Maxwell’s POVLucian’s face hardened, and he struck them again, the whip cracking against flesh, their cries echoing in the air.“You mean to tell me that you would rather defy your Alpha’s orders than cross a pair of corrupt Elders?” I asked, letting my voice carry the bitterness, the betrayal I felt. They sobbed, trembling before us, but I had no sympathy to give. They had been trusted with Scarlett’s safety, and they had thrown her to the wolves.I took a step back, trying to rein in the anger threatening to consume me, but the pain in my chest only grew stronger. Scarlett, wherever you are, know this: I would tear down every law, defy every Elder, if it meant bringing you home.“You starved my wife! Our wife! Your Luna!” My voice cracked with anger and disbelief as I let the word wife leave my lips for the first time. The word felt strange yet sacred because, conventional or not, she was ours, bound to us as deeply as the pack itself. But these people—our own people—had betrayed h
Scarlett’s POVI lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, the afternoon light spilling lazily through the window. I could feel the weight of the silence pressing down on me, filling the space where my thoughts drifted aimlessly.There wasn’t much to do here, and though the library tugged at my curiosity, I wasn’t eager to run into anyone, especially the women from the harem. They resented me, and I couldn’t entirely blame them.Their lives had been thrown into chaos because of Keith’s decision. It was a bold move on his part, one I didn’t understand. I had no love to offer him; I’d made that clear. And Keith didn’t strike me as someone with a surplus of patience.The truth was, I didn’t know what my future looked like here—or if I even had one. The North, the South, the East…none of them held a place for me. If things didn’t work here, there was nowhere else to turn. I felt the gnawing truth of it in my bones. If I failed to make it work with Keith, I was as good as dead. And that wasn’
Scarlett’s POVThe intensity in his gaze deepened, his neon-blue eyes glowing softly, and I felt a strange pull, an urge to trust him despite my instincts to stay hidden. “My magic can sense lies,” he added, his tone unwavering. “I’ve told you my intentions. I’m not here to hurt you. But I need honesty from you.”I was conflicted. Every part of me screamed to keep my secrets buried, to guard my heart, but something about the way he looked at me—steady, open—made me wonder if he could truly be trusted. And something deeper, something instinctual, told me he was being sincere. Perhaps it was better to have Keith as an ally rather than risk him as an enemy.Taking a shaky breath, I began to speak.“My name…isn’t Annika. It’s Scarlett. Scarlett Vladislav. I am the last of the Vladislavs.” His gaze softened, but he didn’t interrupt, letting me continue. “Because I was wolfless, my father’s Beta sold me to my mates. They claimed the South through me, but my life with them was nothing but pa
Lucian’s POVI lay sprawled across the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling when it hit me—a silence so thick and unnatural that it seemed to fill the room. It wasn’t just a quiet moment; it felt like something essential had been cut off, like a lifeline severed. I couldn’t place what it was, but it was crushing, heavy, and painful in a way that words couldn’t explain.My chest felt hollow, and an ache bloomed inside me, gripping tighter by the second.Then, suddenly, Maxwell’s voice echoed in my head. “Lucian,” he called, his tone laced with confusion and alarm. “Did you feel that?”“Yes,” I managed to reply, even though my voice felt weak, almost distant.“What’s going on?” came Clay’s voice, tinged with the same dread I felt. The pain pulsed in me, but I forced myself to sit up, then dragged myself from the bed, feeling like I was moving through thick fog.I stumbled into the living area, my heart pounding with a sense of foreboding. Something was terribly, terribly wrong. If we all
Lucian's POVClay’s voice cut through the air like a blade, sharp with disappointment and anger. “Reverse that order, Lucian. You’ve done enough!” His words stung, a mix of frustration and something deeper, something that made my chest ache. I couldn’t understand why he felt so strongly. I only wanted to catch Stasia, to get answers.“Catching Stasia won’t bring Scarlett back,” Maxwell added, his tone softer but no less reproachful. “Leave the florist alone, Lucian. She’s done nothing wrong.”The truth in their words hit me hard, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Reluctantly, I linked the guards, canceling the order to detain Martha. But the decision unsettled me, gnawing at the edges of my mind. Something inside me still believed Martha might hold a key, some clue that could help us find Scarlett or track down Stasia. Yet, I kept that doubt to myself, burying it beneath the weight of guilt. I knew Maxwell and Clay had grown weary of my choices—choices that had cost us more than we
Lucian’s POVThe elders had sent down their decision weeks ago, an unbendable order. I was supposed to come to Redcape and carry out my duty, but something stronger than fate kept me here for what was about to unfold. I had no idea then, but I was meant to witness this.“She severed the bond with powerful magic,” she said, her voice calm but laced with a kind of finality that made my stomach twist. “Someone of great power put up a complete block between you all and her. You won’t feel her anymore, and she won’t feel you. It’s far more merciful than what your elders had in mind for her.” She gave a faint smile, almost as if she was trying to soften the blow.Maxwell’s voice broke as he asked, “So…what are you saying?”“Scarlett has freed herself from you three. She’s let you go,” she replied, her eyes glinting with something like sadness. “And if I were her, I wouldn’t come back either. I’ve learned everything, and I know she was innocent. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”She
