(IVORY’S POV) Disappointment gnawed at my chest as I listened to Alaric’s infuriating voicemail message—again. "Hi, you’ve reached Alaric’s voicemail. I can’t take this call right now, but please leave a..." The robotic tone fueled my rage. Cutting the call for the umpteenth time, I threw the phone onto the nearest couch as my chest tightened with frustration. Damn it! I paced our large, exquisitely furnished room, my mind racing with thoughts of my husband, Alaric. His scent, usually a comforting mix of sandalwood and musk, lingered in the room as usual, reminding me of his disappointing absence. It was our third anniversary, a day that should be filled with his love and warmth. Yet, here I was, alone and waiting. A few hours left, and the day will be over. How could he possibly choose tonight to come home late? I sneered. I glanced at my outfit, the Catwoman costume I thought he’d find playful. Now it felt silly, desperate. I touched my stomach absentmindedly, a ge
(IVORY’S POV) I stood frozen, the room spinning under the weight of what I had just seen. Each second that passed felt like a hammer driving the realization deeper into my mind. My heart beat heavily in my chest, and I could barely breathe. Across from me, Alaric’s face twisted in anger instead, as if I were the one who had done something wrong.“Say something, Alaric, will you? How could you?” My voice was sharp with fury, and my emotions were uncontrollable. This was despicable and shameful—sexting another? No matter how he spun it, this was cheating.“Ivory,” he snapped, stepping closer and yanking his phone from my trembling hands. "Wow, just... wow."“What the hell were you thinking, going through my phone?” His voice was cold and hard, completely devoid of the warmth I was used to. The man I had loved and trusted now felt like a stranger. But did I truly not see this coming?“How could you?” I choked out, my voice cracking. Tears stung my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “
(IVORY’S POV) I jolted upright, drenched in sweat, my throat was parched as a desert. Again! The troubling dream of the Alpha King had returned, and this time, it felt too real. An untouchable figure, the king of all kings. Few had seen him eye to eye, and I was no exception, only on paper. Why was he invading my dreams? Swallowing hard, I became acutely aware of my surroundings. Holy shit! I was still in the office; papers sprawled all over my desk. It’s ironic how this very place I hated—the same place that constantly reminded me I was just a mere lab assistant, had become my sanctuary from the pack gossip and my thoughts. “What are you doing, slacking off, huh? Get to work, ceremonial Luna!” Startled by the abrupt intrusion, I looked up to see Professor Sly, my superior at work. True to his name, he was a cunning old man who never bothered to hide his disdain for me. I plastered on a fake smile. “Professor Sly, I was about to take my leave. As you know, it’s Alpha Ala
(IVORY’S POV) "Bind this vile woman!” Alaric commanded. Confused, I couldn’t understand what was happening. I found myself in a room surrounded by judgmental eyes. "I can't stand her face. Bring her out for the verdict." With that, Alaric stormed out of the room. One of the guards grabbed my hand roughly, and pain shot through my sore, bloodied body, still aching from the lashes of the cane. I shivered from the biting cold. My clothes were torn, exposing parts of my chest to prying eyes, but my long, wavy hair mercifully covered me. I tried to speak, to ask what was happening, but no words escaped my throat. Only whimpers. As I was dragged outside, my eyes adjusted to the dim light—dawn was approaching. How long had I been unconscious? "Slut!" Voices from the crowd jeered at me, my stomach churning. "Cursed Luna!" Some even hurled stones at us. "Adulterous whore!" Alongside me, an omega male was dragged, almost as naked as I was. Who was he? As we were paraded through the
(Alpha King Zeeb’s POV) "You're barely touching your food, King Zeeb," my sister Heather remarked, gesturing toward the untouched plate in front of me, making me snap back to reality. “Talk to me, Zeeb! What are you thinking about? Is it Adeline?” The sadness in her voice lingered in the air, striking a nerve that churned painfully at my heart. Adeline—my mate—and Luna, who had been the core of my existence, had been brutally murdered by rogues months ago. The wound still felt raw, like it was just yesterday. My head hung low, deep in thought. This time, it wasn’t solely on Adeline but rather a little invader, haunting my dreams. “It’s the damn dream, again,” I said, frustrated, running my fingers through my long, lush hair. Heather looked at me, worry evident in her eyes. “Zeeb, look, I feel you’re forcing meanings into those dreams, finding a bit of closure in them. Everyone has dreams about people they’ve never met. So please—” I lifted my head and stared at the chan
(IVORY)“Where am I?” I repeated. Ignoring my question, he took slow, deliberate strides toward me. Turning around, I took notice of the room. It was spacious and furnished minimally. What is this place? Having no time to waste, I said urgently, “Take me to Regina. I am here for Regina.” The stranger’s brows furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean? Which Regina are you referring to?” I sat upright, trying to discard the duvet from my body. “I must help her.” I let out a little groan, suddenly feeling nauseous. “Regina is a victim of a curse—a rare spell that only I can understand.” I slowly stated, but his eyes held confusion. I noticed he avoided my gaze. “Calm down, would you? You’re not even fit yet; you just gained consciousness.” His gruff voice was firm. Shaking my head in disapproval, “You don’t get it. She is not the weakling everyone portrays her to be. She is sick, and I have to see her. No matter what.” He sat next to me, and I felt the weight of his presence
