**Xavier’s POV**I sent one of my men to deliver the note to Cassandra. I wanted her to know that I wouldn’t give up on her, that no matter where she was, I would find her. Now, I was in a discreet inn near the Alpha King’s palace, going over the plan for the thousandth time with my beta, Josh. Everything had to go perfectly."Are you sure you really want to do this?" Josh asked me, his voice filled with apprehension.I shrugged, unfazed by his concern. "You already know the answer. Don’t try to stop me." I took a sip of the whiskey on the table, letting the liquid burn down my throat but keeping my eyes firmly on the map in front of us.Josh sighed, troubled. "Alright then... where do we start?" He looked at the large map of the palace’s underground tunnels, his eyes scanning the blurred markings and worn-out pages.It was an old map, with torn edges and time-worn stains, but it was the key to our plan. No one knew about those tunnels, built long before the current Alpha King was bor
**Cassandra’s POV****A few hours earlier…**My heart was racing as I entered the grand hall. I could feel each beat echoing in my chest, my breathing short and uneven, as if the air was heavier inside. I tried not to draw attention, but it was useless. As soon as my feet crossed the threshold, all eyes turned toward me, as if I were an unexpected presence in that space. Every step I took made my golden dress shimmer in the candlelight, making me stand out even more among the guests."Who is she? She’s not even that pretty," I heard one of the girls whisper to another, her voice dripping with disdain. I tried to ignore it, keeping my gaze fixed ahead as I walked around the central courtyard, fighting not to let insecurity take over.In the distance, on the second floor, I spotted Ursula watching the ceremony from above. She stood with her cane, leaning on it firmly, wearing a black glittering dress that sparkled in the room’s light. Her stiff posture made me uneasy. I wore a sparkling
POv alpha Xavier "You idiot, are you implying that I don't know what to do with a woman in bed?" Alpha Valentim snarled impatiently, his sharp teeth bared. The anger in his voice was palpable. "Who are you?" he asked harshly, fury evident in his gaze.I kept Cassandra firmly by my side, feeling her body tremble with fear. She was silent, her face pale, unable to utter a word. Fear seemed to have frozen her emotions, and I could feel the panic in her heart. Alpha Valentim continued to stare at us with predatory eyes, his guards already approaching, slowly surrounding us, ready to attack."Who are you?" he repeated, his voice more threatening, growling as if on the verge of an attack. "You better tell me your name, because I won’t ask twice."His guards encircled us, forming a tight ring around us, blocking any possible escape. The tension in the air was suffocating. I could see in his eyes that he was just waiting for an excuse to strike.I took a deep breath, placing Cassandra behind
*POV Alpha Xavier*This wasn't part of my plan. I never imagined that King Alpha Valentim would propose a fight in front of everyone. The tension in the hall was palpable, and the weight of the decision I had made seemed heavier with every step I took."Go ahead, it’s the second door on the right," the guard pointed out, gesturing toward a dimly lit corridor.I walked in silence, the heavy armor in my arms, feeling the pressure of what was to come. When I reached the designated room, I closed the door behind me. The first thing I did was take off the jacket and that uncomfortable suit that had been irritating me since I arrived at the damned party. This wasn’t my environment.I put on the shoulder guards, adjusting the weight of the metal on my shoulders. Then I put on the steel vest that covered my torso, a solid piece that protected my heart and my fury. I was about to put on the helmet when I heard the doorknob turn. Before I could react, Cassandra rushed in."Are you insane?" Her
**Pov Cassandra**The kiss with Alpha Xavier was intense, as if the world around us had ceased to exist. His strong hands held my waist, pulling me closer, while his fingers delicately trailed up my neck, tugging at my hair. His touch sent waves of adrenaline through my body, making me gasp involuntarily.When we finally parted, breathless, Alpha Xavier pressed a soft kiss on the top of my head, his hands still caressing my flushed cheeks, as if the contact was something he didn’t want to lose.“You are mine, Cassandra,” he whispered in my ear, his voice deep and intense. “Stop fighting it.”My entire body shivered at those words, the heat of his presence enveloping me completely. When he took a step back, the look in his eyes was determined, but also filled with a possessiveness I still couldn’t comprehend. Even so, he knew he couldn’t stay.“I have to go,” he said, his voice firm. “Wait for me, Cassandra. This will be over soon.”Then he left, heading towards the arena where he woul
*POV Alpha Xavier*I entered the arena with my metal armor fitted to my body, each step echoing against the walls like a war drum. Alpha Valentim was already waiting for me at the center, his golden armor shining under the light. The symbols of royalty carved into his torso were proudly displayed. He adjusted his helmet, and the sound of metal grinding echoed as he pointed his sword at me, his eyes burning with hatred.“Ready, Cursed Alpha?” Valentim growled, baring his sharp teeth. “Let’s see how ugly you are after I rip off that ridiculous mask!”The sound of his voice carried anger and contempt, and I could feel his wolf thirsting for blood, ready to emerge. But I didn’t back down.With a firm rotation, I drew my sword, the cold steel reflecting the arena’s glow. The man in the center blew the horn, signaling the start of the fight. Valentim moved first, his sword slashing through the air in a brutal swing. I dodged to the side, feeling the blade pass just inches from my face. I qu
**POV Cassandra**“How sweet… the lovebirds…” I heard a deep voice echo from the other side of the arena. I quickly turned around and saw that King Alpha Valentim had finally stood up. A team of medics was by his side, tending to the cuts and bruises scattered across his body, while Alpha Xavier remained firm, holding my hand tightly.“You promised that if I won, the girl could come with me.” Xavier said firmly, his voice filled with authority.King Alpha let out a low growl, as if holding back his fury, before murmuring something incomprehensible. He used the rest of his strength to remove his armor and stand tall. His heavy footsteps echoed through the arena as he walked towards us. His gaze was fixed on us, filled with barely contained rage, his eyes burning with hatred as he got within inches of Xavier.“I am a man of my word,” Valentim growled, his voice dripping with scorn. “You won the duel, Cursed Alpha. It seems the legends about you aren’t just stories. Everything they say
**Cassandra’s POV**I approached the large, heavy wooden desk in the office, the dimly lit room illuminated only by the faint light from outside. The Alpha King stood with his back to me, staring out the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The silence was suffocating, the soft sound of the drink swirling in the glass the only thing breaking the tension of the moment. My heart was racing, every muscle in my body tense with anticipation of what was to come.Suddenly, we heard the sound of the door closing behind me, making my body flinch slightly."You came in so quietly, without a sound," he said without turning, a slight sarcastic laugh escaping his lips. "I almost didn’t notice you were here."I remained silent, unsure of how to react or what he expected from me. The Alpha King finally turned around, his eyes locking onto mine with an overwhelming intensity. He placed the glass of whiskey on the desk and began walking slowly toward me, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the si
**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