Rae The hallway stretched out in front of me as I increased my steps, only to stop when I felt a slight pull on my left arm. “Not so fast.” Kayla’s voice rang out behind me. I couldn’t believe she followed me. Why wouldn’t she let me be? I turned to meet Kayla’s eyes which were blazing with anger. Her presence immediately set me on edge. “What do you want, Kayla?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I could feel my pulse quicken. She stepped closer. “What do I want? After all the damage you’ve done, you have the audacity to ask me that?” “I haven’t done anything to you,” I said defensively, though I knew my words would do little to calm her rage. “You ruined Damien’s life!” she spat. “You killed my best friend and ended the Alpha’s legacy.” Her accusation hit me like a slap, but I didn’t let her see the effect it had on me. “I didn’t ruin Damien’s life, Kayla. The rogues killed him. I lost him too.” Her expression twisted into something cruel. “If Damien
VonThe driver slammed on the brakes, jolting me from my thoughts. I frowned, turning to him. “Why did you stop?”He looked nervous, his eyes darting to the road ahead. “There’s a body on the ground, my lord.”A cold chill ran down my spine. “A body?”Without waiting for a reply, I opened the car door and stepped out. The night air was heavy, and as I walked toward the figure lying motionless on the road, dread began to claw at me. My steps quickened, and when I finally saw who was on the floor, my breath caught in my throat.It was Rae. How did she get here?I dropped to my knees, carefully scooping her up into my arms. “Rae…” I murmured, her body limp and bruised.Anger took over, replacing the shock I felt within. I was sure she was trying to escape when she ran into trouble.I pushed my anger away. Right now, she needed help.“Get us to the nearest hospital,” I barked at the driver.“Yes, my lord,” he stammered, hurrying to comply.As we sped toward the hospital, I couldn’t tear m
RaeAs Von stormed out of the throne room, I hurried to catch up with him.“Von, wait!” I called out, my voice echoing through the long corridor.He didn’t stop, his shoulders were stiff and his pace quickened. I jogged to match his strides, feeling a sharp pain at the side of my ribs.I ignored the pain, increasing my steps. The minute I got closer, I reached out to grab his arm.“I don’t need you to search for Kayla,” I said.He finally stopped, turning to face me. “Don’t tell me what to do,” he snapped, and his voice had a drop of frustration.“She’s not worth it,” I pressed. “You’ve done enough. Just let her go.”Von leaned slightly, his towering presence casting a shadow over me. “She nearly killed you,” he said through gritted teeth. “You think I’m going to let that slide? I’m not doing this for her. I’m doing it for you.”His words startled me, leaving me momentarily speechless. Von—the man who seemed to enjoy tormenting me, who thrived on control and chaos—was standing here, d
RaeKayla’s lifeless body crumpled to the ground, her blood pooling beneath her.“What have you done?” I questioned my voice trembling with both shock and anger.The expression on my face was similar to that of the Alpha King’s. For a moment, I expected him to act, to shout, to command his guards to seize Von and punish him for his reckless brutality. But to my astonishment, he didn’t.Instead, the king’s lips pressed into a tight line as he pointed to one of the guards. “Dispose of the body,” he said coldly, his tone devoid of emotion.My stomach churned as the guard stepped forward, dragging Kayla’s lifeless form out of the room. The sound of her body scraping against the floor made bile rise in my throat.The king then turned to Von. “We’ll finalize the rest of the plans on your next visit,”“Of course,” Von replied smoothly, his tone sounded so calm as if he hadn’t just murdered someone in cold blood.He turned to me, gesturing with a slight tilt of his head. “Let’s go.”I hesitat
RaeVon's laughter broke through the silence and I clenched my fists. Nothing about this situation was funny. I was trapped in a ditch, covered in dirt and bruises, and now I was being laughed at. I was fuming. "Von, help me out of here," I demanded. He folded his arms and tilted his head, smirking. "Since you love acting all high and mighty, get yourself out." I scowled as he turned and started walking away, his footsteps crunching against the gravel. My heart pounded. "Are you seriously going to leave your breeder out here?" I shouted after him. Von didn't say a word. He kept walking, his figure disappearing into the growing darkness. Panic started creeping in. "What if there's something dangerous down here?" I called out. Von’s voice came back, dry and unconcerned. "Channel your inner wolf and kill it." I groaned, my frustration reaching its peak. "Von, please!" My voice cracked slightly, my pride taking a hit. Silence. I strained to hear his footsteps, but they had faded
RaeLandon’s voice kept replaying in my head, over and over again, like a haunting melody I couldn't escape. A day has passed since I discovered the truth about Landon, and I haven’t told Von anything.The minute I realized that Von’s death would mean my freedom a part of me kept fighting the urge to keep this information to myself.Von had done nothing but make my life miserable. He had threatened me, hurt me, and controlled me in ways I resented. It would be nice to get rid of him, to watch him take his last breath.But despite my joy, I still felt like keeping this information to myself was a terrible idea.I groaned. I was at a crossroads not knowing what to do next.The sound of Anna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You’ve been awfully quiet since you walked in here. Is everything alright?" I blinked, realizing I had wandered into the kitchen without even thinking. The smell of fresh bread and simmering stew filled the air, but I barely noticed. Anna lowered her voice a
