Chapter 65 : Luna’s CeremonyLeina ~The village square was already filling with people by the time I stepped outside. Faces I had known all my life turned to greet me, with their bright smiles, voices filled with warmth.“Luna,” someone called, waving from the crowd.“Good morning, Luna!” another greeted me.I smiled softly and waved back, though my body felt heavier than usual, and my legs ached as I made my way through the crowd. I should have felt stronger today, of all days. It was my last day as Luna, the day I would officially pass on the title to Tessa.But something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones. May had been silent for days now. She wasn’t responding to my calls, and it worried me more than I wanted to admit. I tried to push the thought away as I reached the center of the square where the ceremony would take place.The elders were there, already preparing for the official proceedings. Tessa stood beside them, in a stiff posture, nervous energy rolling off he
Chapter 66 : Leina’s DeathKaya ~ Chapter 65:I was standing at the edge of the square when it happened.Leina was just about to finish the ceremony, about to pass the Luna’s power to Tessa. I watched her closely, the way she moved slowly, the tiredness in her eyes. Something about her seemed off today, but I thought it was just the annoyance of the ceremony.Then, she coughed. It sounded sharp, unnatural.At first, no one reacted. We all thought it was nothing. But then she coughed again, and this time, blood spilled from her mouth.My heart stopped.“Leina!” I shouted, pushing through the crowd. I didn’t think. I just ran.She collapsed before I could reach her. Tessa tried to catch her, but she wasn’t fast enough. Leina hit the ground, hard. I was there a second later, kneeling beside her, my hands started shaking as I reached for her.“Leina, no!” I shouted again in a voice that seemed to lose control.Her body was limp, her skin cold. Blood covered her lips, and it kept coming,
Chapter One: Trapped****“Plea—!” My voice broke off as the sharp crack of the whip lashed against my skin, leaving a burning sting.I felt my body tense, my heart pounding against my ribs, I was heavily inhaling air. My hair fell loosely around my shoulders, strands sticking to my sweat-soaked skin.“How many times do I have to tell you? Listen to me!” Darius lashed again, this time with more force.“Nnhhhhh!” I gritted my teeth since the tightness spread through my back.He loomed over me, his short black hair covering half of his face, and his green eyes showing only cold satisfaction.His muscular body loomed in the dim light of the room, and despite the violence, he maintained calm, making my stomach churn with fear.In our kingdom, the throne was won through bloodshed and dominance, never inherited.And everyone knew that he was an alpha-to-be, bred for dominance, and this—this was his way of showing it.“I didn’t do it! I promise—” I felt how my eyes, like the bright leaves a
Chapter two: EscapingThe green velvet dress was tight against my skin, pressing into the welts from the whip. I winced as I tugged at the neckline, trying to ease the pressure. The dress was supposed to symbolize purity—ha! What a joke. Every inch of it clung to me like some reminder of the cage I was trapped in. The velvet brushed against my back, initiating tiny sparks of pain as I moved.My hair was twisted up into a neat bun, not a single strand out of place. It was supposed to be perfect for the ceremony. I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection—a girl dressed up like a doll, pretty but hollow. I hated every part of it.'We look ridiculous,' Seven growled inside my head. 'This dress...this whole thing…it's disgusting.'I agreed. The dark green velvet made me feel like a prisoner wrapped in false honor. I didn't recognize the person in the mirror. She looked small, fragile. Nothing like an alpha's daughter, nothing like someone who once dreamed of taking ove
“What…?” My paws pulled back into hands, fingers stretching and curling.My sharp senses faded, replaced by the scents of the forest all around me.I stumbled as my legs shifted, the powerful muscles of a wolf transformed into the softer form—my human form.My howl softened into a breathless gasp. “Seven?”‘I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened.’“Are you deaf?”I gasped, my lungs burned as I scrambled to my feet.This man stood tall above me, shrouded in shadows.My heart raced in my chest, pounding hard with every beat, as if it might burst free. The tension made it feel alive, thumping loudly like a drum as I took a step back, trying to steady myself.I couldn't see his face clearly, but I could feel his presence—strong, dominant, like nothing I'd ever felt before.“What are you doing in my territory?” His voice was deep, rumbling through the air like distant thunder.It sent a chill down my spine.I froze, unable to speak. His territory?My breath came out in ragged gasps, and Sev
Chapter 4 : Announcing My LunaKaya’s POV.So I stood there, staring at the girl who had just passed out cold in front of me.Her body was limp on the ground, her breathing shallow but steady.Kai growled impatiently in the back of my head.“Well, this is just perfect,” Kai muttered. “She faints. Great. What now, genius? Wait for her to wake up? We don’t have all day.”I sighed, rubbing my temples. “You think I planned this?” I muttered under my breath.“You kinda did,” Kai huffed. “If you hadn’t gone all ‘I’m a big scary wolf,’ maybe she wouldn’t have fainted.”“Excuse me?” I glanced down at the unconscious girl, who looked way too peaceful given the mess she just caused. “She’s the one who attacked us, remember?”“Details,” Kai grumbled. “But now what? We just stand here like idiots, or do we do something useful?”I looked around, clearing my throat. I could wait for her to wake up and explain… whatever this whole situation was. Or… I could make things a bit easier.“I could kidnap
