"Mom," Alice knocked on the window, and the driver immediately unlocked the car so he could enter.Alice looked disheveled, his once neatly styled hair now falling on his forehead. The black suit he wore, once fitted perfectly, now had his coat hanging in his hands, and his shirt seemed ready to rip out as his body tensed."Son, are you fine?" Daisy asked as soon as Alice came inside the car, looking all stressed.She felt bad because she still didn't want Alisha to get caught, even though her own son, her own flesh and blood, would be in distress. But maybe she was selfish on both sides.If Alisha was meant to be with him, she wouldn't help in escaping. If she wasn't, then she wouldn't help him catch her.Truth be told, she didn't even know where Alisha was, so helping was out of the question already."I've already put my people to work. You don't have to worry," Alice reassured his mom as he grabbed her hand, trying to relax her, seeing how stressed Daisy looked.He didn't know wher
"I'm not feeling well, Alice," Daisy breathed heavily as she spoke."What happened?" Alice snapped back from his thoughts and looked at his mom, who was breathing heavily and not looking good at all."My heart is aching," Daisy lied because this is the only way she can keep Alice with her.Of course, he already has his people searching for Alisha, but the more he's busy with her, the longer it will take him to find Alisha.‘I know it's not a big help, but this is the last thing I can do to lessen my guilt a bit. If it still doesn't work, then it's your destiny, Alisha,’ she thought.The idea might be lame, and she knows she's taking advantage of Alice's care for her, but it's better than anything else.“Your heart?” Alice got stressed. “Drive to the hospital now,” he ordered the driver.He held his mother's hand, trying to make her relax."It's just a fainting spell, Mom. If you're feeling unwell, you shouldn't be here. Why did you even go out to find Alisha? I would have handled that
"Now that you're fine, it doesn't mean you're healthy, Mom. It's all because of me. I shouldn't have let you come; it wasn't necessary. It's my fault," Alice says, frustration evident in his voice as it trembles slightly, though he manages to control it.The stress of his mother's health and Alisha's betrayal is really getting to him; he's been through a lot in life.But when it comes to the only two people he cares about, he just can't handle it all.He knows he'll find Alisha, his soon-to-be wife; she can't keep running forever, and he'll pursue her no matter how long it takes.And then there's his mother's health; he just can't bear it when it comes to her. He hates feeling weak, but he can't help it—when it comes to his mother, he's at his weakest."I wanted to come to court with Alisha myself. It's your wedding, son; how could I miss it?" Daisy weakly speaks.She has lied about feeling unwell, but now, seeing Alice like this, she truly feels the uneasiness in her heart. She doesn
"Have you found Alisha anywhere?" Alice asked on the phone, sitting inside his car, feeling drained due to his mother."No, sir, we are trying. We've already placed everyone on the checkposts of the train station, airport, and bus station, and we've already informed the police."He cut the call, breathing heavily. He hated it. Now he understood how Alisha felt when Mary chose other kids over her. It was the same thing his mother did by choosing Alisha over him.Even though she didn't know where Alisha was, she was still delaying him, playing him with her health. He hated that it was his own mother. If it were someone else, the lesson would be taught differently.He sighed, tightening his hold on the steering wheel as he drove off.An hour later, he reached the orphanage. They had come here yesterday for an invitation, and Alisha had spent a decent amount of time in the kitchen with Mary. He could dig things out from here for sure.He got out of his car and rang the bell. After a few m
"Where are you going?" Alisha stopped in her tracks, not knowing where she was headed or what was happening. She had been walking, stopping, then walking again for so long she couldn't even count it.She looked back and saw a woman staring at her, giving her weird looks, which wasn't surprising given her appearance. She looked worse than a homeless person, her wedding dress torn, bare feet, mud-covered face, and hair tangled like a nest. Cuts and dried blood adorned her arms from broken glass.On top of it all, she had no sense of direction, just walking, running, and stumbling, dreading the moment Alice would find her.Now she found herself in the middle of what seemed like a forest, an odd place for a woman to be alone, and she had no idea how she got there."I'm taking a walk.""Huh?" The lady walked toward Alisha, making her nervous."Don't come closer, I'm just lost and I don't know where I am. Please, don't hurt me," Alisha panicked, her throat dry from lack of water and food al
Alisha got startled, she looked at Maya, who didn't seem shocked at all.‘Did I make any mistakes by following her?’ she thought to herself."She is the girl who got lost in the woods, needs treatment, and some place to spend her night today," Maya answered, as a girl and a boy approached."Levi? Rish?" Alisha gasped, remembering them as the salespeople from the jewellery shop where Alice caused a stir over the wedding ring."You?" Both Levi and Rish asked in shock."Three of you know each other?" Maya asked, looking at them with a confused expression."Of course, she's the same girl who literally made us lose months of salary by replacing the ring, and we were on the verge of losing our jobs too. Didn't we tell you, Mom?" Rish explained, his expression hostile."Replaced?" Alisha repeated their words."Yes, how dumb does anyone need to be to think they can get normal silver rings in a diamond or prestigious stones store? And your fiancé even made sure to spread bad words about us to
"Mom, are you joking? We said nothing in front of her, but that doesn't mean you can just do this. He's a billionaire; he's going to kill us all," Levi grumbled, dashing into Maya's room with Rish following behind, his face solemn."She's right, Mom. She's dangerous. Didn't we tell you how he can flip and kill us for a ring that day? And now we have his runaway bride with us, who he's probably going to find," Rish completed his words, looking at his mother who sat in a chair, gazing out the window."Should we be scared? How will he find us here? Don't be scared; we're deep in the forest. Nobody can find us," Maya replied nonchalantly, glancing at Levi and Rish as she spoke."That doesn't mean we're safe, Mom. If he even gets a clue, he's going to dig our graves," Levi panicked."Remember the story I told you long ago?" "Mom, is this the time for a story? Did you even hear what Levi just said?" "She's the exact girl, the exact person we all need. We can't send her away. She's royal b
"‘Mate,’" Maya completed Rish's words, her head ready to burst just thinking about it."If he's her mate, then why is she running away from him? Shouldn't she feel the pull?" Levi trailed off, more confused than ever. "This shouldn't be the case for sure.""I don't know, but I do know one thing. If she was on the verge of marrying him, then he's definitely her mate. As for why she's running, what kind of guy he is, or if her wolf is trapped in her body and cursed, only the pack witch can answer that. I can feel the curse, but I don't know anything else. I'm just a mere doctor," Maya grumbled, not knowing what more to do.She had been shocked when she found Alisha in the forest, smelling the scent of her blood. That's why she brought her here; otherwise, she would be helping her but wouldn't have invited her here.Her whole life had been spent searching for the one and only child of her king and queen, who died due to hunters.When the fight broke out and the hunters killed everyone, s
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