~Alpha Zeeb~
“What do you mean she’s gone?” I responded to Heather’s link as I shot to my feet almost immediately. How could she be missing within the fortified walls of this pack? It didn’t seem possible.My chest tightened as I charged toward Heather, the weight of anxiety pressing down on me. Careful not to draw attention to the situation, I forced myself to stay composed. This needs to stay low-key for now.I grabbed Heather’s elbow and guided her to a secluded spot where I was certain no one could overhear our conversation. “What’s going on, Heather?”She was restless, pacing back and forth. “I… I don’t know, Zeeb,” she stammered. “She said she was going to see Regina and promised she wouldn’t take long. But when I checked, she was gone. I’ve searched everywhere—it’s like she vanished.”“She must still be within the pack. Calm down Heather.” I said, mind-linking Jerome to stay low-key but help with the search.We disperse~Alpha Zeeb~ I became enraged as Aurora slowly approached me, her hips swaying with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She placed her hand on my back seductively. Immediately, I swatted her hand away with enough force to make her stumble. Her eyes widened, too stunned by my reaction. I was already in a sour mood, and her presence only worsened it. What if someone was looking? “Stop it. Are you slow, or can’t you get it through your thick skull that you should stop this?” I barked, trying to level my anger. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “Your attempts to seduce me will fail. This is you disrespecting my Luna, and I won’t let it continue. The earlier you stop trying, the better for you.” This wasn’t the first time she had done this. Ever since Maya came into my life, Aurora had become unbearable, obsessive. I never knew she was this bold. I recalled the night after the battle with t
(Ivory) Alpha Logan? I watched as he slowly made his way toward us. “Oh brother, I think you’ve forgotten this pack is as much yours as mine. But I am not here to cause trouble.” I watched him smirk, completely unbothered, radiating arrogance. There was something about him that intrigued me, though not in a romantic way. I couldn’t quite place it. His aura was commanding, almost as powerful as the Alpha King’s — intense and authoritative, just as Heather described. But even with all his dominance, he still fell short where King Zeeb excelled. The King remained unmatched, an untouchable force. Their exchange turned tense as Alpha Logan mentioned Adeline, offering insincere condolences. His words dripped with mockery, making his intentions crystal clear. He wanted to provoke the Alpha King. “But it seems you’ve forgotten your golden Adeline. I’m disappointed you couldn’t even mourn her death as you should a true Luna,”
~Ivory~ I remained rooted in place. This cannot be! The news of Sia’s death came as a shocker, and cold dread slowly crept up my spine, my legs suddenly feeling too heavy to walk as I turned back toward the party. From where I stood, I saw the King, deeply engrossed in a conversation with some of the pack guards, his face drawn into a frown. Murmurs soon filled the room. What had been a place of celebratory cheers now echoed with the mournful sorrow of death. Death—a joy snatcher, claiming lives where, when, and how it pleased. An inevitable appointment no one could escape in our world, no matter how far they ran. But something about this death unsettled me. It was clear this wasn’t a natural cause but rather a sinister ploy. Was someone lurking in the shadows, using Sia as bait? The town crier announced once again, “Sorrow, sorrows! Fallen is Sia’s might. Sorrow, sorrow, as she is denied final rites.” What the heck was going on? Wha
~Ivory~ I turned my sharp gaze to Heather, whose face was red with silent rage as she breathed heavily. It looked like she had a lot to say. Even I was shocked at myself for speaking up. I had grown intolerant of anything that caused me discomfort. I could admit that I had changed, not just physically, but mentally. I was no longer the quiet, submissive Ivory who stayed silent and accepted whatever was thrown her way. Tonight was supposed to be about me, my moment—but they had ruined it all. I had expected more from King Zeeb, and the least he could have done was not let Logan get under his skin, especially when it was clear that had been Logan’s goal from the very start. Heather blinked and sighed. “I know their feud is starting to get on your last nerve, Maya, but you didn’t have to say it that way. You don’t know how much Zeeb has endured.” The storm in my head began to clear as I listened to Heather, slowly calming down. “It’s unfortunate that Logan nearly messed up the
~Ivory~ I suspected Alpha King might have taken Riley away to her room as he did oftentimes, so I didn’t panic. Instead, I slipped into her room to confirm that she was there and alright. And there she was, sleeping soundly, her chest rising and falling steadily with her soft, low snore. I stood beside her bed, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. Her serene reaction to my touch softened my heart; what a child she was. And then, I caught a familiar scent—strong, masculine, and distinctly his. My wolf stirred, giddy with excitement as he entered the room. “I offended you last night, didn’t I?” His deep voice resonated, sending a shiver through me. I didn’t turn around, even as his brooding presence loomed behind me. He moved to sit in front of me, taking my hands in his large, warm ones. Sparks ignited at his touch, spreading warmth through me as he gently grazed my fingers with his thumb. I avoided his gaze, still agitated, but his fingers reached up, brushin
