Lianna: The temple courtyard was alit with the soft glow of the soft lights to imitate the moon, the air thick with the mingling scents of incense and the delicate perfume of jalapeño. Edward’s hand was firm around mine as we descended the marble steps, the whispers and murmurs of the gathered crowd a constant hum in the background. In all honesty, it was a bit overwhelming. I’d always known the weight of being tied to an Alpha King, but nothing could have prepared me for the intensity of this moment. Dignitaries and Alpha Kings from far and wide had been invited, each one more powerful and intimidating than the last. And now, as Edward and I made our way down, they swarmed like moths to a flame, eager to catch his attention. "Edward!" one of them called out, stepping into our path with a broad smile. He barely spared me a glance as he extended a hand to Edward. "It’s been too long." Edward released my hand with a quick squeeze, turning to greet the man. "Alpha Gregory,
Edward: The temple air still lingered in my lungs, a mix of incense and the faint earthy undertone of old stone, but my thoughts were far from the ancient halls and the Alpha Kings I had entertained. My mind was with Lianna. Seeing her earlier, draped in white and gold, had left an impression on me that even the most pressing discussions couldn’t erase. She’d always been a woman who carried herself with a quiet dignity, someone who knew how to command respect without raising her voice. Today, though, there was something different about her—a radiance that went beyond her outward beauty. "Your Luna is quite the spectacle," one of the Alpha Kings’ wives had commented earlier, her voice thick with condescension. "She’s a woman of strength," I had replied, my tone steady. "She’s been through more than you could ever imagine and come out stronger for it." They hadn’t expected me to defend her. Their silence, though brief, was telling. Lianna had never been a source of sha
Lianna: I woke to the soft morning light filtering through the heavy curtains, my mind still groggy from the events of the day before. My first thought was of the wedding—how surreal it had all felt, like watching someone else’s life play out from a distance. The vows, the people, Edward… It felt like a dream, albeit one I couldn't escape. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the Palace stirring to life. I turned my head slightly and stared at the empty space beside me. Of course, Edward wasn’t there. He had his own chambers, a luxury afforded to us only because we were in the Royal Wing, far from the prying eyes of others. I rolled out of bed, my silk robe brushing against my skin as I tied it loosely around my waist. Just as I reached for the door to grab a glass of water, a knock startled me. When I opened it, Ingrid stood there, a bright grin on her face and a plate of cake in her hands. “Good morning, Mrs. Alpha King,” she teased, stepping inside without w
Lianna: The morning sun streamed through the wide glass windows, casting a warm glow over the sprawling gardens just beyond the walls. I paced the length of the sitting room, my fingers gripping the edge of a clipboard filled with notes. My nerves were eating me alive, though I’d perfected the art of looking calm and composed over the years. Today would test that skill more than ever. The tea afternoon with the ladies of the Pack. The words alone felt heavy, loaded with expectations I wasn’t sure I could meet. For days, I’d been preparing for this event, fussing over every detail. And yet, with each passing hour, I felt less ready. The dining hall where the maids were setting up was bustling with activity. Tables draped in fine lace were adorned with delicate floral centerpieces—roses, lavender, and sprigs of baby’s breath arranged in porcelain vases. Trays of finger sandwiches, tarts, and cakes were being placed on tiered stands alongside ornate teapots. Everything looked pe
Lianna: The air was warm, and fragrant with the scent of flowers and freshly brewed tea, but I felt none of its charm. I sat stiffly among the women gathered in the garden, their laughter ringing hollow in my ears. The tea party was going well, by all accounts. The tables were immaculate, the food perfect, and the games entertaining enough for the guests. But no one seemed interested in speaking with me beyond faux polite acknowledgments. I sipped my tea, my fingers tight around the delicate porcelain cup, and glanced toward the far side of the garden where a group of women were deep in conversation. Their voices were low, their expressions animated, and their laughter seemed to mock me. I wished Ingrid were here. She always knew how to make me feel at ease, how to bridge the gap between me and others. But I couldn’t keep depending on her for everything. I had to stand on my own as Luna. The games began shortly after the tea had been served. A servant brought out a set of
Edward: Negotiations had been dragging for days, and I was no closer to an agreement with the Vampire King than when we started. Every proposal I presented was met with polite refusals, thinly veiled insults, or counteroffers so ludicrous they might as well have been jokes. Resources, territory, military alliances—I’d put everything on the table, carefully sidestepping the topic of marriage between my brother, Ethan, and the Vampire Princess. It wasn’t that I thought it was a bad idea in principle. Politically, it made sense. But Ethan wouldn’t go along with it willingly, and the thought of forcing his hand didn’t sit right with me. So I focused on other options, trying to find a way to satisfy the King without binding my brother to a loveless union. The idea that things were going to go bad weighed heavily on me as I returned to the Palace. The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows over the gardens where Lianna’s tea party was in full swing. My thoughts drifte
