Ardan's POV.Even as a king, regardless of my position, I can not deny that I still look forward to seeing and bonding with my family.And yes! It was the time of the year when everyone would come around, it was tagged an annual training, but we all understood that this was a chance for a reunion and a moment to reconnect with each other.I have always looked forward to it, although I could never show my excitement as I was the King.My cousin, Alpha Zone, was the Alpha of E Pack, and he was around for the training too. I was glad to receive his presence.He had gone away briefly, maybe to use the restroom, but he was taking longer than expected.Out of curiosity and concern, I could have sent someone else, but I decided to go to his room to check on him by myself.However, once I opened the door, I was greeted by a shocking surprise.Zone and Serena were in an awkward position, they were seated intimately on his bed. I was furious and if he was not my cousin I would probably have him
Serena's POVEmma was in charge here, whatever she said was the final verdict.As my punishment, she had said that I should not be given dinner. I was alone in my room, I was hungry, and pain had dominated my body from the fight from earlier.My stomach kept making a rumbling sound. It was already getting late, I could not go out to the kitchen to get food on my own because I never wanted to run into Arden.His terrifying eyes were scary and I wasn't ready to see them again. Moreover, I didn't do anything wrong, he had simply misunderstood me, without a chance to explain myself.After I returned to the dormitory, I picked up the few things I found in the scanty first aid kit to tend to my wounds.It was burning like I had just returned from war. My heart was broken, I was alone, and my mate didn't care if I died or lived, he wasn't even aware of the the way I was bullied.How long do I have to live like this? I couldn't believe I was brought here to continue to live in a hellhole. My
Arden's POV.I was in the shower taking in every grace of relaxation the warm warm releases on my nerves.More like the shower was my comfort place, no matter what happened to me in the outside world, once I was in the shower, my nerves relaxed and I was calm.It was a walk-in shower and a few steps away from the bedroom, sharing a wall with the walk-in closet too.If there was someone in my bedroom, I couldn't tell.But then, I perceived a familiar scent, it was as though it was trying to taunt me, it was not stable, making me desperate.However, after a few minutes, the scent was stronger and closer to me than before.While I was wondering where it came from and why was it so close to me, the door was pushed open. And then, my thoughts were confirmed.The scent belong to who I thought it would be.It was Serena.When she opened the door, she was in a daze to find me in the shower with my bare body.I was naked and her eyes which had already seen my third leg were shut quickly, but i
Serena's POVI guess it was another unlucky day for me.When I opened the door to the shower, I was stunned by the sight before my eyes. Arden was naked and subconsciously my eyes went down to his big d*ck.However, he demanded that I stay naked to prepare the room. I had to do it because he threatened to invite more people to watch me. I could feel his eyes feast on my body and it made me feel pathetic.I finished preparing the room on time and I was done, I was getting ready to leave when Arden asked me to stay.My heartbeat accelerated, and pain coursed through my chest. I was disappointed and dissatisfied.I could not believe that Arden would make me stay to watch him have sex with Sylvia.What could be more heartbreaking than this? It was painful, I was deeply hurt.There was no difference between him and Derek. Back at his pack too, he used to make me watch him having fun with his prostitutes, sometimes he would even bring two women at a time.I was used to this life, but I didn
Zone's POVThe Lycan King, Arden, was my cousin, the one I admired most. My father's clan was not powerful, but my mother, Ardan's father's sister, happily accepted her mate who was an alpha from a small pack when she found out.My father was content with his circumstances, easily satisfied, but this was a deadly danger in a wolf pack. Lycans took pride in occupying more territory than others. My little sis passed away in a rogue attack due to my father's weakness. So I trained rigorously from a young age. I would not allow the same tragedy to happen again!I was grateful that my abilities were noticed by all the packs, allowing me the opportunity to train in the palace, a plan proposed by Ardan himself.I was delighted to see him again, as he embodied who I aspired to become. However, I did not expect to fall for an omega, and it seemed something had occurred between her and Ardan.Her name was Serena and she was an Omega. The situation was not so pretty. And Arden somehow found us t
Arden's POVI had no idea if it was because Serena was my mate. Sex with her feels great and exciting. I was filled with excitement and warmth after Serena left the room. I could not get over the wild night we had together.“That was great! It's the absolute best!” Alf was excited too, and the experience was still lingering in him. I couldn't have had a better experience with someone else. I could not get over the feeling all night. She was addictive, she had me wanting more and more of her.“I wish you would accept her as the queen during the bonding ceremony, though” Alf whined. “Don't say that again, please. You don't know that she is of no use to us? She is weak, and her status is far behind, so how can such a person become the queen?” I argued with Alf.Everyone knows that being an Omega is already a defect for anyone, and as such, they are not so relevant In the wolf's society because of their low status.If she becomes the queen, I would automatically shoulder the responsibilit
