Russell POVImmediately I found out that Rose was not my mate, and my heart sank into the depths of my stomach. I knew I was in an impending doom. It seems that the moon goddess has decided to punish me.Truth be told, I wanted Rose to be my mate again. The concept of Luca or someone else having her did not just sit well with me but I said nothing or did nothing.Now she was my Luna, and my father was dead, and she was not my mate, neither was I her mate.If I am being honest I knew that the Bloodhound Pack was going to attack. I did not just know it would be on the day of our coronation.They not only attacked us, they decided to kill my father when they did not see Rose.My heart burned with raw anger for them. The fact that they had killed him on his bed was most insulting.I sat beside my father staring at his dead ash body. I swallowed whatever lump was in my throat. Hate it or not, he had been my father. All the skills I had learned had been from him.Now he is gone. Gone with h
Rose POVI watch as Russell stabs Luca with the white oak; being the Alpha, he is the only one who can drag the oak away. It, therefore, means that Luca will not be away for now.He looks at me with an evil grin. “Now no one can rescue you.” It seems as if he has evil plans against me.What was he going to do? Ask me if I was Finn's mate. Of course, I am going to reject it. I look at Sasha who has a grin on her face.My blood boils with anger, and I clench my fist to restrain myself from what I am going to do.“Take her,” he orders me. My eyes meet Lorenzo and his usual blank look. God help them if they do something stupid. I would tell them how I feel.The guards grab my hands and take me out of the room. They throw me into a dark stinky room and chain my hands.I immediately know that I am going to go through hell. They did not bring me before the court which means they are not going to kill me.I sit on the ground for a while, and my mind travels back to Merlin, my child; he must
Rose POV“Where are you taking me to?” I ask as I try to struggle from their grip. Their fingers dig into my skin the more.I watch as they take me to the rooftop and make me kneel. One of the maids steps forward toward me.“Forgive me, my Luna,” she says as she begins to Zip my gown down.“What are you doing?” I ask as fear creeps into me. Why am I on the rooftop, a possible place for conviction, why are they undressing me? Are they about to behead me?But people who they have beheaded in the past wore their clothes. If I knew a way to stop them and remove the dagger from his heart, at least he would not wish for my death like this.Luca could have protected me. I wish I had told him about my mate, he would have advised me. Told me to be careful and secure me. Then I would not be in this room with people who want to see me fall apart “The Alpha has asked that we strip you naked and give you punishment meant for treason” she informed me as she pulled off my clothes.Treason! The puni
“ Discharge her. We have a ceremony today” he orders.“your father just died, and besides, the doctor said I need bed rest. Right?” I ask the doctor. The last thing I want to do is to go to that hell hole.“You can survive, ma,” he answers me as he removes my drip.“you have been unconscious for three days' 'he informs me with a disgusted face. “Let's go,” he says. I walk down slowly. When he discovers that I don't have enough strength he carries me over his shoulder as pain grips me again.Immediately we get to the car he throws me into the seat and slams the door against me. My skin is still red from the pepper that was rubbed on me.He enters the car through the other door and slams it against himself. I roll my eyes. Does he always have to be this grumpy? Maybe if he showed me a little mercy, I would not fulfill the moon goddess' wish, but how did she expect me to end his reign?“We are having my father's burial ceremony this evening. So get dressed. Put on something appropriate
Rose POVI stand at the front of my dressing mirror to look at myself. I am putting on a purple flowing gown with white embroidery designs. My hair is packed into a bun. My gown has sleeves so it covers the mark and pain.I smile at myself. That is how I am going to hide my pain until I find a way to get Luca out of wherever he has been placed and kill Russell. I can't imagine I am going to kill the father of my child.To succeed, I need a loyal circle. I need someone out there among the maids and guards who hear the gossip of the people.I need a loyal maid and since Sasha has decided to be against me. I decided tonight that it is either I give her out to an enemy or I kill her myself.I open the door and walk outside towards the stairs. Two guards follow me to my back.“My lady,” Sasha bows as she joins them, working beside me as a maid should do.“Step back” I order as I continue working fast.“What?” She asks, her face laced with confusion.“Walk behind me”She smiles. “I know we
Fear grips me. I stare at Sabrina and then at the door. I don't want her to get caught.“Go. I will find my way out” she says. The door song again and it opens. Russell barges in with his men. I stare at him with bulging eyes.“Where is she? ”he asks me.I look at my back and Sabrina is gone. I heaved a sigh.Russell's rough hand grabs my shoulder as he turns me around “Where is the lady you are talking to?” He asks glaring at me.I square my shoulders and swallow hard “I don't know. Let go of my hands!” I shout at him.He glared at me for a while, his alcoholic breath fanning my face, I cringed in disgust. He let go of me at once pushing me into the air. I stagger and try to get my balance for a while.“Look for her! ”he orders the guard to look for her.I rearrange my dress and storm out of the hall making my way towards the hall. I sit on my seat and watch as the dancers skillfully dance.Russell barges in later with his guards “You are associating with a sorcerer!” He shouts as
Rose POVWhat the hell is he doing here? How the hell did he get in here without their notice? I thought I told him to give me two weeks. I turn around to see Russell glaring at me. I return it with a smile. I look towards Finn's direction but he is nowhere to be found.I search around the crowd with my eyes, he is not there. Was I hallucinating?Goosebumps creep into my skin at the thought of our last encounter. How deep his voice was, how soft his hands were, or how clean his chest was.I shake my head and steady myself. I can't think of a Finn at this moment although he is my mate.Sooner than later they start playing classical songs in the background. I have always hated classical songs, they seemed too boring and too slow for me, and they came with a little melodrama between couples.For those who were in love, they would spend time professing feelings to one another for couples like me and Russell who would rather die than stay in the same room. It was torture, cruel torture.
