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
Zero turned around and looked at her. “What if I say it's because of you? What will you do?”Lyra searched his face, looking for the truth. She could not see the passionate look that was always there when he confessed to her before. “Is it really?” she asked him.A small smile flitted across his lips, then he shrugged. “You rejected me multiple times. You'd only think I'm a nuisance if I didn't let go.”Relieved to hear that, Lyra asked, “So why?”“Just because I let go does not mean my heart did not break,” he said.After a moment’s pause, Lyra asked, “Is that all you feel?”Zero looked at her without saying anything for a while, then he walked back towards the window and took a seat. Lyra followed him and sat across the table from him, watching him and waiting for his response.When he met her eyes, she could see the conflict in his own. “I'm not sure I know what I feel. When I first saw her, I–I…I wanted to run to her and hold her, but I couldn't.”“What do you mean you couldn't?”
“Please let me go,” Anna pleaded as she scrambled to her feet and quickly moved away from the giant lizard behind her. The beast had almost snapped her foot off just a second ago, and she did not have enough strength to keep running. “Let me out of here!”Crystal's lips curled with an evil smile at the sound of desperation in Anna's voice. “Why should I? You haven't shown me any tricks yet. You witches are famous for killing werewolves without lifting a hand. You are not getting out of here until you kill it.”“I can't!” Anna screamed, pressing up against the wall of the empty pool and shuffling farther away from the lizard. “I've never used magic to kill anyone. I don't know how!”“That's too bad,” Crystal said, looking at her nails in boredom. “If you can't kill it, it'll kill you. It has not eaten anything in days.”“Why are you doing this to me?” Anna cried, tears running down her face. She could not keep going for much longer. If Crystal did not let her go, the lizard would catch
Early the next morning, Crystal was roused by her maidservant who informed her that royal guards had stormed the villa. When she went to see them, the guards delivered a royal edict announcing the annulling of the engagement and ordering her to pack up and leave the palace as soon as possible.Stomping forward, she grabbed the document and looked at it, as if doubting the guard's words. Scoffing, she ripped the paper into pieces and started towards the door. “This is bullshit. I'll see the king myself!”Two of the guards stood in her way, blocking her path to the door. “The king has ordered that you are not allowed to go anywhere. Our orders are to watch you pack and escort you out of the palace.”“Get out of my way,” Crystal snapped, paying no heed to their words. “I am not the kind of person you can treat like this. I demand to see the king right away!”“If you insist,” the guards said, “we'll have to force you to leave without your stuff.”Crystal could see more guards stationed ou
When Lyra heard about Julian cancelling his engagement to Crystal, she felt grateful. After what Crystal had done to Anna, it would have been too much if Julian had still allowed her to stay at the palace and even become the future queen.She was fully aware of the rumours gathering speed around the palace and outside, about Julian choosing her over Crystal. How she wished that were true. Him cancelling his engagement had nothing to do with her. It just turned out he had some conscience and would not marry someone who tried to harm his cousin's mate.But the rumours only kept growing, and she could practically feel the animosity surrounding her. Since Julian was doing nothing to stop it, she decided to see him about it. After work that day, she followed him to his suite.“Clear it of what?” he asked her when she asked whether he intended on clearing her name.“You know what everybody has been saying about me,” she told him. “It would be nice if you gave an explanation and made it clea
Anna was leaving the library late one night when she noticed a movement to her left. Normally, she would have been alert, but she could tell it was Zero even before he stepped out of the shadows and into the light.“What are you doing here?” she asked as he walked towards her.“Waiting for you,” he told her.“Me?”He nodded. “I'll walk you back to your room.”“Were you waiting for long?” she asked him. “You could have come inside to get me.”“I did not want to distract you,” he told her. “You get really absorbed when you are reading.”Well, that was true, but she wouldn't have minded if he had gone inside for her. He was right, she would have been thoroughly distracted. But she wouldn't have minded it a bit.“I'm done now,” she said with a shy smile. They had been hanging out a lot lately, but she still got flustered when he was being all sweet.Stepping forward, Zero leaned down and gave her a short soft kiss to her lips. “I missed you,” he whispered when he pulled away.Anna's face
“Miss! Miss!”Crystal woke up to the sound of her frantic maidservant calling her name. She groaned as she opened her eyes, not appreciating the rude awakening.“What's all this racket in the morning?” she demanded, glaring at the female standing beside her bed.“We have been ambushed!” the maid cried, wringing her hands in front of her body.“What?” Crystal frowned and climbed from her bed. “What are you talking about?”“I don't know what's going on,” the maid said. “They rushed in and detained our guards, everybody is panicking!”Crystal rushed to the window and looked outside. In front of the mansion, she saw a line of Blacksword guards kneeling on the ground. Surrounding them was a group of guards in golden armour.Royal guards! What on earth were they doing at her pack?Crystal rushed to get dressed and hurried downstairs. When she got to the ground floor, she spied a group of royal guards escorting her father out of the house.“Father!” she called, running towards them as they l
“I'll kill them,” Crystal slurred as her hand tightened around the wine glass in her grip. “I'll kill them all!”She threw the glass across the room, shattering it against the wall. Her room was a mess following her outburst–beddings overturned, lamps broken, shards of glass all over the floor.Her father had been executed a few hours earlier. Not one person–not her relatives or the elders in the council–had tried to plead with the king to reconsider. They had all bowed their heads like a bunch of cowards and followed Julian’s every word.Now, her father was dead, her family was shamed, and their reputation was in tatters. A few weeks ago, she had thought that she would be the Luna Queen. It was a position that would have elevated her pack above everyone but the royal pack. Their pack had been envied by others for producing the future queen, something they had all sought for years. She could not believe how quickly everything had changed.Now, they were the laughing stock of the kingd
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