I opened my eyes with a loud yawn, feeling like every bone in my body had been shattered into a thousand pieces.A wave of exhaustion weighed me down, heavy and suffocating.Then it hit me—the shift.The transformation in the woods last night.But... I was in my bed. In my room.Had it all just been a dream?The throbbing pain coursing through my body told me otherwise.The door creaked open, and Grace stepped inside carrying a glass of water.“I figured you’d be awake by now,” she muttered, setting the glass down on the table beside me.Before I could even sit up, Marci pushed the door wider, Colima slipping in right behind him.“Are you okay, Cedric?” Colima asked gently, making her way to my bed and sitting down at the edge.“I feel... okay,” I croaked out, my throat dry and raw. The simple act of moving sent a fresh wave of aches through me.Seeing my struggle, Marci stepped forward and carefully helped me sit up against the headboard. “Here, my Lord,” Grace said, handing me the g
******EMMELINE'S POV*******The pack was silent as each member said their final goodbyes to Skylar. The physician claimed she died from blood loss.Belle gently pressed her arm against mine, offering quiet comfort as I stared at the coffin. I couldn’t find the words.We weren’t friends, but I would never have wished her dead. The image of her, lifeless in a pool of her own blood, had haunted me for days. It was almost impossible to forget.“May the goddess accept your soul,” I whispered as I sprinkled a handful of sand over her coffin, then stepped away.I sat on the balcony, watching the others say their final words. It felt pathetic, thinking about how she died.Luna Maya had said Skylar fell from upstairs, possibly slipped because the floor was wet. But I didn’t buy it.Something happened… someone…“Here,” Devlin said, handing me a bottle of water.“Thank you,” I murmured, chugging it down. I hadn’t even realized how thirsty I was.He took the seat beside me. “How are you holding
EMMELINE POV "Emmeline, come now! Your dad is back!" My mom's scream pierced the air.I dropped my color paintings, racing downstairs with abandon. Nima, my nanny, scolded me for my recklessness, but I couldn't help it – I hadn't seen Father in a year.The carriage stopped outside, and Father dismounted, his worn leather coat and weary eyes telling stories of distant lands. I lifted my ball dress and flung myself into his arms."Easy girl, your old man's waist can't carry you anymore," Father teased, pulling my nose.I laughed, basking in his scent. Santos Gray, renowned scientist and my role model.Mother's gentle tap on my head broke the spell. We laughed, entering the house together.Over dinner, Father shared tales of his revolutionary project. I listened intently."Dad, take me to Elgin sometime?" I asked, stuffing food into my mouth.Mother's lecture on propriety began, and Father's frown deepened. "Elgin's too wild for you.""I've lived in Dogar all my life; I need experience,
Cedric POV I sat on my bed, cigarette smoke curling around me, the bitter scent lingering in the air. Nightmares still haunted me - the memories of Santos Gray slaughtering my parents."My Lord, are you alright?" Lily, my occasional companion, asked. Her voice was laced with concern, but I wasn't interested.I grasped her wrist, my grip tight. "Out. Get out now."Lily's eyes widened in surprise at my sudden aggression. "My Lord, if I—"I cut her off with a low growl. "Leave."Lily cowered, fear etched on her face, before hastily dressing and departing with a hasty curtsy.I crushed the cigarette beneath my heel and lit another, the flame dancing in the morning light. Lily had ruined my already sour mood.As Cedric Silver, the Rogue King, or Alpha, I answered to no one. Leader of the rogues in Elton, my rule was absolute.The morning bustle of servants and maids filled the air, their noises amplified by my werewolf hearing. The cacophony grated on my nerves.I glared at Colima, my a
Emmeline POV I smiled, my heart racing as I gazed at my mate. He stood tall, his chiseled physique radiating power. His broad shoulders and defined jawline left me breathless. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad if the goddess had truly led me to my mate.But my optimism was short-lived.As I took a step closer, he pushed me to the floor with a harsh growl. His eyes blazed with hatred, making me tremble."Mat..." I tried to say, but a stinging slap silenced me."It's Lord to you... Lord Cedric to you, spawn of Satan!" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom.I cowered, quivering under the intensity of his gaze. The same look of contempt I'd received from everyone in the manor.The Council had dumped me here earlier than scheduled, and already, I'd faced unimaginable hostility. Some had even spat at me."Lord... Cedric, I am your mate," I stammered, speaking softly, fearful of provoking him further. I'd heard stories from my father about the rogue pack's brutality.Cedric's glare
CEDRIC’S POV I sat on my bed, legs crossed, and glared at Ava, my fiancée. As the Council leader's daughter, our relationship was strictly business. "Why did you come to my manor unannounced?" I scolded, annoyance etched on my face. Gray's daughter, who had collapsed, was already on her way to the infirmary. Ava tilted her head back, incredulous. "We're getting married in the next full moon, and you're still cold to me?" I remained unmoved. "Ava, I'm not obligated to care for your feelings. Now, answer me: why are you here unannounced?" Ava rolled her eyes and poured herself a cup of tea. "My father told me about that...woman serving in the manor. I came to see for myself." I dismissed her with a wave of my hand. "Now that you've confirmed it, you can leave. I have a funeral to plan." Ava opened her mouth to pro
