complain. I would suffer the abuse and the cruel punishments without spilling even so much as a tear if it meant I didn’t have to leave and marry Alpha Charles.I tried to take steadying breaths as I pushed down the rising bile in my throat. If only I had my wolf, then maybe I sto
Tessa’s POVThe carriage tore down the path. I couldn’t even bear to look out the window. I felt as though my soul had left my body, like I was a puppet with its strings cut off as we sped towards Alpha Charles’ pack. I sat in stunned silence the entire way, trying to push aside the feeling of impending doom that threatened to swallow me whole.After what felt like a lifetime, we finally arrived at Alpha Charles’ Pack, the Sliver Moon Pack. The carriage halted to a stop and the soldiers didn’t even bother to step out of the carriage. They simply opened the door and shoved me out with callous force before driving off, leaving me all alone in a strange and unsettling place. I took a cautious look around and swallowed hard. The buildings were painted in vibrant, almost garish colors. They gave off an unsettling, ominous sense of chaotic energy. My unease grew. I didn’t know what to do or where to go, so I just stood there, wringing my hands in front of me.It wasn’t long before a
Tessa's POVI barely slept that night. Every time I tried to shut my eyes, I was accosted by images of Alpha Charles. His chubby paunch of a stomach, his yellowed teeth, his gray hair swept over the top of his head, trying to hide his bald spot. His skin was wrinkled and it hung from his old, decrepit body. I gagged at the thought of his physical appearance, but there was something far worse than gagging that kept me awake.He was a tyrant, cruel and vile. His behavior terrified me and every time I tried to shut my eyes, I heard the gentle tick of the clock, counting down the seconds until I’d become Alpha Charles’ wife.There had always been rumors of Alpha Charles’ depravity. He was a sick, perverted man who took pleasure in brutally torturing innocent women. He was rumored to perform vile, crude, inhumane sex acts on his wives. But all the rumors were only that – rumors. There had never been any proof and Alpha Charles denied any and all accusations. All his previous wives
Tessa’s POVShocked whispers erupted all around us.“The bride is the Lycan Prince's mate?”“But how can that be? I heard she's an omega with no wolf!”“Plus, she killed her mother when she was born.”“That’s why the Moon Goddess won’t bless her! She’s definitely cursed!”“The Royal Lycan family will never accept such a lowly she-wolf.”I couldn’t hide but hear the snide, derisive comments as everyone mocked and sneered. But I wasn’t focused on them. Instead, I was focused on Prince Sylvan, his eyes locked onto mine. How could this be? Surely he was mistaken. I couldn’t be Prince Sylvan’s mate. He was royalty! And the harsh whispers all around me were right – I was just a lowly she-wolf who had killed my own mother! The Moon Goddess herself didn’t even deem me fit enough to bless me with a wolf. I highly doubted she would bless me with the Lycan Prince as my mate!I realized then with a heavy heart that the Prince didn’t know any of this. He had no idea that I was hate
Tessa’s POV“One hour. That's all we’ve got,” Prince Sylvan said as he carried me to a room. I could tell by his things on the floor that this was the room he’d used the night before.He set me down gently on the sofa and a maid immediately walked in brandishing a fresh dress and medicine for my wounds. She placed both the dress and medicine on the bedside stand and turned to leave, but before she did, I noticed her hesitate, her eyes lingering shyly on the strikingly handsome Lycan Prince. I didn’t blame her, he was devastatingly attractive. I was sure he drew a female gaze wherever he went.Prince Sylvan’s gaze stayed fixed on me, but he seemed to sense the maid’s lingering stare. Without sparing her a glance, he ordered coldly, “Leave.”The maid flinched and then bowed quickly before scurrying out of the room like she couldn’t escape fast enough.Prince Sylvan turned back to me and his hands moved to help me undress. Startled by this, I instinctively recoiled.His hands froze m
