OneLyla’s POV:Tonight is the night!“I have an announcement.” I began and all eyes turned to me, some filled with curiosity, others like Marielle was tinged with thinly veiled disdain.“Lucian and I are expecting a baby.” My heart raced as I glanced around the table. Giving mother a nervous look, my fingers brushing the gentle swell of my stomach. I have been waiting for weeks to share this news. Excitedly, I stood up, my heart blooming with hope as mother's lips broke into a smile.She opened her mouth and seemed about to speak when Marielle beat her to it.“A baby?” Marielle asked incredulously, her shock wearing off as she sighed softly. “Well, congratulations, I suppose.” The words were as hollow as her feigned smile.My stomach dropped, my eyes flitting to Mother, whose own smile had frozen.But Marielle wasn’t done.Her eyes darted to our mother, "Lyla's having a baby,""I I know, It's a good thing, yeah?" Mother stammered, her voice happy but concerned as Marielle began to sn
Lucian’s POV “It’s the Princess, sire…” Lydia, my secretary, popped her head into my office, her voice dropping to a whisper as she looked around uncomfortably. “Miss Marielle,”At the sound of my wife’s sister’s name, the pen I had been holding dropped and I let out a shaky breath.“I… Just—-““Should I make her wait a bit?” Lydia’s eyes shone with understanding. “Just for a few minutes—-until you’re ready,”My jaw ticked and I gave her a nod. “Thank you,”She gave a nod back and slipped out of my office.Lydia was always ready to help even though she didn’t have the slightest idea what was happening.No one had the slightest idea what was happening… not even Lyla.My office suddenly felt too hot as I grabbed at my tie, moving it from side to side as I tried to breathe properly.How had it all gone wrong?My hands shook as my memory drifted back to that night. The disbelief and anger I had felt as she repeatedly yelled the words.“The child she’s pregnant with, is not yours!”My of
Lyla's POV:The air in the room was suffocating. I sat on the cold floor, knees pulled to my chest, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. Two weeks have passed since I caught Lucian with Marielle, and I still can't make sense of it. The room was in a mess, my clothes were scattered across the bed and floor, tables turned over, shattered vases littering the ground. It was a reflection of the chaos inside me—shattered, unfiltered, and utterly broken.The knock at my door has become a daily occurrence. Lucian. He has been relentless, pleading with me to let him in, to talk. But I couldn’t. Each knock felt like a dagger, twisting the wound he’d inflicted. The only person I allowed in was Rosa, my personal maid. She didn’t pry, didn’t judge. She simply brought me food and sat with me when the loneliness became unbearable.Today, the silence was broken by the loud ringing of my phone. I hesitated, staring at the screen. *Mom*. I almost ignored it, but I eventually picked it up.“L
Lyla's POV:The world outside might have seen me as Lyla Rivera, the rightful heir to the most powerful Alpha lineage, but inside, I felt like an imposter in my own life. It wasn’t just the lies or the betrayal that haunted me—it was the aching loneliness of never truly belonging.My earliest memories were of warmth and love, the kind of love that didn’t come with conditions or expectations. My mother’s gentle hands brushing through my hair, my father’s laughter filling our small but cozy home—those were my treasures. I had no idea back then that the family I adored wasn’t mine by blood. To me, they were everything, and I was everything to them. I didn’t care that we lived modestly or that our resources were limited. My father’s royal guard uniform might have been patched and worn, but to me, he was the strongest man alive. And my mother, though a palace maid, carried herself with a grace that made her seem like royalty in my eyes.Then, the accident happened. One moment, I had paren
Lyla's POV:My heart shattered as the last of the mask slipped off, revealing the unmistakable features of my own sister.Marielle stood there, her expression cold and unreadable. For a moment, time seemed to stretch. The world around me disappeared, the reality of the situation was impossible to comprehend. How could it be her? I have always known how envious Marielle is of me, but I never expected her to do something so evil."Why?" My voice cracked as the question escaped my lips, but Marielle didn’t respond. Instead, she just stood there, her eyes cold and distant, as if she couldn't hear me at all.Suddenly I felt the current of the water pull me in. The water was thick with debris, the fish—no, the piranhas—already closing in. I felt them, sharp teeth gnawing at my skin, tearing at her flesh.Every inch of my body screamed in pain as the creatures latched on, ripping into my skin. My body went numb, but it didn’t stop the agony. Blood clouded the water, mingling with the seawe
Lyla's POV: ** Three Months Later**Three months ago, I was saved by an old friend, Justin Frost. We grew up together in the village with my late parents. He was our neighbor's son, a timid boy who was often bullied for liking things others deemed "girly." I was his shield, his protector. I fought the street kids to defend him, even when I came home bruised and scolded for my troubles. The last time I saw Justin was the day before I was sent to the orphanage after my parents' death. I can still remember his tear-streaked face as he begged his parents to adopt me. They couldn’t, though—too poor to afford another mouth to feed.When I asked Justin why he never reached out to me all these years, he shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I’ve always known where you were.” He said. “I watched you rise, from your marriage to Lucian to becoming the High Luna of Lucina’s Kingdom. But… I didn’t think I had the right to interfere.”How foolish.The mention of Lucian’s name