EMMELINE POV I slowly opened my eyes, wincing in pain as the world around me came into focus. I was lying on the forest floor, my body throbbing with agony. Memories of how I got there were hazy and unclear. The black wolf, Lord Cedric, stood before me, his intense stare piercing. His scent revealed he was my mate. Fearful of exacerbating my injuries, I remained still.After several minutes of staring, Lord Cedric let out a warning growl. He huffed and turned to leave. I attempted to call him back, but my voice came out scratchy and coarse. "Help...help me..." I growled, pain searing through my body.The wolf paused, turning to glare at me. Something about his bloodshot eyes sent shivers down my spine. As I lay there, struggling to form coherent words, my energy waned. Pain intensified, and my vision blurred. I tried to focus on Cedric, but his image distorted and faded. A creeping numbness spread through my body, and I felt myself being pulled down into darkness. My eyelids grew
CEDRIC POV“Get out, all of you!” I snarled, irritation seething beneath my skin like a festering wound. My gaze swept across the harem of women scattered at my feet, their delicate features and seductive smiles blurring together as my mind fixated on a single, unwelcome thought.Lily, her face pinched with concern, ventured a question, her voice trembling slightly. “My Lord, if I may ask, have we not served you well? We've done everything in our power to please you, to bring you joy and comfort.” Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken accusations.I sighed heavily, pushing Emma off my chest as I rose to light a cigarette. The flame danced, casting flickering shadows on the walls as I inhaled the bitter smoke. It was a futile attempt to calm the storm brewing within me. “It's none of your business,” I growled, my patience worn thin. The women exchanged nervous glances, sensing the darkness gathering around me.“Leave. Now,” I commanded, my voice low and menacing. The women sc
******EMMELINE'S POV*******The pack was silent as each member said their final goodbyes to Skylar. The physician claimed she died from blood loss.Belle gently pressed her arm against mine, offering quiet comfort as I stared at the coffin. I couldn’t find the words.We weren’t friends, but I would never have wished her dead. The image of her, lifeless in a pool of her own blood, had haunted me for days. It was almost impossible to forget.“May the goddess accept your soul,” I whispered as I sprinkled a handful of sand over her coffin, then stepped away.I sat on the balcony, watching the others say their final words. It felt pathetic, thinking about how she died.Luna Maya had said Skylar fell from upstairs, possibly slipped because the floor was wet. But I didn’t buy it.Something happened… someone…“Here,” Devlin said, handing me a bottle of water.“Thank you,” I murmured, chugging it down. I hadn’t even realized how thirsty I was.He took the seat beside me. “How are you holding
I opened my eyes with a loud yawn, feeling like every bone in my body had been shattered into a thousand pieces.A wave of exhaustion weighed me down, heavy and suffocating.Then it hit me—the shift.The transformation in the woods last night.But... I was in my bed. In my room.Had it all just been a dream?The throbbing pain coursing through my body told me otherwise.The door creaked open, and Grace stepped inside carrying a glass of water.“I figured you’d be awake by now,” she muttered, setting the glass down on the table beside me.Before I could even sit up, Marci pushed the door wider, Colima slipping in right behind him.“Are you okay, Cedric?” Colima asked gently, making her way to my bed and sitting down at the edge.“I feel... okay,” I croaked out, my throat dry and raw. The simple act of moving sent a fresh wave of aches through me.Seeing my struggle, Marci stepped forward and carefully helped me sit up against the headboard. “Here, my Lord,” Grace said, handing me the g
*****EMMELINE'S POV*****For days, I had been hiding in my room, too embarrassed to face the pack after being caught in such a compromising position with Devlin.The shame gnawed at me, but even more pressing was the fear — fear that Skylar might go back on her word and expose me.Quentin had been the one bringing me food, making sure I didn't starve.When I heard a knock at the door, a smile tugged at my lips. It was about the usual time Quentin brought lunch.But my smile faltered the moment I opened the door and found Luna Maya standing there, Belle grinning mischievously at her side.I flushed in embarrassment as I stepped back to let them in."Greetings, Luna," I said, bowing respectfully.Luna Maya waved off the formality with a warm smile. "How are you feeling today?"I had lied and said I was sick to avoid everyone. Now, caught off guard, I mumbled, scratching the back of my head,"Uh... better.""Wonderful," she said, her eyes bright. "Because tonight, the pack is hosting a h
*******AVA'S POV*******My father glared at me as Cedric stormed out of the Council meeting. I lowered my head in apology before rushing outside to try and talk some sense into him.But as soon as I stepped out, I spotted him already mounted on Kaelos, his favorite horse, thundering away down the dirt path. I sighed in frustration, clenching my fists helplessly before turning back toward the Council chamber.The moment I reentered, Lord Carlos was already on his feet, his face red with rage.