**Cassandra's POV**A swift shadow passed by me, so fast that all I felt was the impact. My leg burned with pain, as if a knife had pierced through my flesh mercilessly. I let out a groan, the sound escaping my lips uncontrollably. I looked down and saw the blood trickling, the deep cut in my leg starting to soak the earth with dark red stains.My heart raced, and before I could even try to stop the bleeding, those red eyes appeared again among the bushes. A low growl echoed through the air, more threatening than anything I had ever heard. It didn’t resemble any creature I knew. It wasn’t a wolf… or at least, not a normal wolf.I felt fear take over, my hands trembling, and my body freezing under that cruel, intense gaze. I dragged myself back with difficulty, trying to move despite the excruciating pain. I managed to reach the trunk of a tree and hid behind it, my chest rising and falling rapidly, trying not to make any sound. My mind was filled with terror, the thought that the mons
POV CASSANDRAThe sense of urgency took hold of me as the clock struck midnight. The full moon shone intensely outside, and the fear that time had run out made my heart race.Xavier noticed my unease and gave me a questioning look."What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable? We can share the room without a problem; I’ll sleep in the armchair, and you can take the bed."Before he could say more, an unknown courage surged within me, and, without much thought, I moved closer and pressed my lips against his. At first, Xavier seemed surprised, but soon I felt the resistance in his body melt away, and he responded to the kiss, cupping my face with his warm hands.For a moment, everything around us disappeared; only the warmth of his touch and the intensity of that moment filled my mind. The kiss deepened, and my fingers tangled in his hair as he pulled me closer, as if his body were desperately craving mine.As we pulled apart briefly to catch our breath, he looked at me, still surprised."Cassan
**Cassandra's POV**I woke up with the first ray of sunlight streaming through the window, illuminating Xavier's face as he slept deeply beside me. He looked so peaceful, his normally hardened features now softened. A smile escaped my lips. It was hard to believe that, after everything, we were here together. I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake him, and put on a robe, planning to have some coffee before he woke up.When I reached the hallway, I came face-to-face with Jennie, pale and breathless as if she had run through the entire castle.“Cassie!” she whispered urgently, her eyes wide with anxiety. “You need to go to the palace now!”I frowned, trying to grasp the urgency.“Jennie, what happened?”“A messenger arrived early, just after dawn. He brought an urgent request for you to go immediately. It’s from Luna Katy.”I swallowed hard, an uneasy feeling spreading through my chest. Today was the day we were supposed to leave with Xavier; we were finally going to leave be
**Pov Alpha Xavier**I woke slowly, feeling the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the open window. I reached out, expecting to find Cassandra beside me, but the bed was empty and cold. I took a deep breath, still a bit groggy, and sat on the edge of the mattress. The feeling of dizziness seemed to cling to me, but I ignored it and headed straight to the bathroom. I washed my face, trying to clear the fog from my mind, and when I returned to the bedroom, I noticed the sweet, familiar scent was imbued in every corner.My wolf was more agitated than usual, and I felt him getting euphoric, shouting, “Mate…”His voice echoed in my mind, and I felt as if something had awakened inside me. I quickly began to search through the sheets, the bed, the pillows, the curtains everything. Absolutely everything seemed to be permeated with the scent of my destined mate."It can't be..." I murmured in surprise. After years of being alone, I thought the Moon Goddess had forgotten me, that I was
**Cassandra's POV**I was walking down the palace corridors, trying to keep my head down and not attract attention as I headed for the exit, but the activity on the floor was restless and unusual. Servants and guards were moving in all directions, their steps quick and expressions tense. With each step, I heard snippets of confused and anxious conversations, and I knew something serious had happened.I moved a little further down the corridor but couldn't help my curiosity as I saw a room where people were crowding. There was a heavy atmosphere in the air, like a silent mourning, and at the center, on a large table, was something covered by a white cloth. I sighed, pressing my lips together in sadness. I knew what that meant: another girl, yet another innocent soul who hadn't survived this dark environment. Feeling sad, I thought about asking for her name so I could send something in respect to her family.As I hesitated, the head maid burst into the corridor, looking visibly shaken a
POV CASSANDRAAs soon as I entered the house, I couldn't hold back my tears. Ursula's note was clutched tightly in my hands, like an anchor that seemed to keep me standing while also pulling me into an abyss of pain. I barely registered my surroundings, just kept moving forward, as if my feet knew where to go.Xavier was sitting, staring at the fireplace, a glass of whiskey in one hand, his gaze lost in the flames. As soon as he heard me turn, he began to speak:"Finally, you're back. I was beginning to think..."But before he could finish, I crossed the distance between us and threw myself into his arms, pressing my face against his chest, not caring if he would understand or not. I just wanted that moment of comfort. The tears, so contained on the way, now flowed freely, soaking his shirt. Xavier, surprised at first, soon wrapped his arms around me, his warmth embracing me firmly.“Cassie... what happened?” he murmured, his voice gentle as he stroked my back, trying, even without kn
