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Seventy
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2025-03-28 02:13:06
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Mates Deception Seventy one
Sirella’s povDamien is losing his mind.I see it in the way he walks—too fast, too angry, shoulders tight like he’s carrying a weight he can’t put down. His men notice it too. They stand stiff when he enters, their heads low, hoping he won’t notice them.But Damien notices everything.Today, he snaps.It happens in the training yard. The sun is high, heat pressing down on us. The warriors are supposed to be sparring, training for battle, but no one is focused. They’re too busy watching Damien.He paces like a caged animal. His dark hair is messy, sticking to his forehead. His jaw is locked. I know that look. He’s waiting for something—an excuse to break.Then one of his guards, a man named Jonas, makes a mistake.He drops his sword. It clatters against the dirt.Damien turns fast, eyes sharp. The yard goes silent.Jonas picks up the sword quickly, gripping it tight. “Sorry, Alpha.” His voice is steady, but I see his hands shake.Damien tilts his head, slow, calculating. Then, without
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy two
Sirella’s pov Keiran isn’t himself. I see it in the way he stands—rigid, tense, as if his own skin is too tight. His usual easy arrogance is gone. No smirks, no sharp remarks. Just silence. And Keiran is never silent. He sits across from me in the candlelit room, his gaze fixed on the floor. His knuckles are white where his hands rest on his knees. Something is wrong. I lean back in my chair, studying him. “Whatever it is, just say it.” His jaw tics. He doesn’t look at me. Then, finally, he exhales. “Salvatore gave me orders.” His voice is flat. Careful. A chill runs down my spine. “And?” His fingers twitch like he wants to clench them into fists. “And they don’t make sense.” I watch him closely. He’s never questioned Salvatore before. Not once. Not in all the time I’ve known him. Keiran follows orders without hesitation. Without emotion. But now? Now he looks like a man standing at the edge of something he’s not sure he’s ready to face. “What did he say?” I p
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy three
Sirella’s pov The scent of blood lingers in the halls. It clings to the stone, heavy and metallic, a silent reminder of what nearly happened. Alpha Donovan should be dead. The attack happens fast—too fast. One moment, the dining hall is filled with laughter and low conversation. The next, a dagger flashes in the torchlight, slicing through the air. The assassin moves like a shadow, silent and precise. A ghost with only one purpose—kill the Alpha. But Donovan is faster. He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t panic. He moves with the kind of control only a man like him possesses, twisting just enough for the blade to miss his throat by an inch. Instead, it buries deep into his shoulder, dark blood spreading across his white tunic. The assassin makes a second move, but he never gets the chance. Donovan’s guards descend like a pack of wolves. Steel clashes. Bodies collide. The man is strong, skilled—but he is alone. He doesn’t last long. I watch as they drag him to the ground
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy four
Sirella’s pov In one dim room, I find Donovan speaking quietly with his trusted guards. His voice is low, controlled, every word measured. “Find the snake,” he says, his eyes narrowing as he gestures toward a map spread out on a rough wooden table. The guards exchange looks, and I see the fear in their eyes. They know what happens when one is accused of treachery. Donovan’s tone leaves no room for mercy. I linger near the door, careful not to be seen. Every word he speaks pierces the silence. “I want names,” he adds. “Anyone with the slightest hint of disloyalty must be dealt with.” His hand, wrapped around a cold metal hilt, betrays nothing of his inner turmoil. But I can see that his calm is as dangerous as the edge of a blade. Across the palace, in a damp and forgotten corner, Damien roams in a haze. I catch sight of him staggering past a mirror, his reflection warring with the man I once knew. His eyes are glassy, and his laughter is hollow. I can almost feel the desperation
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy five
I walk to the window and gaze out at the courtyard below, where the torches continue their steady burn. The night is silent except for the distant sounds of the city beyond the palace walls. I feel alone in my thoughts, trapped between loyalty to my ambition and a growing empathy that I never wanted. For so long, I believed that every weakness was a liability, every flaw something to be exploited. Now, those same weaknesses seem all too human, all too real. A gentle knock at the door pulls me from my reverie. I open it to find one of my most trusted aides, his face etched with worry. “My lady,” he whispers, “there are rumors in the corridors. People speak of Donovan’s orders—they say the hunt for the traitor has grown ruthless. And Damien… he was seen again, drinking, angry. His outbursts are becoming more violent.” I nod slowly, my heart heavy. “I know,” I say softly. “I have seen it myself.” He steps back, glancing around as if fearful of being overheard. “They say that nothing
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy six