Scarlett’s POVWhat Alpha Keith did for me was nothing short of incredible. He gave me something I hadn’t felt in a long time—a chance to heal, to breathe without feeling like I was drowning.We spent hours together, getting to know each other, taking time that felt unhurried and sincere. There was a patience to him, a respect I hadn’t realised I’d been missing. He never overstepped never made me feel uncomfortable or pressured. Instead, he made his intentions clear but left it entirely up to me, saying I could take all the time I needed. There was no rush, no expectation, only a quiet understanding.One of the most surprising things he did was let all the women in his harem go. Some of them weren’t happy about it, and a few of them even confronted me, challenging me with icy stares and bitter words. But when I stood my ground and dealt with a few, the others stopped. They left me alone after that. It felt empowering, a small victory that helped me reclaim pieces of myself.Keith took
Scarlett’s POVSince arriving in the West, I hadn’t shed a single tear. I had pushed down my pain, forcing myself to move forward, to leave the past buried deep. But talking about David, recalling what he had done to me, pulled that pain back up to the surface, raw and unhealed.Memories flooded in, sharp and vivid—David dragging me from my room, barely clothed, shackled and humiliated. His betrayal burned as hot as ever, fueling an anger that rose up, hot and seething, pushing tears from my eyes as I relived the horror.“I don’t want to go back there, Keith,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I just want to stay here with you.” He didn’t hesitate. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into the strong, steady warmth of his chest.“I promise you,” he murmured, his voice low and fierce. “I will never let anyone hurt you here. If anyone dares, they’ll answer to me.” There was no doubt, no hesitation in his words. I knew he meant every single one. The way he held me, protective and su
Lucian’s POVElsa was hiding something from us. I could tell. She thought it would be better for us not to know, like she was shielding us from some truth that could break us. I prayed, deeply, that whatever she was holding back wasn’t something too awful, something that would shatter what little we had left.“I just need the spirit to give us a sign,” Maxwell murmured, his voice thick with grief as tears rolled down his cheeks.That’s all we really wanted—a sign. A clear path. We needed something solid, something real to grasp onto in this dark, foggy mess.Elsa’s face was calm as she replied, “I’ve already told you—the spirits say to form an alliance with the West. They are pointing west.”But I shook my head, frustration edging my voice. “Not for the war, Elsa. I need a direction to find Scarlett.”She lowered her head, a sad acknowledgment in her expression. “I don’t have magic, Alpha. I only know what the spirits choose to share with me. But I’ll tell you this: bittersweet news i
Lucian’s POVThe room was filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. I felt my heart sink as I realized what this meant. Scarlett was out there, exposed and vulnerable, in a state that made her a target for any predator, any alpha, and we had no idea where she was or how to find her. And somehow, she was trying to reach us, trying to connect, but something was keeping her from us.The silence after Elsa’s words was suffocating. Her gaze held a sorrowful understanding, as if she saw through all the bitterness and regret we carried, all the wounds we had inflicted on ourselves and on Scarlett. Maxwell, fists clenched, got up and swung his fist hard into the wall, his knuckles splitting against the impact. I could feel the anguish radiating from him, a shared pain we both bore for what we had done to her.“I’m sorry,” Elsa said softly, her eyes flickering with genuine sadness. But her words offered no comfort; they only deepened the ache within me.I took a steadying breath, forcing mysel
Lucian’s POV“I’m sorry, Maxwell,” I murmured, desperation clawing at my voice. “I swear, I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”He looked at me, his face streaked with tears, his eyes hollowed by sorrow and anger. “You can’t bring her back, Lucian,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You can’t… you can’t fix it. Don’t you see that?” He buried his head in his hands, the weight of grief pressing down on him until his shoulders slumped forward, defeated.“We took everything from her,” he continued, his words choked with guilt. “She had nothing, Lucian—no money, no security, no one. We stole it all. Nikolay was right to keep her from us… he saw what we were, what we’d do to her.” His voice cracked, and he wept openly, the kind of raw, unfiltered grief that comes when there’s nothing left to lose.“Please, Maxwell,” I urged, reaching for something—anything—that might bridge this chasm between us. “I know you felt it, too. She’s out there somewhere, and we can find her. I’ve been
