The moment Tatum sees Leila stepping out of the car, he blanks, finding his tongue tied.
His heart has been racing at the anticipation of seeing her after this time apart, he misses her, he can’t deny it.“What did you say to Carmela?”The words hurriedly force their way out of his mouth for lack of a better opening but the moment Leila’s calm expression shifts, he regrets it.“What did she say I said to her? Did she say I tried to gouge her eyes out? Are you here to take my own eyes?” Leila fires at him coldly, leaving him at a loss of words with his mouth agape.Gouge her eyes out? Even if she did gouge Carmela’s eyes out, he couldn’t bring himself to do anything to those beautiful ocean orbs of hers.The most pretty eyes he has ever seen, on the most pretty woman he has ever seen.“Leila, calm down,” He tries to hold her but she flinches away, her cold eyes boring holes into his heart.“Don’t touch me! You“You made the right decision by asking for a divorce. If a man doesn’t value you, you have to let him go,” Liana, Leila’s mom says to her after Leila bares it all.Leila heaves a deep sigh, a sad smile adorning her lips as she looks at her mother, an older carbon copy of her.Despite being 20 years older than her daughter, they could both pass for sisters. Even after losing her mate over a decade ago, getting wounded badly by a burning log in the fire that razed their home years ago, Liana still keeps fit and works out with one good leg.Liana pulls Leila closer to her and rests Leila’s head on her bosom, stroking her daughter’s hair slowly.“You are the daughter of Roger Carter, the strongest Beta warrior in the history of this pack. You are above ridicule and humiliation from anyone, Alpha and Phoenix Luna alike. It’s not going to be easy, especially with the baby but you can do it. You’re strong, just like your father.”Leila heaves an
“She did?” Leila raises a brow.“Well, she said you guys had a fight and you’re upset with her but she’s only trying to make things better between you. Personally, I think you should keep your distance for now at least until the divorce is finalised. I’ll go get it.”Leila frowns, her brows creasing in deep thought. Why is Carmela suddenly giving her gifts? She’s never been the overly generous kind.“You can keep it, I don’t think I have any need for it.”“You don’t have to be enemies but you don’t have to remain friends either, but it’s ultimately up to you,” Liana replies, limping with her cane for support to the kitchen.Since her leg was badly damaged by a burning log in the fire that night, she can’t balance her weight without the help of a walking cane.Leila grabs the remote and Liana’s head pops back out of the kitchen.“It won’t be easy Leila but I promise, all your sacrifices now, they will be worth it,” Liana
A jolt of anger dances in Tatum’s stomach when he sees Kelvin’s arm around Leila’s shoulder as they approach him and he clenches his fists by his side.“Alpha,” Kelvin greets him but he is met with a cold stare and a deep rumbling growl, growing in Tatum’s chest.Why does he feel so much rage whenever he sees Kelvin around her? They’re friends, so she says but he also knows any man with a good eye would want more than friendship with a woman like Leila.Is that what is happening to him too? Does he want more than what he already has with her?Even if somehow he does, he cannot have that, his fate is decided, he has a duty to his people before anything his heart may remotely want.“Good afternoon Alpha Tatum,” Leila greets him, curtseying slightly.“I came to pay my respects,” Tatum replies coldly, glancing between the both of them, feeling a pang in his heart, hiding the pain from his eyes.If Kelvin is who truly makes Leila happy, then he will not stand in the way of her happiness. Th
[Blackwater Restaurant, 7pm. Let’s talk about it.]Tatum frowns, hitting the send button and sending the text to Leila. He drops his phone and sighs. The pressure from the council of elders is getting worse since everyone now knows Leila no longer lives with him and she has completely neglected her duties as Luna.He seems to be the only one holding back, he should go ahead and marry Carmela, it’s the right thing to do, the pack approves of her, she has the phoenix mark, but his wolf does not sense her.Everyone else may not see that as an issue because she bears the mark but the prophecy did not just say she was going to bear the mark, it also said she was going to be his fated mate, which she currently isn’t.[8pm.]Leila replies to his text and Tatum thinks even her reply is cold.The beautiful afternoon sun finally sets at dusk and Tatum makes his way to Black water restaurant.He’s almost at the entrance when Carmela’s orange and mint smell wafts into his nose and he frowns.She