Serena's POVIt hurts deeper when you are hit with the reality of knowing that there is no place for you.It's even more painful when the one who was meant to protect you is the cause of your broken heart.After the wild night Arden and I had, my body was no longer mine, I was left weak and sore.And to make matters worse, I stood outside in the cold since the door was locked.If Arden had truly cared about me, he would not allow me to go out in the cold, he would even take care of my body too.But since I meant to him and I was just a thing he used to satisfy his sexual desire whenever he liked, there was no point in checking if I was all right or not.The last flash I had before I passed out was not clear to me. But I was grateful the person showed up at the right time.I woke up feeling light like I had been asleep for hours, all the pain from my wounds had reduced, and my sore private area had healed too.The pain down there was too much for me to take in because of how rough Arde
Serena's POVSerena's POVThere is probably nothing more embarrassing than falling to the ground in an event, one that is packed with people of high status in society.Especially when you are way below them, you become nothing but a subject of ridicule and rumor.Everybody's irritated eyes were fixed on me, and I felt like they should open and I should hide inside it, I wanted to disappear. I felt so pathetic like I was just a joke.It was as though the spirit of shame hovered around me and followed me everywhere I went.I bit myself. Maybe I shouldn't have come here at all, maybe I should have remained in the room where Zone left me peacefully.Maybe I shouldn't have come out to witness my mate announcing another she-wolf as his future queen.The shame and embarrassment dug deep into my flesh, but the pain my heart felt caused my entire being to shake like a quake.Was I cursed? Why was I even asking again when the obvious truth was not far from my mind?Then I remember that I begged
The heels of my shoes clicked against the floors of the entrance of the mall, a sound that got on my nerves with every step and not to talk about the tight skirt Dominic had forced me into that left little room for comfort or dignity. The fabric kept on clinging to my skin. Beside him, Sylvia clung to his arm with her whiny voice filling the air.“Do we really have to bring “her” along?” Sylvia complained, throwing a pointed glare in my direction.Dominic, disguised as Ardan, didn’t spare her a glance. “She stays,” he said abruptly with his tone leaving no room for argument.Sylvia huffed, stomping her feet in protest. “Fine. But don’t expect me to enjoy this.”I didn’t hide my lack of interest in their shopping excursion either. The thought of spending hours trailing after them while they indulged in trivial luxuries was nauseating. But Dominic noticed my quiet displeasure, and his grip on
Ardan’s PoVMy surroundings came back to me in pieces. I felt a grave amount of sharp, unrelenting pain, as the scent of antiseptic burned my nostrils. My head throbbed with each breath, and I struggled to open my eyes against the blinding white light.The first thing I saw was a familiar figure standing over me, Micheal. His hands were steady as he cleaned and dressed the wounds that filled my body.Michael, once a trusted family friend and the royal wolf doctor—someone I’d thought of as a brother. Now, standing in this enemy-controlled space, tending to me under Dominic’s command.“Michael,” I said hoarsely with my voice barely above a whisper.His hands were still, but he didn’t look up. “Save your strength, your majesty,” he said softly with a professional tone.The title hit me like a slap. It felt hollow coming from him, reminding me of what I’d lost. I was angry and my anger
Sylvia found me in the dungeon with Ardan and Dominic. She lunged at me, wanting to hit me when I stepped back and she fell on her face.“Go back there, now!” She demanded but I refused to move. “Dominic, tell her to move!” Sylvia demanded but Dominic chuckled. He told Sylvia to get out.“Get out? Pardon me?” Sylvia asked confused.“Don’t make repeat myself, Sylvia.” Dominic threatened and with her head low, she walked out of the dungeon.I then stood behind Dominic, watching Ardan’s battered body writhing on the stretcher. His wounds festered with angry red streaks spreading over his skin. I heart broke by just merely staring at him.Dominic stood tall in front of me. He turned his head slightly, as he looked over Ardan with indifference. “He’ll survive—hopefully,” he muttered.I stopped myself from lashing out. Sally was furious. She hated the way I was still even in this circumstance. But I couldn’t risk it. Not yet.Ardan’s eyes landed on me. His voice was hoarse. “Serena… what ar