RaeLandon’s voice kept replaying in my head, over and over again, like a haunting melody I couldn't escape. A day has passed since I discovered the truth about Landon, and I haven’t told Von anything.The minute I realized that Von’s death would mean my freedom a part of me kept fighting the urge to keep this information to myself.Von had done nothing but make my life miserable. He had threatened me, hurt me, and controlled me in ways I resented. It would be nice to get rid of him, to watch him take his last breath.But despite my joy, I still felt like keeping this information to myself was a terrible idea.I groaned. I was at a crossroads not knowing what to do next.The sound of Anna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You’ve been awfully quiet since you walked in here. Is everything alright?" I blinked, realizing I had wandered into the kitchen without even thinking. The smell of fresh bread and simmering stew filled the air, but I barely noticed. Anna lowered her voice a
RaeLandon’s voice kept replaying in my head, over and over again, like a haunting melody I couldn't escape. A day has passed since I discovered the truth about Landon, and I haven’t told Von anything.The minute I realized that Von’s death would mean my freedom a part of me kept fighting the urge to keep this information to myself.Von had done nothing but make my life miserable. He had threatened me, hurt me, and controlled me in ways I resented. It would be nice to get rid of him, to watch him take his last breath.But despite my joy, I still felt like keeping this information to myself was a terrible idea.I groaned. I was at a crossroads not knowing what to do next.The sound of Anna’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You’ve been awfully quiet since you walked in here. Is everything alright?" I blinked, realizing I had wandered into the kitchen without even thinking. The smell of fresh bread and simmering stew filled the air, but I barely noticed. Anna lowered her voice a
RaeI smiled at Von after those words left my lips and said.Von didn’t reply. He just stared at me, shock flickering in his eyes. Honestly, I was a little surprised by my own actions, too. But not too surprised. After everything Von had been through, I figured he at least needed someone to talk to. Betrayal by a stranger was one thing, but betrayal by someone you trusted—that cut deeper. I knew that feeling all too well. I could still remember how much Kayla’s actions had hurt me. But Von’s case was worse. Landon had been his friend.The feeling of the tray leaving my hands caught my attention. I turned back, surprised to see that Von had taken it from me. He sat down in one of the chairs stationed on the terrace. “Finally you give in,” I said with a smile. He didn’t say anything, his face as unreadable as ever. Typical Von—always guarded, never showing too much. But even with his blank expression, I could see the pain in his eyes. "I don't know how I'm going to move past this,
VonI could still hear Landon’s voice in my head. His pleas, his pathetic excuses. Even after I had him dragged out of my sight, his betrayal lingered like a wound that refused to heal. I had spent the past few days locked away in my study, drowning in paperwork, anything that would keep my mind from replaying that moment. But it never worked. The memory returned, and I was back to reliving what happened yesterday.I had hauled Landon out of the car, roughly.His lips parted, but I was already speaking. "Your games are over," I growled. Landon swallowed hard. “Von, listen—” “No.” I cut him off, my patience long gone. “Silas is dead.” He froze, his breath hitching. I bared my teeth, letting him see the blood that still stained my fangs. My claws flexed, gleaming under the moonlight. “If you don’t confess to being behind this, I swear, you’ll be joining him.” Landon took a shaky step back. “I—Von, please, I—” “Don’t waste my time.” My voice was ice. “Say what you need to say
Von The sharp pain in my stomach was intense, and it was caused by the intruder. He had kicked me, and as I grabbed my stomach he saw this as an opportunity to take control. He pushed me backward and then positioned himself on top of me, trying to push the knife closer to my chest. I knew one wrong move could mean my end. So I stayed still. The room was dark, and no matter how hard I tried to make out the person’s face I couldn’t.“Who are you?” I called out, my voice strained. “What do you want?” The figure stiffened at the sound of my voice. He hesitated, and that was all I needed. I seized the moment, gathering every bit of strength I had left, and I threw the person off me. He stumbled backward, falling to the ground, and into the dim light that filtered in from the window. My breathing stopped. It was Landon. It couldn’t be.“Landon!” I voiced and he turned to look at me with a shocking expression.“How could you?” I snarled, standing up quickly and lunging at him. I gra
