POV CASSANDRAThe sound of dry leaves crunching under my feet seemed to echo through the forest. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel the blood pulsing in my ears. My lungs burned, my breathing was erratic, but I couldn’t stop. Not now. The guards were too close.Suddenly, an arrow sliced through the air, passing so close that the wind from it stirred my hair. It violently lodged itself into the trunk of a tree to my left, making me shudder in fear."Get her! She can’t be far! She’s the prisoner of the cursed Alpha!"The voice of the chief guard thundered through the forest, filled with fury.My legs were trembling, soaked by the damp ground. They had chased me all night, tracking my every move. I didn’t think they would find me so quickly, but the trackers had been relentless. Now, they were closer than I could bear."Cassandra Baker, where are you?"One of the guards mocked, his voice dripping with scorn. "Do you really think you can escape us? I doubt the Alpha will treat you k
**Alpha Xavier’s POV**I was near the border with my men, mapping out the best route to avoid attracting the guards' attention, when I noticed one of my men running toward us. He wasn't part of the team assigned to the mission, which immediately alerted me that something was wrong. It was a messenger."Alpha!" I heard the muffled shout as he crossed the river in his wolf form, the water splashing under his strong paws as he raced toward our camp. The emblem of our pack gleamed on his chest, making him easily identifiable, but the bloodstains scattered across his body indicated that he'd faced some sort of fight before reaching us."What the hell is he doing here?" My beta, Josh, muttered beside me, frowning as he watched the spy approach."He's one of the ones I left guarding the pack," I responded darkly, my eyes fixed on the wolf as he shifted back into his human form. "His job was to inform me if anything went wrong while we were away."The spy finally reached us, his body exhauste
POV CassandraThe throbbing pain in my head slowly brought me back to reality, in a slow and confused haze. My vision was still blurry, and a lingering dizziness persisted as I tried to make sense of where I was. The metallic taste of blood in my mouth and the smell of roasted meat in the air gave me a vague idea of what might be happening.“Well, well, our princess is finally awake!” A voice dripping with sarcasm sounded behind me, and the sound sent a cold shiver down my spine.My eyes opened, squinting against the firelight. I instinctively turned away, trying to escape the brightness that burned my retinas, and that’s when I saw them. Five men, sitting around a fire, tearing chunks of meat with their teeth, as if there was nothing unusual about keeping me prisoner.I tried to move, desperate to assess the extent of my situation, but a sharp pain shot through my body. I looked down and realized I was tied up with thick, tightly wound ropes. My attempts to loosen the knots only made
Pov cassandra"Take her to Room 37!" Beta Caleb's deep voice echoed in my ears, making my head throb even more after the long and exhausting journey. My legs no longer responded, and at times, exhaustion overtook me so completely that I lost consciousness, being mercilessly dragged by the horse that pulled me. There wasn’t a shred of compassion from any of them.The five men surrounding me were a horrendous spectacle of cruelty and filth. Each of them carried their own misery, but there was one, in particular, who terrified me more than the others. He never took his eyes off me, a dirty and hungry gaze, as if he were waiting for the slightest opportunity to take advantage of my vulnerability. My heart clenched every time our eyes met, but Beta Caleb seemed to ignore it all, completely focused on getting me to the hearing. If there was one thing keeping me relatively safe at that moment, it was the Beta's fixation on completing his mission. His eyes never left me, and as strange as it
**Alpha Xavier's POV**We were already near the royal palace. Hidden in the dense forest that surrounded the place, we camped just a few meters away. It had been two relentless days of travel, with no long breaks, forcing my soldiers to march tirelessly. Now, exhausted, they could barely stand. It was clear they needed rest."According to the information, Cassandra was brought to the palace at noon. We still don’t know the exact time of the audience with the King Alpha," said my Beta, while absentmindedly looking at the crumpled map we had. He shrugged, as if he was used to this kind of situation. But I wasn’t. Every minute lost felt like a knife in my throat, filling me with anguish knowing that Cassandra could be in danger.The detailed map of the pack and the layout of the palace were the only tools we had to devise a rescue plan. We had men infiltrated at the location, ready to help us, but the idea of using them was risky. Any false move would not only put the mission at risk but
**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’
**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.
**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