**POV: Cassandra**"Mate..." said Sebastian Stones, my husband and Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack, his eyes gleaming with desire.Unfortunately, he wasn’t referring to me, but to the woman sitting next to me at the dinner table, my younger sister, Emily. An anguished silence filled the room as Emily lifted her face and rose toward my husband, murmuring the same word."Mate..." she whispered, almost breathless upon seeing him for the first time after years away. Sebastian immediately let go of my hand, as if all our memories and moments together had been erased.Instinctively, I followed my husband's gaze, which was fixed on Emily. She had just turned eighteen, and her wolf, Ayla, had recently awakened. Her beauty was stunning, with bright green eyes and blonde hair cascading in curls down to her waist. She had undoubtedly inherited our mother Johanna's beauty, who was sitting beside us at the table, as shocked as the rest of the guests, all waiting for my reaction."Sebastian and I h
**POV: Cassandra**I woke up the next day with unbearable pain, as if an invisible force were crushing my abdomen. The room was dark and silent except for the muffled sound of my own labored breathing. I tried to get up, but the pain paralyzed me, and I realized I was lying in a cold, damp pool. My blurry vision fixed on the red stains around me."No... no... no," I whispered, trying to understand what was happening. It felt like my body was being battered, with multiple spasms making me cry out in pain. I took a deep breath, hoping the pain would pass, but it only intensified, causing me to writhe on the bed.Then I heard hurried footsteps and distant voices. The bedroom door burst open, and a group of doctors entered, their faces serious and concerned."Cassandra, what happened?" asked one of the doctors who had been monitoring my pregnancy since I discovered it."I... I feel a lot of pain," I managed to say, but my voice came out weak. "I think... something is wrong."The doctors m
**POV: Cassandra**Sebastian left, leaving me alone. The pain radiated throughout my body. When the door opened again, a faint smile appeared on my lips when I saw who it was.“Mom…” I whispered, breathless, my lips trembling and pale.“Dear… I’m sorry…” She lowered her head, pulling me into a hug. I couldn’t help it; tears ran down my face. I tried to get up to hug her, but my body groaned in pain. I was still bleeding and hadn’t fully recovered.“Mom… please, talk to Emily… she can’t do this to me,” I pleaded, desperate. My mother was the only person who could protect me and make her change her mind.My mother smiled weakly, holding my face firmly. “Dear… this place was never yours. Emily is the destined mate. If you hadn’t coveted what was hers, your children would still be alive… accept your fate!” she said coldly.“Mom…” I murmured, shocked, almost falling to the ground. “Why are you supporting this betrayal?”“Cassandra, I raised you as my daughter, but the truth is that you are
**POV: Cassandra**Sebastian rushed to us, his eyes widening at the sight of Emily covered in blood and the knife in my hands. He pushed me away from her, his gaze filled with anger. She had orchestrated everything perfectly: the white dress, the knife, the blood. I knew she wouldn’t be stupid enough to seriously harm herself, but the tight white dress made it look like she was losing liters of blood.“Cassandra, what have you done?” he shouted, holding Emily in his arms. She seemed to be weakening, unable to stand.“No, Sebastian, it’s not what it looks like! She… she did this to herself! She wanted to frame me!” I tried to explain, but my voice was trembling and the words came out confused. At that moment, Emily opened her eyes one last time, as if bidding farewell, and whispered:“Alpha… I swear I tried to make amends with her, for our family, but she had a fit of jealousy when she saw me in a wedding dress. She ruined my dress and even tried to kill me.” Emily whispered with a fal
**POV: Cassandra**“Quickly, can’t you see she’s in pain?” the doctor said, noticing my pale face and clenched jaw from the pain.The nurse immediately injected my arm with the needle, and after a long time, the morphine began to take effect, but the relief was temporary and insufficient. Days passed quickly, and I had been trapped in that dungeon for more than seven days. The remnants of the placenta still hadn’t been expelled completely, and I could die from an infection at any moment. The pack’s doctor wanted to perform an emergency intervention, but Emily, as usual, sabotaged every plan to make me suffer. She made a point of having sex every night with Sebastian in our room, preventing any attempts at nighttime surgery and intensifying my pain to the point where I could only survive on strong painkillers like morphine. As if being beaten every time she slept with him wasn’t enough, she also made a point of taunting me daily.