When he stepped into view, they saw that it was Asher. His eyes met Beryl’s across the distance. Beryl’s pulse skyrocketed, her heart beating so hard she was afraid it might break through her ribcage.She was no longer aware of anything else around her as her eyes remained glued to the male on the other side of the garden.Her mate.On the other side, Asher stood glued to the spot, his eyes glued to the female on the other side. He had never thought that he would meet his mate this way–right here in the palace! While he was frozen in place, his wolf was restless, wanting to go to her.“Wow,” Lyra said, looking at Beryl. “Is Asher really your mate?”Beryl nodded, feeling her mouth go dry.“I can’t believe you have never met him before,” Lyra said. “He is Julian’s Beta!”“I know,” Beryl muttered breathlessly.Taking in her expression, Lyra couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is any of you going to do or say anything, or will you both be standing here just looking at each other until the sun set
Lyra was not in the least interested in Crystal's apology, because she knew Crystal would never mean it.The only reason she was here was because Julian had ordered her. Lyra could see that doing so was hurting her pride, and even if the apology had no effect on her, it was nice to see Crystal knocked down a peg or two.After thinking for a while, Lyra said, “There's something you can do. If you do, I'll accept your apology.”“What is it?” Crystal asked haughtily. “Do you want money? I can give you enough to live off for a lifetime.”One side of Lyra's lips turned up. She could not even say that she was surprised that Crystal thought her money could fix everything. Not that anything was being fixed…“I want you to serve as my servant for a day,” Lyra told her. “Once you do that, we’ll be even.”Crystal stared at her blankly for a few seconds. Then, her face scowled in disgust. “You must be kidding.”Nope. She just wasn't going to make it easy for her. Crystal, acting as a servant? Sur
The next morning, it turned out that Lyra did not have to suffer Crystal's presence all day. While Lyra was waiting for her to show up, one of Crystal's servants arrived with the message that Crystal was sick and could not serve Lyra for the day. Lyra knew it was absolute bullshit, but she was happy that she did not have to deal with her.Since she was feeling a lot better than she had in a long while, she decided to leave her room and find out what was going on with Anna. Julian had not really given her any updates on how his investigation was going, so she decided to seek him out herself and get the answers she wanted.After finding out that Julian was in his office, she went to see him. When she walked through the door, he rose from his desk and approached, a concerned frown on his face.“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Why are you out of bed? Where's Beryl?”“I'm fine,” Lyra answered him. “I would like to check up on Anna, can I visit her?”“Of course,” he said. “I can take y
Julian and Lyra jumped apart, each of them avoiding Asher's eyes. Asher cleared his throat awkwardly. Maybe he should have knocked first.Julian turned around and went back to his desk. Reaching for a random file, he said, “Take Lyra to see Anna.”“Got it,” Asher said, then beckoned to Lyra. “Let's go.”Lyra, with her face red with embarrassment, walked past him and out of the office. Asher led the way to the southern wing of the building, where Lyra had never been before. The wing was eerily empty and silent, as if nobody lived or worked there.They walked in silence for quite a while before Asher tried to break it. “Feeling good today?”Lyra gave him a sideways glance, amused at his awkwardness. Even after seeing him with Beryl, it was still amusing to see him be anything other than the Lycan King's icy Beta. “Yes.”Asher nodded, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I don't mean to meddle, but Julian cares about you, even if it might not seem like it.”Lyra frowned as she studied him.
