DARIUS“Could I have been wrong?”I leaned back in my chair, fingers drumming on the edge of the polished wooden table. The thought had been eating at me ever since I saw her on that damn auction stage. She looked just like her.Molly.Is that even her real name or did she lie about that too?Her face, those eyes, the way she carried herself. It was uncanny. I didn’t want to believe it. Hell, I refused to believe it. But I couldn’t shake the memory.I was nine, trailing behind my father during one of his boring political meetings with the Lycan King. He got distracted, and I wandered off, finding myself in the garden of some grand estate. That’s when I saw her—spinning barefoot on the grass, laughing as if the world couldn’t touch her.She was... mesmerizing.That girl was a Lycan. The second daughter of King Carrington himself.Could it really be her? Could she have survived the attack?The reports were very clear—King Carrington’s entire family had been wiped out. No survivors. All
EMMELINEI stood outside his door, my heart pounding so loudly I thought it might give me away. The knife felt heavy against my back. I had tucked it under the thin waistband of my panties. I adjusted the transparent robe I’d stolen from one of the closets. It barely covered anything, but that was the point. To seduce him. The more distracted he was, the closer I could get.This was the night. I had one job—kill him. Nothing else mattered.I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Darius looked up from his seat by the window. His eyes widened slightly when he saw me, his gaze locking on my transparent robe and the body beneath it. I could feel his eyes linger. I shut the door softly behind me and let the robe slide off from my shoulders, dropping around my feet. I stood there in nothing but my panties, my arms hanging loosely at my sides to seem unbothered, though my heart was thundering in my chest.He didn't say a word, just leaned back in his chair. His jaw tightened as his
EMMELINEI woke up before dawn, staring at the ceiling like I had all the time in the world. My body felt weighed down, and my thoughts were all over the place, but my mind was made up. Killing Darius wasn’t an option anymore. It just wasn't going to happen. Fine. But that didn’t mean I had to stay here and let him mess with me. If I was going to die, at least it’d be on my terms, not his.I slipped out of bed, very quietly. No bags, no extra clothes—nothing to slow me down. Just me and my ridiculous determination.Cara, my wolf, turned lazily in my mind. “You really think this is going to work?”“I don’t need your doubt right now,” I hissed under my breath, pulling the door open just wide enough to slip through.The halls were strangely quiet, the estate still wrapped in darkness. I stuck close to the walls, staying out of sight from the few guards strolling around like they had all the time in the world to stop me.“Why don’t you just fight them?” Cara grumbled. “You’re a Lycan, Emm
DARIUS“Alpha, she is not in her room,” the guard said, his voice shaking as if he knew how much trouble this news would bring him.I set my glass of whiskey down, my fingers tightening around it until I thought it might shatter. “What do you mean, she's not in her room?” I growled.“No one has seen her, Alpha,” he stammered. “We’ve checked the immediate quarters. She’s… gone.”For a moment, I just stared at him, my mind working overtime to process what he’d just said. Gone? How the hell had she managed to pull that off?“Get the rest of the guards,” I ordered, my voice cold and clipped. “Search the estate. Every hallway, every damn corner. Don’t come back to me unless you’ve found her.”He nodded quickly and practically sprinted out of the room like his life depends on it—which, honestly, it might. I was left alone with my thoughts.Fifteen minutes later, the same guard came back with a group of others. Their faces were pale, and they looked like they’d rather be anywhere but here.
EMMELINEI woke up to the softest thing I’d ever felt beneath me. It wasn’t the hard, scratchy mattress in my room. No, this was something entirely different—softer, warmer.My eyes snapped open, and I sat up, gasping.The room around me was massive, decorated in dark tones with sleek furniture and thick curtains. It carried a faint scent of cedar mixed with something… something undeniably masculine.Oh no.I was in Darius’ room.I started to panic, and it got even worse when I noticed something strange—my clothes had been changed. The ripped dress I had been wearing was gone. Instead, I was in a loose, clean shirt and soft pants. My heart raced as I tried to figure out who could have done it and when.What the hell?Did he…?Before my thoughts could completely spiral out of control, the door creaked open.And there he was.Darius.He walked in with a calmness that sent a chill down my spine—it was the kind of calm that made you feel like he was ten steps ahead. Behind him, two maids
DARIUSDawson kept talking about trade deals, alliances, and some shipment plans, but I wasn’t paying attention. I sat in my chair, staring at the papers on my desk without really seeing them. Every now and then, I’d nod like I was following along, but honestly, I wasn’t. My head was somewhere else entirely.It was on her.Molly.The girl who had tried to kill me twice. The girl who somehow survived things most people wouldn’t. And now, she was here—alive, bold as ever, and still looking at me like she wanted me dead."Alpha?" Dawson’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts."What?" I blinked, realizing I had no idea what he’d just said.He frowned. "I was asking if you wanted to approve the shipment for the southern border.""Yeah, sure. Do whatever you think is best," I muttered, waving him off.He raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong? You seem... distracted."I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "I’m deliberating on something. I think it's best if you come back later."Dawson paused