Tessa’s POVAs the towel slipped away, I immediately scurried backwards on the bed, reaching for the blankets to cover myself up. I hauled the blankets up over my legs and chest, leaving only my back exposed.He’d seen me naked, but only for a flash. I felt instantly better as the covers hid my naked body from his intense gaze.The room was eerily quiet, and I could distinctly hear Prince Sylvan’s breathing grow heavier. I turned on the bed, positioning myself so that my bare back was turned to him. I couldn’t see him behind me so I had no idea what he was doing. This only served to heighten my awareness though. Suddenly, I felt his warm, slightly rough fingers, coated with salve, made contact with my skin. The salve was cool and provided instant relief. But his touch caused every single nerve in my body to come alive. He rubbed the salve gingerly over my wounds. Then I heard him dip his fingers back into the jar. He continued applying the salve to every whip mark across my back a
Tessa’s POVI had no idea what to do. I was completely torn.Alpha Charles was right. If Prince Sylvan killed him here, in the dungeon, it would definitely spark a major conflict between the Werewolf Council and the royal family. There was already tension between the two and this would only exacerbate the situation. This wasn’t just some minor dispute. This was a crisis, and it was far beyond the scope of what someone like me, just some wolfless girl, could handle.The mere thought that one move from me could lead to catastrophic consequences made my stomach twist with fear. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t cause a war between the werewolf council and the Royal Family. But at the same time, my desire for revenge surged within me. Alpha Charles deserved to die for what he’d done. What if they brought him before the council and they offered him some sort of punitive punishment? What then? Prince Sylvan saw my hesitation. He lounged back on the bench, completely at ease. He eyed me
Tessa’s POV“Leave us,” Prince Sylvan demanded. The soldiers nodded and then turned on their heels. Their loud footsteps reverberated down the corridor as they followed Prince Sylvan’s orders.Only moments later, there were only three of us left in the dungeon: Prince Sylvan, myself, and Alpha Charles.My eyes flitted from Alpha Charles to Prince Sylvan. What was I doing here? Why had he brought me here? What did he intend to do?But then my mind flashed back to a conversation we’d had. The Prince had fixed his dark, dangerous eyes on me and asked:“Do you want revenge?”Is that what this was? Had he brought me here so I could get revenge on the man who had whipped me and beaten me? I looked at Prince Sylvan, perplexed. His lips twisted into a half-smile, then he went and sat down on a wooden bench, his posture completely at ease. He rested his arms on the armrests and tilted his chin slightly at me.“He’s yours,” he said with a bemused smile.Mine? I froze. The air was thick wi
Tessa’s POVThe moment the door had clicked close behind Prince Sylvan, I’d leapt from the bed and darted for the door. It was locked, of course, just as I’d known it would be. I pounded on it with both my fists, shouting out for help.Prince Sylvan had left me without another word. He’d simply strode towards the door, opened it, and walked out, without even so much as a second glance. He’d made it very clear that he had no intention of releasing me from this room. The remnants of our breakfast still sat, half-eaten on the ground.“Please!” I hollered, while I slammed my hands on the door. “Is someone there? Anyone? I’m locked in here!”I cried out until my voice became hoarse. But no one came. Defeated, I slid my back against the door, collapsing onto my butt. It was useless. I had to accept the truth. The room was soundproof.Prince Sylvan had built this room for himself so he could hide during the full moon when his wolf became uncontrollable. Of course he’d soundproofed it. H
Prince Sylvan’s POVI strode into the Lycan King’s office, my posture rigid, careful to keep a stoic expression. The King was perched on his chair at his desk. He was wearing a red, regal robe, his head bent over a stack of paper work. He lifted his head when he saw me and then immediately launched into his beratement. I stood opposite him at his desk and waited patiently as he spoke, my eyes locked on his.“Did you lock Alpha Charles in the royal dungeon without authorization?”I knew he was going to question me about that. But I wasn’t going to apologize for what I’d done. I met his gaze head-on.“I did,” I replied dryly.The King’s eyes darkened. “The werewolf council handles the judgment of Alphas. You know that. The Lycan royal family is only responsible for capturing them. Not incarcerating them. You have overstepped your authority, Prince Sylvan.”I narrowed my eyes, my jaw tight. I knew that. I knew that I wasn’t supposed to do what I’d done, but I didn’t care. The King co