Rose pov.Benedicta told me that the only person Russell feared was Luca. I thought it was a lie, a monster cannot be afraid of anyone until I saw the fear in Russell's eyes today when he threatened to do something stupid.I saw the fear in Russell's eyes. Even the monster can be afraid of his creator. I gave one last glance at Russell, whose face was laced with fear before I took Luca's hands.Still, the men decide to be foolish. As we approach the door they stop us in the hallway. Luca gives them one last glare.“Get out of my way before I send your skin to your beloved families” one of them trembles as he drops the sword, the other still pointing their gun towards us. And steadily, they increase in numbers, forming a circle around us.“What is the meaning of this?” He asks them.One of them clears their throat “Alpha Russell has announced that anyone who can kill you will get a higher promotion. He will be the second beta”I roll my eyes. Russell has always been a cunning man, but
Rose’s POVThe evening air was thick with tension as I made my way to meet Luca. My heart raced, both from the fear of what had happened earlier and the anticipation of finally sharing everything with someone who might be able to help. Finn’s death, the accusations, the chaos—it all weighed heavily on me, and I needed clarity, answers, and protection.The narrow path I took was shrouded in darkness, with the faint sound of rustling leaves accompanying my footsteps. A sense of unease crept over me like eyes were watching me from the shadows. I stopped in my tracks and glanced around, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.“Get a grip, Rose,” I whispered to myself, resuming my walk.The unease didn’t leave, though. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and the cool night air seemed to grow colder. Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my scream as another arm wrapped tightly around my waist, dragging me into the nearby thicket.“Shh, don’t make a sound,” a voice hissed
Alina’s POVThe dim glow of the moon seeped through my window, casting long, wavering shadows on the walls. The silence in the pack house was almost unnerving, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my mind. Finn’s death haunted me relentlessly—his smile, his laugh, the way he always seemed to hold the pack together. Now he was gone, and we were left scrambling in the dark to uncover who had ripped him away from us.But I wouldn’t rest until I knew.A soft knock on my door startled me. My heart raced as I got up cautiously. No one should have been awake at this hour. Opening the door, I was met with a familiar face—Russell.I pulled him inside quickly, locking the door behind him. “You shouldn’t be here,” I whispered sharply.Russell leaned against the wall, his face etched with exhaustion but his eyes burning with determination. “I couldn’t stay hidden any longer, Alina. We’re running out of time.”I nodded, knowing he was right but unwilling to admit it aloud. Russell had been staying i
Bianca's POVThe air in the pack house was suffocating, laden with tension so thick it was nearly tangible. Finn’s death had cast a dark shadow over everything, and it was a matter of time before accusations and suspicions boiled over. My hands trembled as I paced my room, my mind racing.This wasn’t part of the plan.Jenny sat on the bed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her face pale but defiant. “Bianca, this is getting out of hand. Rose knows something. She practically accused us in front of Benedicta.”I whirled on her, my voice sharp. “And what exactly do you think we should do about it? Go to the elders and confess? Because that’s what your panicking sounds like.”Jenny flinched, her composure cracking. “No, but if Alina starts digging, we’re finished. She’s furious. She’ll turn over every stone to find out who killed Finn, and when she does, we’ll be the first ones she looks at.”I clenched my jaw, staring out the window. The moonlight illuminated the pack grounds, tra
Alina's POVThe piercing scream of a maid echoed through the pack house, jolting me from my thoughts. My heart leaped into my throat, and I instinctively rushed toward the source of the commotion. The hallway was alive with murmurs, tension thick in the air as I approached Finn’s room.“What’s happening?” I demanded, pushing past a group of maids clustered near the doorway.The sight before me stole the breath from my lungs. Finn lay still on his bed, his chest unmoving. The monitor that had been beeping steadily earlier now emitted a deafening flatline.“No!” I shouted, rushing to his side. My hands shook as I pressed them against his lifeless form as if my touch alone could bring him back. “Finn! Wake up!”One of the maids stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. “H-he’s gone, Miss Alina. We... we found him like this.”I turned to her, my voice trembling with fury and disbelief. “Gone? What do you mean gone? He was stable just a few hours ago!”Another maid whisper
