“Do I really need to do this, Mom?” I asked, my eyes glued to the mirror, watching myself in the white dress. I thought I would be happy or over the moon when I wore this dress, but right now all I feel is dread and regret.Regret for not marrying my fated mate, but rather marrying my chosen mate.We don't have any other option than me sacrificing my mate and my happiness for our pack, and I will happily do anything and everything for my pack.“I'm so sorry that we are putting you in this tough situation, honey. If it is in our hands, we will never let you sacrifice yourself,” my sweet mother put her hands on my shoulders, hugging me from behind while I was sitting on the stool like a happy bride, but I was not.“Why is he so cruel, Mom? Doesn't he know what mates are and what mate bonds are? Why did he choose me?” I asked, still in shock from the way my life had turned upside down.“I don't know, darling. Rumors say he doesn't have a heart and is ruthless, but I hope the moon goddess
“You look beautiful, my love!” His deep voice made me shiver physically, and my words stuck in my throat. I have been in my head since my father handed me over to him, and I am not at all present in the scene playing in front of me.The pastor was blabbing so much that I had tuned him out the second he opened his mouth.I averted my gaze from the charmingly handsome devil to the surroundings around us, which were decorated with white flowers.I don't even like the color white, nor the nameless white flowers.I was doing a good job of avoiding my soon-to-be husband by entertaining myself with every single useless thing around me, like subtly counting the flower petals in a bouquet behind Rhys.He caught me, and he startled me like I was a kitten and he was a big bad wolf.“Uh! Umm! T…thanks,” I breathed out the words, too intimidated by him to talk properly.He taunted me with that godforsaken word, trying to make me crack so I could make a scene, and he could get a chance to punish me
Felxa pov.. “ You clearly heard what I said, Love!” A cruel smirk appeared on his devilishly handsome face and iam having a conflict with my head, heart and body.Am I shameless and cruel for finding him attractive even though he is ruining my one chance at happiness! Something is clearly wrong with my head and my wolf, who is suddenly giving him eyes.“ No, I'm not going to do what you are asking. I'd rather die than reject my MATE.” I gritted out the last word putting emphasis on it.“ Do you think you have any say in this! You are going to do exactly what I am saying, Felza!” A warning growl rumbled through his chest and went straight to my core.What the fudge! Something is not right! Is there any witch near me? Who is blowing her magic my way! “ No! I'm not going to reject my Mate and I am canceling this stupid wedding.” Everyone gasped around me like how dare I stand up against the big bad Alpha without any fear.I can feel pity, bewilderment, Surprise and shock from the peopl
Felza’s POVI knew how much effort I had already put in to stop the wedding and be with my true mate Chris Ashford, but Rhys was too strong and worst of all, he remained charming in the midst of this chaos. Somehow we were meant to be together but how could I willingly accept a man so devious and ruthless to be my mate! To be the father of my pups! To lead my people. I really needed the alpha female in me to stir up now because it was a now-or-never situation at the moment. “If you are thinking of doing something stupid right now, I suggest you come off it cause the life of everyone in this is at stake right now.” Rhys said as he turned to look at the terrified crowd gathered in utter shock at the turn of the events in the wedding. Even the priest saying the prayers and rites was terrified at how aggressive Rhys had been and how spontaneous he was, to act in very ruthless ways. The situation had clearly grown out of hand. With the men of Rhys surrounding the hall, the terrified look
Felza's POV Sitting in the peace of our new rooms, I still felt the sting from the slap I left o Rhys's cheek. The echo of my smack appeared to mix with the weight of my sadness in my head. Rhys's estate was beautiful and opulent. The surroundings was filled with beautiful flowers and plants yet the loneliness and quietness of the place made it very cold and unwelcoming.It felt to many of Rhys people that I was the heartbeat of a wealthy Alpha who was also very handsome and most of the girls dream man, but though all I got was the stifling quiet of betrayal and hopelessness, I had hoped for comfort or warmth. My own thoughts returned to my people, my clan. The people that watched and protected me while I was growing. Helped and teamed to evade external attacks many years ago and sustain the clan from external aggression. Their faces in the throng caught me as frozen in agony, disbelief and disappointment. Their exchanges of eyes suggested sadness. Watching me wed someone they kne
Felza's POVFor a moment I paused and all I could think of was to take a breath. I stood within the confines of the mansion and my gaze darted to Rhys's men who had cold expressions on their faces. 'Trying to get past these men is going to be a waste of time,’ I thought to myself and voluntarily returned back into the house.I tried to stay calm and allowed my mind work its wonder. “What if Victoria was right and my stiffness and reluctance puts me in a lot of mess in the nearest future? What if my clan and people were forever captured and their lands and spoils forever transcended to the hands of Rhys and his allies and the end of my root is me?”“what if I could build an alliance with Victoria and manage to convince my father to take a chunk of his time to plot with the valiant warriors left in our clan and secure a tight and fortified front for us to hold Rhys's allies and himself hostage or possibly ambush them. Because in the long run the people dear to me and all the glory of th