“As you may already know, the Wolf Mother is the most powerful werewolf who can exist,” Anna began. “And when she appears, she symbolises a new era for all werewolves. She can unify all werewolves and has power to control them all, whether it's the Lycan King or rogues.”“I've heard stories about her,” Lyra said, “but I did not believe such a powerful shewolf can actually appear.”“She finally has,” Anna said, leaning towards Lyra and giving her a sombre look. “It happens rarely, and it's not easy. The Wolf Mother is quite strong, so there will be some strain on you, especially on your mental state. If a Wolf Mother is not stabilised by a mate, she risks losing her mind and going berserk. In that case, she becomes a bloodthirsty hunter and can kill all werewolves around her.”This was all so much for Lyra to take in. It didn't feel like Anna was talking about her. It was hard to accept that she could be such an important figure. She had been born an Omega, and only recently did she ma
“I'm sorry to hear that,” Lyra told Anna, feeling bad for her. So, even if the witches had not turned her into a mindless tainted wolf, she was still just an object for them to use as they pleased.“A part of me is happy that the Lycan King captured me,” Anna said. “The witches’ camp is like hell for me. Since they brought me there, I've been treated worse than trash. Even though their leader wanted to make use of my magic powers and thought I was useful, nobody treated me like one of them. From the day I stepped foot there, I was considered an outsider, an enemy. The day I was assigned outside the camp, it was like getting a breath of fresh air.”As Anna narrated her story, Lyra realised they had many things in common. The way Anna had been treated by the witches reminded her of the treatment she received in Devon's pack. As long as she was there, she was considered an outsider and never accepted as part of the pack.“At the witches’ camp, I had no freedom or choice. As soon as I was
True to Julian's word, he released Anna and had Thea allocate her a better room in the same building Lyra was staying.During her first days outside confinement, Anna spent most of her time with Lyra and Beryl. Since Lyra was no longer bedridden, she was able to take her on a tour of the palace grounds, helping her familiarise with everything.At first, Anna was very happy. This was the closest she had ever come to a normal life since being captured by the witches. She had friends, she did not have to work everyday until her back ached, and there was nobody controlling her every movement.In such an environment, it was easy to put her horrible past behind her. However, as the days went by and more people became aware of her presence, rumours started spreading about her origin.The truth of her identity and background became common knowledge, subjecting her to vicious rumours and discrimination from those around her.At first, she tried her best to ignore it. She could not control what
As soon as Lyra realised what was going on, she hurried down the corridor. Pushing past a couple of the servants, she placed herself between Anna and them.“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, glaring at them. She looked down at Anna, who was still on the floor with her face down turned.“It's none of your business,” the leader of the group said, folding her arms across her chest stubbornly. “This is between us and her.”“Is that so?” Lyra asked. “Did she say you could hit her and bully her around?”The servant snickered and rolled her eyes skyward. The others stood behind her like a bunch of soldiers awaiting orders from their commander.“You better apologise to her,” Lyra told the group. “I'm the one responsible for her in this palace, so bullying her is the same as bullying me. So, if you don't want any trouble, I suggest that you apologise to Anna right away.”The servants exchanged glances, looking unsure. A few of them looked worried, fearing the repercussions of what wo
Lyra left Nile’s side and went to stand beside Julian, which caused another stir among the guests.“Lyra, what are you doing?” Nile asked, pretending to be hurt and confused. “Who is he? What’s the meaning of this?”“It’s over, Nile,” Lyra said, calling him by his real name. “The real Lycan King is here.” Looking around, she addressed the guests. “That is the Rogue King who has been trying to take over the kingdom. He imprisoned His Majesty and forced me to work for him.”“How absurd!” Nile yelled. “Lyra, how could you do this to me? I trusted you despite what everyone said about you, and this is how you repay me? Have you been working for the rogues all this time?”“He could be right,” someone said. “Nobody knows anything about her background. Maybe she is a spy sent by the rogues.”“I knew something did not make sens
“Where have you been?” Nile asked when Lyra appeared at his side a while later. After separating with Julian, Lyra had gone to her room to freshen up to get rid of any scent that would give away the fact that she had been with Julian.“I went on a walk with some of the guests and we wandered around the palace,” she told him. “Was I gone for long?”“Yes,” he said, his voice tinged with displeasure. “Stay by my side from now on.”“Of course,” she agreed, giving him a smile.“There are some important guests you haven’t met,” he said, steering her towards a group of guests. “They are from the Northern Packs Alliance. You know what to do.”Lyra knew of the Northern Packs Alliance. It was a group of three packs–Sky, Northern, and Ferun. The northern part of the kingdom had once been overrun by rogues, but the three packs came together and defeated
“It worked,” Julian said in awe, lifting his hands in front of his face. He could feel his wolf’s power surging through him, potent and unrestricted.“Really?” Lyra asked, rising on her elbow. They were lying side by side on the examination table after a frantic lovemaking session that left their bodies slick with sweat and out of breath.“Yes,” Julian confirmed. “He is fully restored.”“Great!” Lyra exclaimed, feeling thrilled. Leaning towards him, she gave him a kiss. He sunk his hand into her hair and held her in place, deepening the kiss. When they pulled apart, there was an amused smile on Julian’s face.“What is it?” she asked him, curious.“Yuri is impatient to tear that bastard into pieces,” he revealed.Lyra nodded. “That makes four of us.”Rae was also excited and already urging Lyra to get out there and ruin Nile’s grand plan. With Yuri by her side, she felt invincible. Lyra felt the same way about having Julian with her, but she knew it was crucial to have a good plan befo
