"Somebody is about to get a beating!"Cathy deliberately said it loudly.Joe tugged at her sleeve, his expression nervous as he glanced at me. But seeing him defend me, Cathy's anger only intensified. She escalated her mockery in front of our father, hoping to further fuel the conflict between us: "So, Claire, where did you spend the night yesterday?"I stood still, not moving, and simply smirked as I retorted, "What's that got to do with you?""I'm just curious," Cathy raised her eyebrows provocatively, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, pretending to be concerned about me. Her gaze scrutinized the pearl-adorned white dress I was wearing. "After all, you're my sister. Besides, I remember this dress isn't yours, is it?"She feigned surprise, covering her mouth with her hand, and asked, "Oh my, Claire, did you spend the night at some wealthy billionaire's place? How did you convince him to buy you such an expensive dress? ... Are you okay?"Upon hearing her words, I thought I
I was startled by Joe's sudden action.As soon as I realized what he had done, my anger surged once again.My wolf immediately went into a defensive stance as I stared at him warily. "Let go! You have no right to stop me!""As a matter of fact, I do," Joe's expression turned grim, and at that moment, he seemed even scarier than my father. "Have you forgotten? I will be the Alpha of the pack after marrying Cathy. I have the authority to order you to stay here!"I couldn't help but roll my eyes at him."You, the bastard who uses women, have the audacity to say such things to me?" I mocked, disregarding Joe's livid face. I forcefully pulled my arm out of his grip. "Get lost. Disappear from my sight before my patience runs out, or else I'll have my lawyer serve you a subpoena right now!"After speaking, I sadly lowered my head and looked at the red mark left on my wrist.I must remember to disinfect and clean it properly when I get back."A lawyer?" Joe sneered. Clearly, he didn't believe
Louis's golden hair shimmered like flowing gold in the afternoon sunlight, his tall figure completely enveloping mine. Those eyes, bluer than the sky, stared at me without blinking. For some reason, I felt that his expression now seemed somewhat complicated.Facing Joe's attack, Louis didn't even bother to look up, instead using one hand to choke Joe's neck and effortlessly lift him up.Due to extreme fear and the pain of suffocation, Joe's legs thrashed in mid-air, his eyes bulging. He pleaded desperately with a dying voice, "Please... Your Highness... forgive me..."But Louis remained unmoved. He stared at me as if he hadn't heard Joe's pleas, his head bowed."Why didn't you call me?" he questioned.Moon goddess, forgive me for my disrespect towards the royal family. But his tone now, it really sounded a bit like a husband questioning his wife why she didn't come home at night....Damn it, why am I thinking like this?"I-I informed Alfred," I stammered in response, "I just came back
What does he want to do!?Every pore of my body screamed and trembled. But I quickly realized that I couldn't show any flaws in front of Cathy!So I shyly lowered my head and whispered to him, "Can we continue this later?"Because of my position, I didn't see the fleeting smile in Prince Louis' eyes. All I could think about now was how to leave this place with him.Perhaps the moon goddess heard my plea. After a few seconds of silence, Louis finally spoke with mercy, "Alright, I'll listen to you."I breathed a sigh of relief. My tense body gradually relaxed. I turned to glance at Cathy and the others present, and for some reason, my mood surprisingly calmed."Are you really going with him?" Cathy mustered the courage to ask. She clearly still held fear towards Prince Louis, but her eyes, filled with a mixture of reluctance, jealousy, and some other complex emotions, stared directly at me. She seemed eager to know the nature of our relationship."Yes," I answered.Louis' gaze swept bet
"Her room?"Prince Louis repeated my words in a puzzled tone. But soon he understood and let out a deep chuckle from the depths of his throat, pressing his entire body against my shoulder.His hand tightly wrapped around my waist, and the touch of his skin felt like it was on fire, spreading from one point to my entire body in an instant. In this position, I had nowhere to place my hands, so I gripped onto the high-end pure black suit that Prince Louis was wearing."No, please don't," I bit my lip and, like a dying swan, tried to lift my neck in an attempt to avoid his scorching breath spraying on my neck. "Your Highness, I'm serious. I have seen it, including the black lace nightgown in that wardrobe."I suppressed my voice, deliberately reminding him."Believe me, Claire, I am just as serious as you are."Prince Louis lightly kissed my burning earlobe and spoke to me in a hoarse, deep voice.In the dim car, I was shaken by the flickering fire in his blue eyes. His gaze was like two
This kiss was different from before.It was gentle, hot, and lingering, like desire sparked under flickering candlelight. It wasn't scorching, yet it was enough to put me on a trace.Prince Louis held me close, his tongue boldly invading my mouth. He invaded with a gentle but irresistible force, as if patrolling his private territory. I was initially intoxicated, but soon, as his tongue delved deeper, I gradually felt overwhelmed.I could only make trembling moans from the depths of my throat, tilting my neck back, surrendering to his dominant kiss.I didn't know how much time had passed, perhaps a few seconds or a few minutes, but the process felt unusually long and tormenting. My heart, which had settled down, started pounding vigorously again. By the time he mercifully released me, my head was already muddled and incapable of coherent thoughts.I was utterly powerless, only able to rest my forehead against his shoulder, gasping for breath, even my shoulders trembling slightly.The
