Pov Alpha Xavier"No, Luke, please... you're being too cruel! He's still too young!" My mother pleaded, her voice broken with worry. She knew what was coming, and fear was evident in every word. But my father, hardened by anger and frustrated expectations, had no patience left for her pleas. He no longer saw her as his companion; the only thing that still mattered to him was the promise I represented."This boy needs to start training immediately!" He growled furiously, his eyes burning with impatience. The veins on his forehead bulged, his fists clenched at his sides. "Do you want him to grow up weak and useless, just because his mother pampered him too much?" He snarled at her, showing no concern for the fear on my mother's face. "My son will be an alpha! Like me! He will be my successor, and for that, he needs to be strong. Strong enough to protect himself and you, in case someone tries to attack us while I'm not around."That was the day my personal hell began. The training sessio
**Cassandra's POV**"Congratulations, dear. I heard you completed your mission with excellence!" Luna Katy's voice was soft, almost sweet, as she smiled, sliding a shining jewel around my neck. The stones sparkled under the room's soft light, and her satisfaction was evident."Thank you for the opportunity, Luna Katy..." I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady, but I couldn't hide the nervousness. I swallowed hard, the bitter taste of the recent memory still in my mouth. After everything that happened, all I wanted was never to face that man again. The Alpha King had nearly killed me, his hands around my neck, squeezing so hard I could barely breathe. The marks were still there, on my skin, like silent reminders of the danger I had been in.At the same time, there was something tragic about him. A man who had everything: power, wealth, a strong pack. Yet he lived on the edge of paranoia, always nervous, agitated, afraid of being betrayed by those around him. He was incapable of tru
**POV Cassandra**"Put everything in place, quickly, you useless girls! The Alpha King doesn’t want to see anything out of order, and Luna Katy is far too anxious for this day!" The sharp voice of the head maid echoed through the palace halls, making all the other girls shrink under the pressure. She was impatient, her expression severe, as she watched us with critical eyes, searching for any slightest mistake.I took a deep breath, trying to stay focused on the work while wiping the sweat that ran down my forehead. The day was already exhausting, and the heat inside the castle, combined with the physical effort, made my body feel heavy, as if every movement was a battle against fatigue. Luna Katy, in a rare gesture of "generosity," had excused me from my direct services with her so that I could help the other maids with the palace's preparations. The reason was simple: many girls had died recently, and the reduced number of staff was forcing each of us to take on more responsibilitie
**Cassandra's POV**That’s when something unexpected happened. Adrian’s crying became so loud and desperate that it caught everyone’s attention. The guards hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances, until they released Caroline, as if the weight of the scene was too much to bear.Caroline fell to her knees beside her son, trying to comfort him as he sobbed, sitting on the floor. The sound of his sadness echoed through the hallway, creating a painful contrast with the cold and rigid atmosphere of the palace."Oh, darling... I’m so sorry," Caroline said, her voice shaky as she ran her hand across her son’s face, trying to wipe away his tears. "I know you wanted to see your father. I did too..." She swallowed hard, fighting against the truth she had to hide. The pain in her eyes was almost palpable, and I knew she was doing everything she could to keep little Adrian from noticing how much it hurt her. "But he’s busy with pack matters, you know. He’s the Alpha King now... he has many respon
Here’s the revised version without the dashes:---**POV Cassandra**I was startled and almost fell backward when I felt a pair of strong hands wrap around my waist, firm enough to stop me from hitting the ground. "Don’t tell anyone!" he whispered in my ear, his low, husky voice sending shivers down my spine. I could feel his warm breath, and the closeness between us was suffocating.I swallowed hard, nodding, embarrassed. We were so close that I could feel the heat rising to my face, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. He must have noticed because he abruptly let go, stepping back. I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I walked over to the well, attempting to divert my focus. I grabbed the bucket attached to the rope and began pulling it up, trying to find some distraction in the task."Why are you doing this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, his expression hard with suspicion. "You’re my mother’s maid. This isn’t supposed to be your job."The rope slipped from my hands for
**Pov Cassandra**We went to the local market and bought plenty of candles, fruits, and flowers. The atmosphere was heavy, and despite the apparent calm, I felt the tension between us. Afterward, he rented a room in a modest hotel, close to the funeral home where people brought flowers and made small memorials for their loved ones."If you tell anyone I did this, I’ll throw you in the dungeon for a week," he said with cutting coldness, his eyes watching me closely. "No food or water. You’ll have to survive on the rats living down there."I swallowed hard but smiled softly, not wanting to show fear. "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone," I replied, as I finished placing the decorations and flowers around the area. The lit candles illuminated the space with a soft, respectful glow.Afterward, I cooked some vegetables and prepared a small meal for the two of us. He was dressed in black, a sign of mourning, while I wore a simple gray dress, stained with dust. We sat in front of the two woode
**Cassandra’s POV**“You stupid girl! I warned you to stay away from the alpha king and his mother, and you defied me!” Ursula shouted angrily, throwing her cane in my direction.Luckily, I dodged in time. She was almost completely blind, and without the agility she once had, her blow missed by a long shot. Still, the scare made my heart race. My knees were still aching, reminding me of the hours I had spent punished, kneeling on grains of corn. But the worst was over, and thanks to that suffering, I had been given at least three days off by Luna Katy. What I didn’t expect was that the ceremony to name the new harem girls would arrive so quickly.