DARIUS“Yesssss!"The scream sliced through the air, and reached me instantly.. My whole body tensed.Emmeline.I know that voice anywhere. And right now, it sounded like she was either being murdered or winning a damn war. There’s no in-between with her. Panic slammed into me. Is she in danger? Is someone hurting her? My mind ran through the possibilities—an attack, a rogue animal, or worse.Before my brain could even process another thought, I was already moving, my legs moving faster than my mind. Branches snapped under my boots as I sprinted in the direction of her voice. I asked her to stay back if she wasn’t cut out for this but her usual stubborn self refused. I just hoped she was not in any danger. If someone so much as touched her, they’re fucking dead. No warnings. No second chances. I would make sure they suffer dearly.I rounded the corner, pulse hammering in my ears, ready to tear into whoever—And I stopped dead in my tracks.The scene in front of me was not what I
EMMELINEDarius won the hunting games today. Of course, he did.Apparently, he had won it multiple times over the years, and from the way the other Alphas were gathered around, admiring the dead bear like it was some legendary trophy, you’d think he had just slain a god.I exhaled slowly, watching him from a distance. He was awesome, I had to admit. And not just because he had won the stupid hunting games… again. But because he had saved my life and I should probably be more than grateful. I sighed, picking at a loose thread on my robe. If he had been even a second late, I would have been nothing more than bear food. I shuddered, the image of that bear’s snarling face flashing in my mind. I didn’t want to think about it. It was like something out of a nightmare. A nightmare Darius had pulled me out of. My arrows barely did anything to that beast, and it was charging straight at me when Darius appeared with his gun and—boom—dropped it like it was nothing.I glanced over at him agai
EMMELINEJeremy staggered back, his eyes narrowing in pure disbelief."What the hell did you just say?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous.I blinked innocently, my lips curved into a slow and deliberate smile. "Oh, nothing serious. I just meant that you'd die from pleasure tonight." I tilted my head slightly, pretending to be confused by his reaction. "Or… did you think I meant something else?"His jaw clenched so tight I thought he might break his teeth. He took a step closer, his fists curling at his sides."How dare you?" he growled, his nostrils flaring.I raised a brow, still feigning confusion. "How dare me? What exactly did I do wrong, Alpha?"His face twisted in rage. "I don't know what the hell you think you are, bitch, but you're just a common concubine," he spat. "Nothing more. And I will bring you to your place."Ah. There it was.The ugly truth these men liked to throw in my face every chance they got.I should have been angry—hell, I was angry—but I swallowed it down, b
EMMELINEThe room was dark, except for the dim glow of the lantern flickering in the corner. The scent of strong liquor lingered in the air, mixing with the faint smell of burning wood from the dying fire.I sat on the edge of Alpha Jeremy’s massive bed, my fingers gently tapping against my knee. The room was cold, but I didn’t shiver. I didn’t feel anything. Not the chill. Not the nerves. Not even the anticipation.I was just waiting.Outside, the sound of drunken laughter echoed through the halls. The men were celebrating. Drinking, dancing, losing themselves in the chaos of the night. The guards? They were useless. Too drunk to stand, let alone patrol. It was almost too easy to slip inside unnoticed.Midnight had passed.He should be here any moment now.I glanced toward the door, my heart steady, my mind sharp. This was supposed to be a night of fun. His night of fun. But it will be his last.The door swung open suddenly, slamming against the wall.Jeremy stumbled in, his boots dr
EMMELINEThe morning air was thick with tension. I stepped outside with Darius, my heart pounding, but my face calm. People had gathered in clusters, whispering, pointing, their expressions a mix of shock, fear, and anger. In the middle of the crowd, Jeremy’s lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, blood staining his throat, his skin pale in the morning light.His wife knelt beside him, her cries loud and ugly, her whole body shaking as she clutched his unmoving form. I watched her, arms crossed, my face carefully neutral.I should have felt something—guilt, remorse, maybe even pity. But I didn’t.She must have known what kind of monster he was. She must have known about the innocent lives he had taken, the blood he had spilled, the families he had torn apart. I watched the way she was shedding tears as if she had lost the perfect love of her life. How pathetic.I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.The sight of her disgusted me.If she had been such a devoted wife, why hadn’t she be
EMMELINEThe days after the hunting festival felt strange. Tense.Darius barely spoke to me, and when he did, his words were short, clipped, and carefully measured. I knew he was mad at me. I knew he was pissed that I had taken matters into my own hands, and I could see it in the way he moved, in the way his jaw tightened every time he looked at me. He was angry because I had risked everything by killing Jeremy.But I didn’t regret it.Not for a second.The man was a monster. A ruthless bastard who had slaughtered my kind like they were nothing. If I had the chance, I’d kill him all over again. Slower this time.I had taken my revenge, and though it wasn’t nearly enough, it was a start. A piece of the justice I had been craving for years.Still, Darius's coldness was getting under my skin.That morning, we sat across from each other at the dining table, the silence stretching so long that the sound of cutlery scraping against plates felt deafening. I stared at my barely touched food,
EMMELINEThe underground tunnel smelled like damp earth and mildew, the kind of scent that clung to your skin and made you feel like you’d never be clean again. I pulled my coat tighter around myself, not because I was cold, but because something about this place made my stomach twist.I couldn’t believe people were living down here.No—forced to live down here. It was suffocatingly cold, dark, and cramped. I couldn't imagine living like this.But they had no choice.A family hiding like rats beneath the world, all because some power-hungry Alphas had decided Lycans didn’t deserve to exist.I swallowed hard, pushing away the ache in my chest. I wasn’t here to feel sorry for them—I was here to help.I glanced at Darius as we made our way deeper into the tunnel, his flashlight casting long, eerie shadows on the walls. His expression was unreadable, his sharp gaze scanning our surroundings, ready to strike any danger."This place is a fucking nightmare," I muttered under my breath, stepp
EMMELINEWe had managed to convince him to trust us. I could tell it was hard for him to wrap his head around the truth. I could see the wariness in his eyes, the way his body remained tense even after we explained everything. When I told him who I really was—Princess Emmeline, daughter of King Carrington—his whole body had stiffened like I’d struck him.For a long moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. Then, as if the weight of the world had finally caught up to him, his shoulders slumped, and he let out a breath.“You’re… You’re really her?” His voice was hoarse.I nodded. “I swear it.”His wife had burst into tears the moment the words left my mouth. She covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably, her body shaking. The little girl clutched at her mother’s dress, wide-eyed, confused, and scared.“She’s alive… The princess is alive…” the woman whispered through her sobs.Darius and I had led them back to the cabin we rented for the night. It wasn’t muc
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