~IVORY~I raced toward the packhouse, driven by a gut feeling that something was definitely wrong. Reaching Riley’s room, I caught her scent drifting from the dining alcove nearby. There she sat, her gaze downcast, absentmindedly stirring her spoon through her food. Sia was there too, hovering by her side with a smug look on her face, since she was the maid assigned to Riley.My sudden entrance drew their attention, and Riley’s face instantly lit up with a cheerful smile. “Maya!” she exclaimed, clearly delighted to see me. I walked over to her, forcing a small smile in return, while I noticed Sia’s expression shift to one of nervousness, her eyes widening as if she had never expected anyone to be there.There was something about Riley that tugged at my heart. The pain of growing up without a mother was all too familiar, and seeing it in her made my heart ache. Nothing could compare to the trauma. I snatched the spoon from her hand, giving it a quick sniff, then glanced down at her pl
(Evans)Ah! I sighed deeply, taking a brief break from the overwhelming preparations for Alpha Alaric’s upcoming birthday. Just as I was savoring the moment, Selina, an omega like myself, burst into my room.“What is it, Selina? You startled me,” I scolded, rubbing my sore toes. But I noticed the mischievous sparkle in her eyes.“I’ve got a prank I want to pull on one of the omegas,” she said, handing me a piece of paper. “She’s close to you, so could you write a note saying you’re stranded?”Furrowing my brows, I asked, “Who is it?”“Oh, I’m not telling you. That would ruin the surprise. Suspense!” She chuckled maniacally.I shook my head, writing on the paper and wondering what she was up to, but I didn't let myself get too involved. Playing tricks on each other was common among us omegas.“Do you see how Valerie is all over the place? Changing everything Luna Ivory is planning?” Selina scrunched her nose up, and I nodded, sharing her frustration. “It’s so unfair.”“And did you hear
(Evans)Letting my curiosity get the better of me, I asked, “What do you mean? Why did Alpha Alaric penalize her so quickly without looking into it? What if he judged wrongly?”I wasn’t sure I could truly trust Beta Kaiden. The same man who had dragged Ivory with no mercy yet still claimed to be her cousin. He couldn’t even show his pity, considering that he was privileged to be in the position of beta because of his relationship with her. It was all too painful to see. Ivory never deserved such treatment, no matter what. And even if the claims were right, she was still Luna, and she should’ve had a proper send-off; even a rogue didn’t deserve such harsh degrading. I wanted to dig into the case deeper, to get justice for her, but Alpha Alaric’s judgment was final, and no one dared question him. Only great petitions could sway his decisions. “But you have always known Ivory almost your whole life. You didn’t believe she could do it, even if the entire world believed otherwise… Or did
~IVORY~Resisting the urge to surrender to the darkness, I fought my hardest to remain conscious. Are you okay?” Berry, who noticed my discomfort, asked me with concern laced in her voice.I managed to flash her a small, tight smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Could you please pass me the claw bowl?” She handed it over, and I concentrated on assembling Riley’s meal, forcing my hands to stay steady.Once ready, I picked up the tray and headed straight to the King’s room. I knocked softly, and he muttered a low “Come in, Maya.” My heart stumbled at the sound of his voice. How did he know it was me even without asking? Could he smell my presence, or had he merely been expecting Riley’s food?As I entered, my gaze fell upon him, he had changed his attire, now securing his cloak with practiced ease. I set the bowl on the bedside table next to Riley, who beamed up at me. “Here you go, Riley,” I said softly, and she chirped a cheeky “Thank you,” before diving into her food. Yet, my attention was dra
~ King Zeeb~ I was walking toward the fiesta grounds when the familiar scent of pine cones filled my senses. Before I could turn, she slipped out from the shadows, trailing her manicured fingers from my lips down to my chest. “What is this behavior, Aurora?” I asked, suppressing a wave of disgust and swatting her hand away. “This can’t go on. Stay within your boundaries. I was drunk! Don’t you get the memo?” She scoffed, an almost mocking smile twisting her lips. “Drunk? Twice, King? Come up with a better excuse. You can pretend all you want, but I know how good we made each other feel. That memory stays with me.” I clenched my jaw, barely holding back my anger. I’d only tolerated her because she was Heather’s best friend. A single reckless mistake, and now she thinks she has a claim on me. “I can’t believe this,” she spat, her voice slightly rising. “First you left me for Adeline, and now you want to do the same with Maya? I see it in your eyes that you want her. But don't you re
(Alpha Zeeb)“I belong to no one. Never will I, and that’s final,” her words echoed in my mind. I didn’t understand why she suddenly became so defensive from my statement, but I could see the fear in her eyes and it tugged at my heart. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that as long as I was here, she had nothing to worry about and I would protect her with all my might, up till my last breath.Refusing to back down, I moved even closer, our breaths mingling. Softness abandoned my tone as I asked her seriously, “Tell me, Why are you here?”She blinked, nervous, looking everywhere but at me before clearing her throat. “I… I already told you, didn’t I?”Her words only fueled my curiosity, and I chuckled softly, leaning closer to brush my lips near her ear. Her body went rigid and I saw goosebumps appear all over her body. “You and I both know that Regina is not the only reason you’re here.”Her scent grew only stronger, and my hypersensitive ears caught the frantic racing of her he
