Reader's POV
The news Greg brought, sent cold chills running through the spines of everyone present. Just like Greg had said, he stated that things were getting sour quicker than expected and this was the perfect example for it.Several times, Justin tried to speak but his tongue was tied. It seemed like a lead was tied to his tongue, stopping him from lifting it.Frustration simmered within Justin during the ride to the Blue Lycans pack. Elder Callum suggested that they bring them to his kingdom. Until they find out exactly how to get Karen, Carlos wasn't safe in the werewolf kingdom.But as soon as they arrived, ominous news awaited them.The guards informed Elder Callum and Justin that an envelope had been discovered at the entrance of the throne room, sent by an unknown source. Without hesitation, Justin snatched the envelope and tore it open, scanning its contents.“No, no, no!” he shouted, his fist crashing into the wall.Karen's POVI decided to return to the kingdom with the unconscious Nora. It would be quite impossible to kill her without a full plan. I needed to have some time to help me restrategize. Carlos' sudden appearance had made all my plans go to naught as I strongly believed that he hadn't acted on his own. He must have solicited help from Nora's kingdom and so I had to be extra careful while dealing with them. On arrival, I handed Nora to the physicians. I stood before King Salvador and Queen Dione, and the elders of the kingdom. I could see the concern etched on their faces as I recounted my tale."I am afraid Carlos had already poisoned Nora by the time I reached her," I said, my voice laced with feigned regret. "I managed to rescue her, but I had to escape quickly, as my army was vastly outnumbered."Queen Dione's eyes welled up with tears. "Oh, Karen, you're a hero! We can't thank you enough for saving our daughter."
Nora’s POVCounting in my head to hundred, I kept wishing I could reach the last number as soon as possible as I couldn't stop itching with excitement. At first, it was a dream as I found it hard to believe I was back home, I was back in my kingdom and with my family. Finally, the whole ordeal of being kidnapped was over and now, another round of battle which I was mentally prepared for was lurking around. I was still on my bed, my body limp and my eyes dull while pretending to have memory erased. But little did Karen know that I was just biding my time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.And now, I knew exactly what I had to do. I would use Karen's own motives against him, exploit his weaknesses, and turn his own game back on him.I could hardly wait to see the look on Karen's face when he realized he had been outsmarted by the very person he thought he had broken.I took a silent sigh, my heart racing with excitem
Nora's POV With her eyes glistening with tears, mother ran into the study, pulling me into a tight hug that I felt my breath being cut off. Too weak to do a thing, I just stood there as she continued to squash me in a bear hug while muttering some words in my ears. When she finally pulled away from me, I attempted to wipe the tears off her face but she grabbed my hand mid air. “I'm sorry Nora, please forgive me.” She said, tears rolling down her eyes in torrents. “Come on mom, it's fine.” I flashed her a smile, rubbing her palm to soothe her. “That's not the case Nora.” Wiping her eyes with the back of her palm, she took in a deep breath. “I allowed Karen to mislead me. I was a toy in his game and he made sure to sway me with different talks to get what he needed.” Mother went on and on to talk of how Karen had used her but I didn't judge her a bit. If I was in her place, I would have done the same.
Nora's POVThere was something on the other end of the door that was calling out to me and not until I got it, I wasn't going to return to normalcy. Unable to hold back anymore, I charge towards the door, crushing it to the ground with my wolf strength and revealing my attraction. It was a shining orb. It looked so small but it had so much strength that had kept pulling me in and had eventually caused me to push the door down. Still standing there and admiring it, mother made her way to my side with her hand still folded on her chest. “Are you certain you are ready for this?” She asked, eliciting a low grunt from me. My initial request was a confirmation of Karen's story but she brought me here instead, piquing my interest.There was no going back now or anytime soon. Until I found out what is in that orb or what it signified, I wasn't going to leave. “Since you're curious, it wouldn't
Reader's POV“ Esmeralda!" A faint mysterious voice called out as a beautiful woman appeared, making Nora gasp.Radiating with excitement and so much energy, Princess Esmeralda who was in her thirties was running around the garden, the smile on her face neatly stamped on it. Princess Esmeralda's laughter echoed through the garden, her long, curly brown hair bouncing with each step. Her bright green eyes sparkled with joy, and her pink lips curved into a radiant smile. She was lost in the simple pleasure of running, feeling the warm sun on her skin and the soft grass beneath her feet.Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. She squealed in surprise, her eyes widening as she turned to face her captor. A handsome man with chiseled features and piercing blue eyes gazed back at her, his dark hair messy and endearing."Ha!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with delight. "What are you doing here?"
