**Cassandra's POV** "Cassandra, is that really you?" Ursula's soft voice echoed in my ears, sending an immediate shiver down my spine. I trembled at the familiar sound and soon felt her gentle touch on my face. Her hand, though trembling, was careful, as if she was trying to remember every detail. Her eyes had become clouded with age, and what once had been a firm and determined gaze was now blurred, showing that blindness was near. "I'm so happy to see you... after so long." She smiled slightly, continuing to explore my face with her fingers, as if she wanted to make sure it was truly me. "Ursula?" My voice was filled with confusion. "What are you doing here? Why didn't you return as we promised?" I couldn’t understand what was happening. I clearly remembered our escape, our pact to never return to this pack. And now, seeing her here, in this place, left me completely disoriented. I had only come back to find her, but I never imagined she would be involved with the new Alpha K
**POV Cassandra**"Ursula… I…" I stammered, my throat tight with nerves, unable to form a coherent sound. I knew I needed to tell the truth, no matter how terrifying it was. My hands trembled, and my heart raced as I clung to the wall beside the hallway, trying to keep myself upright. "I already found my mate… or at least, I think I did."Ursula froze. Her serious expression grew even graver, as if she were waiting for the words to complete a nightmare she feared. Her cold hands released my face, and she took a few steps back, hesitant, almost in panic."Who is your mate, Cassandra?" she asked, her voice low but heavy with palpable tension. Her lips trembled, as if simply asking the question risked opening a deep wound. The air around us seemed to grow heavier.I lowered my head in shame, unable to bear the weight of her gaze. I knew what was coming next would be devastating, but there was no avoiding it any longer. A solitary tear escaped, tracing a burning line down my face. The tru
**POV Cassandra** I swallowed hard as I felt a heavy hand grip my arm brutally, its fingers digging into my skin like claws. Before I could react, I was yanked forcefully, almost losing my balance. "Answer me, girl! I spoke to you!" the soldier growled, his voice filled with anger. I felt the wolf inside him radiate aggression, his presence domineering and threatening. I knew very well what that meant. The Imperial Guard had always been fiercer, crueler than the troops of other packs. Their training was brutal, and my father, being one of the former commanders, knew all too well the ruthless practices that forged these soldiers. "I... I..." I stammered, nervous. I took a few steps back, trying to shake free in the hope that he would release my arm. But before I could truly react, he punched me in the face. Pain exploded in the corner of my mouth, the taste of blood spreading across my tongue. I let out a groan of pain, surprise washing over me. He didn’t even know me, yet he didn’
**POV Cassandra**"Behave, slave, or the King might order your head cut off!" the guard growled, releasing my arm with brutality and shoving me toward the imposing entrance of the room. The dark walls of the corridor seemed to absorb what little light there was, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.I swallowed hard, my feet hesitant as I moved toward the Alpha King's office. The arm he had gripped was still red, and a dull pain throbbed beneath the bruised skin. The tension in the air was suffocating. When I reached the door, a deep and authoritative voice echoed from inside."Enter!"My body trembled at the command. I took a deep breath and pushed the heavy door open. There was faint lighting in the office, just enough to reveal the silhouette of a man sitting with his back to me, his hands busy with papers scattered across the desk. He wore a fine linen shirt, but what caught my attention most were the runes and tattoos that marked his arms, accentuating his sculpted muscles.
POV CassandraThey locked me in the room, even after I had accepted the Alpha King's proposal. I was thinking of a way to escape, but after he decreed my sentence to servitude, that could worsen things, and I would become a fugitive criminal. I thought about going back to the cursed Alpha, but I didn’t want to bring trouble to him and his pack. Xavier had been kind to me, and all I did was treat him like someone hostile and insignificant. But Ursula's words wouldn’t leave my mind."I can’t undo the spell, maybe it’s better this way. You need to stay away from the cursed Alpha."I didn’t know any other witch besides Ursula. The truth is, they were rare and were almost wiped out with the Salem witch hunt. If I remember correctly, the humans hunted them as if they were animals, just for being different and possessing powers and knowledge that most didn’t have.I remember that many of them managed to save themselves by aligning with the packs; the Alphas provided them protection in exchan
**POV Cassandra***Flashback off*“Hurry up, you fool! Scrub that floor properly! The Alpha King does not tolerate dirt. He is strict about cleanliness and wants the floors he walks on to be so shiny that he can see his own reflection!” The head maid yelled in my direction, her gaze sharp as a blade. Her tone was like a whip that constantly reminded me of my place here.I swallowed hard, sweat dripping down my forehead. My hands trembled with exhaustion as I scrubbed the filthy floor with all the strength I had left. But the old, worn-out rag they gave me barely worked, leaving streaks and dirt wherever I passed.Suddenly, a girl approached and crouched beside me. “Here, use this. It’s better than that yellow sponge. If you keep going like that, you’ll end up with blisters on your hands, and it will take all day to finish this task.” She handed me a bucket with a much better brush than the rag I had been struggling with. I nodded, surprised by her unexpectedly kind gesture amid the ch
Alpha Xavier POVI entered the palace, wearing a mask, staying in the back because my beta convinced me not to draw attention.The men I had infiltrated into the royal guard were supposed to bring Cassandra to me during the night.I was anxious, pacing back and forth, wearing a black cloak, hiding in the shadows like a coward. I hate this. I hate hiding. I’d rather face them all and kill everyone, but that would ruin all the plans I’ve made over the years."They've located her. Cassandra is in the east wing of the palace," my beta communicated with me through the mental link. "They said the head maid is keeping an eye on her, and she'll only have a break during the night!" My beta said, while I continued observing my men entering the palace disguised as guards to infiltrate the troops."Why are they treating her like a servant?" I asked, confused."That was the Alpha King's sentence. Our men took longer to locate Cassandra because she lied, saying she didn’t have a pack and that her n
POV ALPHA XAVIER**Flashback**"Mom... does Dad not come here anymore because of me?" I asked, seeing my mother gazing out the window with a sad expression on her face."No, dear... he must be busy, you know your father is a busy man, he must have many things to resolve in the pack," she said, wiping her tears so I wouldn't notice she was crying."I don't understand, why can't we go to the pack and live with Dad? Why do we have to live isolated and far from all the other wolves?" I asked for the tenth time.This was something I could never understand. I couldn't have friends or interact with people from the pack. The last time we went out to beg for food, my father almost beat my mother with so many slaps that she never dared to go out again. He would send a basket with bread once a month, which was barely enough to eat. We were forced to eat only one meal a day."It's complicated, dear... but believe me, your father is doing this to protect us," she said, smiling slightly and approac
**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
POV ALPHA DAMOMDamom had barely left through the pack’s gates, and an uncontrollable wave of fury hit me like a storm. My hands were shaking, my wolf roaring, hungry for revenge, wanting to explode out of me. In an instant, I found myself breaking everything around me—chairs, tables, bottles. The room quickly turned into a field of wreckage, shards of glass and broken furniture scattered everywhere. The sound of things shattering was a relief to the crushing weight of anger in my chest, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing seemed to be.Josh appeared at the doorway, watching the scene in silence. Some guards looked at him, unsure whether to intervene, but he just shook his head slowly, signaling them to let me vent my anger. When I finally stopped, panting with my chest on fire, I walked toward the office and slammed the door so hard I heard the echo reverberate through the hallways.I opened a bottle of whiskey on my desk and drank straight from it, feeling the liquid burn my throat, as if