Ethan: I knew I didn't want to be in my chambers all morning, being plagued by thoughts that cried to me spoken out. Even as I left the room, Freya paid me no heed as she was still angry from last night. But I did not care. I had more important things to attend to. The throne room smelled faintly of cedarwood and aged stone, a constant reminder of the centuries of decisions that had been made within these walls. Today, it felt heavier than usual. Maybe it was the stifling tension of my own thoughts or the way the high ceilings seemed to echo every creak of the massive wooden doors. I adjusted my collar, feigning confidence as I walked into the room. The council elders, their silver hair and stoic expressions betraying lifetimes of service, turned to look at me with a faint surprise. Edward was already seated on the throne, his shoulders square and his face set in the impassive mask he wore so well. He wasn’t expecting me, of course. Good. “Ethan,” he said, his voice coo
CHAPTER 71 Lianna: The garden was bathed in soft sunlight, the kind that seemed to kiss the skin rather than scorch it. The faint hum of bees mingled with the gentle rustle of leaves, creating a melody of serenity. My teacup felt warm in my hands, the delicate porcelain cooling slightly as I sipped the fragrant brew. Beside me, Ingrid laughed, her golden hair catching the light as she ran after the tiny puppy Edward had brought me yesterday. Watching her made me smile. The puppy, an excitable little thing with floppy ears and boundless energy, darted around her feet, barking happily. It was such a contrast to the thoughts swirling in my mind that I almost envied her carefree spirit. “Ingrid,” I called, my voice cutting through the warm stillness. She turned, her cheeks flushed from chasing the dog. “Yes?” she replied, plopping down beside me on the cushioned bench. The puppy climbed onto her lap, panting contentedly. I set my cup down on the small table, runnin
Lianna: “Today is such a good day.” I let out a sigh and stretched my legs over the chair I lounged on. The sun bathed the pool area in a warm, golden glow, its rays dancing across the water’s surface in tiny ripples of light. I reclined on one of the lounge chairs, a book resting on my lap. The air was crisp, with the faint scent of chlorine mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming jasmine from the nearby hedges. The royal pool, reserved exclusively for us, was my sanctuary—a rare escape from the palace’s suffocating walls and endless political games. Flipping a page, I sipped on the iced tea beside me, the condensation leaving small wet rings on the table. My skin tingled slightly under the sun’s embrace, and for once, I felt a fleeting moment of peace. But then it came—a creeping sensation of being watched, prickling the back of my neck like an unspoken warning. I froze, my body stiffening as my senses heightened. Slowly, I glanced up, my heart hammering against my rib
Lianna: The long oak table was adorned with delicacies that could tempt even the most stoic appetite. I toyed with my fork, my thoughts clouded with indecision. Should I tell Edward about Ethan? Every instinct screamed that I should. But then again, why should I? I wasn’t a damsel in distress. I could handle Ethan on my own, couldn’t I? I glanced toward the large arched window, watching the trees sway lazily in the wind. The scent of roasted lamb and spiced wine lingered in the air, mingling with the faint floral aroma of fresh lilies adorning the table. My stomach twisted—not with hunger but with anxiety. When Edward entered, his presence immediately dominated the room. His broad shoulders, sun-kissed skin, and the way he carried himself with effortless authority always had a way of calming me, even if I wouldn’t admit it aloud. “Welcome back,” I said softly, my lips curling into a smile. Edward raised a brow, clearly surprised when I stepped toward him. Befo
Edward: Harvey tossed a kerchief at me and I wiped the blood off my hand against the material, heaving a sigh before I let it drop to the ground and walked out of the warehouse. Harvey was beside me as I walked out of the warehouse. I was angry as hell. This was the second time in a row since we had a rogue attack and it was starting to feel like it was planned. I'd just dealt with the rogue Werewolves I found stealing from me. They were wolves without a Pack owing to the fact that they'd either been thrown out of their respective packs or had ran away for rebellion's cause. Though they gave most Packs problems, they had never chosen to mess me with me as they weren't ready to meet their deaths just yet. I didn't really bother myself over them because over the decades, they had stayed away from the Pack but seeing that they had done this to tear down sort of luck and had chosen to steal from me, I decided to sh
Lianna: My skin prickled with an insane sense of awareness as I sat in my bed, my legs curled into each other as I stared at the book in my hand. I'd been staring down at one page for the past one hour, words blurring in and out as I stared blankly into the pages. The words were all jumbled up and not making sense to me. Letting the book drop to the bed, I sat back before raking my fingers through my hair and letting out a sigh. A tiny headache was starting to bud up behind my head, pounding away like a blacksmith hitting away at his metal weapons. I couldn't stop thinking about last night with Edward. We had crossed boundaries. We had been crossing it from the onset but I didn't realise until now and now, it seemed kind of too late. And the fact that Ethan was slowly finding a way to crawl back into my life even made things worse. I soon picked the book up, thankful it was the last page and hurriedly reading it