EMMELINEI stood outside the grand door of the new overly spacious room Darius had just shown me. His excitement was almost like that of a child, like he expected me to leap for joy or shower him with gratitude. I wasn’t about to do either.I couldn’t help but wonder what on earth was wrong with him.First, he saved me.Then, he had the audacity to try and kiss me.Oh, the kiss.How had I not stepped back? How had I stood there, frozen, letting the moment linger far longer than it should have?I’d sworn to myself that I would never let it happen again. Never.And yet, if we hadn’t been interrupted yesterday, I might have kissed him back.My heart clenched at the thought, and I frowned.Maybe it wasn’t him.Maybe I was the problem.“This is your new room,” he said, smiling like he’d done something extraordinary. His hands were tucked in his pockets, and his tone was so smug it made my skin crawl. “Take a look. I’m sure you’ll love it.”Love it? That word didn’t exist in my vocabulary w
EMMELINEI wiped my face with the back of my hand. My eyes were puffy, my throat sore from crying. Hours had passed since the mess in the garden, but the tightness in my chest hadn’t let up. I hated this place. I hated Darius. And I hated myself for being here.But damn, I was starving.I should go check the kitchen for some snacks. It was almost midnight.Grumbling, I slipped out of my room. The Estate was dead quiet, the kind of silence that would make your footsteps sound like thunder. I crept toward the kitchen, hugging the walls like some thief in the night.When I got to the door, I heard voices.“Have you noticed how strange the Alpha’s been acting lately?” one voice whispered.“Oh, absolutely. That girl must’ve done something to him,” another replied. “She’s not just some regular slave. She’s probably a witch and must have charmed him.”My blood boiled instantly. A witch? Really?“Think about it,” the first woman said, her voice dripping with disdain. “Why else would he give h
DARIUS’ POV★★★★★★Emmeline was pacing in our bedroom, her frustration practically radiating off her in waves. "I told you, Darius! She's lying through her teeth! That whole story about the embarrassing letter and the list? Bullshit!"I watched her, my own anger simmering beneath the surface. I knew she was probably right. My gut had been screaming at me since she first told me about the man in the garden. But I had to play it smart. Rushing in with accusations based on a hunch wasn't going to get us anywhere."I know it feels that way, Em," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "But we can't just throw her out. Not yet. We need to know what she knows, what she's up to.""Knowing what she knows has been going on for days now!" Emmeline exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "And you know what else? I feel… uncomfortable around her. She's been making these little comments, these subtle threats… I don't like it, Darius. I really don't."My jaw tightened. Threats against Emmel
DARIUS’ POV★★★★★★At last, Seraphine arrived, flanked by the guards. They informed me that Beta Dawson had come to see me, and I told them to ask him to wait until I was done with Seraphine. Seraphine looked surprised, her normally calm expression slightly marred with a hint of confusion. “Darius? What is it?”"Who was the man you were talking to in the garden this morning?" I asked, my voice tight, trying to keep my anger in check.She blinked, her eyes wide and innocent. "Oh, that was just an old friend…he's a former soldier from my father's pack. He was just passing through and wanted to say hello.""Passing through and just happened to find you in our garden?" I challenged, my skepticism thick in the air."Well, yes," she said, her voice calm, almost too calm. "He knew I was staying here with you.""Did he?" I pressed. "Because Emmeline here saw him too. And she didn't get the impression it was just a casual hello."Seraphine turned to Emmeline, a hint of annoyance flashing in he
EMMELINE★★★★★★That damn letter. It was burning a hole in my mind, and my head was practically screaming for me to tell Darius. But something held me back. What if it was nothing? Just some random piece of paper that Seraphine had picked up? I’d look like a right fool, constantly sniffing around her business for no reason. And honestly, the thought of Darius looking at me like I was being paranoid… nah, I couldn’t risk it. Not yet anyway.I needed more. Concrete proof. Something solid that would make Darius sit up and actually listen. So, Operation: Get the Dirt on Seraphine was officially underway. I spent the next couple of days keeping a low profile, trying to observe without being obvious. It was like trying to sneak past a bloody elephant – Seraphine was very slippery and careful, or so it seemed.Then, this morning, I finally caught a break. I was taking a slow walk around the garden – the doctor said light exercise was good for the baby, though honestly, some days just getting
