Rose pov.“Mummy, are you ever going to leave me?” Merlin asked.I shook my head as I watched him peacefully playing with his toy on the beach.“You always leave me even when I am scared,” he said.My heart clenched at his words, but I had work. I had to work to give him a better life.“Mer, I will never leave you. Never!” I promised.A smile tugged his lips as he stared at me. He turned his attention to the toy.A wave of satisfaction watched me as I saw his expression. I looked at the peaceful beach, the heat of the sun hitting me, enhancing my olive skin.I stared at the beach with peace. My eyes caught sight of a dark figure from afar. That is strange because we were in summer. Then it increased, coming closer, and as It came closer, I had a clearer view of what it was. My heart sank into the depths of my stomach. We were having a tsunami. My eyes darted to my side where Merlin was, but he was not there. Dread crept into my skin as I looked for him. Then I caught him at the edge
Rose povGosh! Let it not be that something had happened to Merlin, maybe that was why he was asking to see me. Tears stung my eyes as I tried Benedicta's number, but there was no answer. I raked my hands through my hair, should I ask Daina to deliver a message to me? Would she be able to deliver it? What if Jenny saw her and got inquisitive about them?I stood up from the bed and entered our closet. I opened my luggage quickly, took out Merlin's photo, and caressed it a little. I knew he missed me a lot. I have failed in every aspect of my life, as a daughter to Benedicta, as a mother to Merlin, as a lover to Luca, and as a Luna to my pack. I have not been able to stand for them when they needed someone to stand for them.Just then, Finn opened the door and I immediately hid the photo. I wonder how he would feel if I should tell him that I had a son for Russell. Hell! I wonder how he would react.“Rose” he called, seeing that I was not in the bedroom. I cleaned my tears and faced th
Luca POV.Immediately I caught sight of the bracelet. I walked towards it immediately. My heart beat faster; let it not be Merlin. Fuck! As I moved toward the boy's dead body a guard stopped me. “You don't touch the bodies,” he warned.I scoffed and my eyes darted to Russell. He nodded telling me to leave the body. What they did not know was that it was Merlin and Rose, that gave me hope for the future. They were the ones who convinced me that I was worth any sacrifice.The day Merlin called me dad, I was a little bit pissed about it because he was Russell's child, and I felt he was just trying to mess with my head.But after I and Rose settled our differences, the word Dad bore another vision in me. Suddenly I thought I was not worthy of anything good and found myself wanting to have a kid. Someone who would call me father or give Merlin another sibling although this dream seemed far away.“Let go of me!” I shouted, drawing everyone's attention. The hall fell silent. My eyes met wit
Rose pov.Evening came slowly. Luca had already texted me the location of where we would meet. Now I just have to pass the time.After the call with Lexie and confirming that Merlin was okay. Finn had left me like he did not join me for breakfast or even bade me goodbye he just left.When I asked where he went they told me he had a business meeting. Everyone was at the table except him and Bianca.And when I asked where Bianca was I was told she had a business meeting. I nodded with a smile. They all seemed to be having a business meeting early in the morning.What did he say she was to him again? His cousin. His cousin, not his secretary or personal assistant so why did they attend meetings together?Something was going on between them. He was cheating on me with her for sure. That was the only explanation he could give me.When his sister tried to explain on their behalf, I shunned her. I was not a fool. I did not care about them that much. I had a son to worry about, and I still f
Rose pov“She doesn't want you or Russell, she wants the throne,” I said.Luca narrowed his eyes to a split “And where is this coming from?” He asked with a bit of impatience.“That is what it looks like from the deal she made with Finn. She wants the throne,” I explained in a pleading voice, praying that he was going to get me. He glanced at me and tilted his head the other way. A chuckle escaped his lips. “If this is about me and you I have told you that I did not touch her. We don't let our mates touch us until we don't have feelings for each other. So don't try to make Jenny look like a bad guy here. I know you don't like her, and you don't want her around me, but saying she wants the throne? It's kind of selfish” he said in a light tone.Anger welled within me. I was seriously trying to save his life and all he could think about was that I was jealous. That I am being selfish.“I am trying to save you, not being jealous. We have gotten over each other's jealousy. I want you to b
Luca POV.Rose's face immediately grew pale with my suggestion. Her jaw dropped as she stared at me. I waited for her to say something, anything.“What? I..I mean why? You can't take him to the palace. Jenny is there” she said in a whisper, her voice laced with fear.I closed my eyes for a moment as I tried to explain Merlin's situation to her. I only told her about Merlin and the hybrid. I did not tell her how much conflict he caused and what Benedicta had told me.“He is not safe outside the pack either. The hybrid attacked his house”“I know but Benedicta did a spell. If he comes again she would do a spell till he dies”“And if he snaps Benedicta's neck and she dies what would happen? Merlin needs the protection of somebody. You, me, Benedicta, his dad, and Lexie. He is the price. He needs all the protection we can offer,” I explained.A glint of anger flashed through her eyes as she glared at me.” You are his Dad and Benedicta can protect him. I would only agree if you give me ano