Rose’s POVI glanced at Finn one last time as he lay still on the bed, his breathing shallow but steady. My heart ached to see him like this. I wanted to stay, to keep watching over him, but Alina’s accusations still lingered in my mind, making the air in the room feel suffocating.With a heavy sigh, I turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, a flicker of movement caught my eye. The curtains by the window swayed gently, though there was no breeze. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze.“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice firmer than I felt.Silence.I stepped closer, peering into the shadows near the window. “I said, who’s there?”Still no response. I waited for a few tense moments, but nothing moved again. My mind began to race with possibilities. Was it just my imagination? Or was someone there?Shaking my head, I decided not to let paranoia take over. “It’s nothing,” I muttered to myself, though the uneasy feeling didn’t quite leave me.I stepped out of the room and made my wa
Bianca’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating. Every corner of the pack house buzzed with whispers of Finn’s attack, and I couldn’t move without feeling a dozen eyes boring into my back. Jenny and I had barely made it out of that hallway alive after Alina’s confrontation. I wasn’t scared of her, but her words stuck in my head.“Did we mess up?” Jenny asked nervously as we entered my room and closed the door behind us. She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands twisting anxiously in her lap.I leaned against the dresser, crossing my arms. “No,” I said firmly, though the tightness in my chest said otherwise. “We’ve been careful. We didn’t stab Finn. Someone else did. Alina’s just lashing out because she’s desperate.”“But what if she’s right?” Jenny’s voice cracked. “What if whoever stabbed Finn was aiming for Rose? What if we’re next?”I turned to her, my glare silencing her panicked rambling. “We are not next. Whoever did this has no reason to come after us unless you do somethin
Rose's POVThe chaos outside was deafening. Shouts echoed through the halls, and the tension in the air was so thick it felt like I could cut it with a knife. Finn’s injury had thrown the entire pack into disarray, and the sight of Alina’s cold, accusing eyes earlier kept replaying in my mind.I forced myself to move, my feet carrying me to Benedicta, who stood near the staircase, trying to make sense of the chaos. She turned the moment she saw me, her face a mix of worry and determination.“Benedicta,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I need to talk to you. Now.”Without waiting for a response, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward my bedroom. I shut the door behind us and locked it, leaning against it as I tried to steady my racing heart.“This is bad,” I muttered, pacing the room. “This is bad.”Benedicta watched me with a calmness I envied. “Take a breath, Rose,” she said gently. “Tell me what happened.”I stopped pacing and faced her. “Alina… she’s going to blame me. I know it.
Finn’s POVThe wedding bells rang loud and clear, echoing through the grand hall. My heart should have been soaring, but unease clung to me like a shadow. As the doors opened, Rose walked in, her arm linked with Benedicta’s. She looked stunning in her gown, but there was a tension in her smile that only I seemed to notice.As we exchanged vows, her voice was steady, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The officiant’s words blurred as my wolf instincts screamed at me, warning of impending danger. Still, I pushed the unease aside. This was our moment, and I wouldn’t let anything ruin it.“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant announced.I leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Rose’s lips. The applause erupted around us, but all I could think about was the gnawing sensation that something was about to go wrong.---The reception was a whirlwind of laughter and celebration. Guests filled the hall, the sound of clinking glasses and cheerful chatter blending with th
Rose's POVI sat in front of the vanity, staring at my reflection. My makeup was flawless, my hair pinned up elegantly, and the dress shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the window. But no amount of glamour could hide the anxiety swirling in my chest.A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. Aaid entered, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, Benedicta is here to see you."I nodded, trying to compose myself. “Let her in.”As the door opened, Benedicta stepped in a radiant smile on her face. She crossed the room and pulled me into a warm hug. “My dear Rose,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. “You look beautiful.”I felt a lump form in my throat. “Thank you, Benedicta. I’m glad you’re here.”She pulled back, her hands resting on my shoulders. “It’s a big day for you, and I just want you to know how proud I am. I wish you all the happiness in the world.”Her sincerity made my eyes sting, but I blinked the tears away. “Thank you. That means so much to me.”Benedicta sat