DARIUS’ POV♤♤♤▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎♤♤♤This messenger's words… they’ve burrowed into my damn skull and won’t leave. Baseless, Sylas had suggested. Just some nobody trying to stir up trouble. But what if he wasn’t? What if, against all odds, someone actually did survive? The thought alone sent a cold shiver down my spine.Another sleepless night bled into a tense evening. I was in the meeting room with Sylas and Dawson, my Beta. The air was thick with unspoken anxieties.“Alright, let’s go over this again,” I started, rubbing the exhaustion from my eyes. “Every known enemy. Every single goddamn threat we’ve ever faced. Could any of them have slipped through the cracks?”Sylas leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Alpha, we went over this a hundred times. Every last one of those sons of bitches was executed. Massively. My men personally checked the bodies. We made damn sure there were no survivors.”Dawson, usually quieter, nodded in agreement. “We left nothing to chance, Darius. It was a cle
DARIUS◆◆◇◆◆"Alpha, we got a situation at the south border." Dawson's voice was tight, his usual easygoing demeanor gone. He stood in the doorway of my office, his chest heaving slightly. "Someone tried to sneak in. Got a couple of our guys hurt."My blood went cold. An attempted breach? This close to everything that was happening? "How bad?" I asked, already moving towards the door."Nothing life-threatening, thankfully. Bruises, a nasty gash on Marco's arm. But they managed to take the guy down." Dawson fell into step beside me as we headed towards the border. "He put up a hell of a fight.""Who the hell was it?" I growled, my mind racing through possibilities. Kaelen testing our defenses? Some other rogue pack making a move?"Don't know yet. They've got him contained. He's not talking."We reached the border in record time. The air was thick with tension. I could see a small group of my guards gathered near the treeline, their faces grim. Marco sat on a nearby log, his arm wrapped
EMMELINE◆◆◆◇◆◆◆Okay, so after every talk that went down last night with Darius, a plan started forming in my head. Just being outright cold to Seraphine wasn't going to cut it. She was slippery, I could feel it. I needed to try a different approach, something that might make her drop her guard, even just for a second. I needed to bait her, see what kind of fish this was.So, this morning, I decided to invite her for tea. Yeah, tea. It felt ridiculously polite considering the suspicions swirling around her, but I figured it might throw her off. Plus, it would give me a chance to observe her up close, see if I could pick up on any tells.I asked one of the house staff to let her know I'd like her company in the sunroom around mid-morning. Then I went about my usual routine, trying to act as normal as possible, even though my insides were churning with unease.When Seraphine finally arrived, she looked a little surprised, maybe even a bit wary. I offered her a seat by the window, where
DARIUS◆◆◇◆◆This whole Seraphine situation was giving me a bad feeling in my gut, a real gnawing one. I called a small meeting, just the people I trusted most: Seraphine herself, my beta Dawson…the guy's got my back no matter what… and Sylas, our head of intel.Seraphine started laying it all out, talking about Kaelen's allies, these rogue packs that were itching for a fight. She named names and gave details about who was leading them. Honestly, she sounded convincing, like she knew her shit. But something about her… it just didn't sit right. Maybe it was Emmeline's words echoing in my head, planting seeds of doubt."So, these packs," I started, leaning forward on the table in my study. "You're sure about their involvement?"Seraphine nodded, her eyes earnest. "Absolutely, Alpha. These are the ones Kaelen has been grooming for years. They're loyal to him, waiting for his command… and now, they can't wait to take revenge for his death."Dawson, ever the logical thinker, chimed in. "An
EMMELINE■■□□□□■■Ugh. I swear, sometimes I just need to punch something. Or someone. Today, that someone was definitely Seraphine. I’d gone down to the training grounds hoping to catch Darius before he got too deep into whatever Alpha duties were hogging his time today. Instead, what did I find? That leech, Seraphine, perched on a rock like she owned the damn place, watching Darius go through his paces.He was looking good, I had to admit. Sweat was beading on his forehead, muscles bunching with every strike against the dummy. He was putting in the work, no doubt about it. But the sight of Seraphine just… grated on my nerves. She was clapping when he finally finished a set, her voice all sugary sweet as she called out, “Excellent work, Darius! You’re looking so strong.”My teeth practically ached from grinding them. Seriously? Strong? Like he needed her to tell him that. I could feel my blood starting to simmer. This was our territory, our pack. She was supposed to be an ally, someon
EMMELINE’S POV■■■■■□□□■■■■■The way Seraphine looked at him… it was subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone who wasn’t me. But I saw it. The slight tilt of her head, the lingering in her gaze just a fraction too long. And the way she spoke to him, her voice a little softer, a little more… sugary than it was when she addressed anyone else. It made my teeth grind.They were in the war room again, poring over maps spread across the large table. The dim light of the oil lamps cast long shadows, making the atmosphere feel even more secretive. I’d been trying to distract myself with needlepoint in the corner, but my fingers kept fumbling with the thread. Every now and then, a laugh would drift my way – Darius’s, usually, prompted by something Seraphine had said. It was a casual laugh, the kind he used with his friends, with his commanders. But it still felt like a punch to the gut.Jealous? Maybe. A little. Okay, maybe a lot. It wasn’t just about Darius, though. It was about the way she was