It’s been a week but Leila cannot stop thinking about the man in the woods, it is not the fact that he claims to be her second chance mate that ails her thoughts, it is the man himself. There is something about him that is different, he is calm yet dangerous, deadly yet alluring, two opposite ends so perfectly blended into one person. “Gran Gran, who is the lycan king?” Amara asks, bringing Leila’s attention back to the dining table where they are having breakfast. “Where did you hear that name?” Liana replies, rapt curiosity in her eyes as she looks at her granddaughter. The lineage of the lycans are a myth, they rule from the shadows, hidden from the rest of the werewolf world but rule they do, their authority is unquestionable, their power absolute and the current Lycan king is the best of his breed. An empty throne was crowned in his stead. No one has ever seen him, no one knows what he looks like. “Yesterday at the mall when I went shopping with Papa Kev, everyone was talkin
“I brought you something,” Carmela stretches the envelope forward the moment Leila opens the door.Leila folds her hands against her chest, her eyes cold and vengeful. Whenever she sees Carmela, all she feels is rage, she just wants to rip her throat out but she knows she has to restrain herself for now.Only till her mom is out of the woods from this false accusation and then she’ll go after Carmela with everything that she has, every tear that she has ever shed because of Carmela, Carmela will shed it in a hundred fold.“Take whatever it is you brought and get the hell out of my house.”“It’s from Tatum, his divorce papers, he already signed them,” Carmela replies with a straight face but Leila can smell her deceit from a mile away.“Really? Well go back and tell him that if he wants to divorce me, he can do it himself.”She may not care but Tatum hasn’t been moving like someone who wants to divorce her, he is trying his possible best to be nice to her and Amara and whenever they cr
Leila stands outside the door to Kelvin’s condo with a million bees buzzing inside her stomach, her heart racing hard like a doped horse. It’s the first time she will be seeing him since she kissed him. She has been avoiding him because she feels things will be too awkward between them but it is imperative that they meet today, her mother’s first hearing is in a few days and they must conclude on a plan of action. She cannot wait for all of this to be over so she can reject Tatum and just be with him and then there’s that mysterious man who claims to be her second chance mate. If he is right, she will have to do something about him too. Something about that guy gives her chills, neither bad nor good, it’s just the feeling she had when she was with him that night, something about his aura. She knows she is prepared to reject two mates for Kelvin but Kelvin has not even found his own mate, what if she suddenly shows up like the mysterious man did, will Kelvin reject his mate? It’s
“All rise,” the court clerk announces and they all stand to their feet as the judge comes inside. Liana is not in chains today, she is sitting beside Kelvin with Leila beside them, Amanda made it in time to look after Amara this time and Carmela is sitting on the other side behind Justin. There are a few council elders also present but Trent is not. The judge takes his seat and they all follow but the clerk remains standing. “All those having business with this court at this hour, stand forward and you shall be heard. Judge Bruce Tanner is presiding.” Judge Bruce clears his throat. “Is the pack prepared to make an opening statement?” “Yes your honour,” Justin replies sharply, shooting Kelvin a challenging look as he walks up to the podium. “The facts of the case are these: Fifteen years ago, on the eve of the blood moon festival, our Alpha at the time sent the accused and her family on a celebratory visit to one of our neighbouring packs but the accused had malicious intentions an
Pop! The cork of a champagne bottle flies off and Amara claps excitedly. “Yay!” “Today was a good day,” Kelvin says, holding up the wine bottle, “I know you probably think it’s too early to celebrate but I’ve learnt to celebrate the small wins to better take the losses.” “Oh we are not going to lose,” Leila adds with a smile, passing her mother a wine glass and holding up two to Kelvin. After Kelvin’s counter, the judge agreed for Trent to be put on the stand as a key witness to the case. Justin was going to counter it but the letter written by Alpha Darren, Tatum’s father, granting Trent permission to join Leila’s parents on the journey was presented by Kelvin and there was no way for Justin to rebut. After making his decree, the judge adjourned the next hearing to four days’ time, giving them enough time to prepare their witnesses and evidence. Kelvin fills the two glasses in Leila’s hands and when he’s about to pour the glass in Liana’s hands, he sees she is not as enthusiasti
“I’m sorry about your dad’s illness but seeing me won’t heal him. Excuse me,” Leila says coldly, turning away.Tatum blocks her path, looking straight into her beautiful blue eyes, wishing they didn’t have such coldness and hatred in them towards him but he knows he deserves it, he deserves more than it.His sins against her are grave and he doesn’t know the first way to redeem himself. He cost a mother her child. Is there even redemption for that? Even though it was never part of his plan, it is still his fault that their child is dead, his child, his heir. He cannot imagine the pain Leila must have gone through when it happened, the agony and anguish she must have been in and it crushes his heart.All he wanted was to keep her safe, to protect her from Trent and Carmela, it’s why he never wanted to tell her anything he was up to back then, why he repeatedly told her not to speak or antagonise Carmela so Carmela can drop her guard and he can nail them with proof but Leila was adama
It comforted and shattered his heart at the same time but it also made him glad that the sacrifices he made to bring Leila back were at least worth something, even if they have cost him the only thing he truly desires, a life with her. What he felt that day was nothing compared to whatever sorcery Carmela had tried to trick him with. Leila’s smell was the only thing that filled his nostrils, his desire for her was the strongest it had ever been. His wolf howled in joy like never before, his own joy knew no bounds and so did his hatred for Carmela. He had to act like he did not feel a thing in front of Leila when he wanted nothing more that day than to claim her right there and then but giving her the revenge she deserves is more important than whatever feelings he or his wolf has. If only there was something he could do to show her how sorry he is that he cost her their child, anything to pacify this hatred that she has for him. He would give everything to just see her smile at hi
Leila holds the door knob and then turns to him.“Congratulations on your Luna’s pregnancy by the way but since you didn’t spare mine, her pregnancy is not going to stop me from coming after her and when I’m done with her, it’s your turn.”Tatum jerks his head back, his eyes flashing with shock and curiosity. “What pregnancy?”Leila scoffs. “Don’t play dumb, I know.”“I don’t know what you’re fucking talking about,” Tatum replies, a feeling of annoyance growing in his chest as a sense of realisation dawns upon him. “Did she tell you she’s pregnant?”“Is she not?”“If she is, it isn’t mine,” Tatum replies coldly.How can Carmela be pregnant for him when he has never touched her, they don’t even live together.Leila scoffs cum chuckle and she shrugs. “Your fiance's infidelity is none of my business.”Tatum grits his teeth, clenching his fist by his side. The very sound of the word sends worms crawling all over his skin and twists his gut.If only he could tell Leila the engagement is a
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