Edward: After the wedding, I would have loved to spend time with Lianna. Catch on with our past and get to know each other better as it was really important if we were going to continue with this pretend thing. But there was so much to do. Ethan had left a lot of things in a mess, from finances to infrastructure to legal issues and hell, even the state of things in general. A cleansing snr routine ritual hadn't been held in a long time and I realised that the hunting days were insignificant now with no one commemorating the beginning of a new moon. "When was a hunt last held?" I asked Ethan's beta, Rian, whom he had abandoned after his position was taken. Rian was really eager to give me replies as it was obvious that he was extremely upset by how easily he had been discarded. He never got any compensation of the sort and I totally understood why he would be really upset. But that wasn't so much of my business as I was concerned about the affairs of the Pack. He sigh
Lianna: "You look really glowy this afternoon," Ingrid said as she took off my dress. "Based on what you said about the women being rude to you, you don't even look that offended, or like your day was ruined." I sighed. "Well, uhm, I'm not going to let them get to me. I'll have to get used to it until they eventually decide that it is time for them to stop talking about me." She nodded. "That's really impressive. I'm glad you're starting to grow a tough skin for real. I hate how they dampen your spirits because honestly, you don't deserve that." She pressed a kiss on my cheek and dumped my dress into a laundry basket. "What I am glad for is that the tea party went absolutely well. The decorations and meals were on point. If anyone starts to spread rumours about anything negative, they would have the media team to answer to." I turned and looked at her with raised brows. "Why the media team though? What have they got to do with this?" She patted my arm, chuckling as she pull
Lianna: Breakfast settled into an almost eerie quiet after Edward put Mariel in her place. A perfect, beautiful silence. I could sense Mariel’s wounded pride and Ethan’s resentment. Across the table, Mariel kept her head down, chewing mechanically and likely plotting new ways to make my life miserable. I didn’t care. She had bigger problems now. Like figuring out how to exist in a world where Edward no longer catered to her whims. I, on the other hand, looked positively radiant, cutting into my fruit with a pleased little smile. I didn’t say it, but I was reveling in the fact that Edward was the one who had humiliated Mariel instead of me. Not because I couldn’t have done it herself, but because Edward’s words had an impact that mine never would. Mariel could handle my hatred, but Edward’s indifference? That was a death sentence. Ethan was the only one not enjoying the moment. He was practically vibrating with anger, stabbing his food like it had personally offended h
Lianna: I had never felt this regal in my entire life. Every step I took down the long, gilded hallway was a declaration of self confidence. The maids paused in their duties, their gazes trailing after me with open admiration. The guards, usually stoic and detached, offered subtle nods of acknowledgment, their respect barely hidden behind their trained expressions. A smirk tugged at my lips. I was reveling in it, and why shouldn’t I? After the hell I had endured, the bruises I had earned, the blood I had shed, this moment, twas mine. Even with the dull ache threading through my joints, the soreness reminded me of my victory. I felt good. No, better than good. I felt untouchable. And if the gods were feeling particularly generous, Mariel would be waiting in the dining hall, seething, and barely keeping her composure as she drowned in the bitter taste of her own defeat. The thought alone nearly made me hum in delight. I pushed the grand doors open and stepped inside,
Lianna: Blood crusted against my skin, dried and flaking, but I walked through the halls like a queen. Warriors, maids, even the high-ranking guards who rarely acknowledged anything outside their turned to watch me pass. Some wore looks of shock, others admiration. A few dared to speak, their voices hushed but awed. "You fought like a beast, Luna." "I didn’t think anyone could beat that woman." "I knew she was strong, but this? This was something else." I smirked, head held high, spine straight despite the ache creeping into my muscles. Even with bruises blooming across my skin and blood drying on my lip, I felt untouchable. Behind me, Ingrid sighed heavily. "You are absolutely impossible, do you know that?" I chuckled, not slowing my pace. "I do, actually." She groaned in exasperation, quickening her steps to match mine. "Why, Lianna? Why did you do that?" I tilted my head, pretending to think about it. "Hmm... the thrill of battle? The sa
