He regains himself and takes slow calculated steps towards her, taking glances at the items on the mat. “What’s the occasion and where’s my little dove? She didn’t come out to welcome me.” “Well….I thought maybe you’d like to spend some alone time with your original little dove,” Leila says in a slow coquettish tone, feeling her heart slam against her rib cage. She doesn’t know what she is doing or if she is doing it right but it seems to be working as Kelvin cannot take his eyes off her and she can hear the heavy thudding of his heart. “We could have just eaten out though, you didn’t have to go through the trouble,” Kelvin says, glancing at the array of dishes in front of them as he sits beside her. “I know,” Leila replies, “I just wanted the evening to feel more…intimate.” She stretches her trembling hands and takes Kelvin’s hands in hers, rubbing it against hers softly, feeling like her heart wants to tear out of her chest. Kelvin stays mute, just staring at her like he is hy
“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Leila says in a clearly angered tone, stuffing clothes into a box. “Why now? I mean why after fifteen good years. What’s the point? We are his family, we should be the ones seeking justice. If they cared about him so much, why didn’t they look into it after his death, they’re just going to put my innocent mother through unnecessary trauma. I hate them all.”Kelvin sighs, zipping the box full of Amara’s clothes. “Look on the bright side, we could get evidence to find those rogues who did it.”“I know who did it,” Leila replies sharply, her cold gaze flushed with anger. “It was Carmela’s father, I’m certain of it.”“But without proof, those are just mere accusations. I know you are angry and you want revenge on those who hurt you and your family, believe me, I do too but we have to pick our fights wisely.”Leila groans, dropping on the bed defeatedly, hanging her head before she raises it to look at Kelvin with a sullen look in her eyes.“She should hav
She wipes the corner of her mouth to see Kelvin holding Amara by the car but they are not the only ones looking at her, several pack members passing by have also recognised her and they are not subtle with their stares. Many look genuinely shocked to see her, whispering among themselves, most of them hold nasty glares on their faces as they stare at her but none of them say a word or come close to her as she returns to the car. She was expecting at least one of them to come at her, considering how they took torches to the Alpha’s house, demanding her death and chased her till she jumped off the cliff. As Leila’s car pulls closer to her mother’s house who Tatum has placed under house arrest with several pack warriors guarding her, Leila notices men in construction gear and overall taking measurements on a large parcel of undeveloped land belonging to her family. Is her mom planning to do something with it after all these years, but she would mention it to her if she was. She shrugs
Leila nudges Kelvin with a playful smile on her lips but he smiles wryly at her, a smile that barely reaches his eyes.She doesn’t miss it and she knows it’s because he thinks she may still have feelings for Tatum.Why can’t he understand that Tatum is as far from her heart as the sun is from the earth, if not more?How can she get him to see and believe that?She turns to her mom.“Mom, I saw some men doing some work on the land dad was going to build his mall on, is that you?” Liana scoffs, a nasty sneer covering her eyes. “I wish it was,” she replies, taking a sip from her drink and her eyes turn sombre.“About a month ago, I got a letter from the council of elders that the land hasn’t been developed in two decades and by law, they have the right to repossess it and give it to a new owner, of course after giving us due compensation. Trust your mother to refuse and provide proof that your father has only owned the land for nineteen years and eight months, making them halt on the m
“It was important to see our mother first, we needed to ascertain the state of her wellbeing,” Kelvin replies in a calm tone. “Luna, you look well,” Theo says, fixing his eyes on Leila. “I’m no Luna of yours,” Leila replies coldly, her blue eyes turning into steel. Luna…..It was what Tatum deceived her with, made her believe that making her Luna was a selfish act of love, made her think that as long as she held the position in the pack, she stood a chance to hold a place in his heart but in the end it was all a faux, a mirage, a smoke mirror that showed just how foolish she was to fall for him. Theo makes a face at her and he smirks. “Well the Alpha never divorced you, did he?” “Mama!” Amara runs back into the living room. “You changed the password to the ipad again, I can’t unlock it.” Theo squints at the child, visibly taken back. She addressed Leila as Mama, Leila was pregnant with Tatum’s child when she left the pack but that was five years ago, this child looks barely thre
