The car came to a halt after hours of driving, parked in front of an upscale mall.“Sweetheart, let's go. Buy whatever you like, alright?” Alice's words filled the air as he opened the door and stepped out of the car. Alisha followed suit, opening the door and stepping out into the cool evening air.Her senses overwhelmed by the sight of the brightly lit mall against the backdrop of the starry night sky. The cool breeze brushed against her skin, offering a momentary sense of relief.In another situation, Alisha would have revealed the beauty of the scene before her. However, the purpose of their visit—her so-called marriage shopping—cast a shadow over her mood, robbing her of the ability to fully enjoy the moment.“Let's go inside, sweetheart,” Alice urged, taking her hand in his with a gentle yet firm grip.Alisha glanced around, taking in the grandeur of the mall. While she had been to malls before with Mother Mary, none had been as extravagant as this one. The opulence of the
The sudden change in Alice's demeanour caught Alisha off guard. Just moments ago, they were trying the dresses, and now he was behaving in a way she hadn't anticipated."I have hands, even if I'm tired, I can help myself," Alisha responded, trying not to provoke him but rather to assert herself with her words, refraining from physical contact.She couldn't understand how he could suddenly turn into a pervert whenever he felt like it, especially when they were out shopping together.It was a complete waste of time and utterly embarrassing for her."Sweetheart, I told you we have a lot more shopping to do, so don't worry. I can certainly help with this; your hands don't need to do all the work when your soon-to-be husband can lend a hand," Alice said softly, gently taking her another hand in his.Her hand felt so soft and small in his, making him realise how rough his own hands felt in comparison. He felt as though Alisha's delicateness was something he wanted to savour and enjoy, like
After paying for the dresses and arranging for them to be sent to his house, Alice gently took Alisha's hand as they left the shop."What else do we need to shop for now?" Alisha asked, her voice laden with exhaustion.Forced into a marriage she didn't want, forced into shopping for items she had no interest in, Alisha felt drained from trying on dresses alone. She had no energy left for anything else.But she knew she had to comply with Alice's wishes, or else face his unpredictable behaviour, which she dreaded."The most important thing now is wedding rings. Couple rings are crucial," Alice replied, leading her away from the clothing section and towards the jewellery department.Alisha's mind raced as she tried to process his words. She understood the significance of the rings, but the thought of wearing one felt suffocating. This marriage wasn't her choice, and now she was expected to wear a symbol of it?If she couldn't successfully escape before the wedding, she would be forced t
"Choose whatever you like, it's fine. I'm not sure what to pick," Alisha replied in a panic, suddenly unsure why he was so interested in her decision.With no experience wearing jewellery, Alisha found herself overwhelmed by the beautiful yet expensive rings adorned with dazzling stones. Even if she tried to base her choice on aesthetics alone, the numerous price tags made it impossible.The extravagant display was beyond Alisha's usual means, and the idea of choosing something so expensive filled her with guilt. She couldn't fathom selecting such lavish items when the money wasn't hers to spend, and she'd never indulge in such luxuries on her own."Just pick one, sweetheart. It's simple – whatever catches your eye, we'll go with that," Alice reassured her.“They all look like pleasing rocks,” Alisha answered."They're not just rocks, ma'am. They're diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones," the saleswoman interjected, her expression reflecting confusion.Both Alisha and the salesw
"If you didn't find anything you liked, we can explore other options," Alice suggested gently, pulling Alisha out of her reverie."These are all just too expensive," Alisha whispered, careful not to sound too disheartened in front of the saleswoman and salesman, who stood calmly nearby."You two can go," Alice instructed, sensing Alisha's discomfort. He didn't want her to feel pressured in their presence."Yes, sir," they both replied in unison before exiting the scene."Price doesn't matter, sweetheart. It's for you, and I have more than enough money to spend on you, my love. You'll be my wife soon, and this is nothing compared to you," Alice reassured her softly, gently holding her hand.Alisha looked at him, then down at their joined hands. "I don't like any of the rings. I've never worn jewellery before, and now they are just too expensive. I'm starting to worry about how expensive those gowns are going to be," she confessed, her voice reflecting her concerns."Of course, my soon-
"Sir, we don't keep silver collections. This store is exclusively for diamonds and other exclusive stones," the salesman, with fear clouding his eyes, replied.Knowing exactly who he was dealing with, he looked at the woman beside him, who was shivering a bit. He knows they both are like walking on a thin thread; once it breaks, they will fall.Though they both attend to rich people every day, Alice is an old customer and a dangerous one too.Dealing with rich people and dealing with someone who is sitting above all rich are both way different.And this is the first time he is asking for such a low-budget thing, which they don't keep in the store because no one comes here to buy silver or gold. It's always expensive stones, no matter how big or small it is."What the hell, then why do you even have this store when it can't provide good? What is with these only exclusive stones things? You think I am poor who can't buy the so-called exclusive things?" Alice's blood boiled as he asked.