My wrists ached from the tightness of the chains binding me. Sylvia had dressed me up in a maids costume just so she could mock me even more.“This was exactly what Gloria talked about. Gilly, Zone. They all warned us but we were blinded by it all.” Sally snared furious at being subdued.Sylvia sat across from me, lounging on a plush chair with a cruel smirk playing at the corner of her lips.“You’ve grown weaker, Serena,” she said, tracing a finger along the armrest. “Pathetic, really. And to think this room once belonged to you.”I blinked, glancing around. This truly was once my room.Sylvia’s laughter broke the silence. “Ah, so you do remember. Don’t worry; I’ve made a few improvements since then.”“You’re delusional if you think this changes anything,” I snapped.Sylvia leaned forward with her eyes narrowing. “Why are you doing this?” I asked, keeping my tone steady.She tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Why?” she repeated. “Are you really asking me that, Serena?”“Humour me,
The camp had been unusually quiet that morning, but my thoughts were anything but still. Gilly was stronger now—more alert, more alive than she’d been since her rescue—but I couldn’t help noticing how Dominic avoided looking at her. His usual smirk was absent, and he kept his eyes away from from hers.Gilly seemed to notice, too. She stood a little apart from us, leaning against a tree with her arms crossed and her eyes fixed on Dominic as if she were trying to solve a puzzle.“Gilly,” I said softly, walking over to her. “How are you feeling?”“Better,” she said. “A lot better, actually.” She hesitated as her gaze flickered toward Dominic. “But something’s off with him. He keeps avoiding me.”I followed her eyes, watching Dominic as he checked his weapons with meticulous precision. “That’s just how he is,” I said, though I couldn’t deny the unease creeping into my chest.“Serena,” Gilly said quietly with her voice almost a whisper. “He feels… familiar. I don’t know how to explain it,
The next morning, Zone and Dominic’s bickering had started again before we even broke camp.“You’re leading us into another trap, aren’t you?” Zone growled with his arms crossed as he faced Dominic, who leaned lazily against a tree.Dominic smirked, completely unbothered. “You’ve got trust issues, big guy. Relax. If I wanted to betray you, I’d have done it already.”“You’d say that whether you planned to or not,” Zone shot back with a sharp tone.“Enough,” I snapped, stepping between them. My patience was wearing thin, and I couldn’t afford to let their constant tension derail us. “This isn’t helping. We’re all here for the same reason—to find Ardan. Keep that in mind, or we’re not going to make it.”“No, you, are here to find Ardan. I’m done. I am telling you, Dominic is leading us into some trap I cant trust him.” Zone cried.“I saved you, I saved Gilly and I saved Rachel. I didn’t ask you to come with me. This is my fight and my fight alone. Do you think I trust Dominic?” I asked s
The sun was up as we made our way to the canyon. Dominic led the way. Zone followed close behind with his hand resting on his sword. Rachel and Gilly were at my side. Gilly was leaning on Rachel for support as she regained her strength.The air felt heavier here, every sound was amplified and echoing off the rock.“Something’s not right,” Sally murmured in my mind.“I feel it too,” I replied with my senses sharpening as I scanned the cliffs above. The silence was unnerving.“We should move faster,” Zone said in a low but urgent tone.“Relax,” Dominic called over his shoulder, his tone infuriatingly casual. “This path is clear. I’ve used it dozens of times.”Zone’s growl was barely audible. “And how do we know you’re not leading us into a trap?”Dominic turned, walking backward with a grin. “Like I said, If I wanted you dead, you’d already be dead. Trust me, big guy.”I clenched my fists. “Keep moving. We’re too exposed here.”Dominic smirked but complied, turning forward again.Then a
The walk back to camp was filled with tension. Dominic’s easy smirk didn’t help; if anything, it made Zone’s temper simmer hotter. I could feel the heat of Zone’s eyes boring into Dominic’s back, but I kept my focus on the path ahead. We didn’t have time for petty arguments—not when Ardan was still out there.When we arrived, Rachel was sitting beside Gilly with her hands glowing faintly as she worked to stabilise our friend’s breathing. Gilly lay on a makeshift bed of leaves. Her face was pale but peaceful. Rachel glanced up as we approached. Her brows furrowed when she spotted Dominic.“Who’s this?” Rachel asked in a wary tone.Dominic gave her a lazy wave. “Dominic. Smuggler, information broker, occasional charmer. At your service.”Zone growled. “We don’t need your act. Just tell them why you’re here.”I stepped forward, cutting through the tension. “This is Dominic. He knows the rogue king’s network and might have information about Ardan’s whereabouts.”“Might,” Dominic echoed, l
Dominic’s smirk widened as he crossed his arms, leaning casually against one of the tent poles. He was tall, lean, and radiated this air of arrogance that set my teeth on edge. His sharp green eyes darted between Zone and me, sizing us up like the way predators size their prey.“Ardan,” I said firmly, cutting straight to the point. “You know where he is.”Dominic raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Oh, do I now? And what makes you think I’d share that information with you?”Zone stiffened beside me with his hand twitching toward his blade, but I placed a calming hand on his arm. This was my fight.“Because we both know you don’t work for free,” I replied. “You don’t owe the rogue king loyalty, and I can pay you better than he ever could.”Dominic chuckled, pushing off the post and circling me slowly. “Interesting theory. But what makes you think your cause is worth my time? I mean, look at you—tired, desperate, and woefully out of your depth. You’re chasing a ghost, sweetheart.”I