“We cannot keep accepting such blatant disrespect from that brat!” he shouted, slamming his fist onto the table. His furious gaze found me instantly, like it was somehow my fault.My father pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily. “There’s no need for everyone to twist their panties over this,” he muttered. “Ava will keep him in check.”I straightened and bowed my head low. “Yes, Father,” I said quietly.I turned to the rest of the room and offered another stiff bow. “I apologize for Cedr
EMMELINE'S POV “What! Does your name feel unfamiliar now?” she spat, glaring at me with nothing but disgust.Disgust. A look I hadn’t seen in a while not since I came to the Blood Moon pack. It hit harder than I expected.I shoved her hands off me roughly, my voice trembling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”Skylar let out a cold, amused laugh. “Emmeline Gray… don’t you think it’s a little too late to start playing dumb?”My heart thundered in my chest—part fear, part instinct telling me to run.“Don’t even think about it,” she growled, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the way my hands shook. Before I could react, she grabbed both wrists and twisted them behind my back, slamming me hard against the wall. The wind rushed out of me.I tried to struggle, but she was strong—too strong. A trained warrior.“What… what do you want?” I gasped, trying to kick her off, but it was useless.She sneered. “You don’t get to ask me anything, Gray’s little spawn.”Pain surged through my ar
EMMELINE'S POV “Come on, let’s go!” Belle squealed with excitement as she dragged me outside. I laughed, fixing my hair. From what I’d heard, tonight was the annual Lantern Celebration in the pack, it was a Dogar tradition.As we stepped into the courtyard, the rhythmic beat of drums and lively music filled the air. Down by the lake, people were lighting lanterns and scribbling their wishes onto them.“Guys, over here!” Quentin, my newly acquainted friend waved us over to an open spot by the lakeside. The festivities were in full swing under the night sky.“What took you two so long? The lanterns are almost gone! Luckily, I saved some for us,” Quentin scolded as we reached her.Belle gave me a playful smack on the back of the head. “It’s all her fault.”I scratched the back of my neck sheepishly as they both shot me mock glares. Then we all burst out laughing at our own silliness.We joined the queue, lanterns in hand. Belle passed me the ink and a small slip of paper.“Write your wi
EMMELINE'S POV My body froze, caught somewhere between shock and confusion as Devlin pulled away. He gave me a sly smile.“I’ve always wanted to do that,” he whispered near my ear.A shiver ran down my spine- not one of pleasure, but something else entirely. Devlin’s smile faded the moment he saw my face. “I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have…”I didn’t let him finish. I stood abruptly, the chair scraping back behind me, and bolted from the room like my feet were on fire. He didn’t follow. Maybe he understood that I needed space. Or maybe he just didn’t know what to say.I slammed the door shut behind me and locked it, then threw myself onto the bed. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst through my chest.Why did he kiss me?I chewed on my fingernail, spiraling through a mess of thoughts. Does he actually like me?No. No, I couldn’t go there.I couldn’t let myself believe that—couldn’t believe anyone else would find me lovable. Not after what Cedric did. Not when my own m
EMMELINE'S POV I stared at the sky with a paintbrush in hand—I had requested a canvas from Devlin out of boredom. But unfortunately, I had no zeal to paint anymore. I sat there, staring blankly at the paper as if I had forgotten how to use a brush at all.With a sigh, I dropped it. It’s been like this since I left Elgin. No matter how hard I tried, every thought led back to Cedric—it was almost impossible not to think of him.I couldn’t understand the torture the moon goddess was putting me through.Why give me what others desire so deeply, only to make it feel like a curse?The worst part was that I still couldn't stop thinking about how the pack was faring… even after everything they did to me.A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.“Come in. The door’s open,” I muttered, barely glancing up.Belle strolled in with a grin stretched across her face. I frowned immediately—days of being around Belle had taught me to be wary of that grin. It always meant she was up to someth
CEDRIC POV I watched the rain droplets as they fell into the fountain. The door creaked open, and Ava walked in—she had surprisingly been avoiding me.Without a word, she headed to the inner room to take off her wet clothes. I didn’t bother acknowledging her presence.My mind lingered on the memory of seeing her that night by the lake, talking to an unidentified man. By instinct, I’d started observing her more closely. I noticed she left the manor more often than anyone else.“Where were you?” I asked, turning to face her.Ava frowned, her glare sharp with fury. “It’s none of your business, Cedric!”I rolled my eyes at her outburst. If anyone had the right to raise their voice, it was me. But I needed to tread carefully—I still had no idea what the Council’s plan was.“With the witches ready for war, it’s dangerous to walk around so carelessly, don’t you think?”She scoffed. “As if you care about me, Cedric. Besides, the witches are no longer a threat. We’ve already subdued them.”Su