“What are we going to do, Levi?” “How am I going to know, Rish? We don't have any silver rings, and within ten minutes it's just impossible to get them from any other stores,” Levi answered, panicked.“We're screwed then?” Rish asked, his face filled with fear, knowing exactly who they were dealing with.If they didn't arrange the rings, it was like do or die. Alice wouldn't show any mercy to them. He was already looking so angry outside, and they both knew better than to get on his nerves, which they already did without doing anything.“It's not even our mistake. How are we supposed to have silver when this store has an exclusive theme? It's not like we are the owners,” Levi reasoned, clearly stating it's not their fault.They were just staff who did sales; they didn't get to choose what to put on display. Getting threatened with their jobs was just worse.“Why didn't you say this outside?” Rish sarcastically asked.“As if you had the guts to say something. Maybe you should do it n
"Sir, here,”Levi and Rish both arrived with the boxes, sweating and trying to appear normal.Alisha looked at them, feeling guilty as they were sweating too. She couldn't feel any more guilty than she did now."Now, how did you get it? Didn't you deny it before?" Alice asked sarcastically, sometimes not understanding human psychology.Until they face consequences, they don't put any effort into things, and that's evident here too."We found some designs," Levi politely offered, not understanding why Alice had to sound so sarcastic.It's as if without the rings, he would be satisfied with the store and their jobs won't be at risk, and now he's acting like it's nothing.He is making it sound like they had any other option, which just makes it worse."People like you have no work other than gossiping and not doing your jobs right. You want to earn money without sweating or putting in effort," Alice insulted.Rish and Levi exchanged glances, maintaining polite expressions, but feeling hu
Alice’s gaze burned into hers, wild and desperate, as his fingers found the delicate string of her wedding dress. With a slow, deliberate pull, the fabric loosened, slipping from her shoulder. He pressed his lips to her bare skin, his breath hot against her. Alisha gasped, her head tilting back. "Agh..." Her voice broke into a breathy moan as a shiver ran down her spine. His hands traced down her arms, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. "You're beautiful," he murmured, voice thick with longing. Alisha's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer. "Then show me," she whispered.His lips traveled lower, trailing soft kisses along her collarbone. The loosened fabric of her dress slid further down, pooling at her waist, exposing the warmth of her skin to the cool night air. Alisha’s breath hitched as his hands traced slow, teasing circles along her sides. Every touch sent sparks racing through her veins. “Alice…” she whispered, gripping his shirt and tugging him closer. He
"I do." The words spilled from Alisha’s lips as she stood at the altar with Alice. Six months had passed, and so much had changed. They had returned to their normal life with Daisy and Mary. The battles, the burdens—they were behind her now. She still remembered the conversation she had with Maya six months ago when she told her it was better for 'her' to lead the pack. Alisha had never wanted that responsibility. She only wanted to live a simple, normal life. Maya had disagreed at first, but eventually, she understood Alisha’s choice and accepted it. Since then, Alisha and Alice had stepped away from the chaos and reclaimed the life they once had. And today, standing before everyone, was proof of how far they had come—because today was their wedding day. "You may now kiss the bride," the priest announced. Alice’s smile stretched wide as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Can I?" His hands rested gently on her waist, his touch reverent. He still couldn't believe t
“Amm.” Alisha moaned, her body aching as she tried to move. With effort, she forced her eyes open, blinking against the dim light. Her gaze landed on Alice. Alice was sitting beside her, but his eyes were closed, his posture slumped in exhaustion. “Alice…” Her voice came out hoarse, barely above a whisper. He jolted upright instantly, eyes flying open, and within seconds, they brimmed with tears. Damn emotions. He hated them—loathed them, even. But seeing Alisha like this? He couldn’t stop them. After so long… she was finally awake. His chest tightened with overwhelming relief. “Angel.” His voice cracked as he sobbed. “You’re awake.” Alisha swallowed, her throat dry. “How long… have I been sleeping?” “You were in a coma.” He pressed the call button beside the bed before looking back at her. “It’s been over a week.” Within minutes, the doctor arrived and checked Alisha over. “She’s stable now. Her wounds will heal with time,” he assured them before stepping out. Alisha’s ga
