ARDAN’S POV
Derek did not fail to hide the confusion on his face. Why would the Lycan King, the most powerful shifter alive, intervene on a mere omega’s behalf? I ignored the stunned faces around me, focusing solely on the face sitting upright on the bed.
“Put your clothes on," I commanded.
My gaze then shifted to the wolf next to Serena on the bed, Joshua, I recalled. "And you," I said with a low snarl, "get out. Now."
Joshua didn't need telling twice. He scrambled off the bed, hastily and fearfully. Still, Serena remained covered in the sheet, using it as a flimsy shield to hide her nakedness.
Cora couldn't resist a disdainful snort. "Well, aren't you just the picture of grace," she said to Serena. "The Lycan King himself asks you to put some fucking clothes on, and here you are, clutching a sheet to your bare chest like a lost pup."
My head snapped towards Cora. "If you don't want to end up as a decoration on the wall like your beta," I warned, "learn to control your fucking tongue."
Cora wisely chose silence, a nod was her only reply. Turning back to the room, I cast a commanding look around. "Give her some space," I instructed.
One by one, the wolves left the room. Then, I turned to Derek. "Lead the way to your conference room," I ordered. "I have an announcement to make."
Derek was clearly puzzled by my unexpected behavior towards Serena. He could only nod numbly. “Of course, your majesty.” Then he pointed at Serena. “What about Serena? Would she be joining us?"
I didn't answer immediately, instead I let my gaze drift back to Serena. Her nudity was still hidden behind the sheet. Finally, I met her gaze with contempt in my eyes. "She can come," I agreed, "when she's decent."
Derek led me to his conference room. As we walked, he was still visibly trying to understand my earlier display of protectiveness towards Serena.
Hesitantly, he led me to the secluded corner in the conference room. Once the door shut behind us, he cleared his throat.
"If I may ask, your Majesty. What is this about?" Derek finally managed to ask. "You rarely grace my humble abode, and when you do, it's certainly not to intervene in my… personal affairs."
My eyes narrowed in a way that made Derek wriggle. "Let's just say," I said, "certain recent events have come to my attention."
Derek's face paled considerably. "Events?" he stammered, he panicked. "What events are you referring to, Your Majesty?"
"You mustn’t know everything.” I said curtly. “Now, shall we?” I gestured for him to take a seat at the large mahogany table that dominated the center of the room.
He sat in a chair, his gaze shifting between me and the other wolves who sat around us. I leaned back in the chair.
"After the banquet tonight," I finally spoke. "I will be taking Serena home."
Derek's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Home? But Your Majesty," he sputtered. “King Ardan," he continued, "a woman like Serena… she's not suitable for you. An omega, especially one of such… questionable repute, would tarnish your reputation."
“Don't worry yourself about that, Derek. Her place is with me."
My behavior defied any logic he could comprehend. Why would the Lycan King choose to sully himself with an omega who’s a prostitute?
“But Your Majesty," he began, "taking someone like… like Serena? Think of the headline, the scandal! A Lycan King with a… a…" He struggled to find a decent term, finally settling on, "a prostitute."
His concern for my reputation seemed less about genuine worry and more about a desperate attempt to keep something hidden.
“There are far better options available to you," Derek continued with eagerness. "Stronger, more… suitable companions."
Before I could respond, the door to the conference room creaked open, and a young woman waltz into the room. Her red dress clung to her curves, leaving little to the imagination.
"Ah, Mirabeth," Derek greeted. "This is the Lycan King, Ardan. Mirabeth is one of my most… prized possessions."
My gaze remained fixed on Mirabeth as Derek gave me reasons as to why I should take Mirabeth with me instead. Her beauty was undeniable, yet I felt nothing for her.
“Enough!" I yelled.
Derek, sensing the anger in me, hastily backtracked. "Of course, Your Majesty," he stammered.
My eyes met Derek's head-on. "I’ve made my decision. You can take your... prized possession and leave," I commanded. "The banquet awaits."
Derek's face was filled with anger and humiliation, but he wisely chose not to argue. With a curt nod, he ushered Mirabeth out of the room. And once again, the door slammed shut behind them.
SERENA’S POV
I pulled on a simple dress, fumbling with the buttons on my dress. My mind, however, was far from the present. It drifted back to a time long ago, to a woman named Nana Willow.
She was an old she-wolf that had been my haven while growing up. Just then, a single, precious memory surfaced. Nana Willow, held out a small, intricately carved wooden box and pressed it into my hands.
"This is for you, little one," she had said with affection. "A gift from your parents. They wished for you to open it on your 20th birthday."
“Remember, Serena, this box must never be damaged. It holds great importance, and any harm to it will bring great disaster to the wolf pack."
The box was tucked away in a hidden pocket of my meager belongings and my heart ached at the memory. Three months. That's how long until my 20th birthday. Three months until I could understand whatever secret’s within the box. But would I even survive that long?
Just then, Derek entered my room, jolting me back to reality.
“So," he said with sarcasm, "all dressed up and ready to play princess for the Lycan king, are we?"