Chapter SevenLucian's POV:The room was dark, just the way I liked it. The only light coming from a single dim lamp on my desk. I perched on the edge of the table, arms crossed, observing the scene before me. My Beta, Kael, stood tall and silent, whip in hand. The two pathetic excuses for men cowered on the floor, their bodies marred with blood, evidence of Kael’s earlier handwork.Their ragged breaths were the only sound in the room, aside from the occasional drip of blood hitting the polished floor. The stench of sweat, fear, and iron was suffocating.I thrived in it.“Neither of you will talk, am I right?” I broke the silence, my voice cutting through the air like a blade.The men flinched as if the words themselves my another lash. They began to babble, their voices overlapping as they pleaded.“Sir, we didn’t do anything! Please, we swear—”“I don’t recall asking for your life story.” I raised a hand, silencing them instantly.I stood and moved to the couch, lowering myself onto
Chapter EightDamien's POV:I blinked, caught off guard for the second time in minutes. “Work for me?” I repeated. “That’s the best lie you can come up with?”“It’s not a lie!” She snapped, her eyes flashing with determination. “I came here because I know you’re the only one who can give me what I want.”I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my gaze boring into hers. “And what exactly is it that you want?”She hesitated again, glancing at the floor before meeting my gaze. “Power.” She said quietly, but her voice didn’t waver this time. “I want power. And I know you can give it to me.”A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You want power, so you break into my territory? Do you even realize how close you are to being torn apart by my men?”“I knew it was a risk.” She admitted, lifting her chin slightly. “But I’ve heard the stories. About you, about your rise, about your… methods. If anyone understands the cost of power, it’s you.”Her words piqued my interest, but I wasn’t about t
Chapter 47Lyla's POV:The rain was heavy, pounding against my skin as I ran down the empty street. My bare feet slapped against the cold, wet pavement, sending jolts of pain shooting up my legs with every step. But I couldn’t stop—not when he was chasing me.He was behind me, the figure in the black hoodie and face mask. The knife in his hand sent terror pulsing through my veins. The sound of his footsteps was steady, as if he knew there was no escape for me. I glanced over my shoulder and immediately regretted it. He was closer than before, his movements were surprisingly calm despite my fast pace.My breath came in short gasps. “Help!” I screamed. “Somebody, please!”Lights flickered ahead, the glimmer of car headlights cutting through the rain. Happiness surged through me, and I ran toward them, waving my arms. The first car sped past without even slowing down. Then the second. And the third.“Stop! Please!” I shouted, but no one cared. No one ever did.Then, I saw it—a familiar
Chapter 47Lyla's POV:The rain was heavy, pounding against my skin as I ran down the empty street. My bare feet slapped against the cold, wet pavement, sending jolts of pain shooting up my legs with every step. But I couldn’t stop—not when he was chasing me.He was behind me, the figure in the black hoodie and face mask. The knife in his hand sent terror pulsing through my veins. The sound of his footsteps was steady, as if he knew there was no escape for me. I glanced over my shoulder and immediately regretted it. He was closer than before, his movements were surprisingly calm despite my fast pace.My breath came in short gasps. “Help!” I screamed. “Somebody, please!”Lights flickered ahead, the glimmer of car headlights cutting through the rain. Happiness surged through me, and I ran toward them, waving my arms. The first car sped past without even slowing down. Then the second. And the third.“Stop! Please!” I shouted, but no one cared. No one ever did.Then, I saw it—a familiar
Chapter 46 Lucian's POV:“What’s in it for me?” Le Bronx asked, as he paced the room, his footsteps echoing off the wooden floor. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes were filled with suspicion as he glanced my way.I leaned back on the leather couch, casually swirling the champagne in my glass. Taking a slow and long sip, I let the silence stretch just long enough to get under his skin before replying. “Matteo is coming for all of us. He’s already taken down DeGrande. You’re next—then me.”“Me?” Le Bronx scoffed, halting his pacing to glare at me. “Last I checked, Matteo’s beef was with you, Kael, and DeGrande. I was never part of his little vendetta.”I arched a brow, smirking faintly. “Do you honestly think Matteo’s going through all this trouble over a petty disagreement we had two years ago?”Le Bronx frowned, his hand massaging his temple as he processed my words. “Then why would he want to take all of us down?” He paused, his voice dropping. “Don’t tell me…”“He wants to di
