Claire's POV"Can I come in? Louis?"I leaned forward, carefully listening to the sounds inside the small cabin. Once I confirmed there was someone inside, I spoke up again, "I want to talk to you."The next moment, the door opened.Louis grabbed the doorknob with his hand, blocking his tall and sturdy figure in front of the door, "How did you find this place?""I asked Alfred. He told me that whenever you felt troubled, you would hide in this little cabin.""The castle is mine, so I don't need to hide anywhere."Louis's face was cold, and he looked down at me with an imposing and calm gaze, but when his eyes noticed the pale look on my face due to the evening breeze, his tone softened."Come in.""Thank you."I smiled and followed Louis into the small cabin.As soon as we entered, Louis immediately sat in a rocking chair near the fireplace, spreading his arms open and looking at me with a dignified and calm gaze, as if a monarch waiting for his subjects to report."You said you wante
Louis's POV"What's the big deal?" I lifted Claire's chin, getting a clear view of her face and the shy expression that stirred something possessive deep within me."I think the most serious matter right now is for us to have some fun while the ball hasn't started yet.""Of course not, Louis!" Claire sprang out of my embrace like a shy little rabbit, earnestly starting her persuasion. "We should take advantage of the ball not having started yet to resolve the issue with the necklace. I've come up with an idea for that."Claire's words successfully caught my attention. I hesitated, looking at her, asking, "An idea? Did you find the necklace?""Not yet, but I've asked Olivia and Kyle to look for it," Claire quickly replied. "I mean, I'm talking about a solution regarding the royal token. You mentioned before that if I don't have the royal token, my identity won't be recognized by the royal family, nor will it convince other guests, right?""Yes?""I have an idea." A sly smile flashed ac
Louis's POVI led Claire back to the castle, hand in hand.Compared to the lively atmosphere earlier in the afternoon, there was now a tense air in the ballroom. Obviously, news of what had happened in the ladies' lounge had spread among the guests. Many wore nervous expressions, fearing they might incur wrath themselves. But there were also a few with smug looks, Cathy being one of them.I smirked inwardly, surprised by the audacity of this girl. After I explicitly ordered her to leave the castle, she dared to sneak into my ball, wearing a false and nauseating smile, weaving among the young nobles, trying to find herself a man.She didn't need to go through all this trouble, I thought to myself, contemplating where to send her."Cathy Gambino," I calmly pronounced the woman's name."Yes?"Cathy immediately turned her head, sporting her false smile, but when her eyes met mine, her expression froze. Fear and unease surfaced in her eyes, quickly taking over her entire body."Your Highne
Claire's POV"What?! Fiancée?!""Oh my god, how did that woman become the prince's fiancée? We haven't even heard of her!""Wasn't it said that Prince Louis has always loved Maria?""The prince must have lost his mind!""Maybe this woman put a spell on the prince, confusing his mind!"Louis's public announcement of my new identity undoubtedly dropped like a bomb in the center of the ball. The hall, once filled with silence, erupted into murmurs and discussions. Countless eyes fell on me, countless gazes wandered between me and Louis, containing both shock and hidden jealousy.But none of this could stop me from walking firmly toward Louis. Amidst the numerous suspicions and discussions, I smiled and placed my hand in Louis's outstretched palm, following his footsteps onto the stage.Ignoring the noisy crowd below, Louis turned his head on the stage, and in his azure eyes, there was only my figure."Are you ready, my dear mate?""Yes, my dear fiancé."We exchanged a smile, seeing the d
Claire's POV"Where's your token, Claire? Without the royal token, you'll never be part of the royal family!"Down on the stage, Maria was glaring at me.With her prompting and guidance, the crowd, which had previously remained silent out of fear, became noisy once again. Countless eyes were scrutinizing me, speculating about my dress and guessing where I might have hidden the token."You can't answer, can you? Is it because you don't even have a token?"Maria, thinking she had me cornered, smirked with satisfaction, her eyes gleaming."Tell me, Claire, are you pushing Prince Louis to announce your engagement tonight just to take advantage of the fact that everyone is still mourning and grieving over Luna Diana's death, so you can seize the opportunity to climb up the ladder?"The crowd erupted once again at Maria's malicious insinuations. This time, their looks towards me changed from suspicion to shock and anger."People with malicious intentions always like to speculate with malici
Louis's POV"The king's decree?"I forcefully suppressed the nameless anger rising from within as I kept a vigilant gaze on Garfield standing proudly below the stage."Do you know that forging the king's decree is an act of treason, Evans?"However, despite my warning, I couldn't discern any fear or hesitation in Garfield's dark eyes."Of course, I do, Your Highness. I believe the king entrusted it to me because he values my loyalty to the royal family.""Loyalty? What a loyalty."Watching Evans utter these nonsense words, I let out a cold chuckle. The innate aura of the Lycan helped me quickly stabilize my mind, and my eyes scanned the nobles in the ballroom. They wore various expressions, but none dared to step forward and directly challenge Evans.Very well. I narrowed my eyes."Since you are fully aware of the consequences, Evans, then, after the ball ends, come to my study to see me.""No, Your Highness." Unyielding, Evans persisted, "The king once ordered me to publicly announce
Louis's POV"You d.amned liar!"Angry growls shattered the silence of the ball.I raised my hand, summoning the guards at the door and giving them orders, "Capture the criminal who forged the king's command and lock him up!""Yes!"Guards armed with weapons cut through the crowd, about to apprehend Evans. However, amid the chaos, another elderly voice sounded."Your Highness, please don't do this!"Royston, the Alpha of the Greenwood pack, stepped between the guards and Evans. He looked up at me with pleading eyes, his wrinkled face betraying his anxiety."Evans is an advisor to the elders. Even if you doubt the authenticity of this letter, you should convene the elders first and let them decide how to deal with Evans."But Royston's plea only fueled my anger. With a warning gaze, I quickly scanned every face below, roaring with a low growl."I am your future king! Even if tonight I want to take Evans's head, you can only watch me do it! Because I am your Alpha! No one can disobey my
Garfield's POV"Don't you think your actions were too reckless? Didn't you notice Louis's expression? He looked like he really wanted to kill you!"The woman's shrill screams annoyed me, and I furrowed my brow, accidentally agitating the wound on my temple.This only worsened my mood.I gave a cold glance at Maria, who was pacing around the room like a fly, feeling gloomy."If you're not here to thank me, then you can shut up, Maria.""Thank you? Why would I thank you?" Maria sneered at me, "Louis never acknowledged me as his mate from the beginning to the end! Let alone letting me become his Luna!""Do you think stealing Claire's royal token would help you become Louis's mate?"I mercilessly exposed Maria's scheming, almost cursing through gritted teeth, "You're incredibly foolish! You almost ruined our plan!""Who says I stole...""Shut up, you fool!" I interrupted Maria's sophistry with a stern voice, "Do you think your little tricks are clever? Anyone with half a brain could see h
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