Rhys's POV. The night felt shorter than day lately and the weight of the heavy fog accompanying the sun as it was about rising felt very amazing. It was a calming scene to watch.Perched near the window, I saw the first rays of dawn break across the horizon. There was no peace even if the sky was a light grey with a shade of pink.I kept going back over the events of the previous evening in my brain, growing more and more annoyed with every second. Felza had tested me in a way none else had ever done. Her ego and will to give in infuriated me, but at the same time I felt an odd excitement. She needed to understand she belongs to me. I had been very liberal and too gentle on myself. I had already shown her last night the cost of disobedience. I thought of it as such. But as I watched her now, still on my bed, a persistent discomfort crept into my chest.Felza's soft breathing rising and falling dominated the still room. She had been unconscious and I had personally brought her here si
Felza’s POVEverything was moving so fast. I couldn’t make sense of what had happened. It was very strange and concerning. I squeezed my face hard and sat there, lost in my own thoughts. Rhys had attacked me, bruising and pummelling me. My heart felt worse; my body hurt. When he told me we had consummated our marriage, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of hopelessness. I had woken up in his bed and the scent of his perfume choked me. His terrible eyes seared into my head, and I could hardly look at him without feeling queasy.There was a time when this same chambers felt like a display of the authority I shared with Rhys, now it felt nothing like that but a hell hole. It felt like a prison, a jail! And I had to breakaway as quickly as possible. Chris showed up just as promised. I felt a flutter of optimism when I saw him standing at the brink of the trees close to the packhouse. His eyes reflected worry, and for a moment I felt safe. We both knew, though, we had time to waste. W
Eric’s POV. The following morning after the incident felt eerily serene, the sort of serenity that caused the hairs on my rear of the neck to rise up. Though the sun was just starting to rise and the castle grounds was covered in a faint glow, the coolness in the air was obvious. I hadn't slept a wink; my thoughts kept repeating the events of the previous evening. It tormented me the sound of broken bones and the sight of blood gathering on the floor. I heard the disturbance while in the courtyard attempting to clear my brain. Near the castle gates, a small gathering had assembled; their whispers got louder every second. I initially couldn't understand what they were saying, but then I heard it—a name whispered among them, a word that made my blood stop. Good. My heart thumping in my chest, I shoved my way through the throng. She was doing what exactly here? She was with Marcus, so I knew, but to show up like this thus shortly following the attack? It lacked logic. When I got to
Eric’s POV. When we got to Rhys location, we explained all that we where encountering and he decides on our next course of actions. It seemed Rhys had fought a thousand wars from the confidence he portrays and emotionlessness on his face. Tension permeated the air as we headed under darkness towards Marcus's estate. While the other three assassins—Keno, Brant, and Saul—trailed behind, their motions quiet but lethal, Pamel strolled next to me, his eyes sharp and concentrated. The scheme was straightforward but brutal: attack Marcus's family to leave an indelible scar he would never forget. But I felt the weight of what we were going to do more the closer we got. We arrived at the outside edge and slid past the security with trained simplicity. Though Marcus had a sizable estate, we knew just where to go for our targets. Nestled at the rear and encircled by huge, gnarled trees creating lengthy shadows in the dark, was the house his mother and sister inhabited. Just before we arrive
Eric’s POV. some of the things that had transpired between Rhys and the Elders had leaked and some of the people of the clan where beginning to discuss the issue as trivialities. This made me feel pissed and spiteful as I couldn’t stand having my masters name and repute discussed by commoners as mere trivialities. As I stood close to the main hall door, attempting to interpret the increasing discomfort among the pack, I heard Marcus's haughty and conceited voice. I froze, listening to him spew hateful comments in a tone full of derision and contempt. "Rhys is nothing but a coward!" Marcus bellowed, his voice like a blade piercing the darkness. “Too feeble, too brittle to confront me. Being aware of his incapacity to face a genuine challenge, he retreats behind his ostensibly 'loyal' supporters.” Marcus spat. “ Not to mention his two tiny "hoes," Gloria and Felza. He's only useful for having them by his side to stroke his wounded pride." Marcus went on to trash Rhys until my blood