~Ivory~Darkness enveloped me like an endless void, drowning my senses, when suddenly the space shifted. It felt all too surreal. Before me stood Valerie and the man I failed to recognize when I was spellbound. Beta Kaiden, my cousin. It’s crystal clear now. I remained rooted in place, unable to move. It was as if we were in the same world but in different dimensions. They couldn't see me, but I could see them. In a dimly lit room, I stood in the corner, watching them kiss passionately like old lovers reunited after a long separation. Chills ran down my spine as I witnessed this intimate moment unfold before my eyes. “Ivory will soon be dead and forgotten, like a lost memory,” Valerie whispered, her fingers tangling in Beta Kaiden’s hair. “Omega Drake reassured me of that. And you, my love, will have Silver Pack to yourself, ruling over them like you rule my world.” “Uhm,” he murmured with a sense of pride, his hand caressing her baby bump. “Let’s talk about us. How is my littl
(King Zeeb’s POV) I watched her graceful steps from the corner of my eye as we walked toward Regina’s corner, wondering why she seemed determined to disrupt my nights. Even the way her hair flowed in the wind seemed captivating to me. Could she be the one? Why do I feel this pull toward her? For the first time, in what feels like a decade, the agony of Adeline’s death eases. “I... I am an omega,” Regina, daughter of Tristan, finally spoke, her voice quiet but brave. Known as an outcast in the pack, she had always been regarded as unworthy and weak. In contrast, I am the one considered supernatural, brave, the one others admire and rely upon. Yet now, I couldn’t help but find myself leaning on someone else—the woman who stood in front of me, captivating and unexpected. I was entranced, almost blinded by her beauty. The way she spoke, walked, made me question my sanity. But as she stumbled, after encouraging Regina that she would be fine, I caught her instinctively, reacting in w
~Alpha King Zeeb~“I’ll head in first,” Maya said, walking out of the balcony even before I could respond.As the balcony door closed behind her, I released a frustrated grunt and ran a hand through my hair, tussling the strands.She was pulling away, but not because of the kiss. No, the withdrawal that was evident on her face and in her scent wasn’t something that had just popped up. It had been there, brewing since the night we came to Father’s territory.What was going on?My wolf whined at the realization that I knew little about what was bothering our mate, and that, in turn, bothered me.I didn’t like Maya’s withdrawn demeanor, but could I really blame her? I wasn’t exactly sure what had been making her uncomfortable. So much had happened, and was still happening, and her attitude was… understandable.I had felt the frustration and stress radiating off her, but at the same time, the confusion in her scent and the way she tried so hard to put on a mask told me there was more.And
~Ivory~ I pulled away, shoving Zeeb in the chest to create some distance between us, my eyes wide as I turned toward the door. But… no one was there. We were alone, with the door slammed shut behind us as it had been when Zeeb first walked in. But that couldn’t be possible. I frowned, recalling vividly that Zeeb had indeed shut the door behind him when he entered. So, the only way the door could have opened was if someone else had come in. Which meant… An icy chill snaked down my spine as the possibility hit me that someone might’ve seen us kissing. I turned my gaze sharply to Zeeb. “Someone was here.” Zeeb frowned but didn’t respond immediately, as though he was trying to figure something out, most likely trying to detect who had been spying by the lingering scent in the air. But even for him, it seemed like a daunting task to tell, especially with so many guests at the party, scents flying around. But I wouldn’t deny the fact that he also had abilities far surpassin
~Ivory~My eyes flew open at the unexpected reveal.“R-Rendering them human?” I repeated, genuine surprise lacing my voice.Being a special Luna from the Legend was one thing, but possessing a power so unimaginable… that was something else entirely.My brows furrowed as I tried to digest the information I had just been given. I could feel their eyes—Zeeb’s, Vinita’s, even Dimitris’s—all fixed on me, watching closely, silently waiting.But for what?A reaction? A decision? A sign that I understood what this meant?Dimitris was the first to speak, breaking the silence that had stretched on longer than I would have liked.“This power… it changes everything,” he said quietly, his voice laced with both awe and caution. His eyes remained locked on mine. “You need to understand what you are now and what that means for all of us.”“What it means for all of us?” I asked. A second passed, and when no one answered, the silence became its own kind of response. Then, like a thread snapping loose i
