“Do you favor this one?”
“No, the other pleases me more.”
Lena swallowed hard outside the dining hall, steadying herself. Kara’s companions were mischief-makers, ever eager with a cruel remark when she stood before them.
With measured steps, she pushed open the heavy doors and entered, bearing a tray of honeyed figs, spiced almonds, and goblets of dark wine.
Laughter faded at once.
Lena kept her gaze lowered as she approached the long banquet table, the tray steady in her hands. The ladies reclined on their cushioned seats, their silk gowns pooling like liquid opulence. Their eyes trailed her every movement, sharp with something Lena had long since learned to recognize: jealousy.
“It is truly absurd,” Valeria murmured, idly tracing the rim of her goblet. “How does a mere servant possess such a face?”
Lena’s grip on the tray tightened.
“Indeed,” Selena drawled, a smirk tugging at her lips. “With features like that, one might mistake her for someone of station. And yet, she is nothing more than a wretched little slave.”
“What a waste,” Valeria sighed, affecting a wistful air. “A face like hers ought to be adorned with jewels, not rags.”
Lena reached the table and began pouring the wine, her movements deliberate, precise.
She felt their eyes upon her, crawling over her skin like unseen hands, seeking flaws to exploit.
“Perhaps we ought to remedy the matter,” Valeria mused.
Selena laughed. “And how shall we do that? Mar her lovely face? A pity, truly.”
Lena set the final goblet in place and turned, eager to leave. One step. Two. Almost there.
The great doors groaned open.
The air shifted.
Voices ceased.
Kara Voss had arrived.
Lena did not need to raise her head to sense the change in power. The sharp click of Kara’s heels against the polished floor echoed through the hushed chamber.
Her gaze swept the room, cool and assessing, before settling upon Lena.
“What is going on here?”
Kara’s voice was smooth, almost languid, yet Lena knew better. Beneath the silk was always steel.
Valeria and Selena exchanged glances, their grins sharp with amusement.
Valeria straightened eagerly. “Oh, nothing, Kara. Merely your servant, Lena. She has been most insolent toward us.”
Lena’s stomach knotted tighter.
Kara arched a perfectly shaped brow. “Is that so?” Her gaze turned to Lena, cold and assessing. “Well? Speak.”
Lena’s throat constricted. Words felt useless, trapped somewhere between fear and fury.
“Answer me.”
Selena leaned in, voice dripping with false sweetness. “She mocked you, Kara. Said you were nothing. That as long as she remained more beautiful than you, you were unworthy of attention.”
The lie struck like a lash.
Lena stiffened, breath shallow. She wanted to deny it, to protest, but she knew better. Speaking now would be no different from digging her own grave.
Kara studied her for an agonizing moment before exhaling sharply.
“You believe yourself prettier than me?”
“I... I never—”
Kara raised a hand, and the room obeyed her.
“You have been a thorn in my side for long enough.” Her lips curled in something that might have resembled a smile, but there was no warmth in it, only cruelty. “Strip her down.”
The world tilted.
Rough hands seized Lena’s arms.
“No, wait.” Panic flared in her chest. She struggled, but the guards were stronger.
Kara stepped closer, tilting her head as if amused. “Six strokes. One for each of your lies.”
Lena’s breath hitched.
She was forced to her knees, her body betraying her even as her mind screamed for control. Fabric tore. Cold air bit at her skin.
Then, the first stroke landed.
White-hot pain slashed across her back. Her hands curled into fists. Don’t scream. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
The second came sharper. The third, crueler. The fourth, relentless.
Her vision blurred. Copper flooded her mouth. She had bitten the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.
The fifth stroke wrenched a strangled sound from her throat.
The sixth—
“Wait.”
Kara’s voice sliced through the air like a whip. The guards halted at once.
A muscle in Kara’s jaw twitched, the word prettier echoing in her mind like a curse. It sickened her.
Slowly, she stepped forward and plucked a knife from a guard’s belt.
A smirk curled her lips. “I know exactly what to do with that face of yours.”
“No, Kara. Don’t.” Lena’s voice broke, raw with terror. “Please, not my face.”
Laughter rippled through the room, soft, cruel, entertained.
Kara sighed, tilting her head. “I love to see you beg, Lena. You never have before. But now? To save your pretty little face?” She turned the knife in her grip, letting the blade catch the light. “That makes me want to ruin it even more.”
She flicked her fingers. “Hold her down.”
“No!”
The guards pressed Lena against the cold stone floor.
Kara took a deliberate step forward.
Then.
The doors slammed open.
“Enough.”
A voice cut through the brutality, sharp as a blade through flesh.
The guards stilled.
Even Kara hesitated, her smirk flickering into something less certain.
Lena’s breath came in ragged gasps. She lifted her head just slightly, her vision swimming, but she felt it, an unmistakable shift in the air. A presence that commanded attention.
“It’s the Beta,” someone whispered.
Silk rustled as the girls bowed in unison.
Lena swallowed hard, keeping her gaze lowered.
The Beta’s voice was warm, affectionate, as she approached her daughter. “Baby,” she cooed, resting a gentle hand on Kara’s shoulder. “Your wedding to the Alpha is tomorrow. Shouldn’t you be at the market, choosing your wedding dress?”
Kara’s lips curled at the reminder, her posture softening just slightly.
Then her gaze flickered back to Lena.
The warmth vanished.
