Alexander’s POVI stood up from my seat, taking a moment to adjust my appearance, making sure I looked presentable.I prepared myself mentally for what was to come. My footsteps echoed through the hallway as I made my way to Cassandra’s room.Just as I turned a corner, Lucius suddenly appeared, rushing toward me.“Alpha, I have an important matter to discuss with you,” he said, his voice urgent.I stopped and looked at him briefly, my expression cold and distant. “What is it?” I asked sharply, my eyes already focused ahead.My mind was elsewhere—thinking of excuses, or rather explanations, I could offer Cassandra. If she was angry, I needed to calm her down. I needed to talk to her to get that map.Lucius hesitated for a moment before blurting out, “Many rogue wolves have been spotted near our pack’s borders. I believe it’s connected to Princess Cassandra… or more specifically, to her tribe, Alpha.”A heavy silence settled between us as I processed his words. My gaze remained fixed ah
Alexander’s POVI finally realized Cassandra’s intentions toward me.At first, my heart started racing, beating faster and louder in my chest. Deep inside, I wanted to push her away, to create some distance between us.But instead of acting on impulse, I forced myself to stay calm. I decided to go with the flow and let her make her move.My eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped moving.I leaned in closer, inching my face toward hers. Our breaths mingled, warm and heavy, as if the tension between us had taken on a life of its own.Our upper lips were so close that they were almost touching. I could feel her warmth, and though I tried to play along, I couldn’t shake my focus from what I truly wanted—the defense map.If I needed to be intimate with her to get it, so be it. But I made one thing clear in my mind: I wasn’t interested in anything else. I was here for one reason only, and that was to get the map.And then it happened. Cassandra suddenly k
Alexander’s POV“If you want to get the defense map…I want you to get rid of her.”The room was heavy with Cassandra’s demand, her cold gaze locked onto mine. Her request echoed in my mind: to get rid of Aira in exchange for the defense map. It was a move only Cassandra could make, bold and manipulative, designed to push me into a corner. But if she thought she’d broken me, she was mistaken.I took a measured breath, keeping my expression calm yet cold and distant so she won’t read what’s on my mind. “Fine,” I said evenly. “I’ll take care of Aira. But you’ll need to give me some time. This isn’t something that can happen overnight.”Cassandra’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, but there was suspicion in her eyes. She wasn’t a fool, and I’d have to tread carefully.“Time, huh?” she said, swirling the glass of water in her hand. “How much time are we talking about, Alexander? Days? Weeks? Because I won’t wait forever.”I met her gaze without flinching. “Two weeks,” I replied, my
Aira’s POVI had no other choice but to rest my head against the window, my eyes watching the busy scene unfolding outside. The atmosphere was charged with urgency and tension as voices echoed through the village.“Prepare everything! Make sure it’s all perfect!” shouted the head servants, barking orders at the lower-ranking ones who scurried around in a frenzy.Today was an important day. It marked the official ceremony between Alexander and Cassandra. I knew the previous event, when Cassandra first arrived here, wasn’t official yet. That was just a sort of opening ritual—a symbolic gesture to bind them together. But today was different. This was the real deal, the grand and official wedding mate ceremony.Alexander hadn’t come to see me in my room yet. He was always busy, his attention seemingly reserved for Cassandra these days. Compared to me, she had all his time and focus.“Did you see how stunning our future Luna is? She’s absolutely beautiful—perfect for Alpha Alexander,” on
Aira’s POVI skipped dinner, choosing to starve myself instead. I didn’t feel hungry anyway after what I heard, and even if I did, I wasn’t in the mood to eat. The evening passed slowly, the hours dragging as the ceremony continued outside. When the noise finally died down and everything grew quiet, I lay down on the bed.I wanted to sleep. I desperately needed to rest. But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t. My mind was restless, filled with thoughts I couldn’t push away. I stared at the wall beside me, counting the minutes that seemed to stretch endlessly. How much time had passed? An hour? Two? Or was it even longer? I had no idea anymore.Just when I thought I was finally about to drift off, I found myself plagued by new thoughts—thoughts I didn’t want to entertain. What could Alexander and Cassandra be doing right now? Were they still at the ceremony? Or worse, were they together?“Who cares?” I muttered under my breath, trying to convince myself that it didn’t matte
Alexander’s POV“What’s her condition? What is she doing right now?” I asked, my voice sharp and authoritative.The weight of my tone silenced any hesitation lingering in the air. I had instructed one of the maids to bring food—specifically to Aira. Lately, I’d been too busy to check on her myself, so I’d ordered the servants to monitor her and ensure she was provided with food.I could see the unease in their eyes, though none dared to openly defy me.The bias against Aira, an Omega, was palpable, but my orders weren’t up for debate. They had no choice but to comply.“She’s only beside the window, Alpha Alexander, always staring out of nowhere,” the maid replied quickly, bowing her head in submission.“Is she doing something reckless? Like running away?” I pressed.“No, Alpha.”I nodded. “Good. Keep an eye on her.”“Yes, Alpha.”Without further delay, she turned and hurried to carry out the task.Only the servants, maids, Lucius, and other high-ranking members knew that Aira was back