~Ivory~ Confusion washed over me as I looked between Vinita and Zeeb, trying to understand what had prompted Vinita’s reaction and Zeeb’s words. The growing whispers in the room weren’t helping either. “Something special?” I asked, narrowing my eyes slightly. “What exactly are you talking about?” Zeeb’s smile remained, but from his eyes, I could tell even he was trying to wrap his head around the words he had just spoken. Nonetheless, he nodded and took a step forward, reaching out to touch me. It wasn’t intentional—more like an instinctive reaction to being thrown into the spotlight so suddenly. With all the watchful eyes on us, I instinctively took a step back, avoiding his touch. Zeeb’s face fell ever so slightly. It wasn’t a pleasant sight, and I felt the urge to apologize—to let him know I wasn’t avoiding his touch because I hated it but because I had been caught off guard, overwhelmed by all the eyes and whispers surrounding us. But there were more pressing matters
~Ivory~"We've heard so much about you. We're so glad to finally meet the famous Maya in person." A regal couple, whom Dimitris introduced as the Alpha and Luna of moonpack, extended their hands for a handshake, which I gladly took, accepting their greetings."Thank you very much for your kind words," I replied, still feeling awkward to be put under the spot. The Luna then proceeded to gush about my beauty."Everyone spoke of your beauty, but seeing you in person surpasses all expectations. You are indeed a catch." I gave a nervous chuckle as she continued, remarking on my pale skin and we fell into an easy conversation, the tension I felt earlier long forgotten. There was something about them that I found comforting. Another couple approached. I recognized the man from the assessment as a board member. Though we exchanged pleasantries, I sensed a subtle hostility in the way their eyes burned, the scrutiny, and the way they exchanged knowing glances between themselves, but I couldn't
~Ivory~I leaned into Zeeb’s touch. For a moment, I almost lost myself in his arms, everything fading into a blur around us—and that was what scared me. I was scared of losing myself yet again. I wanted to open up, to tell him about Mrs Nora and the visions I got, but I didn't know how. I didn't know where to start. So instead, I bottled it all up. “Please leave before anyone sees you here.” Instead, I pushed him away, afraid of confronting whatever this was. No matter the bridges I created between us, Zeeb always found a way to fill in the gaps.He was reluctant at first. I knew he wanted to oppose me, to challenge me, to say he didn’t care about being seen. It was right there, at the tip of his tongue, but he sighed, his shoulders slumping briefly before he nodded and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead.I watched him walk away. My wolf snarled at the back of my mind, crossed with me for ruining the moment with her wolf, but I couldn’t afford to entertain her shenanigans. Instea
~Alpha King Zeeb~ “So…” I trailed off, clearing my throat to gain Father’s attention. His normally hard features softened slightly, and I knew this was the perfect moment to finalize the discussion. No matter how difficult he was trying to be, I reminded myself that I was doing this for Heather. “About the mating ceremony…” His shoulders tensed instantly, a clear sign that this was a sore topic for him. He shook his head in disapproval before I could even finish. “We’ve been over this,” he said in a low, firm voice. This time, he fully turned toward me, his gaze sharp. “As far as I am concerned, no lineage of mine will be tied to bad blood, soiling our perfect generation. Derrick and Heather happening is out of the question, and that is final.” I clenched my fists, swallowing the fury bubbling inside me. Once again, Father was doing the same thing—dictating our lives under the guise of protection. I knew he had our best interests at heart, but his love came at a cost. I could
~Alpha King Zeeb~“Look who we have here.” Father’s voice carried the same quiet authority it always did, though his eyes never left the checkers board in front of him. He cleared his throat, tapping a red piece absentmindedly. “If it isn’t the almighty King himself.” He added, mumbling under him breath. I playfully rolled my eyes and exhaled, pulling my hands from my pockets. “Good day to you too, Father,” I said in a monotone voice, settling into the seat across from him.A ghost of a smirk played on his lips before disappearing just as quickly. Without looking up, he nudged a piece forward. “Your turn.”I rolled my sleeves up to my elbows, already recognizing the challenge in his voice. He was being his usual self—dictating the pace before I even agreed to play.He’d already decided we were playing before I even sat down.“I don’t recall agreeing to a game.” I grazed a piece, considering my next move. “…You always take the center first.” I completed, moving the pieces. Father smi
~Ivory~ What in the world is going on? I swallowed down my saliva hard, confusion twisting in my gut as I watched Mrs. Nora unravel completely before my eyes. “Nooo!!” she screamed loudly this time, her voice hoarse from sheer anguish, she pulled and tugged at her hair with frantic desperation, one which was unsettling. Her wide, unblinking eyes shimmered with terror as she twitched. “Bunch of liars… they are all a bunch of liars!” Her sudden outburst sent a shiver through me. Her wild gaze darted around the room as if looking for an escape before snapping to mine. For a moment, I swore she was looking right into my soul, searching for something, as if I were a piece of a puzzle she had long been trying to fit together. Something in the way she looked at me—like she knew me, as if she was seeing something beyond my flesh and bone. It sent ice through my veins. It was something more than just recognition. Almost like…. desperation, as if she were trying to reach me, to pull me into