“I’m sorry, Luna, but I can only give you another inject
**Cassandra's POV**"Bind her and tie her to the horse!" he ordered through clenched teeth, his eyes locked on me, full of hatred.A large brown wolf, marked by a scar crossing his left eye, threw the shackles to the ground. Other men hurried to put them on my wrists. The moment my hands touched the cold metal, I felt a searing pain, as if my skin were burning. I took a deep breath, biting my lower lip to stifle a scream. The shackles were polished silver, and I knew the walk to the pack would be long and excruciating. Under the scorching sun, the silver would burn my skin until it was raw."Take the prisoner and deliver the contract directly to Alpha Sebastian!" the man in polished armor ordered firmly. I looked back as I was pulled away, feeling a tear silently roll down my face."This is the contract I enforce with all the packs under my domain. Clause 14 stipulates that if the contract is violated, I can take whatever I want and eliminate whomever I desire!" he declared with a cru
**Cassandra's POV**"Hurry! Bring the basin with medicated water!" A shrill and hostile voice echoed through the room, forcing me to open my eyes.When I tried to move, I suddenly realized he was right in front of me. His polished armor gleamed under the dim light, and a black mask covered his face, hiding his expressions but not the aura of power that emanated from him."Let me do it!" he responded brusquely, snatching the cloth from the trembling maid's hands. With a swift motion, he stretched the cloth towards me, apparently to place it on my feverish forehead. When his hands rose to touch my skin, I instinctively recoiled, my body shrinking in fear. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for more pain."Stupid girl, I'm trying to bring down your fever!" he growled impatiently, huffing in frustration before throwing the wet cloth on me carelessly.I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat. He began pacing back and forth in the room, his boots echoing heavily on the floor. There wer
**Xavier's POV**She could barely move, her body trembling more intensely as I pressed her arm against mine. I could feel her weakness, but also the intensity of fear and hatred emanating from her."So, you know who I am," she whispered, her voice trembling, as a solitary tear slid down her pain-marked face."How could I forget you?" I murmured, my lips dangerously close to hers. Inside me, my wolf growled, eager to claim her, but I forced myself to stay in control, not giving in to the temptation to act impulsively."So, you came after me... to collect my father's debt," she said, her voice weak and downcast. The despair was evident in her eyes, but it was soon replaced by intense anger. "How can you be so cruel?" she screamed, pushing me with all the strength she could muster. I stepped back, feeling the impact of the disdain in her gaze. "My father needed that medicine for my mother. She was sick, and my sister was very young at the time. Everything he did was to save her, but you.
Pov cassandraThe walls of the dungeon were cold and damp, and the smell of mold filled the air, mingling with the bitter taste of despair that refused to leave me. I sat in the dark corner of the cell, arms wrapped around myself, trying to suppress the trembling that overtook me. The chains on my wrists were heavy, but not as heavy as the weight of the accusations hanging over me.The echo of firm footsteps interrupted the oppressive silence. I lifted my head, quickly wiping away the tears that had fallen without my permission. I couldn’t appear weak, not in front of him. And there he was, Alpha Damon, standing outside the bars, wearing that cold, mocking smile that made me want to scream."What do you want here?" I asked, my voice firmer than I had expected.He entered the cell with the confidence of someone who knew they were in control. "You know why I’m here, Cassandra," he began, his tone calm but laced with venom. "I want you to take responsibility for the deaths."My hands cle
**Xavier's POV**Days had passed since the dust of war had settled, and I was finally crowned king. A grand ceremony took place, filled with ancient rituals and solemn words, but for me, the most significant moment was when Cassandra, by my side, received the crown of Luna. As the weight of gold was placed upon her head, I knew that, despite everything, she was my anchor, the reason why all of this was worth it.I looked at her, admiring her strength, even after all she had endured. There was an undeniable sadness in her eyes, but also a determination that made me believe that together we could overcome anything.After the coronation, my focus shifted to rebuilding the pack. The palace, devastated by the conflicts, began to be restored. The wounded soldiers received care, and the people returned to their homes. I made it a point to visit the families who had lost loved ones, offering help and ensuring that the future would be different. I promised myself that my leadership would be ma
The pain of childbirth had been excruciating, but nothing could compare to the wave of love that washed over me when I heard that fragile, delicate cry for the first time. My baby was here, in my arms, so small, so perfect.He was a boy. A beautiful, healthy boy, with eyes that, although newly opened, seemed to gaze directly at me. His skin, still red from the effort of entering the world, glowed under the flickering light of the flames illuminating the sky in the distance."My love... my boy..." I whispered, tears streaming down my face as I cradled him to my chest. Even with my body still aching from the pains of childbirth, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I kissed his small forehead, feeling the warmth of his skin, and silently thanked the goddess of the moon for giving us this moment, even amid the chaos.But the moment of peace was brutally interrupted.The door was smashed open with a crash, and a group of men entered, their faces dirty and filled with hatred. I instinctively h