Lianna: My breath was still ragged, my heart still hammering violently in my chest as I pressed myself against the tall bookshelf, my fingers clutching the fabric of my dress as though it could anchor me. The spot where Ethan had grabbed me throbbed, his touch lingering like a stain I couldn't scrub away. And now, in front of me, Edward stood before Ethan in unrestrained fury. His fists rained down on Ethan, each punch sending a sharp crack through the silence of the library. Ethan grunted, struggling to fight back, but Edward was relentless. There was no hesitation in his movements, no pause for breath. Just pure, unbridled rage. I swallowed hard, the coppery scent of blood thick in the air as Ethan’s head snapped back from another blow. His lip was split, blood trickling down his chin, but he only smirked, his breath shallow, his eyes filled with something sickeningly smug. Edward’s voice was low, menacing. “You’ll stay the hell away from her, Ethan. You already
*CHAPTER 77* I sat by my the window, staring out at the vast stretch of land beyond the palace, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of the untouched teacup in front of me. The sun had begun to set, casting a golden hue across the sky, but I found no comfort in its beauty. My mind was still reeling from what had happened in the library. Even when I heard the distant sound of raised voices—Edward and Ethan’s unmistakable tones clashing like swords—I didn’t move. I had no strength. A sharp knock on my door broke the stillness, and before I could say a word, Ingrid pushed it open. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me. I could see the concern etched into her face, the tightness in her jaw. “Lianna.” Her voice was softer than usual, but there was an edge to it, a restrained urgency. “What’s wrong?” I opened my mouth, then closed it. What could I even say? I swallowed, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “He ambushed me,” I said
Lianna: The fire in the hearth crackled softly, its glow barely reaching the shadows pooling in the corners of the room. Lianna sat curled against me trembling ever so slightly as I cradled her in my arms. My hand rested against the smooth curve of her back, fingers tracing slow circles, but I knew the comfort was fleeting. She wasn’t the type of woman to be soothed by an embrace alone. She finally spoke. “Edward… this feels wrong.” I tightened my grip, pressing her closer. “I know.” She lifted her head, her eyes clouded with a fear she rarely let surface. “The war just ended, yet here we are again, on the brink of something we can’t even name. And this… this might be worse.” I exhaled slowly. I hated that she was right. She had always seen things as they were, never sugarcoating reality. And what was our reality now? A palace filled with the dead and dying. A sickness creeping through our walls like a shadow with no name. Lianna’s fingers traced over my fo
Edward I straightened my shoulders as I stepped back into the grand ballroom. I was extremely uncomfortable. I didn't want to be here right now but I shoved it aside, forcing a smile as my presence was immediately noticed. A few of the Alpha Kings, already deep into their drinks, raised their goblets in greeting. “Where the hell did you disappear to?” Aldric slurred, eyes gleaming with mischief. “I swear, you just ran off with your Luna in the dead of night. Don’t tell me you finally have a romantic bone in your body, Edward.” Laughter rippled through the group. I smirked, letting the teasing roll off my back. They had no idea what I had just seen, the bodies I had left behind. The last thing I needed was anyone suspecting something was wrong. “I had to show her something,” I said, taking a slow sip of my drink. “Something private.” I let the insinuation hang, and they roared with amusement. Aldric clapped me on the back, nearly spilling his wine. “Didn’t kn
The royal vehicle travelled down the dark roads as the rain drummed against the roof loud. It was silent inside and I sat motionless, staring at nothing, my hands clenched in my lap as I fought the grief clawing its way up my throat. The thought of Alistair’s death made my chest heavy, and no matter how much I tried to steady my breathing, the dread inside me only grew. Edward sat beside me. His presence was somewhat comforting even if I was mad at him. He had tried once go reach for my hand, but had pulled away. “Lianna,” he said softly. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The lump in my throat was too thick and my emotions were too raw to speak. I didn't want to sound brash. The thought of Alistair—his lifeless body the sheer wrongness of it—made my eyes brim with tears. A sob tore its way out of my throat before I could stop it, and then another, until I was shaking, unable to hold it in anymore. Edward stiffened beside me. I knew he wanted to comfort me, but he also k