Sirella’s pov The fire crackled low in the hearth, casting restless shadows against the wooden walls. The air inside the cabin felt thick, suffocating, like something unseen had slithered in and coiled itself around the space between us. Keiran sat across from me, elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced together in thought. His usual arrogance was absent. No lazy smirks. No taunting remarks. Just silence. I watched him carefully. There was something different about the way he held himself tonight—tense, guarded, like a man standing on the edge of something vast and uncertain. Keiran never hesitated. Never doubted. He moved through the world with the certainty of a blade cutting through flesh. But now… Now, he looked like he wasn’t sure who he was anymore. I shifted in my chair, stretching my legs toward the fire. “You’re thinking too much,” I murmured. “That’s dangerous for someone like you.” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he exhaled slowly,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy seven
Sirella’s pov The night stretched on, vast and suffocating, the moon a pale sliver in the sky. I stood by the cabin window, staring at the darkness outside, my thoughts a tangled mess of questions with no answers. Three men. Three rulers in their own right. And me—caught in the middle like a piece on their board, pushed, pulled, sacrificed when necessary. Alpha Salvatore had given me a mission, but was it ever truly mine? Or had he seen me as another blade in his arsenal, a weapon to be sharpened and unleashed? Damien had once called me his mate, whispered promises that burned like wildfire in my veins. But when the time came to choose, he had discarded me like I was nothing. And still, he lingered—watching, controlling, as if my existence was something he had the right to claim. And then there was Alpha Donovan. A predator lurking in the shadows, eyes trailing me like I was something to be owned. He had not made his move yet, but I could feel it coming. Three kings. And
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28Mates Deception Seventy eight
Sirella’s pov Damien was unraveling. I saw it in the way he moved, the restless energy in his steps, the way his gaze darted around as if waiting for something—someone—to betray him. I wasn’t sure if he was clinging to me because he wanted to, or because he had no one else left. “You keep disappearing,” he murmured, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, not painfully, but firm enough to remind me that he still thought he had a claim on me. I met his eyes, sharp and golden even in the dim glow of the corridor torches. “Maybe I don’t want to be found.” Something flickered across his face—hurt? Frustration? Maybe both. “You don’t mean that,” Damien said, softer now, his grip loosening. “You know me, Sirella. Better than anyone.” I wanted to laugh at the irony. Once, I had believed that. Once, I had looked at him and seen mine. But that illusion had shattered the moment he cast me aside. And yet, here he was, looking at me like I was the only thing tethering him to reality.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28
Bab terbaru
Mates Deception 111
Sirella’s povThe days blurred together in Donovan's pack. Wake up. Eat. Work. Sleep. Repeat. It felt like I was being used in this place but what could I do except obey whatever order I was given.Every morning, I'd step outside to find maids "accidentally" passing by my door. Guards always seemed to be sharpening weapons nearby. Why they did it in front of my door and not elsewhere bothered me but I knew they didn’t trust me. I could see their eyes following me everywhere I would go. Today was no different. I walked toward the kitchen, the autumn wind biting through my thin shirt. Two warriors leaned against the hallway walls, pretending not to watch me. "Morning, traitor," one muttered as I passed. I kept walking as I ignored them. They were not worth my time.The warm kitchen smelled of bread and herbs. Cooks moved around each other in a practiced dance, but the rhythm broke when I entered. "Need more bandages for the soldiers in the next camp," I said to the head cook. “Wo
Mates Deception 110
Sirella’s povI woke up, my heart pounding as I stared at the ceiling for a while. Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains of my room in Donovan’s packhouse. The sheets were tangled around my legs, damp with sweat.Why was Donovan asking so many questions yesterday? Or was he catching onto my plan with kieran?I sat up and ran my hand through my disheveled hair, the alpha’s sharp eagle eyes had been on me too much during our meeting in his throne room, each answer I gave had seemed to raise his suspicion higher. Before I could think even more, there was a knock on the door.The sound made me jump, and it took a deep breath to steady my racing heart before I got up to go and open the door. One of Donovan's guards stood stiffly to attention outside. "Prince Damien requires your presence in the courtyard," he said without looking me in the eye. Shall I tell him you’ll be arriving shortly?”“Yeah,” I smiled awkwardly as he nodded and walked off.I entered my room and grabbed my too
Mates Deception 109
kieran’s POVI woke up to the sound of men and women shouting in the courtyard as I winced at the sun brimming in from the open curtains.“Fuck,” I muttered as I sat up and wondered what time it was. I had overslept. I needed to be out there and dealing with the way the alpha sees me. If he saw me as someone he could trust, this would make my job a whole lot easier.I got up and went to stand before the mirror as I removed my shirt and stood half naked. I smiled as I missed her touch and her kiss around my chest.Everything reminded me of her.The scars on my chest were familiar - the jagged one across my ribs from the Frost Valley battle, the claw marks on my shoulder from the bear attack last winter. But the eyes... those were different. Harder. Colder. No wonder I had scared her the first time we had met.Will it be easy to kill him?That I did not know.I flexed my hands, watching the muscles ripple in the mirror. Salvatore was an aging alpha, but still strong as a young alpha. I
Mates Deception 108
