Chapter 54: The Truth The cool night air hit Hana’s face as she stepped outside, her hand still enclosed in Jarrel’s firm grip. The darkness was a welcome relief from the stifling atmosphere inside the grand hall, where the whispers and judgments of the elite had started to chip away at her composure. The stars above were scattered across the sky like diamonds, offering a brief respite from the storm brewing in her mind. Jarrel led her to a secluded garden at the edge of the mansion’s grounds, where the sounds of the party faded into the background, leaving only the soft rustle of leaves and the distant call of an owl. He released her hand and turned to face her, his eyes searching hers as if trying to decipher the turmoil within.“Hana,” he began, his voice gentle yet laced with concern, “what’s really going on? I can tell something’s bothering you.”Hana hesitated, the words she wanted to say caught in her throat. She had always prided herself on being strong, on not showing weakn
Chapter 55: Confrontation with the BetaThe ride back to the castle was a silent one. Hana sat across from Jarrel, her mind heavy with the events of the night. She hadn’t expected the party to go smoothly, but the way those girls had openly disrespected her, especially with Jarrel present in that hall but oblivious to it, had unsettled her. What unsettled her more was the undercurrent of something dark—something more than just causal disdain. Beside her, Jarrel was stone-faced, his usual aura of authority radiating off him. His eyes were dark, sharp as he stared out of the window, but every now and then, Hana felt his gaze flicker toward her. The silence between them was thick, but not uncomfortable. It was just Jarrel’s way—calm before the storm.As the car pulled up to the castle gates, a figure stood waiting in the shadows. Jarrel tensed immediately, eyes narrowing as the figure stepped forward. It was a messenger from the council, dressed in dark robes, his face pale and grim.“A
Chapter 56: UnravelingThe tense silence between Hana and Magnus hung in the air, suffocating in its intensity. Hana’s chest heaved as she fought to control her emotions. The weight of his words, of her memories, pressed down on her like a heavy blanket she couldn’t escape.Magnus stood before her, unmoving, his jaw clenched tight as if he was trying to keep himself from saying more. His cold eyes bore into hers, filled with a deep-seated hatred she couldn’t fully understand.But she didn’t back down.Taking a deep breath, she wiped the last of her tears, standing straighter as she squared her shoulders. “I don’t care what you think of me,” she said, her voice steadier now. “I’m here because of fate, not by choice. And whether you accept or not, I am your Luna.”Magnus scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. “Luna?” You think parading around as Jarrel’s little prize makes you Luna? You’re nothing more than his tool. He doesn’t care about you.”Hana’s fists clenched at her sides, but s
Chapter 57: Moments of SolaceThe night was calm, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions Hana had just endured. Jarrel’s steady presence beside her was both a comfort and a source of confusion. After everything she’d been through—after all the tension with Magnus, the cruelty of the elites, and the endless struggle of trying to find her place in the Sealhow Pack—there was something soothing about simply being alone with him.As they walked down the long hallway of the castle, the stone walls dimly lit by sconces, neither of them said a word. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable, but rather filled with unspoken understanding. Jarrel had taken her hand at some point, his strong grip a silent promise that he wouldn’t let her go. They reached the door to their private quarters, and Jarrel opened it with ease, stepping aside to allow Hana to enter first. Once inside, she exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The room was spacious and warm, lit by a fire cra
Chapter 58: Shadows Hana woke to the soft, rhythmic sound of Jarrel’s breathing beside her. The warmth of his body close to hers brought a sense of comfort she hadn’t known she needed. It was still dark outside, and the castle was quiet. She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything that had happened over the past few days.Her life had been upended the moment she found out she was Jarrel’s fated mate. The ruthless Alpha of the Sealhow pack had once been her enemy, a man she had feared and hated for what he had done to her family and her people. But here she was, sharing a bed with him, her heart torn between loyalty to her past and the strange, unexplainable bond she now felt with him.Hana shifted slightly, careful not to wake Jarrel, and said out of bed. The cool stone floor sent a shiver up her spine as she quietly made her way to the window, pushing the heavy curtains aside to gaze out at the vast expanse of land below. The night was stil
Chapter 59: Unspoken TensionsHana stood alone in the castle gardens, her gaze wandering over the trees and flowers she had once admired. The air was still, the birds chirped softly, but inside her, everything felt unsettled. Jarrel had been summoned for a meeting with the Elders in the Council, leaving her with nothing but her own thoughts. Despite the beauty surrounding her, Hana’s mind churned, filled with questions and doubts she couldn’t seem to escape. She had tried to find peace in the stillness, but peace eluded her. It had been days since the tension at the party, and though Jarrel’s presence had soothed her at times, the unease from her people’s disdain remained. She didn’t feel like she belonged, no matter what Jarrel or anyone else said. They still saw her as an outsider—someone to be mistrusted and not to be respected. And she couldn’t entirely blame them. Hana took a deep breath, the crisp morning air filling her lungs as she stepped deeper into the gardens. The solitu
Chapter 60: The Meeting Of The EldersThe council chamber was filled with the usual suspects: elders with faces as craggy and cold as the stone walls surrounding them, seated in a half-circle around the large oak table. In the center, Alpha Jarrel sat, his broad frame taking up the entirety of the stone-carved chair. His golden eyes gleamed under the flickering candlelight, cold and unreadable as he stared straight ahead, unbothered by the heated discussion that raged around him. The Elders were losing their composure, their voices growing louder, as if they believed volume could sway the Alpha’s decision. But Jarrel remained silent. He was never one for unnecessary words. He did not care for their opinions, nor for their whimpering protests. His decision had been made the moment Hana asked him to free her people. It had been made because she was his mate, and no one—certainly not these self-important, aging fools—would question him on it. “She’s nothing but a prisoner!” Elder Kolri
Chapter 61: The Garden ConfrontationThe corridors of the castle felt colder than usual as Jarrel walked through them, his mood dark and brooding. His steps echoed off the stone walls, the weight of the recent events pressing down on his mind. He had left the elder’s chamber in a storm of fury, but now all he wanted was to see Hana. Her presence, despite everything, had a way of calming the tempest that constantly brewed within him. He had asked one of the servants about her whereabouts, only to be told that Hana was in the garden, speaking with the remnants of her pack. The mention of a fierce banter made his jaw tighten. He could imagine what they had said to her, how they had torn into her, their hatred for him undoubtedly poisoning their view of her. His wolf stirred with unease, irritated that she had been left alone with those who despised her. Jarrel pushed open the large doors leading to the garden and stepped outside. The air was crisp, the morning light filtering through t