Luca POVI nodded and stood up. “Bye”, I said, but instead, she ran toward me and claimed my lips. I halted for a while trying to fight the desire that was burning me. This place might be quiet but anyone could see us. She bit my lips and just like that. I lost every will in me. I kiss her back, claiming her, owing her, making sure she never forgot me.We broke from the kiss panting heavily. “I love you,” she said, and once again, I felt a strange emotion in my tummy.“I love you too,” I said and watched as he made her way towards the door.I looked around and picked up my phone. Thankfully, no one was around, or so I thought. A clap from the side of the restaurant startled me. Goosebumps filled my skin. Someone saw us. Someone saw Luna kissing her ex-husband's brother.I turned around to meet a slender talk man. Someone I could break easily.“Who would have thought that the new Luna has a lover? No wonder you booked the whole restaurant. Now I see” he said with an amusing smile.He
Russell POV “I told you. Didn't I? I warned you that Luca wanted your throne but you refused. He wants Rose and that is all! We would have killed him when we got the chance but you refused. Now, it is almost too late! He did not only talk back at you, he had managed to convince the people that you are a bad Alpha. Now they want him, Russell! They want a rogue over us, the Royal!”Lorenzo shouted as he kicked the chair in front of him.I closed my eyes for a while wondering who to believe between him and Luca. For me, Luca did not want the throne. It was evident in his face. You could see the surprise when they bowed to him. That was not my business. What I wanted to know was why he seemed so interested in checking that boy's body. It was as if he had a bond with him. Could he have kids I did not know.“Russell! I am talking to you,” Lorenzo shouted again, disrupting my thoughts.I rolled my eyes as I used my fingers to massage my head. Sometimes, Lorenzo was a whole pack of trouble.
Luca's POVThe day had finally arrived. The day I had waited for, dreamed of and worked tirelessly to see come to fruition. My wedding day. As I stood at the altar in the grand cathedral, sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the marble floor. The air was heavy with the scent of roses and lavender, a symbol of unity for our clans.Guests from both sides filled the pews, their once-hostile gazes now softened by the promise of peace. Today wasn’t just about Rose and me—it was about forging a bond that would unite two warring clans into one.And then, the doors opened, and there she was.Rose. My bride. My queen.She walked down the aisle with a grace that stole my breath. Her gown was exquisite, flowing like liquid light, and her eyes were locked on mine. At that moment, the world narrowed to just the two of us.When she reached me, I took her hands in mine, unable to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. “You’re breathtaking,” I whi
Alina’s POVThe hall was silent, the air heavy with tension as I sat at the head of the long table, my eyes locked on Russell. He stood before us, restrained by the pack sentinels, his once-confident demeanor reduced to a pale, trembling shadow of the man he used to be. He had no more lies to spin, no more manipulations to hide behind.The elders murmured amongst themselves, their voices a low hum in the background. I kept my gaze fixed on Russell, my emotions a whirlwind of anger, regret, and determination. This was justice—not just for Finn, but for Rose, for the pack, and myself.“Russell,” I began, my voice steady and commanding, “your actions have brought nothing but pain and destruction to this pack. You murdered Finn, framed Rose, and deceived me at every turn. Your betrayal runs deep, and for that, you must face the consequences of your actions.”He opened his mouth, perhaps to beg for mercy or spin another excuse, but I raised a hand to silence him. I couldn’t hear another wo
Jenny's POVBianca and I stood just outside Alina’s office door, our ears straining for any hint of what was happening inside. The confrontation we’d witnessed through the small crack in the door had left us both on edge. Russell had tied Alina up and left her helpless, and now we were ready to stop him before he could cause more harm.The door suddenly swung open, and Russell emerged, his expression a mix of panic and determination. He froze for a split second upon seeing us, then scowled.“Where are you off to in such a rush?” I asked, stepping into his path.Bianca crossed her arms, blocking his escape in the other direction.“Out of my way,” Russell growled, his voice low and threatening. “I don’t have time for this.”“Funny,” Bianca said, her tone sharp. “You didn’t seem to have time for anything else when you were tying up Alina a few minutes ago.”Russell’s face darkened, and he took a step forward, clearly ready to force his way through. But before he could make a move, the pa