"I...,"I opened my mouth, feeling somewhat flustered as I looked at him. At Louis's slightly disappointed gaze, I slowly shook my head.After helping that boy, a portion of my memory inexplicably went missing. The only thing I remembered was that when I woke up again, I was already in a hospital near the campsite.Who saved me?I recall my mother sitting by the bedside, her eyes red and filled with tears. She held my hand tightly, her eyes shimmering with tears. She told me that both of us, a significant figure and I, were found in the forest, severely injured. Fortunately, due to timely medical treatment, neither of us was in mortal danger.That hunting event eventually turned into an investigation.I weakly lay on the hospital bed, dazedly listening to my mother as she spoke. It seemed that the king was furious.Many werewolves were banished or even executed, while a she-wolf who saved us was honored by the royal family for her bravery and kindness, receiving the highest honors.As
A prince wants to pursue me?How is that possible?But the feeling of that kiss was so wonderful that I couldn't control my thoughts. My wolf told me she didn't dislike the man in front of us, but I really didn't want her to suffer any more harm."Yes," I heard Prince Louis answer confidently.He even seemed a bit surprised as he asked me, "Goodness, Claire, do you think I'm the kind of womanizer who flirts with any beautiful woman? My reputation may not be great, but I have never done any terrible thing.""But," I stuttered in my response, "I'm not ready for another relationship, in fact, I am..."My emotions gradually became heavy. Because I remembered the agonizing state my wolf was in yesterday and Cathy's words today.I was well aware that the man in front of me was a prince.'And you,' I said to myself, 'Claire, look at yourself. You're homeless, a lone wolf without a pack, and you haven't even finished university. You don't even have the ability to support yourself... Even that
Maria's POV“What happened? What’s going on?!”The sudden explosion of cheers woke me from my drowsiness. I looked around in panic, and only after confirming that there was no danger did I finally relax. I grabbed Mandy, who was leaning on a broom and watching TV with great interest.“Mandy, what’s going on? Why is it suddenly so noisy outside?”“That’s not noise, Maria,” Mandy said, revealing an ugly smile with a mouth full of crooked teeth. “Alpha Louis just announced his heir!”Hearing the name that hadn’t appeared in my life for so long, it took me a few seconds to finally react. “Louis? Prince Louis?! He’s become the Alpha King now?!”“You really are a country bumpkin.” Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically at me and disdainfully pushed my arm away. “That happened last month. Haven’t you heard? Our Alpha even has an heir now.”“Heir?”The moment of confusion was quickly replaced by a surge of joy.Yes, the heir—it must be my Chris! My Chris has become the heir of the kingdom. That m
Louis's POV"Your Majesty, here is your speech."Kyle's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I quickly turned off my phone, hiding Claire's refusal from the screen."Sure." I took the paper Kyle handed me and scanned it quickly, frowning. "Isn't this a bit too formal?"Kyle shrugged. "Well, Your Majesty, tonight is an official ceremony. After all, every werewolf will witness Claire becoming our Luna.""Alright."I nodded in agreement, folded the paper, and tucked it into my suit pocket. Then, I checked my watch. "How long until the wedding starts?""About twenty minutes. Perhaps you would like to wait outside? The media is ready."Glancing out at the castle lawn, I saw the sea of people and cameras aimed at the wedding venue. Surrounding the crowd were countless armed guards maintaining order.I withdrew my gaze and chuckled. "This might be the grandest ceremony of the year, don't you think?""Well, perhaps the grandest ceremony of the century."Kyle responded with a smile. "Shall we
Claire's POV"Are you sure this dress looks okay, Olivia?"I anxiously tugged at the wedding gown and stared nervously at my reflection in the mirror. Damn, my waist still looks a bit bulky."Am I the only one who thinks this dress makes me look fat?""Yes, my dear Luna."Olivia, who had already helped me change into the third wedding dress, rolled her eyes at me. "You look absolutely stunning, Claire. You're just experiencing a common condition called pre-wedding anxiety."As she spoke, Olivia lifted the large train of my dress to prevent Kitty from stepping on it."Don't believe me? Ask Kitty! Kitty, do you think Claire looks beautiful?"Caught off guard, Kitty turned around, holding a flower basket slung over her shoulder. It was empty of petals, but she already looked as cute as a doll.Oh, how I wished my first child would be a girl as adorable as her! I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess.But the sweet Kitty couldn't hear my thoughts. She tilted her head and carefully examined