Tessa’s POVI stared at Prince Sylvan in disbelief. He couldn’t be serious. I wasn’t going anywhere? Ever? That was his plan? To keep me locked up here like some sort of prisoner? He couldn’t do that. I’d done nothing wrong. I didn’t deserve to be treated like this. I searched his face, pleading with my eyes. The expression on his face told me he was dead serious. He wasn’t going to let me go. My chest tightened and I inhaled a sharp breath.“I swear,” I said, desperation creeping into my voice. “I won’t tell anyone. No one has to know. I’ll keep your secret. I’ll protect it with my life. I’d never betray you.” I met his gaze and held my breath, hoping—praying—he would listen. He remained silent. “You’re my mate,” I pointed out, trying to reason with him. “If nothing else, you should let me go because of that.”He let out a low, humorless laugh and flashed me a sardonic smile. “Tessa, that’s the only reason you’re still alive,” he replied, his voice cold and unforgiving. “If yo
Tessa’s POVI woke up the next morning, disoriented at first. I had the panicked feeling that came from not knowing where you were. But then pieces of the night flooded back to me. I was somewhere in Prince Sylvan’s palace, in the basement, in an empty room of cold, hard cement.I’d fallen asleep with Prince Sylvan wrapped around me. But I got my bearings, I quickly realized that he wasn’t there. I sat up, groggy and sore from sleeping on the ground. Carefully, I stood up, afraid that my tired legs wouldn’t be able to bear my own weight. With one hand on the wall to steady myself, I moved towards the door. I wondered for a moment if the whole thing had been a dream? Has it all really happened? Prince Sylvan and his forlorn face, twisted in agony. His massive wolf erupts through his body. My own wolf awakening and calling out to his. And then? I shuddered as I remembered the soft sensation of Prince Sylvan’s kisses across my neck.I got to the door and twisted the door knob. Bu
Tessa’s POVMy wolf?Could it be? Has my wolf finally awakened? But how? She hadn’t come to me the night of my sixteenth birthday as I’d so desperately hoped she would. I figured I didn’t have a wolf. Yet, here she was, calling out to me, calling my name. My jaw fell open in stunned silence as her image emerged in my mind. Azura had a thick coat of pure white fur. It was the whitest fur I’d ever seen. She radiated grace, strength, and power. I was in utter disbelief at the sheer majesty of her. I’d dreamed many times about my wolf, about what she would look like, how she would sound. But I never, in a million years, dreamed she’d be anything like this. I’d never seen a wolf more beautiful or formidable than Azura. I longed to touch her, to run my fingers through her snow white fur, to nestle my head into her neck. But right now, she was trapped—frozen in place, unable to move.‘Milo,’ my wolf called out. I cocked my head in confusion. She repeated the name and I realized
Tessa’s POVPrince Sylvan grabbed his neck and threw his body violently to the ground. I watched in horror as a spurt of blood escaped his throat, and sprayed onto his silver hair, staining it. Why was he doing this? Why was he hurting himself like that?My heart swelled with sympathy as I rushed over in a panic. I couldn’t leave. I had to help him. He was all alone. I knelt down beside his crumpled form on the floor and collected him into my arms. He made a soft moaning sound, allowing himself to be held by me.“Are you okay? What’s happening to you?” I asked, my voice trembling with concern.I noticed that his eyes were now black. His silver hair hung messily over his face and I gently smoothed it away with my fingertips. I studied his face. He looked exhausted, as though every line of his face screamed with weariness. He met my eyes then and I watched the look of shock enter his eyes. He was in utter disbelief that I had stayed. He furrowed his brows and then his face contorted
Tessa’s POVThe room was dark and I squinted to see. I stepped into the room, the darkness overwhelming. I walked forward cautiously, waving my hands in the air until my fingers finally brushed against something. I groped it and then realized with relief it was a light switch. I pressed it, and the room was instantly bathed in light.It was a massive room, so big that it left me stunned. It was at least five times larger than my father’s bedroom back home. But there was a strangeness about the room. It was eerily sparse, with barely any furniture or décor.Apart from a grand bed, a sofa, and a chandelier, there was nothing else. Nothing at all. No coffee table, no desk, not even any pictures on the wall or other decorations of any kind.At first, I was surprised by this, however, as I looked around I realized that despite the emptiness, the room’s design radiated a vintage elegance. It was a strange blend of refinement and comfort that offered, somehow, an inexplicable sense of sec