~Alpha King Zeeb~“I belong to no one,” Maya said, her eyes darkening as the words slipped from her lips.Those words stirred something possessive within me. How could she reject me? The truth, and no matter how much she denied it, was inevitable. She was mine, as decreed by the Moon Goddess.“We are fated,” I reminded her with certainty. I wanted her to know that no matter how far we drifted, no matter the distance she tried to put between us, we were destined to be together. I noticed how the shivers ran through her at my words, the way she stilled. She felt it too. The pull, the bond. She knew we were second-chance mates but refused to acknowledge it.She excused herself, and as I fought hard to keep my emotions in check, my chest tightened watching her walk away. Every instinct screamed for me to claim her right then, right there—make her mine in front of my subjects, not just as my Luna, but as the woman I craved. But I knew that Maya would be dif
~Alpha King Zeeb~ I watched Logan’s back, with my wolf straining against my control, triggered by his words. What did he mean by “watch her back”? What was he planning? My wolf snarled possessively, “Mine!” His primal instinct surged, forcing my eyes to flicker between their natural state and the feral glow of my wolf’s. Logan stood near the door, from what I could make from my vision, but his ears stood erect. My own picked on the sound as he growled lowly, tension radiating off him. Before I could react, his restraint snapped, his wolf taking control over him. It had been so long since I had seen him like this. His eyes turned blood-red as he shifted, claws extending too fast for me to dodge. His strike landed on me, sharp talons ripping into my arm, hot blood seeping from the wound. He looked lethal—almost poisonous—with nothing but vengeance burning in his stormy gaze. He bared his fangs and lunged at me again, but this time I managed to dodge, drawing on my wolf’s st
~Alpha King Zeeb~ Do I want this? I questioned myself, but before I could react, Aurora let herself in, slowly discarding the fabric that clung to her body. I stood frozen. My mind was a raging storm, battling between logic and the primal ache flowing through me. I was sexually frustrated to the point of pain. I needed a release badly. But the moment her taut nipples brushed against my chest and she whispered against my ear, “Just this once, King. Savor me. Unravel. I’m yours to command, just say it, say what you want and it is yours.” the logical part of me fled out the window. A guttural grunt escaped me as I threw Aurora onto the bed, my vision clouded by desire. In this moment, I was selfish, thinking only about myself, consumed by the need to drown in ecstasy. My hands roamed her body, my fingers twisting her hardened peaks. Her moans fueled the fire within me, making me tug at her buds even harder. “Yes, King… just like that, I love it.” she purred, her hand sliding
~Ivory~The next morning, I was up early. My eyes fluttered open, and when the bright light of the sun streamed through the window, hitting my face, I groaned.I didn’t want to move. I was comfortable and didn’t feel the need to rise, but I knew staying in bed wasn’t an option.Although we weren’t back home and my duties as temporary Luna weren’t officially on the line, there were still things I had to do.Like checking on Riley.After a few seconds of enjoying the warmth of my blanket, I sighed and tossed the covers aside, getting out of bed.I freshened up and dressed. I walked into the hallway, the house filled with the chatter of servants. As I passed by, they immediately brightened and greeted me.I waved and replied, continuing to Riley’s room. When I reached her door, it was open, and as I stepped inside, I found her playing with the dolls Grandpa Dimitris had gifted her and she wasn’t alone. Beside her was Heather.“Good morning, Riley,” I greeted cheerfully, walking into the
~Ivory~Despite the earlier disruption, with Heather’s help, I still managed to enjoy the party. After what felt like an eternity, the clock finally struck 10:59 p.m., and the guests began filtering out.I was relieved and exhausted. Heather looked just as drained, and Zeeb was nowhere in sight.It had been like that since I left him on the balcony. After joining Lydia in saying goodbye to the last of the guests and bidding her goodnight, Heather and I headed inside, taking the long way back.“You had fun, didn’t you?” Heather asked as we climbed the stairs side by side.I chuckled and nodded. “I did. Thank you for dragging me back to the party. You were right; I needed it.”Heather laughed, bumping her shoulder against mine. “Told you. And did you see how excited everyone was? They loved you. After that dance, I bet my life they’re gonna miss us when we leave.”“They are, huh?” I muttered, my gaze dropping to the floor as my mind shifted to thoughts of returning.Zeeb hadn’t told me
~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