**POV Cassandra**I remember waking up this morning, exhausted after spending the last four days by Luna Katy’s side. She was meticulous with the details — and when I made mistakes, her punishment was to lock me in a dark room, leaving me alone for hours, as if I were a child in time-out. But strangely, she never raised her voice at me. Despite the exhaustion and strictness, Katy maintained an air of kindness... Yet, deep down, I sensed something was wrong. She was too curious, always trying to pry into my past, as if she were suspicious or expecting to uncover some hidden truth."Cassie, dear, you’ve never told me about your parents," she said with a sharp sweetness, crossing her legs as I served her a cup of tea. "Tell me more about them... and how you became a rogue wolf."My throat went dry instantly, but I forced myself to smile, my hand steady as I placed the tea on the table. I had to think fast."Well, they died when I was very young," I lied, trying to keep my voice soft. "I
Pov CassandraShe smiled again, that malicious smile that always made me uncomfortable. Slowly, I saw Katy pull something from inside the sleeve of her dress—a small glass vial. My eyes immediately fixated on the clear liquid inside it. It looked harmless, but I knew that, coming from her, nothing was ever that simple.“I want you to put this in the Alpha King’s drink tonight.” Her hand extended, the vial glinting under the soft light of the room. I took it, though my fingers were trembling. My thoughts were racing. What was this? Why me? What would it do to him?"Don’t worry," Katy said, interrupting my thoughts as if she had already sensed the hesitation on my face. "It won’t kill him."I looked at her, trying to steady the tremor in my voice. "What... what is this?"“It’s just a remedy,” she said calmly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “It will help him sleep better. The Alpha King has many nightmares at night, you know? He refuses to take medicine; he’s stubborn.
Cassandra’s POV“I’m just… just a maid that your mother sent to convince you to eat,” I stammered, my voice trembling as I tried to speak. Every word came out shakily, and my entire body seemed to freeze under his gaze. “I have no intention of hurting you!” I quickly added, my throat dry with nervousness.I felt the grip on my neck loosen, but relief was quickly replaced by a deep chill as I looked into his eyes. Red, glowing with rage, the eyes of a wolf on the verge of attacking. His deep growl echoed through the room, and his sharp fangs glistened in the firelight. He wasn’t just angry; he was on the brink of tearing me apart.“Eat!” he ordered, the word reverberating through the air like thunder. His eyes, hard and merciless, didn’t blink as he pointed to the plate in front of me.My hands shook so much that I nearly dropped the spoon. I scooped a large amount of food and, without thinking twice, shoved it into my mouth. I chewed quickly, as if my life depended on it – and maybe i
POV Cassandra"Why would I miss that piece of shit?" he growled with wild fury, standing up so forcefully that everything on the table was knocked over. The objects flew, scattering across the floor, but he didn’t seem to care. "My father... the man everyone revered, never found me worthy of taking the throne." His laughter was bitter, mocking, and though he tried to hold back, it was obvious that the anger was about to explode. "He wanted me to abdicate. He always said that if I took the throne, I would destroy everything he built, that I would bring everyone down with me!" He shouted, his voice echoing through the room, and with a violent gesture, he ripped the curtains from the window, tearing them without remorse.I tried to maintain my composure, but the chaos he caused around me made me even more nervous. "I understand... but still, he was your father. The only reference you had," I murmured hesitantly, my words coming out almost like a whisper. His gaze was devastating, rage bu
**POV Alpha Xavier**“Dad, look at my drawing!” I shouted, running as fast as my little legs could carry me, crossing the field towards the river. My father was there, standing on the opposite bank, his posture firm and imposing, while my mother sat beside him, her hands gently resting on her round belly. Their conversation seemed serious. My father had that distant and grave look, and my mother, though trying to hide it, seemed worried. But at that moment, I was too young to understand the weight of their words.I still remembered when my father wasn’t this cold and aggressive man. Before he became the ruthless alpha that the pack knew, he would come to visit us every day at five in the afternoon. On those days, he smiled more, brought gifts, and sometimes even lifted me into the air, as if I were the most important thing in the world to him. I must have been about two years old, and those memories, though distant, were the only ones I had of the man he used to be.“Look, dad!” I sai
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
**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