As their car gets closer to the packhouse, Leila’s heart pounds with nervousness, an uneasy feeling grating her nerves.It’s been five years since she last saw Tatum, five years since she last saw the man she loved with all of her only for him to betray her, five years since he looked her in the eye and told her that her penalty was death even with his child growing inside of her, five long years since he took back his promise to never let her go and watched her jump to her uncertain fate.No matter how strong she appears on the outside, the feeling of seeing him again truly makes her nervous, she doesn’t know if she has it in her to hold herself from lashing out at him, from offloading all the bitterness and anger stuffed in her chest on him.Why would that even matter? Tatum means nothing to her, her only mission here is to prove her mother’s innocence.She frowns at the pack house as their car pulls up to it, for the two years that she was Luna, she can number the times she stepped
Tatum ignores her and turns to Kelvin, his eyes completely calm and confident as he takes his seat. “You understand this is standard procedure for your return?” “Yes Alpha,” Kelvin replies in a calm voice and Tatum's eyes shift from him to the little girl he is holding, his attention drawn to her distinct eyes. They look a bit like Leila’s father’s eyes, only his were a golden brown, not fully golden as hers. “You have very beautiful eyes, little one,” He says to Amara, flashing her a small smile but she frowns at him. “I may be little but I’m not little one, my name is Amara,” she replies in her tiny curt voice, pointing her little index finger at him. “Are you the bad uncle that sent uncle bully to bring us here? If you give my mama any trouble, I will give it back to you,” she issues him a stern warning, glancing at Theo whose eyes are keen on her. Tatum hides his smile, keeping his face stoic. “And how do you plan to do that? I am the Alpha and you’re in my territory.” “W
Leila sits with a deep frown on her face, watching as Kelvin pushes Amara on the swing from a bench at the playground.Tatum barely said another word to her, leaving his threat hanging. If he wasn’t going to try and punish her, the least he could have done was apologise to her for a start instead of throwing his stupid Alpha weight around with his stupid ego, threatening her with her mother.She scoffs internally.How arrogant of him, he even dared to call her a prodigal Luna like she just left and returned on her own accord, like it wasn’t his fault she left in the first place.For a moment, she imagines Tatum as Kelvin pushing Amara on the swing. If he wasn’t so gullible to let himself be deceived so easily by Carmela, they could have been a happy family, maybe Amara would even have a sibling by now.She catches herself and immediately shakes the image out of her head, feeling repulsed and disgusted at herself for even having such thoughts.Kelvin is the perfect father for Amara an
The palace glows under the Blood Moon, its light bathes the open-air pavilion where the ceremony unfolds in an ashen hue. It's a few months after the twins’ birth, and Tatum and Leila are hosting the sacred rite for mateless wolves to seek their fated bonds. Flames from torches dance, casting shadows on tables laden with roasted boar, honeyed fruits, and spiced wine. Wolves from every pack fraternize, their laughter and murmurs braid with the pulse of drums and fiddles. The air twinges with anticipation—some are here to seek love, others quest for destiny, all drawn by the moon’s primal pull. Banners of silver and red flutter above, embroidered with crescent moons, and the scent of pine and wildflowers lingers, a tribute to the wild heart of the kingdom. Amara perches on a stone bench near the dance floor, her eyes bright with mischief. Beside her, Amanda leans in, her auburn curls bouncing as she points at a Luna in a garish yellow gown. “Look at that,” Amanda whispers, smi
It is four years after the coronation, the palace murmurs with life, its stone corridors softened by laughter and sunlight. The scars of Antonio’s cruel reign has faded, replaced by scenic blooms of oaks and phoenix flames. In a sunlit hallway, Amara, now ten, sprints after a giggling three-year-old boy, her dark hair bouncing in a loose braid. The boy, Kael, is Kelvin and Tatiana’s son, visiting for the holiday with his parents. His tiny legs pump furiously, a mischievous grin lighting his face as he dodges Amara’s outstretched hands.“Get back here, you little tornado!” Amara calls, her voice equal parts exasperation and amusement. Kael squeals, darting around a corner, his curls bouncing. He’s fast for his age, but Amara’s longer strides close the gap. She lunges, and scoops him up before he dives into one of the many hiding places in the house behind a groove in the wall. Amara tosses him into the air with a flourish. Kael shrieks with delight, arms wide open like a bird, the
The palace of lies quiet, the firebrands dimmed after the coronation’s fervor the night before. Moonlight spills through the arched windows of the royal chambers, bathing the room in silver. A fire that's been running now smolders in the hearth, casting shadows that dance across the cloistered room. The revelry—cheers, music, oaths—has faded, leaving only Leila and Tatum, alone at last.Leila stands by the window, her sapphire gown replaced by a simple linen nightwear that flatters her generous hips and ample bosom, her hair loose in dark waves. The weight of the crown lingers, though it rests on a velvet cushion across the room. She gazes at the stars, their light a reminder of battles they've won and promises yet to keep. Tatum approaches her, his footsteps soft on the rug. He’s shed his regal mantle, wearing only a loose tunic and trousers, his silver-gray eyes warm in the firelight.“You’re quiet,” he says, his voice a mere whisper as he wraps his arms around her from behind.