Sirella’s Pov My assigned room was better than I expected. Thick rug, clean blanket and sheet, a vase and wild flowers. All lies as I knew that this place had been given to me so it would be easy to spy on me.I checked the window and found it locked.The door had no lock so it was easy for anyone to come in and find me here. I sat on the bed, counting shadows under the door. One… two… three in ten minutes.That was a new record.I waited for a while on the bed before deciding to go out and take a meal for myself, but before I could do that there was a knock on the door and a maid coming in with a tray in hand.“Lunch, miss.”She kept avoiding my eyes as she laid it out."Thank you,” I said in a sweet tone. I had not seen her before so I decided to ask about her. “What's your name?" She cringed. "M-Mira, miss." And then she scurries off without waiting for any other questions I might have for her.I raised the lid of the platter. Roast meat, fresh bread, spiced wine… all my favorit
Mates Deception 107
Sirella's POVI tried to fold my shirt but all I could think about was him. How I missed Kieran’s and how the hut still smelled like bim I saw a towel in the corner and picked it up before I could stop myself.“One last sniff,” I thought as I let his scent fill my nose. “Fuck I miss him already.”I hated this weakness. Hated how my heart ached like a fresh wound.We did not have to make the decision. But to attain peace and stop my father we had to do this.With a sigh, I carried my box and headed for the door.The door creaked as I stepped outside. Dawn lit the sky with pinks and golds, too pretty for a day so ugly.Frost crunched beneath my boots as I crossed through our clearing.Where Kieran had pinned me during our first real fight.In the night sky where we had star gazed so many times after long training days. I shut my eyes tight. “Focus.” The pack lay to the southwest. It was going to take me a few hours to get there but I had all the time in the world to take.My fingers
Mates Deception 106
Sirella’s POVThe ceiling was made of wood and had cracks across it and it was what I admired anytime I was in his room. Three long ones by the window, one which looked like a lightning above the bed. I counted them more for the hundredth time while Kieran's finger did circles in my bare shoulder. "You okay?" He asked with a voice of concern. I swallowed hard. As much as I wanted to pour out my heart and complain, I knew I had to stop myself from doing that. “Just thinking.”His chest vibrated with a quiet chuckle against my body. “Dangerous habit.”The fire had faded to coals and the room lay dim. A desolate owl's cry filled the night air, melodious and drawn-out. Kieran held me closer. “I'll miss this home.”My throat closed up as I knew what he meant and it hurt to think of the inevitable. “Don’t say that.”“I miss the poison training,” he said, like I hadn’t spoken. His breath warmed my neck. “Me screaming at you when you get the antidotes wrong.”It hurt to hear him say that a
Mates Deception 105
Damien’s POVThe fire crackled in my father's study as we pored over the alliance scrolls. Names, territories, promises made—all written in ink that felt like blood on parchment. I didn’t like the way things were going. It looked too… too easy. Almost like my father was playing right into their traps but he was too blind to see it.As much as I believe he was powerful enough to defend himself… at least I wanted some sort of proof that this would not backfire on us. I hated the fact that I was feeling this way. If he got a whiff of this, he could lose his mind and call me a child for thinking this way.I looked at him as he pored through the books. He wasn’t one for wasting time especially when it came to his territory. "Goran of Greyfang," Father said, tapping one entry. "Hagar of Shadowpaw. These are the only alphas who have joined us against Salvatore. Little I know but powerful enough to show that I’m no pushover.” I nodded, rolling a dagger between my fingers. "The wolves we me
Mates Deception 104
Authors POVDamien reached the packhouse as he blitzed in and skidded his horse to a stop in the courtyard. Behind his horse, frozen dirt flew into the air as he jumped down and saw a stable boy coming to him.“Fetch the war council,” he said. “Now.”The boy nodded and ran off as Damien made his way to the packhouse, his boots thudding against the wooden steps. Inside, the great hall was deserted minus a few servants cleaning up. The fire in the hearth had burned almost completely out leaving long shadows on the stone floor.Within moments council members began filing into the chamber. Elder James came first, weighed down by years and a walking stick. Next came Commander Vex, battle scars etched deep in his face. A dozen others took their seat at the long oak table before him."Well?" James rasped. "What news from the Greyfangs?"Damien remained standing at the head of the table. "Alpha Goran has agreed to join us. His warriors will march at dawn."A murmur ran through the council. V
Mates Deception 103
Authors POVDamien sighed sitting back in his chair as the stacks of papers drew a shadow over him. He hated paperwork but since he was here now he could at least go ahead and do what he wanted to do.Just as he was about to get up from his desk, a knock came at his door.The sudden rapping at his door made Damien look up from the papers in front of him. He put them down, crossed to the door and pulled it open. His father's guard was standing there, straight backed with his fist over his chest. "Sir Damien," the guard said nodding his head, "Your father requests you meet him in the stables. Immediately."Damien frowned. "This late?" The guard didn't move, staring at a spot past Damien's left shoulder. "He said to wake you if you were sleeping as it is urgent."Damien sighed but nodded. “I’ll be there with him soon.”The guard bowed before leaving.Damien closed the door and looked into his room as he wondered what his father wanted him for. He grabbed his jacket and wore it as he