Chapter 5: My Mate The girl shot up from the ground like she’d been lit on fire. Her eyes blazed, darting around the crowd before landing on me with pure fury. “Excuse me?” Her voice was sharp enough to cut through steel. “Your *what*?” I took a step back, hands up in surrender. “Okay, I know this is a lot to take in, but—” “A lot to take in?” She was on her feet now, brushing dirt off her clothes like it was my fault she had passed out in the first place. “You drag me here, tell me I’m your mate in front of half a village, and you think that’s ‘a lot to take in’? You’re insane!” Kai stirred in my mind, his voice cut through my thoughts. ‘She’s feisty. I like her.’ I ignored him, focusing on the ticking lava in front of me. Eris was seething, her fists clenched at her sides as she glared up at me like she wanted to rip my throat out. “Look,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “I know it seems crazy, but we’re mates. I felt the bond the second I saw you.” “Bond? I don’t care about
Chapter 6: My ScarsEris’s POV. Sweat broke down on my forehead while I was sitting on the edge of the bed, gripping the blanket tight in my fists. The maid had already helped me wash off most of the dirt from my hands and legs, but my heart was racing, like my skin was crawling with unseen threats. The doctor sat nearby, smiling in that too-friendly way that immediately made me suspicious.“Let me check on you, dear,” the doctor said with a calm and soothing voice. “It’s just routine. You’ve had a rough day.”I narrowed my eyes. Seven growled low in the back of my mind. ‘Don’t trust them,’ she warned. ‘They’re wolves too, but they’re not *our* pack.’She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know these people, I didn't trust them. And I sure as hell wasn’t about to strip down and let this doctor see what Darius had done to me. The scars. The whip marks. No one had seen them in years, and I wasn’t about to start showing them off now.“I’m fine,” I muttered, keeping my voice low but strict enough
Chapter 66 : Leina’s DeathKaya ~ Chapter 65:I was standing at the edge of the square when it happened.Leina was just about to finish the ceremony, about to pass the Luna’s power to Tessa. I watched her closely, the way she moved slowly, the tiredness in her eyes. Something about her seemed off today, but I thought it was just the annoyance of the ceremony.Then, she coughed. It sounded sharp, unnatural.At first, no one reacted. We all thought it was nothing. But then she coughed again, and this time, blood spilled from her mouth.My heart stopped.“Leina!” I shouted, pushing through the crowd. I didn’t think. I just ran.She collapsed before I could reach her. Tessa tried to catch her, but she wasn’t fast enough. Leina hit the ground, hard. I was there a second later, kneeling beside her, my hands started shaking as I reached for her.“Leina, no!” I shouted again in a voice that seemed to lose control.Her body was limp, her skin cold. Blood covered her lips, and it kept coming,
Chapter 65 : Luna’s CeremonyLeina ~The village square was already filling with people by the time I stepped outside. Faces I had known all my life turned to greet me, with their bright smiles, voices filled with warmth.“Luna,” someone called, waving from the crowd.“Good morning, Luna!” another greeted me.I smiled softly and waved back, though my body felt heavier than usual, and my legs ached as I made my way through the crowd. I should have felt stronger today, of all days. It was my last day as Luna, the day I would officially pass on the title to Tessa.But something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones. May had been silent for days now. She wasn’t responding to my calls, and it worried me more than I wanted to admit. I tried to push the thought away as I reached the center of the square where the ceremony would take place.The elders were there, already preparing for the official proceedings. Tessa stood beside them, in a stiff posture, nervous energy rolling off he
Chapter 64 : He’s Finally MineTessa ~I’ve always loved Kaya.From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was mine. It didn’t matter that he didn’t see it right away. I was patient. I waited. I was loyal. Always loyal.And then he brought her. Eris.Ugly. From some weak pack on the other side of the mountains. She had nothing. No strength, no power. And Kaya, stupid Kaya, paraded her around like she was some kind of treasure.“She’s going to be Luna,” he had said, like that made any sense. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear her apart.‘You should have,’ Mei snarled in my head. ‘You should’ve ripped her throat out the moment she walked into our pack. She didn’t deserve him.’“I know,” I muttered under my breath. “I should have. But Kaya… he wouldn’t have forgiven me.”‘Who cares about forgiveness? She was nothing. And now look—he’s still mourning her, like she was worth something.’I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “She wasn’t worth anything. Not to me. Not to this