Aira’s POVAlexander didn’t care about me, and from the very beginning, I knew that’s just how he was.But still, what was I expecting from him? I was disappointed, honestly. I wanted to ask him if he was the one who had been next to me last night.I knew it was him. But I also knew he wouldn't admit it.I was startled when the door suddenly opened. At first, I thought it was just another maid.There were so many maids and servants here, coming in to bring me food. I was locked in this room, and even though I wanted to escape, I knew they wouldn’t let me. They would just lock me up again.But when I looked up, I was shocked by who I saw.It was Alexander.I stood up in surprise, stumbling over my words as I called his name. "W-What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice shaky.He didn’t answer my question. Instead, he closed the door behind him and locked it.“I came here to check on you. What are you doing?” he said, his voice cold. There was no emotion in his tone. It was so flat, i
Aira’s POVSuddenly, Alexander returned, his presence commanding attention as he walked into the room. His intense gaze shifted to the healer, and without wasting any time, he asked, “What’s her condition? What have you found out about her?”The healer took a deep breath, clearly uneasy, before finally turning to face Alexander. “She’s not pregnant, Alpha,” he said carefully. “Just like you asked me to check, she cannot conceive right now.”I watched as Alexander’s expression darkened instantly. The tension in the room skyrocketed. His jaw clenched, and the veins on his forehead seemed ready to burst. His fists tightened, trembling with frustration. Then, his voice erupted, shaking the walls.“Why can’t she conceive?!” he roared. His anger was palpable, and it sent shivers down my spine.I could feel fear creeping into my chest, tightening like an iron grip. His fury was unlike anything I had seen before, and yet, part of me understood why he was so upset. We had been doing sex for s
Aira’s POVI watched Ezekiel quietly as he rested, recovering from the healer’s treatments over the past few days. His face was still pale, and the faint traces of pain lingered, but he looked better than before. I felt a mix of relief and worry as I observed him in silence.He had fallen asleep before the healer came back. He had regular check-ups to make sure his wounds were healing properly. My eyes stayed on him, but for some reason, a heavy feeling weighed down on me as I stared at his still form. The healer stood up and turned to me, giving me a reassuring glance.“His condition looks good now,” she said. “Just call me if the pain worsens or if the ointment doesn’t work.”“Thank you, always, for your help,” I replied to her. She nodded and left without a word.Once she was gone, I sat by the edge of his bed, unable to take my eyes off him. All I could do now was wait for him to wake up. But it wasn’t long before I felt my eyelids growing heavy. I could barely keep them open.“I
Aira’s POVI turned my back on him; however, he shouted.“Aira, no!” Alexander’s desperate voice broke through the chaos. I winced as his hold tightened, the intensity in his eyes begging me to listen.Then, to my shock, he fell to his knees.“Please, you need to believe me!” he yelled. “Aira, we were finally getting somewhere—why is everything falling apart now?” His voice cracked. Panic was etched into his face.But I was done listening. Fury clouded my thoughts, drowning out reason. I yanked my wrist free, “Get lost!” I shouted, my voice trembling from the rage surging through me.I turned to Ezekiel, ignoring Alexander’s broken expression as I reached out to help him. Ezekiel grunted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip.“I don’t ever want to see you again,” I spat, my words aimed at Alexander like daggers. My pulse raced as I watched his expression crumble.Alexander’s eyes widened, disbelief washing over his face. For a moment, he was utterly still, the weight of my rejectio
Aira’s POV‘Aira…help!’I jolted awake, my heart racing. My breathing was ragged as I struggled to shake off the remnants of sleep. Blinking rapidly, I realized I had fallen asleep on one side of the couch in the mansion’s living room. I quickly sat up, rubbing my face, and turned to look at the clock. It was already late at night.Ezekiel.A sudden wave of unease washed over me. I glanced around, searching for him, but he was nowhere in sight.“E-Ezekiel? Are you here?” My voice came out shaky as I pushed myself up.I moved carefully, my hands instinctively cradling my lower abdomen. I had to be extra careful for the baby. Taking a deep breath, I turned on the lights.The moment the room illuminated, my breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened in horror.Drag marks.Dark, disturbing stains smeared across the living room floor, forming a trail that led deeper into the mansion. My stomach twisted painfully.“What the hell is this?” I whispered to myself, my heartbeat hammering again