Louis's POV"This will likely be our last meeting, Prince Louis."In a small tavern near the Southern Forest, Garfield Evans, clad in black and wearing a hood, sat across from me. The arrogance and ambition once evident in his demeanor were replaced with a bitter smile and an unhidden hatred towards his enemies."I suppose so," I replied, ignoring Garfield's raised glass and instead downing my drink in one gulp. "After all, the Southern Forest is a terrifying place. Even my brother met his end there.""Well, dying in the same place as Liam would be a kind of luck," Garfield responded with a resigned smile, but I could see the sincerity mixed with sorrow in his moist eyes."Don't forget, this time you'll face not only the horrors of the Southern Forest but also the secret organization hiding within it, which opposes the royal family. They are your real enemies.""I'll never forget that, Your Highness. Rest assured, I will avenge Liam before I breathe my last!"The rekindled murderous i
Claire's POV“So… you really plan to exile Evans?” I asked cautiously after listening to Louis recount the events in the dungeon the previous night. “What about the Black Mountain pack? They’re already stirring, trying to overthrow the royal family. Won’t this only fuel their ambitions?”“On the contrary. I plan to convene the Council of Elders and hold a public trial for Garfield Evans. Once his crimes are exposed to all the werewolves, everyone will understand why I imprisoned him. By then, the Black Mountain pack will have no justification for opposing the royal family.”Louis calmly analyzed the situation while peeling a grape and placing it in my mouth. I nodded thoughtfully, but then immediately spat it out, wrinkling my nose.Louis looked at me in concern, “What’s wrong?”“The grape tastes bad,” I said, my mouth puckering from the sourness.“Really?” Louis glanced at the grapes on the table and immediately summoned Alfred.“Your Highness.”“Claire says the grapes are bad.”“Bad
Garfield's POV“Say it again—what did you do to him?!” I tightened my grip on Maria’s throat, feeling an overwhelming urge to snap it right there and then.“Tell me, Maria, what else did you do to him?!!”“Let go of me! Garfield!”Maria's face had turned purple, her flailing legs now dancing on the edge of the abyss. Even this couldn’t quench the burning hatred I felt for this woman.Blood debts must be paid in blood!Anger surged within me. Just as I resolved to end her wretched life, a figure crashed into me. My injured leg gave out, and I fell into a puddle, releasing my hold on Maria."Seize them all!"Prince Louis’s commanding voice echoed in the dank, hollow dungeon. Within moments, torches illuminated the damp darkness. A squad of armed guards swarmed the small cell, capturing Maria, Rick, and me, dragging us before Louis.“Prince Louis, Evans... Evans tried to kill me!”Louis’s appearance was Maria’s salvation. She cried out, reaching for Louis’s robe, but he recoiled in disgu
Garfield's POV"Alpha!"Just as I was coaxing Kitty to finish her broccoli, a figure once again climbed through the window."Rick?" I narrowed my eyes at my beta, my tone growing stern. "I don't recall ordering you to enter the castle again.""I'm very sorry, Alpha."Rick's expression was serious under my rebuke. "I followed your instructions that night, intending to take Chris from Maria's villa. But I discovered something important that I felt I had to report to you immediately."I scrutinized Rick. Though he wasn’t particularly sharp, he had always been loyal. If he claimed to have made a significant discovery, then…I set down the bowl in my hand and said, "Go ahead. What did you find out?""Last night, Chris suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital.""What?!" My voice involuntarily showed my anxiety. "How is he now? Is he alright?!""No. In fact, I overheard the doctor and Maria talking. The doctor said Chris's illness is congenital and very difficult to cure—unless Maria
Maria's POVThings were progressing smoothly.I walked quickly through the castle’s corridors, followed by three or four guards. They were accompanying me to retrieve Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings on Louis’s orders. However, these items were useless in saving my son’s life. The only person who could save Chris now was someone else entirely.“Ouch!” I exclaimed in pain, clutching my stomach and suddenly squatting down.“What happened?!”“I... my stomach hurts.” I faced the approaching guards, looking distressed and speaking weakly, “I’ve been too stressed about Chris’s illness, and my stomach problems have flared up again.”“What should we do?!” One of the guards scratched his head, looking worried. “Should I notify Prince Louis…”“No, there’s no time to waste!” I bit my lip, feigning great pain, and interrupted the guard’s suggestion. “The most important thing now is to get Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings! If Chris wakes up, he will surely want to see his father first…
Claire's POV“What? Chris is in the hospital?! What happened?!”“Calm down, my dear.”Louis gently pushed me back onto the couch, but his brows remained furrowed. He turned to the guard who brought the news and asked, “Could this be another one of Maria’s schemes? Is she trying to gain sympathy using Chris?”“No.” The guard lowered his head and relayed the information he received from the doctor about Chris’s condition.“Moreover, I inquired with the emergency team that responded that night. They all confirmed that Chris nearly suffocated to death.”The words “nearly suffocated” left Louis in silence, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of worry for the innocent boy. No matter what Maria had done, Chris was just a child. Besides, he was Liam’s only son.Thinking this, I turned to the guard and asked, “Which hospital is Chris in now?”“Saint Richard’s Hospital, but Chris is still unconscious. The doctors have recommended no visitors.”It seemed Chris was gravely ill this time. Both Lo