The great hall of the palace is agog with a celebration. The marble pillars draped in banners of silver and gold. Weeks after Antonio’s fall, the kingdom gathers for a coronation. The air is alive with hope. Crystal chandeliers cast prisms across the mosaic floor, where roses—white for peace, red for sacrifice—form a path to the twin thrones. Nobles in velvet and commoners in their finest pack the hall, their faces bright with belief in a future minus Antonio and his tyranny. Musicians weave an orchestra of harps and flutes, and incense curls upward from holders, sweet and solemn. Today, Tatum and Leila are crowned regent king and queen, stewards of the throne until Amara, the destined Lycan Queen, comes of age. Leila stands radiant in a gown of sapphire silk, her dark hair woven with pearls, and the Phoenix Luna’s aura is a faint shimmer around her where she stands beside her husband. Tatum wears a mantle of black and silver, his presence steady as stone. Amara who is clad
The crowd's cries for Antonio’s death is a deafening roar. But Antonio rises, his crown askew, tilting to the side, a parody of its glory, his lycan blood burning in his veins. His eyes are wild with defiance, locked onto Tatum. “Enough!” he bellows, silencing the throng. “I demand a wolf duel, one on one, Tatum. To the death.” His voice tremors with menace. “If I win, you, Leila, Amara—all rebels—will die for treason. If I lose, well…” He smirks, baring bone-white, elongated canines. “I won’t.”As a lycan, Antonio towers even in human form, his bulging muscles are a testament to his legendary strength, his wolf form a beast of nightmare. The duel will favor him, for he is a predator born to crush his enemies with every fatal blow he delivers. Leo steps forward, knuckles clenched to cracking whiteness. “No,” he growls. “He’s cornered. We outnumber him, and without his magic, he’s done. Let’s end this now.” Ragna nods in agreement, the scars gleam on his knuckles, ready to charge o
The plaza hums with apprehension, both of the crowd and those of the faction that now rises against Antonio's tyranny. Alpha Leo’s words hang in the air, a challenge to King Antonio’s reign. The king’s face darkens, his crown glinting like a warning as everyone watches. “You dare betray me?” he snarls, turning to the other Alphas—towering figures clad in furs and steel, their eyes gleaming with lupine intensity. “You dare to defy me?” The crowd quiets, the air tight with impending violence. Antonio struts, eyes like firebrands, his shoes picking off prints from the blood left by Camela earlier. “Alphas, end Leo and Tatum. Now!” he commands again. Stillness descends in the crowd. But the Alphas—Ragna, Soren, and Veyra—stand unmoved, their faces look like they're carved from stone. Ragna, broadest of the three, steps beside Leo, his voice a low growl. “No, Antonio. Your tyranny ends here.” Soren and Veyra nod, their silence louder than any shout. The crowd murmurs, shock rip
The fall of Carmela lingers but a new dread takes root as Leila rushes through the crowd, hurling herself towards the stage where Amara stands, her small frame dwarfed by that of Antonio. Tatum follows behind her, his face red with fury, his eyes shot with pumping membranes. The crowd parts, clearing the way for the couple as sparks of whispers trail them. “Antonio!” Leila’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp as a blade. “You cannot marry our daughter!” Behind them, a flurry of murmurings animate the crowd, speculations fly, questions too. Tatum steps forward as guards inch around the king. “She's not yours to claim,” Tatum barks, “And you know why.” Antonio's eyes narrow with piercing sharpness at the couple. He knows. Leila feels it in her bones. He now knows. She is the Phoenix Luna. Amara, their daughter, carries the same fire, destined to rise as the kingdom’s next ruler. By binding her to him, Antonio seeks to snuff that destiny, to chain the Phoenix’s lineage to h
The Grand plaza glitters under the midday sun as Carmela steps out of a silken pavilion, a gorgeous sight that hushes even the worst cynics. Her gown, woven of lace and pearls and sequins, clings to her frame, before fanning into a train that drifts like mist behind her. A diamond studded veil shimmers over her face, and gold threads gleam in her hair. Arches swathed in white silk and roses tower over the wedding altar, where dozens of blossoms—crimson, ivory, gold—spill and waver like a fragrant tide, matching Carmela’s aura. The event that has had everyone wagging their tongues wagging across the kingdom for months is finally here. Cheers and applause erupt from the crowd as she glides with a queen's grace across the raised stage. As she floats down the steps, whispers trail her—some name her divine, the chosen queen. “Look at her,” Leila muses loud enough for Tatum to hear. “If I never saw a snake in a dress. I do now.” “Apt,” Tatum says through a smile as painful as Leila's
“No he’s not,” Leila snarls at him, her heart burning with rage, her eyes clothed with vengeance, “whatever you have done to him, undo it, now!” “Done to him? I said Tatum’s dead woman, nothing can be done to a dead man. This one here is just my faithful loyal guard dog,” Leo snaps his fingers twice and the man walks over to his side, silent and submissive. Leila’s heart boils with a fervent anger. She knows deep down in her heart that this is her husband, the man she has loved for years. Is he now completely under Leo’s control? Why is everything about him transformed with the exception of his face and voice and if he really is completely under Leo’s influence, then why did he save her, not once but twice. “Tatum, you’re not his dog,” tears stream out of Leila’s eyes, her heart clenching with unimaginable pain. “You’re the most powerful Alpha in the realm, Alpha of the Blood Oak pack, my Alpha, my husband…do you really not recognize your sweet pea anymore?” The man’s eyes snap to