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Chapter 13 : The Hanging
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 14 : One Breath at A Time
Baird’s POVI felt my strength returning with every step I took. I was still weaker than was normal for me, but my willpower was pushing me onward, and I would not fail. I couldn’t. Serena’s life hung in the balance. When I arrived onto the execution grounds, I discovered my thoughts about Serena’s life were quite literally true. The first thing I saw when I entered the grounds wasn’t the crowd pushing in around the platform, but rather Serena, hanging by her neck in the middle of it, struggling to take a breath. Her face was an odd shade of blue, and I knew her end was nearing. I didn’t have any time to waste.Instead of pushing through the crowd, I turned into my wolf and rushed around the back of the crowd to the platform at the center of the space. I leapt onto the platform in one jump, forgoing the stairs that the humans used. I didn’t have time for stairs. Serena didn’t have time.The warriors heard my paws hit the ground and turned to face me, but they were no match
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 15 : Relief at Last
Serena’s POVI could see the shock move through the crowd, from one face to another. No one was sure what to believe. They were surprised that the military court would make such a mistake. And yet, if they hadn’t, then how was Baird here when he had been attacked by rogues? There were too many pieces of the puzzle to put together for so many people who had not been there to see the events themselves.“He has saved us!” A member of the crowd close to the platform yelled. “Surely the Moon Goddess would have punished us had we executed a savior, not a spy!”“Yeah!” Another person agreed. “A combat hero’s savior! We would all be doomed.”I took another deep breath. It was good to be able to breathe at will again. Things were taking a turn for the better. The crowd was on our side! They agreed that I was not a spy, but rather a savior. At the very least, they weren’t willing to take a chance and execute me—for their own good. It was better than the alternative, and I was gratefu
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 16 : Baird’s Bread
SerenaWhen I woke up, my face was stiff, but my eyes were finally dry. My cheek rubbed against rough fabric. I rubbed my eyes before opening them.“Good evening.” Baird smiled down at me as he pushed my hair away from my face. My head was in his lap! “I hope you feel better. We just arrived.”“Arrived?” I sat up fast and my head spun. “Arrived where?” For an instant, I almost wondered if he had taken my home, but when I looked outside and saw a forested road around the car, I knew that was not the case.“As a so-called ‘special service agent’ of mine, I figured you didn’t have anywhere specific to live. I thought it best that you stay with me.”Live with Baird? In his castle? I ducked my head to see out the front window. I couldn’t see much.“Let me show you.” Baird opened his door and extended a hand behind him, helping me out of the vehicle. I felt better than I had earlier, but I would still be sore for a while.I frowned when I noticed a small cottage standing
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 17 : The Fright of My Life
Serena’s POV“Tired?” Baird asked.I was. Desperately. Even though I’d slept in the car, that had been the exhaustion of grief. My body needed way more rest if I was going to feel normal again. I felt as if I could sleep for a week. “Yes, very,” I croaked as I glanced around the cabin again.“The bedroom is right through there.”The bedroom? As in the only bedroom? Was he expecting me to sleep in the same bed as him? Baird pushed his chair back from the table and moved across the small cottage. He opened a cabinet I had yet to notice and pulled out a blanket. He spread it on the floor. Is that where he wanted me to sleep, then?“You take the bed,” Baird ordered. “I’ll sleep here.”“On the floor?”He shrugged. “I’ve slept in the woods before. This is much more comfortable in comparison.”I forced a smile. I felt bad making him sleep on the floor in his own cottage, but the bed called to me. My body physically needed any comfort I could give it after what I’d been
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 18 : Lost in the Village
Baird’s POVI felt the hard cottage floor beneath me before I opened my eyes, but I was used to discomfort. Though I was still wounded, I had slept better than I had in a long time. I stretched one arm above my head, but realized I couldn’t move the other. I opened my eyes and glanced down. Serena was curled around my arm, but of her hands wrapped around it and her face pressed against my bicep.A smile tickled my lips. The woman almost looked like a cat, curled up against me like that. A wave of sympathy passed over me. She acted aloof and picky about my lifestyle, but overall, she was a scared girl in a strange environment. She might even be using her disgust over the bread and the river to cover up her fear.Tenderness washed through me. I reached my free arm over my body and pushed her hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. It was much softer than it was before, now that it was clean. Even in the dim lighting, I could see the natural highlights and different c