Lianna: “Is that so?” The curious lady asked. Freya nodded and glared at me. “I wouldn't be speaking to her if I were you.” I excused myself before she could say anything else, and slipped away before anyone could see how uncomfortable she made me. If they had, they would have believed her truth. I needed space to think, to breathe. I left the party and hurried toward the courtyard, away from the party. Ingrid, who saw me leave, hurried after me. “She’s just trying to get to you,” Ingrid’s voice came as she appeared beside me. I turned to face her, forcing a weak smile that crumbled the moment her eyes met mine. “I’m not worried about her words,” I managed, my voice hollow. “It’s what she might do next.” Ingrid hesitated, her gaze faltering. The way she pressed her lips together made me suspect something had already gone wrong. “What is it?” I demanded, my voice sharper than intended. “It’s nothing—” “Don’t lie to me,” I interrupted, stepping
Freya: (Earlier That Day...) I paced my chambers, my heart pounding with every step I took. The walls seemed to close in on me, the dim light of the candles casting long, flickering shadows that danced like sinister spirits mocking my anxiety. Ethan had been gone for days. Not a word, not even the faintest whisper of his whereabouts. It was unlike him to go silent, especially when we were so close to victory. We had planned everything so meticulously—feeding the Vampire King lies, manipulating his rage to ignite a war that would leave Edward vulnerable. And with Lianna out of the picture, Edward’s weakness would be his undoing. Ethan was supposed to eliminate her or, at the very least, reduce her to a pitiful slave at the mercy of the vampires. Her absence was meant to disrupt Edward’s balance, leave him open to attack. That was our plan. Yet, here I was, pacing like a caged animal, drowning in unease. I could still hear Ethan telling me that everything would go smoothl
*CHAPTER 96* Lianna: The maids hovered around me, their hands deftly fastening the golden clasps of my gown. The fabric was rich against my skin—soft, silken, and impossibly luxurious. It felt foreign, this regality, like I was playing a part I had yet to fully understand. The mirror reflected an image I barely recognized. My hair was woven into an intricate braid crowned with delicate gold pins that sparkled beneath the flickering candlelight. My gown flowed elegantly around me, the deep emerald fabric cascading in perfect waves to the floor. It was Edward’s favorite color on me. He hadn’t said it aloud, but I’d caught the way his eyes lingered whenever I wore it. “You look breathtaking, Luna Lianna,” Ingrid teased, her voice dripping with playfulness. Her eyes sparkled mischievously, the corners of her lips curled into a knowing smile. “Edward won’t be able to keep his hands off you tonight.” “You’re impossible,” I muttered, but the butterflies in my stomach dan
Lianna was safe. Alive. The image of her standing amidst the crowd, her face a blend of shock and joy as they bowed to her, was seared into my mind. She was finally receiving the respect she deserved. My chest swelled, a warmth spreading through me, unlike anything I’d felt before. It was pride—raw, overwhelming pride for the woman who had been scorned and ridiculed yet still stood tall. My footsteps echoed through the grand hall as I made my way to the throne room. The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of cedarwood and incense, lingering from the victory rites performed earlier. The sunlight poured through the stained-glass windows, casting hues of crimson and gold across the polished marble floor. I ran my fingers along the intricate carvings on the throne’s armrest before seating myself. It felt different this time. The weight of the crown didn’t feel as heavy as it usually did. The elders stood before me, their faces solemn, expectant. Their robes were pristine, e
*CHAPTER 94* Lianna: The cheers were deafening as we returned to the palace. From the elders standing tall in their ceremonial robes to the youngest servants peeking from behind pillars, every soul was gathered, their faces painted with relief and gratitude. The air smelled of incense and wildflowers, a tribute to the victory they celebrated. I could hear the distant drums from the pack’s village, the rhythmic beats echoing joy. Edward walked ahead, his posture regal, his aura commanding. They called him the victor, the hero who ended the war. Their chants reverberated through the courtyard, praises flowing freely. But he lifted his hand, silencing them all. His eyes found mine, softening before he spoke. “It wasn’t me,” his voice rang clear, firm. “The one who stopped the war and saved countless lives is Lianna.” A hush fell over the crowd. I heard the whispers that began to grow within the crowd. Disbelief hung in the air like a heavy fog. An elder stepped forwar
*CHAPTER 93* Lianna: The battlefield had settled into an eerie calm. Blood soaked the earth, the metallic scent thick in the air, but the war was over. Wolves and vampires stood together, dazed, some still gripping weapons they no longer had reason to use. I took a slow breath, my chest rising and falling with residual energy. The power that had erupted from me still hummed faintly beneath my skin, but its intensity had faded, leaving behind exhaustion and something else—peace. For the first time in what felt like forever, there was no need to fight. Turning to the gathered warriors, I lifted my voice so that all could hear. "There will be no more war," I declared. "No more bloodshed. We have been deceived, but that ends today. From this moment on, we will choose peace over destruction. No more grudges. No more senseless fighting. We end it now." For a moment, silence stretched across the battlefield, as if my words needed time to settle into their bones. Then, slowly, w