Reader's POV After a successful escape, Princess Esmeralda ran all the way to the forest which was his hideout. It didn't take long for her to locate the cave which was his abode and immediately she got in, she stepped backwards with her hands around her mouth. Lying at her feet was her mate who looked so battered and weak. It seemed like he had been beaten up mercilessly by the pack soldiers. Falling on her knees, Princess Esmeralda tried to make him sit up but the groans which erupted from his lips terrified her so much that she had to give up trying. Still contemplating on what to do, she began to look around the place but it was shabby. “Draco.” She called, leaning over him with a loving look on her face. Tracing his face with her fingers, she went ahead to say, “I have escaped from my kingdom.”Surprised, he mustered all of his energy to sit up and with a look of worry on his face, he asked, “Why? Why will you do that Esmeralda?” “My father wouldn't let me get mated to yo
Reader's POV Alpha Draco’s quest for power led him into doing a lot of unimaginable things. He was obsessed with power and all he wanted was to keep acquiring more and more power so he would be able to rule the world.The Lycan Kingdom was ravaged by war for ten long years, as King Draco's insatiable lust for power drove him to invade and conquer the surrounding kingdoms. His ambition knew no bounds, and he sought to rule over all of the Lycan realms. But, despite his formidable strength and cunning, the full power of the pendant couldn't be unlocked. The more blood-thirsty he was, the more the power of the pendant continued to consume him.The powers of the Blood sorcerers was a powerful lineage that held the key to unlocking unimaginable power. However, its secrets remained elusive to King Draco, and he became increasingly obsessed with finding the missing piece to unlock its full potential.Unfortunately, the pendant was becoming cursed with each passing year. He needed the missi
Reader's POVIt's been more than eighteen years and the weight of her mother's mission to her remained unfulfilled. The beautiful yet fierce younger self of Queen Dione stared at the guard whose scent was hidden to hid his mission.With a cold glint, Dione chuckled, her plans moving steadily.Princess Dione's eyes burned with determination as she thought back on the weight of her mission. Her mother, Esmeralda, had entrusted her with a sacred task before passing away.She had to retrieve the pendant from the Ancient Lycan Kingdom and prevent it from unleashing a poisonous darkness upon the world.Princess Esmeralda, her mother, who was angered by King Draco's betrayal, tried all she could to get revenge but she had lost all of her powers and there was no remedy. All of her powers, she passed them into the pendant because she felt she was doing the right thing. Since she wouldn't be able to fight King Draco, she decided to make h
NORA'S POVI stared out the window of my chambers, watching Carlos train with his warriors in the courtyard below. His movements were precise, and powerful.How could I reconcile these two versions of him? The gentle Carlos who I love so much, and the ons in my memory.The past two weeks had been a nightmare of confusion. Ever since I'd touched the pendant in that hidden room, memories had been returning in disjointed flashes. Scenes of violence and loss that left me breathless with grief and rage. And always at the center of these visions was Carlos, giving orders that resulted in flames and death.Yet something deep inside me resisted fully embracing these memories. Something whispered that there was more to the story, pieces I was still missing.A lot had been going on lately. I had intentionally kept my distance from Carlos. I was constantly struggling not to hate
GRIFFIN POVThe forest became denser as I continued my run. I pushed myself harder, feeling the strain in every muscle, welcoming the physical pain as distraction from my thoughts. My lycan form moved with speed no ordinary human could match, leaping over fallen logs and weaving between trunks with fluid grace.Gradually, the blind rage and frustration began to fade. My breathing evened, and my mind cleared enough to think. I slowed my pace, eventually coming to a stop beside a small mountain stream. The water ran clear and cold over smooth stones, and I lowered my muzzle to drink deeply before shifting back to human form.Naked and exhausted, I sat on a boulder by the water's edge, letting the cool night air dry the sweat from my skin. My thoughts inevitably turned to Nora.Despite everything. Despite the bind thaf the sorceress had me in, despite my hatred for Carlos, I couldn't deny that something
GRIFFIN POVMy heart clenched at the sight of my grandfather, or rather adopted grandfather. It's been five years since I came in contact with him, yet his domineering presence still lingered.I clenched my fist tightly, the stinging pain from Elder Silvarum's slap radiating through my body like fire. The force of it had been more than physical—there was magic in that strike, old magic that reminded me exactly who I was dealing with. My grandfather had always been formidable, but seeing the fury in his eyes now made me remember why he was feared even among the most powerful.His eyes glared into mine, demanding answers I couldn't give. The truth caught in my throat. How could even explain that the sorceress who saved me from death had bound me with magic so powerful that even speaking of our agreement would trigger unimaginable pain?"You disappoint me, Karen," Elder Silvarum said, using