Chapter 63 : I Will Always Love YouKaya ~A few minutes after Tessa left, the door opened again, but this time the smell that filled the room was different—warm, comforting, familiar. Leina.“Kaya,” she said softly and in a gentle voice, as if she knew exactly how fragile I was at that moment. “Can I come in?”I nodded, still staring at the floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look at her just yet. Somehow, everything was crushing me, and I wasn’t sure I could handle one more conversation.But Leina was patient. She always was. I heard her light and soft steps, as she walked over. And then, before I could brace myself, she wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was warm, and for a moment, I let myself melt into it, letting her hold me together when I felt like I was falling apart.“I’m so sorry, Kaya,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I miss her too.”I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat growing. “It’s like she’s everywhere, Leina. I can’t escape it.”Leina pulled bac
Chapter 62 : Kaya ~It’s been three months since Eris died. Three months, and I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. The pain felt as fresh as the day it happened, like someone had ripped my heart out and replaced it with a cold, hollow pit.I tried to numb myself, tried to forget, but nothing worked. Everywhere I went, I saw her—heard her laughter, remembered the way her smile could light up a room, how she made everything feel right. But she was gone, and now I was supposed to be preparing for a wedding I didn’t even want.The room felt depressing and everything was pressing down on me. My suit hung on the wardrobe... It felt wrong. I felt wrong. Tessa was supposed to be my bride. She was in the next room, probably preening, getting ready for a life that didn’t belong to her.Kai was anxious too, like he had been for months now. ‘This isn’t right, Kaya,’ he growled angrily. . ‘She’s not meant to be Luna. She can’t carry Leina’s powers. She’s empty. She’s…’I clenched my jaw.
Chapter 61: The Poisonous ThroneAugustin~I closed the door to Darius’s chambers, the smile faded from my face the moment I stepped into the dark hallway. That boy had no idea how much he teetered on the edge of failure. He was too blinded by his anger, too easily manipulated by the words of a girl. A mere girl, yet he let her slip through his grasp again and again. Pathetic.But then, weakness ran in the family, didn’t it?I walked down the cold stone corridor, my boots clicked against the floor, echoing in the emptiness. As I rounded the corner, my mind drifted back to where it all started. Eris’s father. The proud, noble alpha who ruled with strength and fairness. A fool, blinded by loyalty and love.“Too trusting,” I whispered, feeling the bile rise in my throat at the thought of him. He never saw it coming, never suspected that his own ally—his friend—was the one poisoning him from the inside.‘He was a fool,’ Hamex growled in my head, his dark tone always brought a bitter t
Chapter 60: The Hunter’s WrathDarius~The air in my chambers was suffocating me from failure. I paced back and forth, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles ached. She had escaped again. Again. I slammed my hand against the stone wall, the impact went through my arm, but it did nothing to calm the tornado inside me.“How could this happen?” I growled through gritted teeth. “How could no one find her?”‘Weak,’ Hunter snarled in my mind, rumbling. ‘You let her slip through your fingers. Again.’I could feel him prowling, his claws itched to tear something apart, anything that would make this unbearable feeling of failure go away. He had been restless ever since Eris disappeared into the snow. Every attempt to track her had come up empty, and it was driving both of us to the edge.“She can’t have gone far,” I muttered, though to whom, I wasn’t sure. I raked a hand through my hair, the strands sticking with sweat. “We’ll find her. We have to find her.”‘You better,’ Hunter growled.
Chapter 59: The Stranger in the WoodsEris~The cold air nipped at my face as I walked through the woods, my breath came out in small puffs. Snow crunched beneath my boots, and the thick trees around me stood silent, their branches looked heavy with snow. It felt like the world had been swallowed in white, everything so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.But something was off.I stopped, my senses suddenly sharpened. There was someone out here. I could feel it. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and a low growl rumbled in my throat.‘We’re not alone,’ Seven warned in my head, her voice tensed.I turned, scanning the trees, trying to find the source of the feeling. My eyes locked onto a shadow moving between the trunks. It was quick, but I saw it. My growl grew louder, and I bared my teeth.“Show yourself,” I commanded.A person stepped out from behind the trees. He was tall, wearing a long black cloak that blended into the dark woods. His hood was pulled low over
Chapter 58: The Mark of FateEris ~The fire crackled softly in the room as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at my hand. There, on my palm, was a bruise like a faint, star-shaped mark. I rubbed at it, hoping it was just from the cold or from clenching my fists too hard earlier, but it didn’t fade. It was as if the bruise had formed with purpose, as if someone—or something—had placed it there.I flexed my fingers, trying to get rid of the feeling crawling up my spine. I had healed quickly from the torture of Darius faster than I should have, even for someone like me. But this bruise… it wasn’t like the others.‘Eris.’Seven’s voice drifted into my mind, calm but watchful. ‘That’s not just a bruise. There’s magic in it. I can feel it.’“Magic?” I whispered, staring harder at the star. It glowed faintly under the firelight, almost like it was alive. “What does it mean?”‘I don’t know. But someone marked you, Eris. You need to be careful.’Marked. The word left a bitter taste i