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 19 : Sweet Revenge
Serena’s POVThe villagers had spotted me, just as I had seen them. When I turned and ran, they chased after me. I heard their fast feet and distant shouts behind me. What were they shouting? Hang her? I wouldn’t be surprised. The roads twisted and turned around me as I ran aimlessly. Would anything ever look familiar? I might be running in circles. I would never know.I saw a river at the edge of the village and ran toward it. Not that I’d had great luck with rivers before, but it was a landmark and it ran in a certain direction. It may help me find a direction and go with it. Following the river had helped me to get away from enemies before, even if Baird hadn’t turned out to be an enemy, exactly.I glanced behind me. The villagers were gaining on me. They probably knew all the right streets to take to cut me off. I doubled my speed. I wasn’t sure how much longer my legs would hold up. I veered closer to the river. If I ran on its banks, my footprints would disappear fast. W
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 20 : Bonfire
Serena’s POVFive minutes later, I found myself sitting in the living room, surrounded by a mix of warriors and villagers. The atmosphere was tense, but not hostile. It was more like the awkward tension at a family reunion. Apparently, what had just happened was a big misunderstanding.The warriors, who had burst in so suddenly, were actually Baird’s men. They had come to check on me, worried that I might not be able to adjust to life in the Storm Pack or that I might not know how to cook lunch for myself. It was all Baird’s arrangement, but he had forgotten to mention it to me. The resulting chaos had been an unfortunate consequence of this oversight.Kevin, one of Baird’s closest friends, stepped forward. His face was a mix of guilt and determination. He sat next to me, his expression softening as he tried to make me feel at ease. "You know, Serena," he began, his voice lighter now, "this whole thing was a pretty big mix-up. We were just worried about you. Baird told us to c
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 21 : laying traps
Serena’s PovThe sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the village as laughter filled the air. I sat around the fire with Baird’s companions and the villagers. The evening was cheerful, the air thick with the scent of roasting meat and the sound of crackling flames. It was a rare moment of peace and joy, and I cherished every second of it.As the night grew deeper, the villagers began to say their goodbyes. They approached me, their faces lit with gratitude and warmth. “Thank you, Serena. Tonight was wonderful,” said Cervine, one of the villagers. I smiled back, feeling a sense of belonging that was still new and exhilarating.Just then, Baird stood up, his commanding presence drawing everyone’s attention. “Wait,” he said, his voice steady and kind. “Before you go, my warriors will escort you home and share some of the meat we have stored.”A murmur of surprise rippled through the villagers. “Oh no, Baird, we can’t accept that,” Cervine protested,
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Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 45: A Night of Passion
Serena’s POVThe night was quiet, a stillness in the air that felt like the world holding its breath, waiting. Baird and I sat in the dimly lit living room. His gaze was passionate, as he rubbed his fingers over my hand, and it filled with such a comfort I had never felt before.“I know you’ve been thinking about going back to the Pack Alliance,” Baird began, his voice steady but soothing. “And I want you to know that I will help you do that. If that's what you truly want.” He kissed the back of my hand lightly. Electricity surged throughout my whole body, and my pulse quickened. I blinked away my surprise. This wasn’t what I had expected. How had he known that was what had been on my mind? Moreover, he said he'd be willing to send me back.“You’d really let me go?” My voice wavered as I spoke. I searched his eyes for any sign of uncertainty, but all I found was sincerity.He nodded. “Yes. On our wedding day. It’s the perfect time. The guards will be too focused on guar
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 44: I Forgive you
Serena’s POVAlpha Hayes was the last person I expected here now, as I thought we left him at the courthouse. Had he followed us back to the mansion? My questions would go unanswered because he was already here standing with an unyielding presence. The man I had always viewed as the embodiment of tyranny, the root of all evils that had plagued my thoughts and the Pack Alliance for so long. Yet, now, as I looked at him closely for the first time, I couldn’t help but acknowledge the undeniable aura of kindliness that surrounded him. His posture was commanding, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s, scanning both me and Baird with an intensity that made us seem insignificant in comparison. No matter how many times I went over it in my head, it still didn't make sense. If this man, who was as feared and revered as he was across the country, was capable of raising someone like Baird, was there more to him than the tyrant’s mask? Could there be a hidden depth behind those steely eyes?
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 43: The Future Tyrant.
