The chanting only gets louder and louder by the second and Leila is disturbed by the distortion of what really happened.
It was her who risked her life to save the other Luna and Carmela didn’t actually save her but if she hadn’t attacked the rogue, maybe something worse could have happened.The chants and songs of praises of Carmela become deafening and the door to Leila’s hospital room opens.Leila cranes her neck past Amanda’s body to see Tatum rolling Carmela in a wheelchair into her hospital room and the first thing Leila notices is the way Carmela is running her fingers up and down the huge scar left by the rogue from earlier.Leila squints her eyes.There is no way Carmela does not have a scar from the night she was kidnapped if such a big one is left on her arm from today’s attack.Tatum raises his hand and the procession goes silent, the crowd outside the door turning away as his Beta, Theo, shuts the door and standsLeila looks up at Tatum, silent tears coating her eyes at the way he yells at her in front of everyone because of Carmela when she is telling the truth.How long is he going to keep treating her like this? How much more can she endure?She is only a woman blindly in love with him and she only wants a little bit, just a little bit of his affection to show her that he cares, that if she keeps hope, they may yet be a chance for them.She blinks and as the tears roll down her eyes, she comes to a painful realisation. Tatum will never love her. No matter what, she will never mean anything to him.Just now when she woke up, she was terrified, terrified that she had lost their child, she wished he was the one beside her but he was with Carmela instead.Carmela’s strike was lethal, she could have died today, she and her baby, the bandage around her head and the throbbing pain she feels in it is a testament of that but does he
Fear. He has never felt fear like this before but when he realises what Leila is about to say, it dawns on him heavily….so much so that the hairs on the back of his neck are up. He grew up learning that as an Alpha, fear is the last feeling he should ever have right before he learned that his feelings must always come second to his pack but the thought of Leila divorcing him is dreadful. This is the third time she is bringing it up, he has been avoiding it because he doesn’t know what to do, she has every right to demand a divorce but he just doesn’t want to let her go because he knows the truth. Before the phoenix mark, before the night Carmela was kidnapped, before all of it, he always wished she was the one, the one with the mark, the one that will be his mate but it went to Carmela and his duty to his pack comes first. He must honour the prophecy but when fate presented him with a chance to keep her close to him, he took it. It was to protect her but it wasn’t just to protect
Tatum is taken back. That wasn’t the version of the story he was told but he doesn’t doubt Leila, not even a little bit, he has known her since they were little and she has never lied to him, not once.She is not the type to seek vainglory either, she must feel really bad that Carmela is getting her praise for her to even voice it. He must do right by her, the pack must know the truth of what really happened.“Don’t get used to it. I’ll tell the pack what really happened and make sure you get your accolades,” he replies in a calm tone but it’s like his words only add salt to Leila’s injury and she scowls at him, her eyes filled with rage.“For fuck’s sake Tatum, I don’t care about any stupid accolades! Honestly, at this point, I don’t care about you, Carmela or any of your pack members. Just leave me the fuck alone,” Leila replies coldly.Tatum’s heart squeezes with a nasty pain. He never thought hearing her say she doesn’t care about him will hurt so much but it does, it really hurt
Goddess….Tatum realises his mistake. He has seen her so much as a self sufficient person whose independence and strength he admires so much that he forgot that in her core, she is still…just— a woman.He stands up and sits on the bed beside her, holding her before she can move away, his remorseful eyes looking into her soulless ones.“You have every right to be upset but we can fix this, just don’t bring up the divorce again.”“There’s nothing to fix Tatum. You brought Carmela into our home without asking me how I feel about it. Let me ask you, when you go to bed in her arms every night, do you ever wonder what must be going through the head of the woman next door?” Even though Leila’s tone is steady and cold, it is laden with so much pain that Tatum feels it in his heart.Why does she never mention anything to him? She let him assume she is okay with everything when she says nothing.And she is wrong, he has never gon
Deciding to divorce Tatum was the hardest decision Leila ever made and in the days that have passed since they had that huge fight, leading to her asking for a divorce, a tiny part of her wishes she had shown more restraint but there was only so much she could take.Sometimes she wishes her soul would just travel out of her body and take her to a place where she can’t feel suffering, worry, pain or heartbreak.A place where she can just exist without these sad emotions that constantly fill her, hopefully where the thoughts of Tatum still brought.She loves him, even now that he’s demanded that they end everything, she still feels that yearning for him but he will never love her and she has accepted it.“Leila, our little munchkin is starting to make itself known,” Amanda says excitedly, pointing at Leila’s bump.Leila's eyes widen slightly and she runs her hands down her stomach. “Yes it is,” Leila replies with a half smile.
“I don’t want to go back to my house, that place is no longer my home. Can I— live with you for a while?”Leila’s voice burns a hole in Tatum’s chest as he’s about to turn the door knob. It’s not just the way she refers to their house as no longer a home that vexes him.It’s the coldness in her voice, the sadness that they carry and he acknowledges that it is his fault but she just won’t let him fix it.He has avoided coming to see her because she said she needed space but he never expected that the competent and hardworking Luna would neglect her duties.He knows she is wounded but the woman he married would delegate duties and keep things running smoothly even if she was on her deathbed.Why is she being so stubborn and hell bent on leaving their marriage, to the point of neglecting her duties.“If it’s not your home, then whose home is it?” he says as he opens the door and steps in.He hears the way Leila’s heartbeat
Today is a big day for Leila, the day she finally moves into her own apartment. She has been living with Amanda and it has been nothing short of liberating.Seriously, when was the last time she woke up for consecutive days without any turmoil in her chest, without feeling like she was being choked up or trampled upon?Without treading carefully around her own house like it was loaded with booby traps ready to sink her into an emotional wreckage.There’s no Tatum and Carmela here to avoid seeing all cozy and loved up, causing her unbearable anguish, there’s no Adaline to walk eggshells around so she doesn’t get scolded or abused.She closes her eyes, standing in front of the mirror and sucks in a deep, long breath before she exhales slowly and opens her eyes.It would have been a truly exhilarating feeling, only that deep in her heart, she misses Tatum, she misses his smell around the house, his touch, hearing his voice, being in his pres
Carmela is standing at the door, wearing a long sleeved blue gown that is cinched at the waist, highlighting her curves as it hugs her body downward.Her makeup is regal and her wrists and neck are adorned with heavy pearls, matching the white purse clutches in her arms and the white one on her feet.Two omegas step into the house with her and one of them is holding a basket while the other one just stands with heads bowed, ready to run any errands for Carmela.As the door closes, Leila catches the glimpse of the official Luna car, her car, that Carmela had come in and she almost smiles bitterly.If Tatum is already giving Carmela the things and benefits that come with the Luna position like the official car and her own personal omega servers, why won’t he just give her the only thing she has asked from him in years?Why won’t he just sign the divorce papers and let her go? It’s pretty obvious that Carmela fits right into being Luna so wh
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