Chapter 45 Lucian's POV:“Wer bist du? - Who are you?” The guard demanded, in heavily accented German.River gasped loudly, instinctively running behind me and clutching the back of my coat. But I didn’t flinch, didn’t blink. Instead, I tilted my head slightly, a smile tugging at my lips. A wide, taunting smile that seemed to unnerve the man holding the gun.“Du musst neu hier sein - You must be new here.” I replied calmly, almost amused.The man frowned, his grip on the gun tightening. “Was? Bist du hier etwa ein Stammgast? - What? Are you some kind of regular here?”Before I could respond, the doors creaked open, and a familiar face emerged.“Halt deinen kleinen Schoßhund in Schach, sonst lasse ich Le Bronx sich um ihn kümmern - Keep your little lapdog in check, or I’ll have Le Bronx handle him.” I said, my smirk deepening as I met his gaze.The man, a middle aged enforcer named Markus, stepped forward with an irritated glare. He marched up to the guard and slapped the back of his
Chapter 46 Lucian's POV:“What’s in it for me?” Le Bronx asked, as he paced the room, his footsteps echoing off the wooden floor. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes were filled with suspicion as he glanced my way.I leaned back on the leather couch, casually swirling the champagne in my glass. Taking a slow and long sip, I let the silence stretch just long enough to get under his skin before replying. “Matteo is coming for all of us. He’s already taken down DeGrande. You’re next—then me.”“Me?” Le Bronx scoffed, halting his pacing to glare at me. “Last I checked, Matteo’s beef was with you, Kael, and DeGrande. I was never part of his little vendetta.”I arched a brow, smirking faintly. “Do you honestly think Matteo’s going through all this trouble over a petty disagreement we had two years ago?”Le Bronx frowned, his hand massaging his temple as he processed my words. “Then why would he want to take all of us down?” He paused, his voice dropping. “Don’t tell me…”“He wants to di
Chapter 44 Lucian's POV:I stared at her shocked expression, and the corners of my mouth twitched with the effort to suppress a laugh. She was so predictable, and yet, her reactions never failed to amuse me. “Go get some sleep.” I said flatly, turning toward my door.As expected, she couldn’t resist.“But it’s just 5:45.” She said, glancing at her phone, her brows furrowed.I stopped, giving her an unimpressed look. “We have somewhere to be by nine, so we’ll be leaving this place by 8:30.” My tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. “And don’t even think of asking me where.”“Actually.” She began with a light laugh. “I was just about to ask that.”I shook my head, half-annoyed, half-amused. “Since you’re clearly incapable of following simple instructions, let me clarify. You don’t have to sleep, River. It’s your choice. But we have a long night ahead of us, and I doubt you’ll survive it on whatever fumes of energy you’re running on.”Her lips twitched with another retort, but
Chapter 43Lyla's POV:James stepped out of the car, making his way to Lucian’s side. He opened Lucian’s door with a bow. Lucian stepped out, adjusting his cuffs as though he owned the very ground he walked on—which, knowing him, he probably did.Curious, I got out of the car as well, watching as James popped open the trunk and unloaded our suitcases. He began dragging them across the tarmac toward the private jet.I hurried to catch up, falling in step beside Lucian. “Wait a minute. Are we using your private jet?”He barely glanced at me. “Why would I use a public one?”I rolled my eyes. “Do you have to answer every question with another question?”Stopping mid-step, he turned to face me, his smirk growing wider. “You know, for an assistant, you ask far too many questions.”Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked confidently toward the jet, his coat billowing slightly in the breeze.As we reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the aircraft, he paused and looked o
Chapter 42 Lyla's POV:I raised an eyebrow. “What rumor?”The second maid hesitated before answering. “People say that Marielle’s child… doesn’t belong to the Lycan King.”For a moment, I was too stunned to respond. Then, I smiled tightly, shaking my head. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned while living under this roof, it’s that gossip is akin to murder.” I began, stepping closer. “So if you value your jobs—and your lives—you’ll keep your mouths shut.”I turned to leave but paused, glancing back at them. “Just a reminder: I’m not Mr. Knight’s maid. I’m his personal assistant. So anything you say against him—or anyone close to him—will be considered treason.”Without another word, I walked away, leaving them standing stunned.As I descended the stairs, my mind raced. Didn’t Lucian cheat on me with Marielle because he loved her?If that was true, then why was he treating her so harshly now?My mind drifted back to the day I caught them in a compromising position at the office. They we
Chapter 41Lyla's POV:I rushed out of the room, panting heavily, my breaths coming out in gasps. My hands were clammy, and my whole body was drenched in sweat. The walls around me felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with every step I took. I barely made it down the hallway when my body slammed into someone. The collision jolted me, snapping me out of my thoughts. Without looking up, I muttered. “I am so sorry.” And attempted to sidestep them, eager to get away.But a firm hand gripped my arm, halting me.I turned around, and my gaze met Marielle’s eyes. My stomach twisted, and I forced a polite smile. “Please forgive me, ma’am. I had no idea it was you.” I said, bowing my head slightly to mask my discomfort.She didn’t let go.“Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice tight. I wasn’t in the mood for her nonsense.Marielle’s eyes darted toward Lucian’s door, then back to me. Her lips curled into a sneer. “Where are you coming from, River?” She asked, her tone dripping with s