“The guard has prepared everything for tonight,” Ursula continued, her voice more controlled but still full of tension. “I bribed him. Pay attention! A maid will replace you at midnight. By then, everyone will be too drunk and distracted to notice the switch. Besides, you’ll be wearing a mask as part of the theme Luna Katy chose for the party
**Cassandra's POV**I trembled with every step as I approached Luna Katy's bedroom door. The air felt heavy around me, as if the palace itself was aware of the tension consuming me. As soon as my hands touched the metal doorknob, I felt a coldness that spread throughout my body, sending chills across my skin. The cold didn’t come just from the touch, but from the anticipation of what might happen next."Enter!" Luna Katy's voice echoed in my mind through the mental link. I took a deep breath, trying to control the nervousness that made my heart race.As I opened the door and entered the room, I found Luna Katy with her back to me, gazing out the window. The soft evening light illuminated the room, giving the scene an almost surreal beauty. My eyes quickly noticed the luxurious dresses and jewelry laid out on the bed. Maybe she needed help getting ready for the ceremony, but something about the loaded silence in the room put me on edge.She slowly turned, a gentle smile on her lips. "C
**POV Cassandra** The months passed so quickly that it felt like I blinked and was already in a new stage of pregnancy. Each day it became harder to hide my growing belly, a constant reminder of the life I was carrying. "Careful, miss!" Jennie warned, holding my arm as she helped me step into the bathtub. Her movements were cautious, as if I were made of glass. After much insistence, I managed to convince Xavier to allow Jennie to return to the pack as my servant. He seemed so consumed by guilt over what happened—or rather, what he *thought* had happened—that he didn’t dare deny me anything I asked for. "Are you sure you don’t want to do any tests to find out the baby’s gender?" Jennie asked, pouring warm water over me as she gently lathered my body. I sighed, leaning my head back, letting the heat of the water relax my muscles. "I don’t care, Jennie. All I want is for this child to be born healthy and far from anything that could harm them." I ran my hand over my belly, c
**POV Alpha Xavier** --- Dr. Afonso left my office so abruptly that, for a moment, I was paralyzed. When I came to my senses, I realized I was alone with Cassandra. The silence in the room was so heavy it seemed to press down on every corner. Outside, my staff kept their distance, likely too afraid to cross my path in this state. She approached me slowly, her steps measured, her face still pale, but a faint smile graced her lips. Her eyes were gentle, though tired. When she raised her hands to caress my face, the touch was so light and delicate that I almost couldn’t hold myself together. A moment later, she rested her head against my chest, pulling me into a tight embrace. For an instant, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted. “I love you, you know?” Her voice was a soft whisper, but it carried immense meaning. She seemed so fragile, so small in my arms. “I’m sorry... I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise.” Her words cut deep, striking a part of me I didn’t re
**Alpha Xavier's POV** "You bastard! Incompetent!" My voice thundered down the hallway. "I’m going to kill you!"My hands were firmly wrapped around Dr. Afonsos’s neck as he stared at me with wide eyes full of sheer terror. My wolf roared within me, thirsty for blood, demanding vengeance as the only possible justice for the death of my child."I trusted you..." My voice came out low and dark before rising again like a roar. "You told me the herb was harmless! That it wouldn’t harm the baby! And look what happened!"I pressed his back hard against the wall, tightening my grip on his neck. He struggled to breathe, his face turning a deeper shade of red as his eyes pleaded for mercy—mercy I had no intention of granting."Alpha... please..." he managed to croak, his voice hoarse and faint. "I... I don’t know what happened. The herb... it’s never had abortive effects before... I swear, this has never happened!"His desperate, hesitant tone only fueled my rage further. His excuse was a da
**Cassandra’s POV****Five Days Later**"Yes, perfect. Deliver everything to Dr. Afonsos. He won’t suspect a thing." My voice sounded firmer than I actually felt as I carefully placed the collection containers in Maria’s hands. She looked at me with wide eyes, hesitating to take them."Luna, what we’re doing is very dangerous," Maria murmured, her voice filled with concern. "Without Dr. Afonsos, you won’t have any monitoring during your pregnancy—no exams, no prenatal care. This could harm the baby."She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, as if trying to gather the courage to say what was on her mind."Besides," she continued, her voice breaking, "I think the Alpha has suffered enough. He comes to visit you every day, Luna, and at night the staff hears him crying softly in his office, asking the Moon Goddess why it had to be this way. I’ve never seen a man like him so broken."Tears streamed down Maria’s face. She believed what we were doing was wrong, yet she kept helping me.