Tatum squints his eyes at Leila, surprised by what she just did. “You did that on purpose! Tatum can you see? Did you see what she just did? She hates me,” Carmela cries out, tugging on Tatum’s sleeve. “Calm down Carmi, I’m sure it was just a mistake,” Tatum replies, even if he knows the truth. Leila dropped the cake on purpose and she wasn’t really trying to hide it, even though she’s acting like she’s shocked. What has gotten into her? He has never seen her this….he doesn’t want to call her crafty but that is exactly how she is right now. “I swear….it was a mistake,” Leila pouts, her eyes flushing with pity. “Why would I drop the cake you baked for me out of your pure love? I’m sure you put so much effort into it.” Leila puts her hands to her chest. “I’m really sorry Carmi….I know I was mean to you but I was just bitter, you are right, let’s put it all behind us. Let’s bake another cake, we can even bake it together.” Carmela instantly looks puzzled by Leila’s reaction, her
“What is she doing here? Doesn’t she have any shame?” “A truly despicable woman, I’m sure she’s just here to make trouble.” “I heard the Alpha even had to chase her out of the house for the phoenix Luna.” “Serves her right, she was never meant to be Luna anyway.” The negative whispers and cold stares hit Leila the moment they drop from her car but she ignores all of it despite the bitterness in her heart. After tonight, everything will be over. She may not be the phoenix Luna but like a phoenix, she will rise from the ashes and reinvent herself. She will learn to live again, to make her happiness something only she can determine. It won’t be because of the way a man treats her, never again. She will never give anyone that much power over her again. The red carpet is teeming with pack members looking their very best like tonight is the blood moon festival, smiles on all their faces. The lights are glittering, the design ethereal, the colour scheme and mix for the decorations a
Leila gasps, dropping the glass in her hand, her heart pounding hard against her rib cage. Carmela turns around, staring at the video that is on a loop, playing over and over again. “Who did this?! Who is trying to sabotage the Luna of this pack? Turn it off, somebody turn it off,” Carmela shrieks. “You don’t have a wolf?” Someone beside Leila says to her . “A wolfless mutt has been our Luna? Outrageous,” another one adds. “Whoever released that video must be targeting the Luna with such lies, there’s no way she rules this pack without a wolf, it is a lie, that video has to be fake,” Carmela continues. Leila stays frozen to the spot, unable to figure what to do, what to say, how to say it. Her only wish is that the ground should give way and swallow her. Carmela knows she has no wolf but she just said it is a lie. If it were before, Leila would trust that her friend was defending her but after recent events, she’s not so sure of Carmela’s intention anymore. Suddenly, everyone’s
Kelvin gets to Leila before he can and despite the situation, Tatum feels that jealous feeling rise inside of him again. “I’ll take her,” he says in a low and cold tone to Kelvin, taking Leila from his hands. “Did she just pretend to faint to get the Alpha’s sympathy?” “What a pathetic woman.” “That’s enough,” Tatum’s voice is curt. “Whoever disrespects the Luna disrespects the Alpha, now get back to the party, all of you.” Carmela steps forward, her eyes flushed with tears, holding a deep sombre look in her eyes. “Is she going to be okay? Even though she lied against me, I still care about her well-being.” “Carmela is so kind, goddess bless her soul,” Tracy says in a soft tone, full of awe. “She is an angel, even to the devil that tries to sabotage her,” Edna adds. Kelvin seethes at them, seeing their hypocrisy clearly for what it is. Carmela may have been away in these two years but her minions were around and those videos were clearly taken pre planned. “Someone invaded
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