(CADEN'S POV)“I’m sorry, what?” she asked, clearly caught off guard. I watched Lady Rhea blink in surprise, her confusion evident in her raised voice.Then she quickly glanced around as if to make sure no one was eavesdropping, before meeting my unwavering gaze once more.“Your Luna?” she repeated, her voice now steady as she absorbed the weight of my request.I nodded, my expression earnest. “Yes, Lady Rhea. Duskwynd needs a Luna who embodies strength, grace, and leadership. I see those qualities in you. Will you consider it?”I watched Lady Rhea’s reactions closely, noting her visible discomfort. I knew all too well how my directness could come off as blunt. My late wife had frequently pointed out my lack of finesse, reminding me that without a touch of subtlety, important negotiations could turn awry.In that moment, I also caught the subtle twitch at the corner of Lady Rhea’s mouth, a clear sign that she was thrown off balance. For some reason, I could almost hear her thoughts scr
(RHEA’S POV - IN ATLAS'S BODY)"Ugh… I can’t wait for this banquet to end," I muttered to myself, each step feeling as heavy as lead, my enthusiasm about as high as a deflated balloon. "And staying alive, of course."With a final deep breath, I braced myself for the grand entrance into the banquet hall. But as I stepped out from behind the towering mahogany pillar, I collided with someone.“Ah!” A familiar voice yelped.The figure in front of me staggered backward, and instinctively, I shot out a hand to steady them before we both ended up on the floor.“Are you alright…?” I asked, trying to get my bearings. As my eyes adjusted, I realized who it was. “Atlas?”“You! Rhea!” Atlas gasped, breathless and wide-eyed. He glanced over his shoulder, clearly rattled. “Dud! You've got to listen! Hera approached me at the banquet, and Caden—he told her to apologize! Then he took me outside, and—”“Whoa, slow down!” I interrupted, gripping his shoulder gently. “Take a breath, Atlas. I can’t unders
(RHEA’S POV - IN ATLAS'S BODY)The guests began to murmur among themselves in hushed tones, their voices a chorus of shock and intrigue.“Did you hear that right? That omega maid is actually Alpha Atlas's true mate?” one woman whispered to her companion, her eyes wide with disbelief.“I can't believe it,” her friend replied, shaking her head. “An Omega as his mate? Wouldn't this be a trouble?”“I share your sentiments!” a man chimed in, his brow furrowed. “He has always been so against Omegas.”“What will Alpha Caden do now? He must be furious,” another man said, glancing nervously toward Caden. "That omega was truly rude. Earlier, Alpha Caden have defended her and now she's publicly rejecting Alpha Caden?"“This is bound to cause a stir in Nighstpire’s political dynamics,” a middle-aged Alpha noted with worry, his fingers drumming against his glass. “Would things be okay from now on?”The murmurs continued to ripple through the room as everyone awaited my response with bated breath,
(RHEA’S POV - IN ATLAS'S BODY)“Ha ha ha ha!” Caden’s laughter boomed through the hall, a deep, resonant sound that sliced through the murmurs and made everyone turn to look at him.I watched as he clapped his hands together, the sharp crack echoing off the walls, and the room immediately fell silent.In the midst of his laughter, I took a stance ready for a fight. If Caden turned out to be a threat instead of an ally, then I had no choice but to fight him here.Before I could even lament on how much enemies Atlas might had, Caden’s next words caught me by surprise.“Bravo, Alpha Atlas!” Caden declared, his voice brimming with genuine admiration. “You’ve proven the rumors wrong! Despite everything being said, it’s clear you truly care about your pack.”Caden took a breath, his gaze shifting to Atlas who stood beside me.“And Lady Rhea,” he added with a respectful nod in my direction, “your bravery shines just as brightly. Your resolve is nothing short of remarkable.”The atmosphere shi
(HERA’S POV)“Our intel was wrong, father. Atlas is not the type to be swayed by every woman he sees,” I began, my voice barely masking my irritation. “My last attempt to seduce him failed miserably. He’s completely devoted to that omega maid.”I knelt on the damp forest floor, frustration gnawing at me like a relentless predator. I forced myself to breathe slowly, aware that any outburst might provoke my father’s ire. Our latest plan had crumbled due to a miscalculation, and I knew better than to show weakness now.Meanwhile, Mortis, my father, loomed like a dark specter beside a towering oak within the secluded grove of the Glorywayne manor. His fingers formed a steeple under his chin, his gaze piercing and cold, dissecting my every move.His lips curled into a thin, menacing smile. "Clearly, everyone at the banquet could see that. Don’t you think, my daughter?" His voice was eerily calm, each word a dagger of disappointment.My heart jumped in fear. I knew my father was displeased.
(RHEA’S POV - IN ATLAS'S BODY)The banquet hall was a sea of glittering chandeliers and soft murmurs. It was a complete contrast to the chaotic bloodshed, screams of terror, and the scenes of the Glorywayne’s maids and servants hunts from my past life.Atlas extended his homemade cocktail towards me. I took the glass, my hand trembling as I felt its cold surface.“Hey,” Atlas said, still standing and half-leaning towards me. He gave my hand a firm grasp. We didn't exchange many words, but in that brief moment, Atlas locked eyes with me. The gentle pressure of his slender fingers sent a wave of comfort through me.I let out a sigh and nodded, letting Atlas go to prepare another drink for Caden. I took a sip of the cocktail in my hand, trying to steady my emotions.That night, Atlas, Caden, and I decided to gather in a VVIP room still within the ballroom area. The balcony was open, and the night breeze filled the air, a refreshing change from the tension of the past days. Guardians fro
(CADEN’S POV)“Forgive my comments, sir—” Conrad grunted as he strained to steer my much larger and unsteady body forward. “But why do you decide to drink this much every time we’re on an important mission?”I could hear the frustration in Conrad’s voice, but I wasn’t in the mood to explain myself. A heavy weight settled on my chest. For some reason, however, I smiled.Yeah, I wondered to myself—why indeed?Suddenly, a subtle sweetness drifted past my nose, almost like the nostalgic taste of a sour apple. I came to a sudden stop, my eyes scanning the hallway for the source of the scent.And then I saw her—a woman in a maid's uniform, standing by one of the windows. Her back was to us as she diligently cleaned the glass. A cleaning cart was parked nearby, and her fiery auburn hair caught the light. She had to be one of Atlas’ staff, but her demeanor seemed staged in my eyes.I watched as Conrad, ever vigilant, stopped to see what had caught my attention. He must have noticed the shift
(RHEA’S POV - IN ATLAS’ BODY)“Where is she!” a male voice bellowed just outside my private chamber.I dropped the documents I was reading with a decisive thud, my heart racing with urgency. Atlas needed to be woken, and I wasn’t about to waste a single moment.As I stepped out of my study, the corridor was filled with the sharp echo of a commanding shout.“Halt!” the voice demanded, reverberating off the walls.“Get out of my way!” came the fierce retort, dripping with defiance.Before I could even grasp what was unfolding, the entrance door flew open with a violent crash. A guardian stormed through, followed closely by Conrad, Caden’s beta, and two other Duskwynd guards.“Conrad, what’s the meaning of this?” I demanded, my voice steely as I squared up to the agitated beta.“Where is that maid?” Conrad’s voice thundered, his face a mask of fury. “She fled after murdering Alpha Caden!”My heart skipped a beat. “What?” The shock hit me like a physical blow. Caden was dead? How could t