Rhys’ POV. Quietly and peacefully, I stood in my quarters and looked out over the pack's territory; the night air was heavy with anxiety. The moon was low in the sky, giving the surroundings a spooky glow. I was aware that the choices I had made today would affect our pack's destinyThere was no room for failure as the enemies to our pack was closer now more than ever. Cench and Pamel had jumped right into their task. They started their preparations a few hours after our encounter. They were the ideal leaders I required because of their silent strength; they would protect our pack and neutralise any dangers before they could get to our door. Eric had informed me of their developments. I was informed of every action they took and every new hire they brought on board. Word quickly got out among the wolves that a new assassination gang dedicated just to me and our cause was emerging. Whispers, anxiety, and anticipation filled the group. By morning on the second day, Cench and Pamel h
Rhys POV. I was pacing my quarters, mulling about everything. Based on Elder Davis's tenacity in trying to call off the war, I felt the seniors were organising something. He had never been one to back down from a disagreement, hence his sudden change of heart unnerved me. The man was hiding something, hence I was not going to ignore that. Elder Davis lost my trust, and that was a mistake on his behalf. You couldn afford to start to lose faith in my surroundings. Stopped pacing, I looked out the window with hands balled into fists. The pack's future was in jeopardy, and I couldn't let anyone discredit all I had laboriously gone to accomplish—not even Davis. One heard a door knock. I yelled out, staring towards the dark forest that surrounded our house. " Come in." Eric came in and softly closed the door behind him. " You wanted to see me, Rhys?" I turned to face him, a sharp grimace on my lips. "Davis is currently a major problem." Eric arched an eyebrow and stepped forward. "I fe
Gloria POV. After the roasting had subsided, and the air was eerily silent. Glancing at Rhys, who stood motionless, his face set in hard lines, my heart was thumping. Something about that sound had unnerved him, even though he was typically powerful and in charge. His eyes narrowed as if they were attempting to break through the darkness outside, and his jaw tightened—I could see it. I shifted nervously, feeling as though everything was bearing down on me. Already, the impending battle with Marcus loomed large over us, a confrontation that might turn everything around. And suddenly there was this weird, unnerving sound, like a dreadful omen. Rhys looked at Damien and Eric, who were also tense. With a strong and low voice, he stated, "We need to figure out what that was." "We can't afford to ignore it if it's related to Marcus." They nodded, but I felt a wave of panic come over me as they started to depart. Rhys needed to be distracted, so I had to keep him close. I couldn't allow a
The only sound accompanying me as I strolled across the Bluemoon pack's home was the echo of my feet on the chilly marble flooring. The seniors had called me, and every step seemed weightier than the next. I knew they were unhappy with me; their annoyance had been growing. My attempts to get Felza back and my recent behaviour had not only stoked their mistrust but also spawned rumours about my possible overthrow. The meeting room was tight, a far cry from the normal friendliness I knew in my own pack. Seated in a semicircle, the elderly had austere, uncompromising looks. Their keen, penetrating looks followed me as I came in. "Rhys," Elder Noran remarked, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to weigh many millennia. "You have been called here because of mounting questions about your leadership and recent behaviour." Breathing deeply, I tried to calm my nerves. "I understand," my voice calm. "I am doing everything I can to correct mistakes I know I have made." Often the most vocifer
Rhys' POV.. After Tito left, the palace appeared colder and darker. The image of his damaged eyes stayed with me, along with the pain in his words. The suffering and treachery felt like a vice surrounding me.Lost in my thoughts, my mind whirling from the events of the evening, I wandered the poorly lit halls. Tito's face flashed in my head as I rounded a bend, the way he had stared at me with incredulity and grief. My heart hammered, guilt and rage seething inside me.I had to clear my thoughts and find some sort of control amidst the turmoil I had caused. Then I heard a freezing noise, soft and muted like the scrape of a sword against stone. I whirled around, instincts driving me forward. At the end of the hall, I caught sight of Tito's shadow.Panic tore through me. Could he have come back? Was this some kind of sick joke? I grabbed the sharp knife I always carried at hand in a flash of pure panic and desperation. As I approached the shadow, my breath came quick and jagged. I rais
Rhys POV. The grass's great expanse was strangely quiet, broken only by tree rustling. Frayed and tired, I peered into the night. Every attempt to recover Felza had come up short. Marcus was relentless; the messengers returned with just more challenges. It's odd how someone may feel so alone even in a crowd. Though their attendance felt hollow, my pack members had been trying to express support. Though they could not fill the gap Felza left, they could feel my hopelessness. Though within I was disintegrating while trying to keep the picture of power and control. Footsteps behind me, I turned to find Gloria approaching me. Her dress more exposed than usual, hung to her curves. She sported a light-hearted, nearly mocking smile. I had tried to retain some degree of decency and distance. My efforts were running thin, though. Every interaction with her served as a reminder of the void Felza left behind, and Gloria's presence merely made me feel empty. Gloria whispered, "Rhys," gently