I remained silent, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response.
He walked further into the room, eyeing me from head to toe. "Don't get any ideas, Serena," he sneered. "Just because the Lycan King took a fancy to you for a moment, doesn't mean he'll believe a word you say about me."
I wanted to talk back, but I quickly swallowed my words. Now wasn't the time for a fight. I couldn't risk Derek lashing out.
"I wouldn't dream of it," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper.
He let out a chuckle. "Wise choice." His gaze shifted. "And don't forget," he continued. "I still have your parents' things. Try anything funny, and they might just 'accidentally' get misplaced."
His threats weren’t empty. I wanted to scream But I held it back, forcing myself to nod silently in submission.
Derek seemed satisfied with my reaction. With a final glare, he turned and headed back towards the door. As he reached for the knob, he looked over his shoulders. "Don't be late. The Lycan King wouldn't like to be kept waiting."
SERENA’S POVThe door slammed shut behind him, leaving me alone in the silence. Tears welled up in my eyes, I felt utterly powerless, trapped in a cage.I couldn’t let Derek break me. I would survive. And when I turned twenty, when I unlocked the secrets of the box, I would find a way to my freedom. A way to avenge my parents and escape the clutches of this monstrous man.It was a long shot, a desperate hope, but it was all I had. Until then, I would play the part of the meek servant, bide my time, and wait for my chance.I straightened the simple dress one last time, forcing myself to take a deep breath. Tears had left their mark on my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away.Stepping out of the room, I made my way towards the conference room. My heart pounded as I walked only because I wanted to meet King Ardan with utmost composure.As I entered, my gaze met Ardan. He stood by the window with his back to me. He turned upon hearing the door open, wearing an indifferent look on his fac
“Ardan?” I asked, shock showing on my face.” what are you-”“Do Not speak.” he cut me off, enunciating every word. I shut my mouth quickly and drew back, attempting to close my legs, but he would not let me.He grabbed me by the ankles and pulled me forward until my core was nearly parallel with his nose, and he sniffed.He took long, deep breaths of my core and looked like he was fighting not to leap at it.What was he doing? I could only lay there, shaking in fear and arousal, wondering what he would do next.He finally moved, dragging his tongue across my core in one long, wet path. I gasped, immediately baking up and closing my legs.“We are not doing this, and we are not doing this,” I mumbled, scrambling further backward, but Ardan refused to give me any space, closing the gap as soon as I made one.Eventually, he backed me up against the wall. There was nowhere left to run. He grabbed me by the throat, caressing my neck softly.“Don’t run from this, Serena.” He murmured into my
My wolf seemed to have a better understanding of fate than I did.After comforting myself that I should calm down and allow time to prove that there is more to what appears shallow on the surface, I laid myself to rest in a deep slumber.Every new day comes with its hurdles. I was, and I was prepared for whatever might come my way again.I stepped out to begin my day, but the person I saw was a represented day.Someone was already standing outside the door, a tall brunette with a harsh face.Emma.She was the one who raised Ardan from childhood. “Here comes the wench! Aren't you just shameless?” She announced.Her lousy voice broke my thoughts. She was fond of mocking me like I was her sworn enemy in her past life, and she was determined to humiliate me at every given opportunity.“Wash it clean and have it ironed, too.” She tossed a maid dress to me. I picked it up, and I dare not object to her. “Why are you still standing?” She asked rudely.“I. I thought you wanted me to wash this
Ardan's POV.Gama had come briefly to update me on the Pack's financial statements. I listened intently, at least that was what it looked like on the surface.However, my mind was somewhere else, far away from the present happening. I had drifted back to the explosive night I had with Serena yesterday.I couldn't shake off the feeling, I had never felt that way before. It was a wild experience, I couldn't have felt that way with anyone else.“That was too much, you know right? You wanted to devour our mate in one night” My wolf, Alf, mocked me. He was right though, I just lost control of myself, and the mate bond was irresistible.It was an incredibly perfect experience, I would be crazy to deny the truth.But I haven't changed my stand on the fact that Serena was an Omega and I would not settle for someone as weak as her, she was not better than a piece of furniture, what help could she contribute if there was a need for Luna to take a daring stand in the future?Alf disagreed with m
Serena's POVI had just retired to my cramped room wanting to rest after a long hour. But the door cracked open and the familiar figure scared me as fear overtook my heart.It was Ardan, his arrival made my body vibrate with panic. What has he come to do? It was hard to read his mind, one could predict what his intentions were, no matter how I tried.He was the Lycan King, he didn't care about other people's opinions, and you could never come up with possible ways to defeat him argumentatively even if you tried.For all I know, I was not important to him in any way, I was just a slave he acquired according to him, and he was a cold and cruel king, he could dispose of me whenever he wanted and no one would dare to stand somewhere to question his actions.It was what I had heard about him long before now, and it has even been proven to be true judging by his disdain towards me since my arrival. But it was truly difficult to understand his mind.During midday, he sent Cynthia away just b