Serena’s POVMy mind was a whirlwind, trying to grasp what had just happened. For a moment I thought my ears were not working, I couldn't have heard that correctly. Did Baird just call Alpha Grayson Father? The word echoed in my ears like a distant, disorienting sound, one I couldn’t quite believe was real. This had to be some sort of mistake, a cruel joke. Yet, as I glanced around the room, taking in the unperplexed faces of all the others, I knew it wasn’t a mistake. It was the truth—a truth that sent a shiver down my spine.Baird was the son of Alpha Grayson, a man who many regarded as 'The tyrant'. That also made him the heir of the Storm pack. He would also inherit his father's unsavory title, he would become the next tyrant. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me breathless. How could this be happening? The man who had saved my life, the one who had shown me kindness and warmth, was destined to become the very monster I had feared all my life.Alpha
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 42: Daddy Dearest
SerenaWas I dreaming? Had I been slammed to the floor harder than I thought? Was it really Baird standing before me? His handsome features came into focus as he held both hands out in a sign of peace.What was he doing? Why did he come anywhere near me instead of just letting me go? Now he could be implicated, too. He might be labeled a traitor and sent to the execution grounds without a second thought. I had never been so glad to see his face, and yet I was also resolved, worried, and panicked at the sight of him.With his hands raised slightly before him, he slowly walked toward me. He wasn’t a wolf. He wasn’t a threat. He was trying to convey that message so no one would take him down. His goal was obvious. He wanted to be by my side.When he was no more than five feet from me, he glanced at the guard on either side of me and flicked his fingers toward him. They let go of my arms, and I was able to rise to my knees. Baird offered his hand to me and I took it. He pulled
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 41: Last Ditch Effort
SerenaStorm Pack’s jail wasn’t the worst place I’d ever been. No one was torturing me, so that was the upside of the cell. It was much more agreeable in that way. But at the same time, I knew the situation was a lot more dangerous. Alpha Grayson had me. No one was going to get past him to save me. He would interrogate me himself, and he would believe whatever he wanted to believe—no matter what I said.I was having trouble keeping my hands from shaking. Yes, the cell was cold, but it wasn’t the damp chill in the air that caused my tremble. I was nervous. I was worried about my own well-being, but more than that, what about Baird? Did he go to the stronghold? Would he be at all implicated because of me?Perhaps no news was good news. I nodded and drew my knees up to my chest, encircling them with my arms. Yes. That’s what I had to believe for now. No news was good news. The less I heard about, or even saw Baird, the better off he was. As much as I wanted to be near him, I was
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 40: Finding Serena
BairdMarcus’ face reddened. Everyone could hear the commander’s voice ringing through the phone well enough to know Marcus was getting reprimanded. The commander was covering for me. Would Marcus suspect that there was more to my relationship with the commander? Why else would he stand up for me without having been here himself?Marcus lowered the phone and his eyes. “You are free to go.” His voice was light and disappointed. I certainly wasn’t going to explain myself. He was letting me go and that was all I needed. I nodded to Marcus and raised my wrists in front of me. One of the guards unlocked them, and they fell to the ground. I gave Marcus a half-smile and sidled around him. I was out of there.I wanted to go back home more than anything. I had the walk to think about Serena. I couldn’t wait to see her. I wanted to apologize about our argument. I never should have fought with her in the first place. When the rogues surrounded my group in the forest, she was the firs
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 39: The Tables Turn
BairdThe rogues were fierce, but battles were something I was used to. What I wasn’t used to was losing. And this was not a battle I would lose. The moment I saw the rogues coming for us, I knew I had to find the leader of the pack. If I could take him out, and I would, the battle would be over before it began.I jumped around the rogue that came for me and searched the group. The leader was fighting off one of my warriors, looking around the area, searching for me. His thought was the same as mine. I narrowed my eyes as I bolted in his direction. This is the same rogue that kidnapped Serena. He would not get through this battle unscathed.I leapt toward him at the same time he leapt at me, and we clashed midair, our paws intersecting and our teeth snapping. The last time we met, this particular rogue escaped his fate when we had the upper hand. The patrol team looked for him all night, but they never found any clues as to where he had gone. The forest was searched top to bot
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 38: Take Me Instead
SerenaI knew the moment the SUV spun around that we were heading back to the dungeon. It was almost the last place I wanted to go. The last being the execution grounds, of course. At least in the dungeon, I had plenty of air to breathe, no matter how dusty and dingy it might be.Once Marcus tossed me into the cell that had held Nathan the day before, I almost felt a sense of relief. I didn’t have to fear going back to the dungeon now. I was already there. Nathan and Cervine were safe. That was all that mattered.I rubbed my wrists. It still felt like the cuffs were on, though Marcus had gruffly removed them before slamming the cell door. My mind moved to Baird as I sank to the ground. The last time I saw him, we had quite a fight. If I had only known what would become of me, that I would likely never see him again, I never would have argued with him in the first place.I closed my eyes and pictured his handsome face. I removed the fight from my mind and put into its place an alter
Pretend to Be Tyrant's Future Luna Chapter 37: Take Me Instead
SerenaWhen I woke up, my mind was fresh and clear. The moment I realized I was on the floor and Nathan was in the bed in the next room, I remembered everything that had happened the day before. My decision was still unclear. I’d hoped that a good night of sleep would help, but I had an idea.Nathan rolled over in the bed and sat up. “Serena?” he called.“Right here.” I sat up as well and waved at him.“Sleep okay?”Baird’s scent had worked wonders. “Very well, you?” I asked.“This bed was much better than a dungeon floor, I’ll tell you that much.”I laughed. “Don’t I know it.” I stood up and stretched my arms over my head. “The food here isn’t quite what you’re used to.”“Is that so?” Nathan tilted his head.“I’m afraid it’s bland and rather strange, but if you’re hungry, it’ll do.”“Oh I’m hungry.” Nathan smiled at me.I did my best repeating the steps I’d seen Baird take and made breakfast for us. When we sat down at the table, Nathan picked up the hard bread and turned i
