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Leila puts a hand to her chest, letting go of a breath she had been holding as Antonio walks away from her, leaving his threat in the air. He may not have shown it excessively but he is definitely not pleased with her and what price would he make her pay? She sighs deeply, palming her face and shaking her head. Why is all of these happening to her? Why did the goddess even choose to make the Lycan king her second chance mate? Do they have any prophecy tying them together like her and Tatum? Will he even allow her to reject him? She just feels so confused on what to do at this point. Antonio said he has been seeing her for years in his dream, way before he met her that night. He introduced himself as her second chance mate on the very first day they met and even if she did not believe him because of how absurd it sounded, it proved to be true when she rejected Tatum. It is rumoured that he came to the pack for Tatum and Carmela’s wedding and is a guest of the pack, not that he n
“For the charges of the murder of Beta Henry Rogers, the court finds the accused, Beta Trent Easton, guilty and he is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment with no option of parole, for the charges of conspiracy to murder and the murder of the pack witch, Alina, the accused is also found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour,” Judge Ruth slams her gavel as she passes judgement on Trent. Leila gently squeezes her mother’s arm who has teary eyes and she glances at Tatum who keeps a stoic, emotionless look on his face, a short distance away from her, his hands around Tatiana’s shoulder. She still has no idea where Kelvin is or where he could be and she doesn’t know what to do about it, she doesn’t know if he is still alive and she doesn’t want Amara to use her powers to find him again, she is scared of what might happen. She cannot lose her daughter after losing her best friend. She turns her attention back to Trent who is being led away from the courtroom while C
“Leila, you need to calm down,” Liana says to Leila back at their apartment in the living room. Leila stops her back and forth pacing, looks at her mother for a second and continues, bitterness and anger churning inside her. She never saw this coming, not in a million years, nothing gave her a clue of what Antonio’s real plan is, nothing. On one hand, she is grateful that like everyone else, he fell for Carmela’s deceit and will not have eyes on her, it will make rejecting him easy but on the other hand, Carmela has gotten away yet again. Whenever it seems like she is about to get some victory over Carmela, something happens and the table just turns but that is even the least of her worries right now, she has to protect Amara and herself but especially Amara. If he could claim Carmela as his mate in front of her with no remorse, it is a sure sign that he doesn’t give a damn about her at all and he would not hesitate to hurt her and her child. “Where’s grandma?” She pauses and as
Leila sits in one of the high end restaurants in the pack, feeling jitters, gazing around with her feet trembling underneath the table as her heart pounds. It’s the day of the ritual, the ritual that is supposed to look into Amara’s future and destiny but she cannot be with her daughter, there is something that she must do. Taking her grandmother’s advice, against her wish, she must keep Antonio occupied and distracted. If he is really after her and Amara, he probably would be having them monitored but if she has his attention while the ritual is going on, they could have a chance. Which is why she invited him to dinner tonight, to apologise for how things went between them the last time they met and also to play the role of a jealous mate since he claimed another woman right in front of her even if that is the last thing she is. The moment Antonio steps into the room, Leila feels the air shift, that powerful and dangerous aura of his that he kept hidden from her for a while fills
“Lucky indeed,” Antonio replies, lifting his eyes from Leila to look at Tatum with a calm smile on his face, “what brings you here? I’ve heard the Alpha of the Blood Oak pack isn’t one to mingle himself.”Tatum smiles back at Antonio and he walks towards him and Leila, intentionally not paying Leila any look as he steps to their table even if all he wants to do in that moment is stare at her all night long, tell her how beautiful she looks in the red open back sequin dress that she is wearing.He wants to be the one sitting where Antonio is, singing her praises and adulation, expressing his admiration, he wants to tell her sweet words that will make her light up the room with her beautiful and ethereal smile, jokes that will have her laughing so hard till her tummy hurts but he cannot do any of those and seeing another man in the position he desires more than anything hurts more than words can describe.But this is how he must be, he cannot show even the slightest form of affection to
He looks away before he is tempted to rip her from Antonio’s hand and rip Antonio’s throat open. “If she’s mine, she’s special,” Antonio says in a cheeky tone, looking from Leila to Tatum with suspicion in his eyes, noticing the tension between the two and how they can barely look at each other in the eyes. “Tonight, I plan to claim her, maybe I’ll invite Carmela to join us,” Antonio says with a cheeky smirk, “three is a crowd but it’s also a party,” he says, curling his hands around Leila and breathing in her neck. Leila forces a smile, her skin crawling everytime he touches her but what upsets her the most is the carefree look in Tatum’s eyes like he doesn’t care. She knows that right now they are both playing a part, she cannot react anyhow and must allow Antonio do what he wants so as not to piss him off and Tatum on the other hand must act like he doesn’t care about her so as to protect her real identity but if things go how Antonio wants tonight, it may all be useless in the
Leila gasps in fear and her thuds in worry as the midlink drops. She mindlinks her mother again but it does not connect. She tries over and over and over again to no avail and tears start to fall from her eyes as dread quickly dawns on her. Patting her face, she rushes out of the restroom, reaching the restaurant hall and she halts by the door, her eyes darting to where Antonio still are, seemingly involved in a deep conversation as neither notices her. She bites down on her lower lip, every cell in her body shaken with fear and worry, trying her hardest not to give anything away and her eyes quickly shift to the exit. She wants to make a dash for it and find her family wherever they are but if Antonio sees and follows her, she will be leading him straight to them and she will probably be putting them in more danger than they are already in. She may not be able to leave but Tatum can, he can take men with him, they can find them and save them. Still standing with her heart pound
Leila looks away sharply, feeling a slight pang in her heart and she can feel Antonio’s intense gaze on her as she does so but her eyes snap back to Tatiana in shock when she hears Tatiana say, “hello brother.” She looks sharply from Tatiana to Antonio and then at Tatum, her eyes widening in shock as realisation dawns on her that Antonio and Tatiana are siblings, Tatiana never mentioned that and neither did Kelvin, which can only mean one thing, Kelvin never knew. She quickly recovers from her shock, placing a fake smile on her face as Tatiana turns to face her. “Hello Leila,” Tatiana says, tightening her grip around Tatum’s hand. “Hi,” Leila replies wryly, her brain doing the quick maths of what could be going on. If she is right about Tatum that he is putting on an act, then this fake relationship with Tatiana could be a facade that he plans to use against Antonio, maybe use his own sister against him but what if it is the opposite, what if Antonio is using Tatiana as a tool aga
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