Serena's POVWhile I maintained a firm opinion that Arden is cruel and cold, Sally believed otherwise.Maybe because she could connect with his wolf Alf, but I was the one with eyes, the heart, and the flesh that was being tortured, so I could tell for a fact that he was not different from Derek.But Sally insisted that he was different. I did not agree with her, she stood on her opinion too, and we both disagreed with each other's view.In the royal palace, there were maids to do almost everything for the members of the royal family.Everyone had their roles and duties for each day, but I was particularly assigned to the kitchen to carry out a little support by Beta.The next day, I woke up and began my day as I put on my maid dress.“That's the slut” “You don't mean it! How cheap!” “Do you see her walk of shame?” I could hear the intentional whispers that were thrown for me to hear. The other she-wolfs were mocking me.“She just got here and she already managed to seduce the king su
Serena's POVThe man lifted me, and I could barely stand on my own, my body was tired and weak from the beating.The man was called Alpha Zone, he was Ardan's cousin, the Alpha of Pack E.When I looked up at him, his handsome face and strong body were charming and attractive. I was lost in his eyes for what seemed like endless seconds.I was glad he arrived just in time, these god's forsaken she-wolfs would have shredded me into pieces.Alpha Zone ordered everyone to stand by, but then he realized that these other maids had shifted into wolves, so he asked the security guards to take them to the dungeon after he interrogated us and realized that they were the ones who bullied me and I was the victim.The universe was on my side after all, who knows what would have happened to me if he had not shown up at that moment, meanwhile, I promised my parents that I wouldn't give up or die easily. I could have failed on the promise.After the security guards took them away, I limped forward to
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
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
The forest had become our home and our prison. Days turned into nights without relief. The rogue king’s forces were everywhere, and we were forced to move like ghosts, never lingering in one place for long.Gilly’s condition had improved, but she still wasn’t strong enough to travel far, and Rachel rarely left her side. That left Zone and me to scout ahead, searching for any sign of Ardan or the rogue king’s plans.The frustration was beginning to pile up, and my wolf, Sally, understood my restlessness. “We’re wasting time,” she growled in my mind as we crept through an underbrush. “He’s out there, and we’re stuck chasing the wrong thing.”“You think I don’t know that?” I shot back. “I just don’t know how to prove it.” I continued. He was alive—I was sure of it—but every moment we spent running felt like another moment he slipped further from my reach.Zone crouched beside me with his sharp eyes scanning the road ahead. “Trail’s fresh,” he murmured, pointing to a set of boot prints in
We had finally gotten out of the dungeon and I helped Zone and Gilly to the hidden passage I’d used to enter. Every sound echoed in my ears—the clink of Zone’s chains that we had now gotten rid of, Gilly’s shallow, pained breaths, and my dragged footsteps against the stone floor. I was angry and confused. What I’d seen… it wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be.“That wasn’t Ardan,” I reminded myself, swallowing down the lump in my throat. My wolf, Sally, had already made it clear: this Ardan was an imposter, the rogue king in disguise. But knowing didn’t lessen the pain of seeing my mate’s face twisted into something cruel and unrecognisable.“Serena,” Zone growled behind me in a low tone but he was very much angry. “Are you going to explain now, or do I have to figure this out on my own?”I paused, staring back at him. He was cradling Gilly in his arms. She looked so small and so broken. The sight of her nearly brought me to my knees.“That wasn’t Ardan like I said,” I said softly and with
The night was cold as we quietly and carefully passed through the palace corridors. Gilly, though still unconscious, rested securely in Zone’s arms. Rachel and I moved ahead, scanning for threats while Zone followed close behind.The memory of what I had seen in the dungeon was burned into my mind. I couldn’t shake the image of the imposter Ardan. Yes, my mind has been on it and will continue to be on it until I am able to find my mate. The rogue king had not only stolen my mate’s appearance but had turned the palace—our home—into a place of fear and lies.Meanwhile, the silence between I and Zone was heavy and it was broken only by the faint sound of our footsteps. I knew how Zone felt about his unanswered questions and his simmering anger he was trying to keep at bay. I understood his rage; I felt it too. But now wasn’t the time to lose control.We reached the palace’s outer gardens without any incident. The moon shone bright, making it harder to stay hidden. I motioned for the othe
If the guards’ rumours were true, Zone was in chains for “colliding with a witch,” and I could only imagine what they’d done to Gilly, who was already vulnerable. If there was even a chance they were in the dungeons, I had to find them.“We’ll get them out, Serena,” my wolf promised. Her confidence became mine.Soon, I sighted the thick door to the dungeon, guarded by a lone guard. I timed my movement. I waited for him to shift his attention momentarily and then I moved past him swiftly. His flickering torchlight casted only a slight glimpse of me.I hadn’t been in these dungeons in ages. I remembered how prisoners were brought here under Ardan’s orders, criminals as well who had chosen the wrong side. But this was different. Ardan had always been just. To think of Zone and Gilly down here, locked in these cells, made my blood boil.As I went down the stairs, a tortured howl echoed off the stone walls. The sound was unmistakable. It was Zone. I picked up my pace, sprinting down the na