**Alpha Xavier's POV**The smell of gunpowder and blood filled the air as we led the attack on the central hall. I could hear the echoes of our wolves' howls mixed with the cries of resistance from Alpha Valetim's guards. Everything was going according to plan — we were surrounding the palace, closing off all escape routes.Ahead of me, one of Valetim's army commanders trembled, his eyes darting quickly over the men surrounding him. His breathing was heavy, and I could see the sweat dripping down his face."You’re surrounded," I said firmly, my deep voice cutting through the air. "It’s no use resisting. This isn’t just a battle, it’s the revolt of the people. Your tyranny, and that of King Valetim, is over. There’s no way out for you. Surrender and open the gates."He hesitated, gripping his sword with trembling hands. I could see the conflict in his eyes — a mix of fear and desperate loyalty. Before he could respond, one of my men advanced, pressing the sharp point of a blade against
*POV Cassandra*As I followed the servant through the dark corridors, we heard the unmistakable sound of Alpha Valetim’s voice echoing nearby. He was coming toward us. My heart nearly stopped, and for a moment, I froze.“It’s him...” I whispered, instinctively placing my hand on my belly.The eunuch glanced at me, alarmed, but remained calm.“We need to leave now! If he finds you here, Alpha Xavier’s plan will be ruined,” he said urgently, trying to pull me toward the exit.I looked in the direction of Valetim’s voice and felt a wave of despair. I knew he suspected something. If he realized I was trying to escape, not only would he imprison me again, but he would destroy all of Xavier’s efforts to save us.“Wait,” I whispered, gripping the servant’s arm firmly. “I need to throw him off track.”“That’s madness! Alpha Xavier wants you safe. You have to come with me now!” he whispered, almost desperate.“Trust me. I’ll delay him. Go to the meeting point and wait for me. I promise I’ll co
**Cassandra's POV**The months dragged on like centuries since Xavier disappeared. The last thing I heard was from some servants who claimed to have seen him working as a simple carpenter in a humble house nearby. They mocked him, calling him "The Crippled Alpha." The title had spread, and the rumors of his disability made him the subject of ridicule.His pack had abandoned him. When Valentim brought his punishment to everyone, most ran to save their own skins, including Jennie. From time to time, I would hear of hunts, captures, and the executions that followed. Valentim thought all of it was a big joke.Worse than the rumors were the photos. He sent them to me like slow poison, depicting Xavier limping, leaning on a cane, his exhausted face. Each image came with a messenger carrying gifts that piled up high in my room. They were never opened. I didn’t need to look to know they contained more insults than sincere intentions.That day, a servant entered, carrying a new batch."Luna, K
POV ALPHA XAVIERI was dragged through the dark, damp corridors of the dungeon like an animal about to be slaughtered. My wrists were bound by iron shackles that dug into my skin, causing constant pain. Two guards shoved me with every hesitation, their eyes filled with contempt. Finally, they stopped in front of a cell that smelled of urine, decay, and despair. Without ceremony, they threw me inside, and I stumbled, falling to the filthy floor.The sound of the iron door closing echoed through the dark space. I struggled to get up, wiping the blood from the corner of my lips, only to notice that the floor was infested with rats scurrying back and forth, fighting over pieces of spoiled food."Enjoy the hospitality, Cursed Alpha," one of the guards mocked. He held a plate with what looked like moldy bread and a bowl of sour broth. He pushed the food through the small opening in the cell and smiled maliciously. "This is your only meal of the day. Better save it."I didn't respond. I simp
**Cassandra's POV**The hall plunged into chaos the moment Valentim drew the knife. My heart stopped as he approached Xavier, his gaze overflowing with hatred."Valentim, don’t do this!" I screamed desperately, but he seemed to not hear.Xavier raised his arms defensively, trying to deescalate the situation."There’s no need for this, Valentim! Leave Cassandra and our child out of this. Deal with me, but not like this!"Valentim didn’t respond. With a swift movement, he grabbed Xavier's arm, pulling him close, and before I could even scream, the knife glinted under the light of the hall before plunging into the side of Xavier’s abdomen, just below his ribs. A muffled sound of torn flesh echoed through the hall, followed by Xavier’s scream of pain."Traitor!" Valentim roared, pointing the bloodstained knife at the guards around us. "The Cursed Alpha tried to kill me! He conspires against the kingdom, and for that, his whole pack will be condemned!""NO!" My scream ripped through the ai
POV ALPHA XAVIER"Another victim of the Alpha King," I heard someone comment."Was that an execution, or a horror show?" someone else replied.My body froze. Everything inside me was about to explode. The sight of my beta, my friend, dead before me was more than I could bear.Cassandra shrank beside me, sobbing quietly, yet she gripped my hand tightly, trying to hold me back, as if she knew what I was about to do.But nothing could stop me."Josh..." My voice was a low growl, full of pain and rage. My wolf howled in response, slamming against the barriers I had put up to control it.I knew that from that moment on, everything would change.The Alpha King's palace was dark at night, its oppressive architecture reflecting the chaos that reigned in the mind of the man who inhabited it. The doors slammed open as I entered, the sound echoing through the vast halls like thunder. My chest burned with anger and pain, my wolf growled impatiently within me, while my eyes found Valentim sitting