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The following day, Leila makes up her mind to go and see Tatum about the subpoena and she mindlinks him. ‘I need to see you.’ ‘I’m busy.’ ‘It's not about the divorce, I promise,’ she says, frowning, knowing he is just avoiding her as usual. Tatum says silent for a while. ‘Fine, I’m at home, the one opposite you.’ When Leila steps into Tatum’s house, the one as big with as many rooms as hers, it is scarcely furnished, just a single couch in the living room, no TV, no rugs, no portraits, nothing but a pleasant smell hangs in the air. It is quite obvious he only comes here because of her. “Tatum!” She yells and her voice echoes through the empty space. “Kitchen,” comes his reply. He’s cooking? Since when did he learn how to cook? That day with Amara, he thought he was just messing around for Amara’s sake. Well, five years is a long time to learn anything. Tatum doesn’t turn back or stop his stirring when she steps in, he is shirtless and the ridges and contours of his muscular
Tatum says he’s not the one who sued Carmela in her name but why does she find that hard to believe? Since he found out the truth about the matebond, it seems he wants to punish Carmela but why does he want to do it by the books? Carmela is guilty of lying to and deceiving the pack, their original mate bond is proof enough of that and he is the Alpha, he can punish her outrightly. Or does he really mean it, that he wants her to get her justice against Carmela and her family? Perhaps he cannot outrightly punish Carmela and wants to use her because of his precious image as the perfect Alpha to his people that he has to uphold. It would not look so perfect if they learnt how easily deceived their Alpha was but if Carmela is exposed for other crimes, that is an umbrella he can hide under to give her the punishment she deserves. Leila frowns, violently pushing the door to her house open after leaving Tatum’s. Sometimes she wants to believe he genuinely cares about her and is really so
“How does the defence plead?” Judge Ruth Lycus, the judge presiding over the case asks Carmela’s lawyer, Donald Rex, a lawyer that Carmela hired from a neighbouring pack.“Not guilty,” Donald replies, glancing at Carmela who has a smug look on her face.Judge Ruth slowly looks from Kelvin and Leila to Donald and Carmela before turning to her clerk.“Enter a plea of not guilty for the accused, we will adjourn until 12 pm, a fortnight from today, at which time this court will reconvene. The accused will also be placed under mandatory house arrest for the period that this case will–”“What?!” Carmela yells, her eyes going wide and full of surprise, “you can’t possibly mean that. I had nothing to do with the death of the witch and I’m not a threat to anyone.”Leila smirks at her and Judge Ruth frowns, pushing her glasses down the bridge of her nose to stare Carmela in the eyes.“Until that is proven, you are a suspect and have been charged with the crime, the nature of the crime is grues
Leila did not expect Tatum to not only defend her but also reprimand his precious pack members for her sake, even going as far as promising them a consequence for their action and as much as she does not show her shock, it intrigues her but openly calling off his enagagement with Carmela, she did not see that one coming. It seems Tatum really also wants to make Carmela pay but why won’t he just do it the proper way, expose her as the fraud she is? But even if he does that, it hardly matters, she’s not taking him back, she’s not going to be the phoenix Luna for a pack who are always quick to turn on her, not once, not twice. They already missed the blessings of the prophecy and that is too bad for them. Tatum glances at her after making his statement, as if to see if his decision would have any effects on her but she keeps her face cold and stoic, not showing any sort of emotion that may give her shock away. “You can’t possibly be serious,” Carmela says with a sneer on her face. “O
Tatum hears Leila’s grunt just as he feels the bond completely sever on his end and the constant pain he has been feeling leaves him, he realises he made a mistake by accepting Carmela’s rejection. He may have mentioned Carmela’s name but his wolf does not know who Carmela Eston is, his wolf only knows that they have accepted the rejection from their mate and the bond became severed. “Fuck,” Tatum mutters, turning to look at Leila to see her cradled in Kelvin’s arms, her hands on her chest, her face full of pain, her eyes red and teary, bulging veins lining her temples. His heart breaks because he knows exactly what level of immense pain she must be going through, it was what he was avoiding, he didn’t want her to experience it. As an Alpha himself, he could barely cope with it in the early days. He rushes over to kelvin and Leila as the guards take Carmela away from the courthouse too her house arrest and the crowd begins to disperse but Leila shoves him away from her. “Don’t tou
Leila opens her eyes, unsure of how long she has been asleep but the one thing she notices is that the pain is gone, she can no longer feel it anyway and her wolf is fully present but sad, very sad. She groans and turns to her left to see Amara fast asleep beside her and she smiles, her heart flooding with warmth and she kisses Amara’s hair. The whole world may abandon her but she is sure that her daughter will never leave her side. “How are you feeling?” Kelvin’s voice makes her turn her head and she sees him reclining on the couch adjacent to her bed, smiling at something on his phone before his gaze shifts back to her. “How long was I out for?” She asks in a weak voice, adjusting herself into a sitting position. “Two days, in and out,” Kelvin replies just as Leila’s stomach growls. Leila’s eyes almost coats with tears. What would she do without him? For those two days, though unsure, she remembers a man beside her, tending to her the few minutes that she could keep her eye
“What?” Leila asks, her eyes going thin in shock as she drops her feet from the bed, the sound of her heart thrumming reaching her ears. Tristan is her only solid evidence against Carmela, how did he end up dead? She kept him safe. Kelvin sighs, putting his hands against his forehead and he looks down before looking back at Leila. “I don’t know exactly how it happened but when I got there, he was without his head or any of his limbs, someone cut them off and considering he’s a fugitive, I couldn’t call or alert the warriors of the incident, I had to bury him at the base of the tree myself.” The horror of Kelvin’s gruesome description of Tristan’s death makes Leila’s heart sink. Tristan did say that his life is in danger, that the Lycan king is after him but there is no way Antonio would have found him, that treehouse has existed for years and has never been discovered by anyone, there are only two people who know about it asides from Tristan, her and Kelvin. She looks at him sharp
Leila did not think that Kelvin meant it when he said he won’t be in touch but apparently, he did. It’s probably the first time they are having a fight and she feels bad about it and about suspecting Tatiana at all. She did not know that healing Amara came at such a cost for Tatiana, Kelvin must have kept it a secret not to bother her and Tatiana on subsequent visits never acted bitter or showed any resentment for it and it only makes her feel worse about what she insinuated. She was only trying to point out the obvious but clearly, she overstepped and she regrets it. Kelvin is right, Tatiana is his woman, she is family, she will be on their side, she had no reason to doubt her but is that reason enough for Kelvin to just completely ignore her since that day? He won’t take her calls, won’t reply her texts, she even went to his house and apparently he moved to a new apartment a few weeks before they had their fallout and he did not even inform her. It’s the first day of the hearing
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