**Cassandra’s POV**In the silent room, I looked at Xavier, feeling my heartbeat quicken as he drew closer. His eyes, usually so intense, were now soft but deep, as if trying to reassure me about what he was about to say.“Cassandra, you know you can trust me, don’t you?” he said, and for a second, I believed that everything would be okay.I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I gathered my courage. I could still feel the weight of the entire morning lingering. “No… nothing major happened,” I murmured. “Luna Katy just called me to talk about the group of servants who will come with us. It’s… it’s a gift from King Alpha,” I finished, feeling my voice falter slightly.The next moment, I saw Xavier’s expression change. His face grew rigid, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and disdain.“A gift? Another way to control us, that’s what it is! I don’t need him to ‘gift’ me with personal spies,” he said through gritted teeth, turning abruptly, his body tense. Before I could react, X
POV ALPHA XAVIERI entered the bathroom and turned on the faucet, letting the sound of the water drown out any other noise. I knew Cassandra was on the other side of the wall, and, if only for a moment, I wanted her to believe that everything was fine. Keeping my face steady, I turned to the mirror and, in a burst of pent-up rage, punched the glass directly. The shards scattered across the floor as blood dripped from my hand, the pain burning intensely. I took a deep breath, letting out a growl from deep in my chest, tasting the bitter flavor of everything I’d kept inside for so long.I grabbed a small cloth, pulling the glass fragments from my skin, each one cutting deeper, until I finally wrapped my hand tightly. I took off my clothes, letting them drop heavily to the floor, as though each piece carried a weight I bore, and stepped into the bathtub. The hot water embraced my tense muscles, relaxing every exhausted part of my body, but only on the outside. Inside, my wolf, Ragnar, wa
**Pov Alpha Xavier**The night seemed endless. I sat in my office chair, drumming my fingers on the desk, unable to close my eyes. Anxiety ate away at me, and my wolf, Ragnar, was restless, growling softly in my mind.*"He's taking too long,"* I thought for the thousandth time, glancing at the clock on the wall. Each second felt like torture.I rose from the chair and began pacing back and forth. The shadows cast by the dim lights danced on the walls, as if mocking my impatience. I needed the truth. **Now.**Finally, I heard footsteps in the hallway. The sound of Josh's boots echoing on the wooden floor made my heart race. The door opened slowly, and there he was, holding an envelope with his usual grave expression."Josh, do you have it?" I asked, moving toward him before he could say a word.He nodded silently and extended the envelope. I grabbed it hastily, my fingers nearly tearing the paper from his hands. I ripped the seal open and pulled the report out, my hands trembling sligh
**Alpha Xavier's POV** “Any updates?” I asked Beta Josh, my voice sharper than I intended. The weight of the past few weeks was crushing me. The search for the woman with the tattoo, the chaos in the King Alpha’s pack, and the growing frustration with fragmented information—it was all becoming unbearable. Josh took a deep breath, his expression heavy. “Nothing yet about the woman, Alpha. We’re still searching, but... everything is falling apart in the King Alpha’s pack. He’s becoming more unpredictable by the day. His subjects fear for their lives. They say he’s killing anyone he suspects of being allied with the Wolves of the Dawn. It’s a bloodbath.” I clenched my jaw. The situation in Valentim’s territory was a powder keg ready to explode, and with each passing day, it seemed less likely I could get what I needed without plunging into an open war. “And what about Cassandra?” I asked, trying to shift my thoughts. Josh hesitated, his eyes meeting mine. “The tests are rea
**Cassandra's POV** Jennie looked at me seriously, her expression heavy with concern, while my mind reeled from the information she had just shared. "You have to be sure about this, Jennie. It can't be true... this sounds..." My voice faltered as I gripped the arm of the chair tightly to steady myself. "I’m just telling you what I heard," Jennie replied, nervously biting her lip. "The Alpha is looking for a woman who was close to the former King Alpha. The soldiers said this woman has a tattoo somewhere on her body, a mark that indicates the location of a document the Alpha needs to claim the throne." My body tensed, a shiver running down my spine. My stomach churned, and a wave of nausea hit me hard. "Cassandra? Are you alright?" Jennie asked, taking a step closer to me. I shook my head, trying to suppress the nausea, but it was no use. Everything around me seemed to spin, and my legs weakened. "I... I think I’m going to faint..." I whispered before losing my balance.
**POV Alpha Xavier** I held the report in my hands, my gaze fixed on it as if the words might magically form answers that had so far eluded me. "If the herb wasn’t what caused the loss... then did someone give Cassandra something else before I did?" I asked, fury evident in my voice. Josh shook his head slowly, visibly uncomfortable. "I’ll investigate, Alpha. But honestly, I don’t believe anyone would be bold enough to harm the Luna. Not only because she carries your child, but because everyone knows how much she means to you." I growled softly, running a hand through my hair. "Then explain, Josh. Why do the tests show she’s no longer pregnant?" The beta sighed, crossing his arms. "There are too many unknowns, Alpha. If you wish, we can repeat the test... without the Luna’s consent. Just to avoid her suffering more or fostering false hopes."His words hung in the air, and I felt my chest tighten. Cassandra had been avoiding me since that day. Every attempt I made to get
POV ALPHA XAVIERIt had been a few days since I had been home, following the clues Alpha Damom had provided about the supposed document. The situation seemed to worsen with every step. To make matters worse, the news about the document had reached the King Alpha’s pack, and when Valetim learned of it, he completely lost his mind. They said he had become an even crueler tyrant, terrorizing his people mercilessly. It was impossible to ignore the reports of dead subjects, missing workers, and an atmosphere of fear that hovered over the palace like a dark cloud. “Any updates?” I asked my Beta through the mind-link as I ascended the stairs, approaching Cassandra’s room. “Nothing concrete, Alpha,” he replied in a grave tone. “Our spies have checked all the king’s concubines, but none of them bear the mark or tattoo mentioned. Moreover, the King Alpha himself is searching for this woman. The palace is in chaos, a dark and hostile place. The staff are terrified, fearing they’ll be the n
**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.