CARLOS' POVBlood dripped from my split lip, and my ribs ached where Griffin landed a solid punch. But physical pain was nothing compared to the rage burning inside me."What have you done to Nora's memories?" I demanded.Griffin's smile was wolfish. "I simply helped her remember what you really are."Something changed in the air suddenly. A shift in energy that raised the hair on the back of my neck. Griffin rolled his shoulders, and I recognized the telltale signs of what was coming."You!" I accused. His only response was a low chuckle as his body began to change.The change took him quickly—bones cracking and reforming, skin stretching over growing muscle, human cries morphing into bestial growls. Where Griffin had stood moments ago, a massive wolf now crouched, teeth bared in challenge.I had no choice. I let my own transformation take me, embracing the pain as my body shifted forms. Within seconds, I sto
CARLOS POVI stared at Nora across the room. Her eyes, once warm and trusting, now held nothing but suspicion and anger. She had been questioning me for hours now without stopping. "The pendant," she said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes. "The pendant I gave you. You rejected it, right?"I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. "The pendant? The same pendant you gave me? Come on Nora. None of those matters right now.""That's not what I asked." Her fingers tightened around the glass of water she held. "In my vision, I saw you reject it. I saw the look on your face. The look of disgust abd disdain. Why?"I remembered how I rejected Nora and her pendant. But telling her that now would only lead to more questions, questions that would inevitably reveal the worst of my past actions. It would only make her hate me even more. "I never rejected the pendant," I lied, forcing myself to meet her gaze. "You're remem
CARLOS POVI felt it without warning—a sudden rush of power surging through the walls of our home, the unmistakable energy signature of the pendant. It was the same overwhelming sensation I'd experienced during the war when the pendant's power had first manifested. My heart raced as I bolted upright from my desk, papers scattering to the floor unnoticed."Nora," I whispered, already running.I sprinted down the corridor towards the room. When I flung the door open, the room was empty, windows closed. I cursed under my breath. There was only one place she could be."The secret room," I muttered, increasing my steps. I feared for what was happening. I hoped that it was not what I was thinking, even though I was trying to prevent myself from thinking about it. I avoidedthe thoughts because it would only make me panic even more. As I raced through the winding passages of the house Elder Silvarum's warning echoed in my mind... "Keep
NORAI heard a voice calling my name, pulling me out of the swirling vortex of memories. The sound seemed to come from very far away at first, then gradually grew closer."Nora! Nora, can you hear me? Wake up!"My eyes fluttered open, struggling to regain focus. The room seemed dark at first, but gradually my eyes began to adjust. Not the secret chamber where I had passed, but our bedroom—familiar walls. I was lying in our bed. Carlos sat beside me, his face filled with worry and concern. "Thank god. You're finally awake Nora." Finally, relieve displayed on his features and he sighed deeply. I stared at him, trying to reconcile the man before me with the one in my memories—the one who had rejected me, sent wolves to push me off a cliff, the one who had nearly ended my life because I wasn't the right kind of wolf he wanted. I wondered if that was another dream? Waking up in the bedroom meant that I was dreaming
THIRD POV (Memories 2)The flood of memories continued filling Nora's unconscious form, each revelation more shocking than the last.A new face emerged from the swirling memories. The same face she had seen countless times in her dreams. The man she had always called Karen in her dreams stood before her in the palace training grounds, wooden practice sword in hand."Again," Karen commanded, circling Nora on the packed dirt of the training arena. "Your enemies won't give you time to catch your breath, Princess."Nora's younger self lunged forward, sweat dripping down her face as she executed a complex series of moves with her own practice sword. Though her muscles trembled with exhaustion, determination blazed in her eyes."Better," Karen said with a slight nod. "But your left side is still vulnerable. You have to put in more effort if you want to get it right."Nora thought that she had put in all the effort she could access and
THIRD POV (Memories 1)As Nora lay unconscious on the bare floor of the hidden chamber, her mind was floating in a sea of recovered memories. The first memory came in vivid detail. A warm summer evening, stars scattered across the sky like diamonds. A younger Nora stood before Carlos in an opening, her heart pounding with anticipation and filled with love. In her outstretched hands lay the pendant, its opal gleaming in the moonlight.Nora was smiling sheepishly. Although, she was shy... she still managed to do what she wanted to do. "I want you to have this," she told him, her voice trembling slightly. "I brought it for you. It's to show how deeply I love you." Carlos's face— younger, but with the same features, looked down at the pendant with an expression Nora couldn't quite read. She slightly lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling shy. "The moon goddess sees all true connections," Nora continued, hope evident in her voice. "Wi