**POV Cassandra**I was lying in bed, still pretending the extreme exhaustion that the "miscarriage" should have caused, but my mind was alert. Every sound in the hallway, every distant whisper made me anxious. Suddenly, I heard the soft creak of the bedroom door opening.I opened my eyes slowly, feigning surprise, and saw Maria entering hurriedly. Her expression was filled with nervousness, her trembling hands holding a tray of medical instruments."Maria?" I murmured, my voice deliberately hoarse and weak.She closed the door behind her and looked at me with a mix of fear and concern."Cassandra, we can’t keep this charade going much longer," she said in almost a whisper. "You went overboard with the amount of blood. Dr. Afonsos thinks you’re on the verge of severe anemia or worse. He’s already arranging blood bags to give you a transfusion!"I couldn’t help but laugh, a short and raspy sound that made Maria frown indignantly."I figured that might happen," I said, adjusting my pill
**POV Alpha Xavier** As I entered the room, my heart nearly stopped. Cassandra lay unconscious on the bed, her skin pale as snow, and the sheets were stained with ominous red blotches that screamed danger. "Cassandra!" My roar echoed through the room, but she didn’t move. Dr. Afonsos and the nurses surrounded her, rushing back and forth, trying to stabilize her. My chest burned, and Ragnar, my wolf, growled furiously within me. "Afonsos, do something!" I shouted, moving closer to the bed. "Alpha, with all due respect, we need space. I’ll call for additional doctors to assist, but it’s crucial that you leave now so we can work!" Afonsos replied, attempting to stay calm. "I’m not leaving this room while she’s like this!" My voice was low but laced with menace. He hesitated for a moment before signaling to the nurses. "Escort the Alpha outside, and make sure he stays out of the room." Two guards appeared, hesitant, and ushered me away. I roared in protest, but as much a
**POV Cassandra**As soon as Xavier left the room with that smile on his face, a smile that filled me with guilt, I ran to the bathroom. Despair grew in my chest like an uncontrollable blaze. Without thinking twice, I put my fingers down my throat, forcing myself to vomit. Within seconds, I expelled the moss-green liquid I had ingested, its smell so strong and foul that it made my stomach churn again. I could barely breathe, holding onto the bathroom sink to avoid collapsing. At that moment, I heard the sound of the door opening and Maria entering the room, carrying a basin of water. "Are you all right, Cassandra?" The worry was etched on her face as she noticed my pale complexion and the dark circles under my eyes that betrayed my sleepless night. I forced a weak smile, trying to mask my distress. "I'm fine. Just a little unwell." She didn’t seem convinced, but she didn’t press further. Silently, she helped me back to the bed. I sat down, propping a pillow behind me to adju
Alpha Xavier’s POVMy hands trembled as I held the small vial of powder. Even after discussing all the details with Dr. Afonso, a suffocating weight pressed on my chest. Every fiber of my being screamed against what I was about to do, but Alpha Damom had left me no choice. I stared at the powder again and took a deep breath, forcing my mind to calm.“This is to protect them,” I told myself repeatedly, like a prayer.I added a small dose of the powder into the hot tea on the tray, watching it mix slowly until it disappeared completely. I picked up the tray and walked toward Cassandra’s room, each step echoing in the empty hallway. The wooden floors creaked under my weight, and my wolf, Ragnar, restless in my mind, growled in frustration. He knew something was wrong, but I blocked our connection, unwilling to hear his condemnation.When I reached the door, I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. I pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.Cassandra was sitting on the bed, with
POV Cassandra"THINK, CASSANDRA, THINK! HE WOULDN'T DO THIS TO US!" My wolf, Roxy, growled in my mind, indignant that I was doubting our mate."This is ridiculous. You saw it, we saw it," I retorted angrily. "He promised Alpha Damom he would do it. Wondering if he’ll keep his promise to us or to him won’t get us anywhere. We need to think of a way to protect ourselves and our pup!" My inner voice was almost a scream, and Roxy fell silent, resentful, for a few moments.The pain was suffocating, something I had never felt before. My heart was broken, yet there was a small glimmer of hope that Xavier wouldn’t go through with it. However, all the evidence coldly pointed to the death of my baby. I could barely breathe between the tears and the weight of uncertainty."Damn it!" I screamed, throwing one of my personal belongings against the wall, feeling the shattering of porcelain echo my own rage and despair.For a moment, I bitterly regretted venturing into the forest that night to find t