Luca's POVThe sound of tires crunching gravel outside brought a wave of relief over me. My guys were back, and I had no doubt they’d completed the task. I walked to the window, watching as they stepped out of the van, one of them holding a small, padded case. A sense of accomplishment filled me.I opened the door before they even knocked, motioning for them to come in. The leader of the group, Matteo, handed me the case. “It’s done,” he said simply, his tone firm but respectful.“Good,” I replied, opening the case to inspect the contents. There it was—the gun Russell had so desperately tried to keep hidden. Its weight in my hand felt like the weight of victory.Matteo leaned closer. “What’s next, boss?”I placed the gun carefully on the table and turned to face him and the others. “Now we wait. Russell doesn’t know we’ve got the real weapon. For now, I want you all to lay low. No sudden movements. If Russell catches even a whiff of what we’re up to, he’ll disappear, and we can’t affo
Alina’s POVThe weight of responsibility bore down on me as I walked to my wardrobe and selected a long, formal gown in a deep shade of red. It was the color of power, of justice of finality. Today marked the end for Rose. Today, she would face judgment for her crime.Once dressed, I tied my hair back in a sleek bun and slipped on a pair of black heels. My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, fierce and composed, but inside, I felt a twinge of uncertainty. Shaking it off, I grabbed my phone and left my chambers.The dungeon was damp, the cold air biting against my skin as I walked down the dimly lit corridors. Rose sat in the far corner of her cell, her face pale but defiant. She didn’t look like someone who was about to face her end.“Get up,” I ordered, unlocking the cell door. My voice was clipped and firm.Rose stood slowly, her movements deliberate, as if mocking my authority. “So, it’s today,” she said, her voice calm.I ignored her tone, grabbing her arm and pulling her
Russell's POVThe moon hung high in the sky as I led Luca through the winding path behind my property. The forest was eerily silent, save for the crunch of leaves under our feet. My heart pounded in my chest, but my face betrayed none of my inner turmoil. This was all part of the plan, and I wasn’t about to let Luca suspect a thing.After a few minutes, I stopped abruptly. “It’s here,” I said, pointing to a spot on the ground.Luca stood back, arms crossed, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I ignored him and picked up the shovel I’d brought along, plunging it into the earth. The damp soil gave way easily as I dug, my muscles straining with each movement. Minutes felt like hours as the hole grew deeper until finally, the edge of a metal box came into view.I pulled it out, brushing the dirt off the surface before unlocking it. Inside was a gun—clean, shiny, and deliberately placed. I held it up for Luca to see.“Here it is,” I said, my voice even.Luca’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer
Russell’s POVThe tension in the air was suffocating as I stormed into my room, slamming the door shut behind me. My mind was spinning, the weight of the picture Luca had sent me pressing heavily on my chest. How had things spiraled so far out of control? I didn’t know what Luca thought he was doing, but whatever it was, it wasn’t going to end well for him.I yanked open my closet, grabbed a crisp shirt, and threw it on, my movements sharp and deliberate. My hands trembled slightly, but I pushed the unease aside. I needed to focus. If Luca wanted to play games, I’d play. But I’d make sure he regretted it.Just as I fastened the last button on my shirt, there was a knock at the door. I froze for a second, letting out a frustrated sigh before opening it. Alina stood there, her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing at me.“And where are you heading off to in such a rush?” she asked, her voice carrying a note of suspicion.“I need to get out for a bit,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “Clear
Benedicta’s POVI poured Merlin another glass of orange juice as he bit into his toast. His small hands fumbled to balance the slice, and I couldn’t help but smile. These quiet breakfasts with him had become my anchor amidst the storm that had engulfed our lives.“Mom’s taking too long to come back,” Merlin said, his voice tinged with the innocence of a child.I hesitated, setting my cup down. “She’ll be back soon,” I said softly, keeping my tone light. “She just had to travel for something important. But she’s coming back, Merlin. You’ll see her soon.”He nodded reluctantly, his little face pensive as he focused on his plate. Watching him like this made my chest tighten. He deserved none of this chaos, none of the lies or danger that had seeped into our home. I wanted so badly to protect him from all of it, but the secrets we kept were growing heavier by the day.Just as I reached for my coffee, the doorbell rang. My body stiffened instantly. Who could it be this early in the morning
Rose's POV The sound of the dungeon gate creaking open jolted me awake. My eyes snapped toward the iron bars, and I sat up on the cold, damp cot, my heart pounding. The rusted hinges screeched, echoing ominously in the silence of the room. A tall guard stepped in, followed by a maid clutching a tray of food.“Eat,” the maid said curtly, placing the tray on the ground with a loud thud. Her eyes were cold as they met mine. “You’ll need your strength for today. Lady Alina has plans for you.”My stomach twisted at her words, but I didn’t show it. I glared at her instead. “What plans?” I asked sharply.The maid smirked. “You’ll see soon enough,” she said. “After all, killers don’t deserve comfort.”“I didn’t kill anyone!” I shot back, the chains around my wrists clinking as I stood. My voice echoed in the small cell. “So, you better watch your mouth.”The maid laughed bitterly, her voice grating on my nerves. “Save your lies for someone who cares,” she said. “Everyone knows what you did.