Ezekiel’s POVI wasn’t surprised when I woke up and found myself in a dark, damp underground garage. The air was thick with the scent of oil and rust, and the cold concrete beneath me. And then I felt it—a sharp blade pressed against my throat.My breath hitched for a brief second, but I quickly regained my composure. My life hung in the balance, teetering on the edge of that very blade. Yet, I refused to show fear.The wielder of the weapon? None other than him.“Alexander,” I muttered, my voice steady despite the lethal situation. Our gazes locked.His expression was cold, his eyes brimming with restrained fury. But me? I smirked. I refused to let him see me waver.“What brings you here, huh?” I taunted, my voice dripping with amusement. “I knew I caught a familiar scent while I was resting. Let me guess—after Aira and I fell asleep, you made sure to drag me here, down to this underground pit, away from her eyes.” My smirk widened. “You didn’t want her to see what you’re up to, d
Ezekiel’s POV“Where is Aira now?” I asked the moment I returned to the mansion."She's upstairs, Alpha Ezekiel, in her room. Just reading her book," the maid replied respectfully."Does she ever leave? Has she disobeyed me?" My voice was firm, searching for any sign of defiance.The maid quickly shook her head. "No, Alpha. She never tries to escape. Ever since the security around the mansion tightened, she hasn't stepped outside. She stays in her room most of the time. When she does move around, it's only within the mansion—often visiting the nursery and the study room."I nodded, absorbing the information. Good. At least she was staying within bounds.Without another word, I ascended the stairs to the third floor, where Aira’s room was located—the place I always left her. My fingers curled tightly around the small velvet box in my hand. Inside it was a necklace—a gift for her. Whatever her reaction would be, it didn’t matter. I had already decided.Standing before her door, I knocke
Amelia’s POV“I need to leave. There is something I needed to take care of.”I didn’t wait for Alexander’s response, nor did I need his permission. I turned my back on him and walked away without a second thought.Something about him felt off. I had a nagging feeling that Alexander was lying to me. But if he was lying, he wouldn’t get away with it. I knew him too well. I had spent enough time by his side to recognize when he was hiding something.So, I decided to take matters into my own hands.I had been watching her closely, waiting for a moment when she’d let her guard down. And that’s when I caught her.I overheard her speaking in hushed tones, her voice laced with urgency."I need to go to the pirates," Cassandra said.I edged closer, careful not to make a sound. My breath hitched as I strained to hear every word."Tell me, who were the people that came from the pirates?" she demanded.A maid stood before her, shifting uncomfortably. She looked nervous, her hands fidgeting with
Aira’s POV“Aira, are you okay?”I looked up to see Ezekiel standing in front of me, concern etched deep into his eyes. "Yes, I’m fine. Don’t worry too much about me. You should’ve taken care of your own business instead of coming back."He shook his head firmly. "I’ll stay here tonight. I want to make sure you’re okay before I leave tomorrow. You need to be careful." He reached out and cupped my cheek, the warmth of his palm grounding me. But despite his gentle touch, my thoughts drifted to Alexander.True to his word, Ezekiel stayed the night. I appreciated his presence, even if it made my heart feel heavy. By the time morning came, he finally left, and I couldn’t shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at me. I barely had time to gather my thoughts before Alexander returned. My cheeks burned as I invited him upstairs. I couldn’t hide my embarrassment, but Alexander just smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at me.“I wanted to surprise you first,” he said, taking my hand. Before I cou
Aira’s POV“Ms. Aira! Ms. Aira! What happened to you?!”My eyes fluttered open, and dizziness hit me hard. The world spun around me. Panic bubbled up in my chest. "W-What's going on?" I managed to ask, my voice weak and trembling.“Oh! You’re finally awake!” a maid exclaimed, her face etched with relief. “We’ve been trying to wake you for a while now, Ms. Aira. Hold on!”She quickly called out, her voice urgent. “Help me get her to the bed!”A group of maids and guards rushed over. Those who couldn’t lift me still tried to help, supporting me as they carefully eased me onto the bed. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached as if I’d been running for days without rest. I sank into the soft mattress, trying to calm my racing heart.One of the guards, his face stern and serious, barked an order. “Call for a healer. Now!”A maid immediately rushed out of the room, her footsteps fading as she ran down the hall. I lay there, dazed and confused, my thoughts muddled. Why did my body feel so wea
Aira’s POVI had no choice but to accept my situation. Locked in this room, I couldn't go out anymore. Deep down, I knew it had something to do with the necklace. It was the only thing that made sense. Ezekiel must have picked up Alexander’s scent from it—after all, he’s an Alpha with heightened senses.A frustrated sigh escaped my lips as I tried to calm myself. There was no point in panicking. I needed a distraction—anything to get my mind off this mess. So, I made my way to the nursery room in the mansion. The workers were busy, expanding the room and making it more suitable for a baby.“How’s the arrangement going?”One of the workers looked up, surprise flashing across his face. “Oh, Ms. Aira, it’s you. We’re almost done.”I nodded, watching as they painted the walls a soft, calming shade of blue. The faint scent of fresh paint hung in the air, and I wrinkled my nose. The nursery was filled with baby supplies—clothes, toys, and tiny furniture. To keep myself from going crazy wi