Lucian’s POVThe memories twisted inside me, vivid and merciless. I thought of the day Maxwell and I came home and made her wear those damp, uncomfortable clothes because we refused to let her use our things.The cold-heartedness of it sickened me now, yet she had never complained. She just bore it all, quietly, with a strength we didn’t deserve to witness. And even after everything, she had opened her heart to us. She allowed herself to love us, to see something good in us when we gave her every reason not to.I clenched my fists, feeling the fire of anger and guilt burn within me. How could we have allowed people like Bianca, Stasia, and Gregory to treat her with such contempt? We favored the pack, protected their petty feelings over the well-being of the one who was supposed to be our mate, our equal. And now, we were paying for it. This mess was ours, a twisted reflection of everything we’d allowed and encouraged.The image of Timothy and Tasha flashed in my mind, and I felt a whi
Lucian’s POVLiving without Scarlett felt like drowning in darkness. Every day was an empty, colourless stretch, filled with nothing but sorrow. There was no joy left in my life, no light, no purpose. I spent most nights with a bottle in hand, numbing myself until I felt nothing at all. But even that brought no relief—it only deepened the void she left behind.Clay hadn’t given up, though. He clung to hope like it was the last shred of light in a world swallowed by shadows. He showed her photo to everyone he met, asking, pleading for any sign of her. He offered rewards, desperate promises, anything to find her again. But the days passed, and there was no news. His eyes looked more hollow with each passing day.And Maxwell… he was barely a man anymore. I saw the emptiness in his eyes, a haunting vacancy that mirrored my own. At first, he’d lash out, his anger finding no other place to go. Bianca and her child bore the brunt of his rage, but even he realised that hurting others wouldn’t
Scarlett’s POVThe car came to an abrupt stop, and Keith pulled away, stepping out quickly and rounding the vehicle to open my door. He lifted me out with ease, holding me as if I weighed nothing, his arms steady and unyielding. I clung to him, my body pressed against his as he carried me into the mansion.“All male workers—leave the premises immediately!” he called out, his voice echoing through the grand halls. The urgency in his tone left no room for argument, and as we moved deeper into the house, I felt the space empty around us, leaving only the two of us alone in our need.He laid me gently on the bed, and I couldn’t tear my dress off fast enough, the fabric tearing as I pulled at it, desperate to feel his skin against mine. The ache inside me was unbearable, like a burning hunger that wouldn’t be sated. Keith’s touch was the only thing that grounded me, the only thing that eased the frantic beat of my heart.He touched my forehead, his fingers gentle, his gaze full of concern
Scarlett’s POVEvery fiber of my being wanted to strike him down, to make him feel even a fraction of what he’d put me through.Before Geoffrey could mutter another insincere word, two hefty men appeared and seized him, dragging him away from the crowd and out of sight. I barely had time to process what was happening before Keith gently wrapped his arm around me, guiding me back to our table, his touch grounding me.“You can do as you wish with him,” he murmured, his voice low yet reassuring. “He’ll be locked up in the dungeon, waiting for whatever justice you decide. Let’s not let that bastard ruin our night.” I looked up at him, stunned by his loyalty.He was willing to imprison one of his own to honour what I’d been through, to make sure I felt seen and protected.In Redcape, Lucian and the others had always defended their pack above all else, turning a blind eye to crimes if it meant protecting their reputation or keeping the peace. No one had ever been held accountable, especiall
Scarlett’s POVI froze in Keith’s arms, my entire body going rigid as my eyes locked onto the man who had singlehandedly destroyed everything I once held dear. He stood across the room, laughing casually with his friends, oblivious to the way his mere presence churned up a storm inside me.Keith must have sensed my change in mood. He leaned down, his breath warm against my ear.“What is the matter, darling?” His voice was gentle, filled with concern, and the tenderness of it almost undid me. I blinked, fighting the sting of angry tears, my throat tightening as memories flooded back—memories of the life I had been forced to leave, the home I’d lost, and the mates who had once promised to protect me.Gregory Olsen had taken everything from me. Before he entered my life, things had been… bearable. I had a place, a sense of stability, even love. But that man had twisted everything, pulled the rug from under me, and left me with nothing but betrayal and pain. Yes, my mates had failed me in
Scarlett’s POVThe day of the event arrived quickly, and when Keith handed me the gown, I was speechless. It was a stunning, backless royal blue dress adorned with intricate pearls and tiny diamonds that sparkled as if holding stars within them. I had never worn anything so elegant, so luxurious, and I felt like someone new as I slipped into it. Standing in front of the mirror, I could hardly recognise myself. I looked… beautiful. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like I belonged somewhere, like I deserved to be seen.As I stepped out of the closet, my breath caught. Keith stood waiting in a midnight blue tuxedo that complemented my dress perfectly. He looked like a dream, every bit the Alpha he was—a man whose presence commanded respect and admiration. His blue eyes were as deep and intense as ever, a gaze that seemed to look right into my soul.“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice soft yet filled with something that made my heart race. I couldn’t stop the smil