~Ivory~The heat rising in my body was undeniable. His scent engulfed me, pulling me in. I wanted to feel him against me, I wanted him to mark me as his, to let the world know who I belonged to, but then Alaric’s face flashed in my eyes, flooding like disoriented lights.I wanted to move away from the King as far as I could, but there was something that kept sparking deep within me. My wolf, who had become almost dormant.I could sense her trying to awaken. Her desire was building up like blocks, but I didn’t want to feed on it.“Why did you come?” the King asked, his question unsettling me to the core. A sudden haze clouded my mind, and I found myself wondering how I’d even ended up in his territory. It was baffling, almost surreal the more I thought about it.I stammered, unsure of how to answer, my anxiety heightening as he asked who sent me. His presence suddenly felt overwhelming, his hot breath fanning against my earlobe. I shivered, goosebumps pricking my skin.His eyes darted
~Ivory~I blink a few times, trying to process his words. Deep down, I knew I wasn’t sent just for Regina’s missions, but there was something deeper at play, something only the unseen knew. There was so much I was hiding from him, and I feared he was slowly lifting the veil, unraveling me bit by bit.Trying to divert the conversation, I stroked the horse while asking, “Do you miss her?” The question had always lingered in my mind. I wondered what was going through his head every day—does he think moving on would feel like betrayal to the soul tie he once shared with her?I glanced at him; his eyes held so many emotions I couldn't read. As the breeze picked up, he undid his bun, letting his hair flow wildly. I expected him to shrug my question off, but to my surprise, he spoke after a brief pause.“My Adeline.” He chuckled softly, his gaze distant, and I found myself smiling with him, my mind drifting to Riley. “She was a singer, the daughter
~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
~Ivory~The cold air slapped me in the face, causing me to stir sluggishly. I lay half awake, body sprawled on the giant bed as my hands searched frantically for the soft, furred blanket.It was morning already, and my body felt held back by the remnants of sleep. I longed to crawl right back into my blanket, but I had to rise when I couldn’t get hold of it. I yawned lazily as I sat upright, trying to make sense of the environment I woke up in.As I scanned the room, my eyes landed on the spectacular antler chandelier. It was then that I realized I was still at the reserved home.Gradually, I recalled events of the night, and a growl escaped my throat. Zeeb left like a beaten cat after I pushed him away. Sad about that? I honestly wasn’t sure how I felt. I got down from the bed and stretched my arms, trying to shake off the lingering fatigue from sleep. That’s when I heard the thrashing from afar. It sounded like glass on hard metal. My heart raced. I rubbed my eyes vigorously as if
~Alpha King Zeeb~I watched her retreat, her scent lingering in my olfactory tracts. Maya… I couldn’t get her off my mind. She was becoming the calm to my storm, someone whose constant presence I never seemed to get tired of. She clicked the door closed, leaving me with the absurd silence in the bathroom. Her footsteps faded away, and soon, I sensed her hurried movement in the room. I let out a soft huff, walked over to the Italian tub meant solely for a relaxing soak, and slid into it gently. I pressed the automatic faucet, setting it to relaxation mode, and let the gentle trickle of water wash over me.My mind wandered back to why my mom had come to see Maya. I presumed it was because of the earlier scene in the dining room; she might be trying to clear the air or make Maya feel more welcome. I sighed. Mom would always be Mom. My gaze drifted to the faucet, fascinated by the mechanism of water flow. I watched as the water trickled down in creative whirls, the therapeutic ointment
~Ivory~Her question hung in the air, met by my silence. I had a lot of things going on in my mind, and her intentions were at the forefront.She turned her gaze to me, her eyes boring into mine without a blink. “I want to know how much you care about him,” she said, “because it's obvious he does care about you too. Alpha Zeeb would never choose a woman he has no interest in as a temporary Luna.” It was sort of frustrating that I couldn't read her mind. If she were like one of those betrayers from my past, then she had met her match. Trying my best to keep my emotions in check, I let out a small smile. “He’s the king… and everyone should care about the king. I care about him, of course, as the almighty King Zeeb. As the temporary Luna, I care.” I licked my lips with the tip of my tongue and shifted slightly on the bed, trying to appear nonchalant.“Gosh. Don’t sell me that crap,” she said, waving her hand dismissively as she walked back to the handcrafted sofa in the center of the r
~Ivory~My wolf paced frantically in my mind, threatening to break free and pull back Zeeb’s mom. But I knew I couldn't let it out. Muscles tensing, I struggled to keep it in check.I strained my ears, trying to hear what she had heard. My senses went on high alert as I picked up the sound of Zeeb’s movement instantly. This was definitely the same sound his mother had heard, although it sounded so faint and distant. But what the hell was he doing? He promised he would be still.“Did you hear that?” she whispered again, tilting her head slightly.A crawling sensation crept up my spine, making me swallow hard as my thoughts roamed for possible answers.As my gaze lingered on her, I noticed her brows raise sharply, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. My eyes drifted to her hands, and I could see her fingers twitching restlessly by her sides. I wondered whether this had to do with the scent of her son that she caught earlier. I thought, perhaps, she was guessing he was somewhere around. I