“You need rest, Alice.” Maya ran a hand through his hair, her face as hollow as the corpse he sat beside. A week had passed, yet none of them had moved on from what happened. Alisha was still in a coma. Maya herself couldn't calm her nerves. She had killed her own husband with her own hands. Even if it had been necessary, the nightmares wouldn’t let her forget. Not just because he was her mate—but because she had loved a man like him. A liar. The cause of her suffering. Of everyone's suffering. Mostly Alisha, who had lost everything. And they still didn’t know when she would wake up. Jackson had already explained everything to the pack, but explanations didn’t erase guilt. Alice said nothing, his gaze locked on Alisha’s lifeless form on the bed. The images of that day wouldn’t leave him. They played on repeat, like a broken radio, and the more he thought about them, the more he blamed himself. But he knew—blame wouldn’t change a thing. All he wanted was for her to wake up. If
Lima looked at Jackson, tears welling in her eyes. “If I could, I would have. But I’m old, and my powers are weak after living with wolves for so many years.” Alisha thrashed against her restraints, sobbing as she watched Alice being beaten to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. 'Please!!' she pleaded in her mind. Aman sneered. “He’s human. But aren’t you royal blood? Is this how you save your mate?” He yanked her head back and slammed it against the chair. Alice coughed up blood. “Motherfucker!” He saw the crimson streak trailing down Alisha’s face, and despite the agony wracking his body, he tried to crawl toward her. Another brutal blow sent him back down. Aman laughed coldly. “Yes, I am a motherfucker. But your mother’s not my taste. This bitch might be, though.” Alisha squeezed her eyes shut. She had to save them. Somehow. Could her wolf help? She had royal blood—would it be enough? 'You just have to trust me. Even cursed, I will do anything to save our mate and every
Alisha listened in silence, every word slotting into place, making the picture clearer. The puzzle was finally forming—pieces falling exactly where they belonged. “And we wanted power, so we helped,” Lucas and Harmis laughed in unison. Why wouldn’t they? From being worthless rogues, they had risen to Alpha and Beta. They had enjoyed that power for years. And after today, they would keep enjoying it—until death took them. Maya frozen, tears streaking her face, her eyes locked on Elk. Utter betrayal. The weight of suffering crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe. Levi’s scream cut through the air. “How can you do this, Dad?!” Her voice cracked as she turned to Rish, who looked just as shattered. Heartbroken. Aman chuckled, his grip still tight on Alisha’s hair. “Didn’t he already tell you?” Alisha barely heard him. Her gaze was fixed on Alice. She understood Maya’s pain—because she felt it too. Knowing Alice’s father was responsible for her being an orphan? That was one thin
“Who the hell are you?” Maya screamed, struggling against the ropes, her pulse hammering in confusion. Why the hell were they all tied up? She remembered sitting at home, sipping tea with everyone. Then—nothing.And now, she was here. Tied up.“I never thought you’d be this dumb, Maya.” Aman scoffed. “You don’t even remember me?” Maya’s mind raced. Who was this man? Why had he been talking to Alice on the phone, demanding the key? Her gaze darted to Alisha—pale, wide-eyed, bound beside Levi and Rish. Aman stepped toward Alisha, dragging a rough fingertip along her cheek. “So, you’re the last royal blood,” he mused, his voice laced with amusement. “Gotta say, you’re just as beautiful as your mother.” Alisha flinched, nausea rising in her throat. Every nerve in her body recoiled. “Leave her!” Levi and Rish shouted in unison, straining against their restraints. Jackson, silent until now, felt something click in his memory. His jaw clenched. “You’re the rogue,” he murmured. “The o
Alice reached the house and stepped inside. "Alisha, where are you?" he called, glancing around. Silence greeted him. Maya, Jackson, Rish, Levi—no one was there. His chest tightened as he moved from room to room. Everything looked normal, except for the stillness. It didn't make sense. Frowning, he pulled out his phone and dialed Maya. Tring… ring… After a few rings, someone picked up. "Maya, where are you? Where’s Alisha? Why is no one home?" A voice answered—but not Maya’s. "Because they’re with me." His blood ran cold. The voice was unfamiliar, nothing like hers. "Who is this?" "Aman here. I gave you plenty of time to handle your bullshit, but you didn’t. So now, it’s my turn to do what I promised." Alice’s eyes widened. No. This wasn’t how things were supposed to happen. Alisha can’t find out the truth—not like this. Not when he won’t even get to tell his side. He couldn’t even imagine how this would end. "You son of a bitch," he snarled, gripping the phone tighter
Alice’s eyes filled with tears as the pain he had buried for years tore through his heart. The weight of everything he had hidden threatened to consume him, and before he could stop them, the tears began to fall. His whole life, he had fought, using pain as his motivation. He hated how much his mother had lost in raising him. The man who should have stood by her had left—for another woman. But now, he understood. After everything he had learned about mate bonds, about the way the world worked… he could see it clearly. His father had left for his mate. The hatred he had buried for so long surfaced, but now, a question clawed at him. ‘Can I even hate him?’ Maybe for killing his Angel parents, yes. But what about the miserable childhood he endured? The broken family he grew up in? Move on? His mother wanted him to move on? *Can I?* “Let me ask you… did you ever move on, Mom?” Alice asked, his voice thick with emotion. He let his tears fall freely, feeling the warmth of his mother