“Julian?” Lyra whispered, an overwhelming relief washing over her.Julian jumped down from the examination table and met her halfway. Their arms went around each other. When they pulled back, her eyes were shining with tears.She raised her hands to his face and cupped his cheeks, examining his face. It felt like it had been forever since she had last seen him. This was the same face that Nile was parading around, and yet, there was such a huge difference.This was Julian. Her Julian.“Are you okay?” she asked him, lowering her hand to his chest and moving his robe aside. There was a dark mark where he was stabbed, but the wound had healed up.“I’m fine,” he told her, taking her hand. “Almost.”Feeling relieved, Lyra embraced him again, resting her face on his chest.“What about you?” Julian asked, palming her hair.“I’m alright,” she told him. “Don’t worry abut me.”He pulled her back and looked at her with a concerned frown. “Are you eating well? Where are you staying?”“I’m staying
After confining Lyra in her room for a few days, Nile arrived with news of a royal banquet.“This is your chance to show me whose side you are on,” he told her after presenting her with the gown she was to wear for the occasion. “I have invited Alphas, Lunas, and Elders from all around the kingdom. The banquet is in your honour as the future queen, so I expect you to act the part. Will you have a problem with that?”“No,” she said, eyeing the gown. It was a red gown, embellished with glimmering gems. Alongside it was a beautiful diamond tiara which Lyra recognised as being one of the royal family’s heirlooms.“Good,” he said, holding her chin and lifting her face. “If you help me get through this banquet, you'll have done your job well, and I'll make sure Julian continues getting the best medical care. But if you make a mistake…” He trailed off, moving his hand to her throat and resting it there. “...you'll pay.”“I understand,” she told him. Such a gathering could go very wrong for h
“Approximately five hundred years ago, there was a tyrant Lycan King,” Nile started his narration when Lyra agreed to hear his version of the story. “He oppressed all other packs for the benefit of the royal pack, which amassed wealth and unmatched power at the expense of others. While the royal pack lived in luxury, the rest of the kingdom was barely getting by. The king forced them to send slaves and tributes, stripping the packs of their best talents and driving many werewolves to poverty and near starvation. Nobody was brave enough to stand up to the king, but one day, the Scarlet Alpha said enough was enough.”Lyras frowned, because she had never heard of a Scarlet Alpha or a Scarlet Pack for that matter. “The Scarlet Alpha? From which pack?”“The Scarlet Pack,” Nile replied. “You wouldn't know it. It has long gone extinct, and the royal family saw to it that it was wiped from history. After long enough, most werewolves forgot anything like it ever existed.”“Did the Scarlet Alph
“What's the meaning of this?” Crystal demanded as soon as the shop attendant left the room. “Why would you pay that much for her but refuse to pay mine?”“I invited her to go shopping,” Nile replied coolly, “but I don't remember inviting you. I also did not promise to pay for your stuff at any time.”“What?” Crystal screeched. “I am your partner! How can you treat me like this, especially in front of her? You did not even punish her for attacking me that day and locking me in the secret chamber. Aren't you supposed to be on my side?”“What does that have to do with this?” Nile asked, losing his cool. “I don't have to explain what I do to you.”Crystal scoffed. “So then, you are just going to humiliate me?”“Just because we work together does not mean you are in control of me,” Nile told her. “It's not in your place to tell m
Lyra sighed for the umpteenth time as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She reached for the hem of her skirt and tugged, but it had reached its full length, somewhere several inches above the middle of her thighs.She huffed in annoyance at the ridiculousness of the situation. Nile had come out of nowhere and announced that they were going shopping and took the liberty of choosing Lyra's outfit.He had chosen an extremely short skirt paired with a soft cashmere sweater. The outfit might have been perfect for a night out, but why on earth would she wear like this to go shopping? Forget a night out, the skirt was way too short for her liking, she felt like she would be flashing her bottom with every step she took.He had refused her attempts to choose a different outfit, so she was stuck with this. Slipping her feet into a pair of stilettos–yet another poor choice for the occasion–she left her room and went downstairs.She found Nile a
When Julian woke up, he found himself in a sterile room with white walls. It was filled with the stench of disinfectant and medicine.When he tried moving his body, he realised that his limbs were strapped to the bed, restricting his movements. He turned his head to look around, but the room was empty. He lifted his head to check his wound. His torso was wrapped with bandages, so he could not see anything.He lay back and tried to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was being in the dungeon with Nile and Lyra. When he recalled the deal Lyra had made with Nile, he shut his eyes in regret.A sudden sound made him open his eyes just in time to see someone walk into the room. Julian was surprised to see that it was the royal healer, Spencer.“You are finally awake,” Spencer said, moving to the bedside table and placing a metallic tray carrying various medical items there. “How are you feeling?”“Spencer?” Julian called his name in disbelief. “Do you know who you are wor