Edward: I'd woken to an empty bed. I stretched my arm across the mattress, my fingers meeting nothing but the lingering warmth Lianna had left behind. A slow smile tugged at my lips. She’d been up early. Again. It wasn’t surprising anymore. For weeks, she’d thrown herself into combat training, each session more intense than the last. I’d heard the whispers—about her skill, her sheer strength, how she was no longer just a woman learning to fight but a warrior in her own right. It amused me. It pleased me. She was taking this seriously, proving herself to everyone who thought she couldn’t. I leaned back against the pillows, stretching my arms over my head, allowing the quiet of the room to settle over me. Today was a court meeting day, which meant a long morning of listening to people complain about things I barely cared about. But at least breakfast would be worth it. I’d see her then. Maybe tease her a little. Chuckling to myself, I swung my legs o
Lianna: Pain. Sharp, searing and unrelenting moved through me as Mariel targeted my solar plexus. My body was screaming, every inch bruised. Blood spilled from my nose, staining my lips with its metallic taste. But I didn’t care. I had felt worse. The blows Mariel landed on me were nothing compared to the fire burning in my chest, the sheer fury fueling my every breath. She thought she was winning. She thought she had me down. Fool. I could hear the gasps, the shifting of feet, the numerous worried eyes on me, but they were background noise. Even Ingrid’s worried face barely registered in my mind. Edward stood at the sidelines, arms crossed, his jaw locked so tight I thought his teeth might snap. But he wasn’t stopping this. He couldn’t. Mariel smirked, her lips split at the corner, blood smeared along her cheek. “Look at you,” she sneered, rolling her shoulders, preparing for another round. “Flat on your back. You should be used to that by now.” I tasted i
Lianna: I woke tangled in Edward’s arms, and if it were another day, I would have gone back to sleep and enjoyed the comfort of his arms. But I’d had enough of lying still, enough of waiting for someone else to make the first move. I wasn’t going to be the woman who watched things happen to her anymore. Not today. Careful not to wake him, I eased out of his grasp. His hand slid down my side before falling away completely. I held my breath, pausing to be sure he stayed asleep. For a man who carried entire kingdoms on his shoulders, he looked annoyingly peaceful. I slipped out of bed, feet silent on the cold floor. The chill bit at my skin as I pulled on my training clothes—black leggings, a snug sleeveless top, and bandages wound tight around my wrists and knuckles. My boots were next, worn leather creaking softly as I laced them. I dragged my hair into a braid, tying it off with a sharp tug, and then slid out of the room without a sound. The hallway was empty. Eve
Lianna: I woke up to silence, the kind that draped over everything like a heavy wool blanket. Imogen’s soft snores were gone. She must have retreated to her room a while ago. Good for her. She had the sense to sleep through this misery. I, on the other hand, had the misfortune of being conscious. And thirsty. So damn thirsty. I swiped my palm across my face, grimacing at the stickiness on my skin from dried tears. No glass of water on the nightstand. Of course. No maid hovering about with one either. Why would they? I was supposed to be the Luna. Supposed to be cared for, respected. But it sure as hell didn’t feel like that tonight. With a muttered curse, I swung my legs over the bed, my bare feet hitting the cold marble floor. The chill bit into my skin, but I welcomed it. Pain was better than… this hollow ache inside. Wrapping my arms around myself, I padded toward the door. It creaked slightly as I eased it open and slipped out into the dim corridor. The palace
Edward: The moment Lianna’s breathing evened out, I rose from the edge of the bed and straightened. Her back was to me, her shoulders tight even in sleep, like she was bracing for another blow that wouldn’t come. Carefully, I pulled the covers higher over her bare shoulder. I stood there for a long minute, watching the gentle rise and fall of her back. My jaw clenched tight. None of this should’ve happened. Mariel never should’ve stepped foot in this house. And now, because I hadn’t dealt with her the moment she crossed my gates, Lianna was in this bed trying to convince herself I wasn’t another mistake. That wasn’t going to happen again. I shoved my hand through my hair, flexing my fingers to shake off the restless itch under my skin. I walked out, shutting the door behind me with a controlled click. Ingrid straightened from where she stood outside, but I waved her off before she could speak. “Stay here,” I ordered, and she nodded without protest. The cor
Ethan: The moment Edward stormed out of the room, I exhaled slowly and leaned back in my chair. My fingers tapped lazily on the stem of my wine glass as I watched Mariel standing there like she’d just been gutted. Honestly, I’d never loved a moment more. She blinked fast, like she was fighting tears but too damn proud to let them fall. That alone made me sit up straighter, lifting my glass to my lips as if I were toasting the disaster that had just unfolded. Mariel’s gaze slid to me, burning with something between frustration and grief. “Don’t say anything, Ethan,” she bit out, her voice tight, like it scraped her throat just getting the words out. “I swear, I can’t take it from you right now.” I smiled slowly. “Relax. I’ve got absolutely nothing to say.” I tilted my head, studying her with an idle curiosity I didn’t bother masking. “Just… wondering why it ended the way it did. Edward’s never exactly been chatty about you. Or anything, really. Guy’s tighter-lipped