Von I couldn’t believe my eyes. The masked man standing before me was one of my newest guards. My blood boiled. “What the hell are you doing here?” I barked, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him closer. “Why are you sneaking around Landon’s house?” He said nothing. I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening. “You better start talking, or I’ll tear your throat out right here.” Still, nothing. “Speak up bastard.” My claws extended, pricking against his skin. His entire body started shaking, but he kept his mouth shut. I growled. “I won’t ask again.” His breath hitched. His eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but there was none. “I—I was sent by Landon.” His voice was low but I heard him.I stiffened. “Why would he send you here?Silence. I slammed him against the nearest wall, my fangs bared. “Speak.” “I—I was sent to check if the package had been moved.” My eyes narrowed. “What package?” His lips clamped shut. I hated the fact that he was giving me half-baked ans
VonI stood there, listening to Anna’s words, and something inside me snapped. My blood was already boiling from the earlier news about Rae, and now, this? “Your majesty,” Anna said in a smooth voice. “I know you don’t believe me, but I’m telling you the truth.” I didn’t need to hear anymore. “Stop spitting out lies, Anna!” I snapped. “You think I’m a fool? My guards saw Rae escape. So why the hell are you lying?” Her eyes didn’t waver. “Those guards are lying to you, your majesty.“I clenched my fists. This was ridiculous. “So, what, you’re saying Rae didn’t escape and she was taken? Is that what you're trying to tell me?” Anna didn’t flinch. “Yes.”I shook my head. “How do you know this?”“I was going to see Rae when I saw some of your guards dragging her down the hall. I wanted to help her but I knew if I did they would come after me, and I wouldn’t be able to deliver this news to you.”I scoffed, shaking my head. “Did Rae put you up to this?” Anna’s expression changed.“What
Von I returned to the palace late at night, I was feeling quite tired. The fight between me and the rogue had drained me, completely. Right now all I craved was the softness of my pillow, but there was no time for rest I still had other things to attend to—like who started the fire and who was behind Landon’s attack. As I walked through the courtyard, I ran into Landon. I saw the neutral look in his eyes change to a hardened gaze. What was wrong with him? "Why the hell did you go after the rogue without telling me?" Landon demanded, stepping into my path. I exhaled sharply. So, that was the reason why his expression changed. Landon could act like a child sometimes but I still loved him regardless. “Why are you suddenly quiet?” His voice broke into my thoughts. I groaned. “I didn’t tell you I was going after the rogue because I didn’t need you there." Landon’s brow furrowed. "Stop acting like you can handle things on your own. I would’ve helped. I should’ve been there."
Von I stormed out of the room, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. My mind was still reeling from Rae’s accusations. How could she be so stupid? Did she really think she could twist the truth and make me turn against Landon? The audacity of it made my blood boil. As I walked down the corridor, I nearly ran into Landon. He raised an eyebrow at the look on my face. "What’s wrong?" he asked, in a sharp tone. “You look pissed.” I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Rae is the reason for my current mood.”“What did she do?” Landon asked.“Here I was, actually giving a damn about that bitch, and the whole time, she was playing with my emotions." My voice dripped with frustration, and I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the anger building inside me. Landon frowned slightly. "Slow down. What happened?" I scoffed. "Rae said you were behind the fire. She’s been sitting on this idea for days, probably waiting for the perfect moment to drop it on me." I shook my head. "And the
RaeAnna took me to her chambers and once we got there. She turned to look at me."So, what do you want to say?" she asked gently, her voice filled with concern.I swallowed hard, struggling to form the words. "It’s Landon," I said, after finally finding my voice. "He’s behind the fire." The words felt like lead in my mouth. I had been holding this secret inside for days, debating whether or not to tell her. But now that I had said it aloud, it felt like the weight I had carried around had vanished. “How did you find out about this?” She asked with an intense look in her eyes.“I overheard him saying he was planning to kill Von!” I said in a firm voice.Anna blinked, and I noticed the look on her face had changed. "Is that what’s been getting you worked up?" she asked. "Yes," I admitted, my gaze falling to the floor. "I found out about it two days ago, and I’ve been torn ever since about whether or not to tell Von."“This is crazy!” Anna exclaimed.“It is!” I replied. “And gets ev
Rae My heart nearly stopped as I noticed Landon’s eye was still on me. I waited for him to act. But he didn’t move. He just stood there, staring. The silence between us stretched unnaturally long, and I knew he suspected something. I felt like running away, but instead, I smiled wearily, trying to hide the fact that I had just heard everything he said.“I thought Von was here!” I said coyly. “I’m sorry for interrupting you.”I didn’t wait for him to reply. I forced myself to walk at a steady pace as I took steps backward. I kept glancing over my shoulder, expecting him to be right behind me. But he wasn’t. The fact that he didn’t come after me was weird. Maybe he was planning to do something even worse or maybe he thought I didn’t overhear him.My thoughts kept racing and at some point, I managed to tune it down. I continued my search for Von, turning down another hallway.I arrived at his study and I realized he wasn’t there and as I made my way downstairs I nearly collided wi