I felt warm and content in Michael’s arms. My body relaxed, and I breathed in his intoxicating scent. This softer side of Michael was different from what I had seen before. He seemed gentle and caring now, which I found far more comfortable than the possessive and controlling manner he’d shown in the past.Michael hadn’t been cruel before, but anyone could feel the strain of his intense presence. I realized now that he was a prince, accustomed to giving orders and speaking with authority. But I preferred this side of him—the one that wasn’t wrapped up in the weight of leadership.I placed my hand on his strong arm, and for a while, we just enjoyed the moment together. My plan seemed to be working. Instead of resisting him, I had found a way to connect with him, and it was making a difference. Michael wasn’t as guarded as he used to be. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying the time we spent together. More than that, I could sense his relief. Our bond was strengthening in a way it hadn’t b
"This is the easiest way, not the only way," Michael said, narrowing his eyes. "There’s a more peaceful way, but it’s a lot more complicated. That’s why most royal Lycans prefer to end it quickly with a duel, killing the other party.""For a royal Lycan, killing an ordinary werewolf in battle seems... too easy," I pointed out. "It feels unfair. You kill their mate and then expect that person to just accept it and become yours?"Michael shrugged, his expression indifferent. "I didn’t make these rules. This is just how things are. It’s a natural outcome, a natural choice. We’re only following what others have done before us."He paused for a moment, then added, "Cecily, you have to understand, it’s already rare for Lycans to find their fated mates. When we do find them, we can't just let them go because they’re already bonded to someone else. That’s not how we’re built. It goes against our nature.""But have you ever thought about how the other person feels?" I asked, my voice soft but
"Kate says I’m too soft, but I don’t see it that way," I said quietly. "I’m doing this for me. I can be weak sometimes, and if Robert goes to werewolf court because of me and they find him guilty, I’ll feel responsible. The guilt will eat at me. I know I won’t be able to shake it off, and I just can’t change that about myself. So please, Michael, can you help me—for my sake?"Michael turned to face me again, his eyes locking onto mine. "He almost destroyed you," he said, his voice strained with anger. "I let him go once because you asked me to. And now you want me to plead for him? For a bastard who nearly took my mate away from me? Every part of me wants to kill him right now!""I know," I replied, feeling a pang of frustration. "I don’t act like a typical werewolf. But you never knew me before college. Back then, I was just a regular, unknown girl. I didn’t want to hurt anyone."Our eyes met, and I could see myself reflected in his pupils. He was studying me closely, as if trying to
I had noticed it a few days ago—I felt more connected to Michael, not just physically but emotionally. At the time, I assumed it was because we’d been spending so much time together. But now, as Michael spoke, it was clear that he meant something more than just our closeness. There was a deeper meaning behind his words, especially when he mentioned the Lycans and marking.Michael smirked, pretending to complain, "You’re so full of passion these days. You’re practically wearing me out. I didn’t realize you had such a wild side!"I shot him an irritated look, not appreciating how he twisted the situation. "Just explain what you meant," I said, cutting through his playful tone.Michael’s smile faded, and his expression grew serious. "I’ve kept you close for the past few days. Have you felt trapped? Do you still think I’m just some unreasonable tyrant?"I didn’t dare to say what I was thinking—Aren’t you? Instead, I just gave him a sideways glance.Michael let out a long sigh. "I’m not a
I nodded as Michael explained. Even though we were werewolves, we had adapted to human society and followed many of their educational systems. One of the key lessons was about Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which he had developed after years of observing animals, plants, and geology. His hypothesis—that all species evolved from a common ancestor through natural selection and the survival of the fittest—was a cornerstone of modern biology.We, as werewolves, accepted this theory, especially because our own existence was a result of a mutation that blended the characteristics of wolves and humans. Over centuries of evolution, we had taken on this hybrid form."The royal Lycans understand this process more deeply than any human anthropologist ever could," Michael continued. "We have a direct connection to our ancestors, and our bloodline is evidence of that. In the beginning, Lycans and werewolves weren’t as united as they are today. Lycans saw themselves as superior, looking down
As Michael spoke, my mind drifted, trying to process everything. If what he said was true, then his actions—what he did to me—weren't just out of anger but were part of some bigger plan. Helping me. Strengthening me. Still, it was hard to wrap my head around the idea that sex could accelerate energy conversion. Who knew werewolves and Lycans had such an unconventional method of transformation?"The way you Lycans transform werewolves is...," I hesitated, wanting to say "lewd" but not finding the nerve to say it out loud.Michael flashed a wicked smile. "Of course not."I thought about everything that had happened between us and couldn’t help but ask, “Then, what exactly did you do to me?”"Typically, if the Moon Goddess pairs a werewolf with a Lycan mate, the werewolf will slowly evolve into a Lycan over time," Michael explained casually. "How fast that happens depends on the strength of the Lycan and the bond between them. But," he added, his grin widening, "sex is the quickest way t
As I focused on the blonde woman standing across the room, a deep unease settled over me. After my run-in with Alison, I had developed a natural aversion to blondes. But this woman was different. While Alison was youthful and attention-seeking, this stranger had an air of maturity and elegance that was hard to ignore. She was poised, confident, and carried herself with a kind of regal grace that radiated power.Her striking sapphire-blue eyes captured the attention of everyone in the room, and her skin had a healthy, glowing sheen. There was no denying that she was a royal Lycan. Unlike others I’d seen, she didn’t wear her status like a weapon. She exuded confidence, but it wasn’t the arrogant, showy kind. It was quiet, self-assured—like she knew exactly who she was and didn’t need to prove it to anyone.I frowned, unsure of who she was or why she was here.The blonde noticed me standing beside Michael, but her gaze swept past me like I wasn’t even worth acknowledging. It was as if I
The distant, detached expression that had clouded Michael’s face was completely gone. Now, his eyes were on me, full of curiosity, as if I had just done something totally unexpected.I had shouted at the top of my lungs, and now, every single person in the room was staring at me like I was some kind of wild animal. My arm was still raised, my fist clenched tight, while Mia, my wolf, was raging inside me, practically clawing at the surface, desperate to take control.I couldn’t believe what I was doing. I wasn’t normally like this—so impulsive, so aggressive. But something about this woman, Joanna, was setting me off in a way I’d never felt before.“Mia, we can’t just go around attacking people!” I whispered internally, trying to reason with her.“She’s touching our mate,” Mia growled back at me. “Get her away from him!”And just like that, Sasha chimed in, backing Mia’s demand with her own snappy voice. “Joanna, I think you’ve overstayed your welcome. Get out.”Joanna’s eyes finally l
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with