Her expression darkened. “She’s ruined my day!” Kara snapped. “How dare a common, stupid human insult me?”
Lena shut her eyes, bracing herself.
The Beta chuckled, the sound rich with amusement. “I’ll take care of her,” she said smoothly, her tone laced with cunning delight. “After today, you won’t have to lay eyes on her again.”
Lena’s stomach dropped. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress, gripping tight as the weight of those words settled deep in her bones.
She knew exactly what it meant to be taken care of.
Kara huffed, tossing the knife aside with a flick of her wrist. “See that you do.” She turned on her heel, striding away without a backward glance. Her friends followed, obedient as ever, their laughter echoing like a cruel melody.
Then, silence.
Footsteps. Slow. Measured. Drawing closer.
Lena kept her gaze down, breath shallow.
A shadow loomed before her. The Beta crouched, one finger tilting Lena’s chin upward.
Her gaze flickered with something unreadable.
“Hmm.” A soft hum, almost thoughtful. “Good thing your face is still untouched, slave. Such a pretty thing… for now.”
A slow, cruel smile curved her lips as she straightened.
“Prepare her to meet Alpha Ethan.”
Hello. Here again. First time writing a werewolf book. Please do well to leave a comment. I heart you
The guards gripped Lena firmly, holding her before the heavy oak door. The head slave emerged, her face a mask of indifference."The bath awaits," she stated flatly.Without warning, one of the guards spun Lena about, handling her like a rag doll. The clink of metal rang through the corridor as they knelt to unlock the chains that had bound her for nearly a decade.The weight vanished from her ankle. Lena stared, stunned.They had never removed it—not once in all the years of her bondage.The cuff had been more than just a restraint; it was a mark of ownership, a symbol of her enslavement. The iron was forged to slow her, to thwart any flight, until a beast could hunt her down.Yet now, it lay forgotten on the ground.The absence should have brought relief, but it didn't. Her ankle felt bare—vulnerable. She had traded one shackle for another.Before she could fully comprehend the shift in her fate, rough hands shoved her forward into the chamber beyond.The scent of lavender and warm o
"Lena, flee!" her mother cried, her voice desperate, strained by agony."No, Mother! I will save you! I will take you with me!" Lena wept, her hands trembling as she reached for her mother's grasp."You cannot save me!" her mother gasped, her breath shallow and ragged. "Promise me... promise me you will survive. Do you hear me? Live, no matter the cost!"A burning log crashed down upon her mother’s back with a deafening thud.The fire raged around them, devouring all in its wake. Her mother’s cries were swallowed by the inferno.Young Lena’s wail pierced the night air."Seize her!" a commanding voice boomed from behind.Terror seized Lena’s heart as she turned. Her tear-filled eyes locked upon a figure emerging from the flames. A golden mask obscured half his face, one eye gleaming with a cold blue, the other burning with a blood-red fire.A wicked laugh echoed, sending a chill through Lena’s bones.She awoke with a start, the dull ache in her head and the jarring of the carriage remin
Lena’s legs buckled as they dragged her forward, the rough stone beneath her feet scraping her skin raw. The soldiers' grips were cruel, steel fingers bruising her arms as they hauled her through the threshold of the great hall and into the night beyond.The air outside was bitter, sharp like a blade. It cut against her torn skin, carrying the acrid scent of burning herbs and something far fouler, blood.Before her, the ritual ground stretched wide and desolate. Towering black pillars ringed the clearing like silent sentinels, carved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly beneath the crimson glow of the blood moon. Fires roared in iron braziers, their flames leaping into the air as if hungry for flesh.A hush fell over the gathered pack.Faces surrounded her, hostile and eager. Some twisted with cruel amusement, others solemn as though they stood witness to a sacred rite. They had not come to observe, but to revel in her pain.At the center stood the altar, a monolith of obsidian st
The next morning, Lena’s eyes fluttered open. Pain rippled through her body as she tried to move, but her limbs felt like lead. Every inch of her ached, her muscles stiff from the torment of last night. She felt numb. Empty.The cold stone beneath her sent a sharp reminder—she wasn’t safe. She wasn’t free.The heavy sound of boots echoed in the corridor."Where is she?"Darius.Lena barely had the strength to lift her head, but she heard the metallic clank of chains unlocking. Only then did she fully register where she was. A cell. A prison.The iron door groaned open.Darius stepped inside, his presence filling the cramped space like a dark storm cloud.He crouched before her, his mismatched eyes studying her with something unreadable.Lena flinched and tried to shrink away from his reach.His lips curled. "No, wife. That is not how you greet your husband."Her breath hitched. "Stay away from me!"He ignored her protest. "Kara," he murmured, tilting his head. "Don’t you know why you’
The cell door creaked open for the second time that day.Lena glanced up, expecting another tormentor, but instead, a young girl stood there, holding a tray of food. A cuff encircled the girl’s ankle—a slave."Take it back. I refuse to eat," Lena spat, her voice hoarse but firm.The girl set the tray down and crouched before her, meeting Lena’s defiant gaze.“Luna.”"I am not your Luna," Lena snapped, her voice rising.The girl only sighed. “You don’t understand, do you? The longer you refuse, the worse my punishment will be. I’m responsible for you now, Luna. I am your personal maid. My name is Milicent.”Lena finally lifted her head, properly looking at her. The girl’s eyes were pleading, desperate.Lena’s expression softened.She knew what it was like to be in her shoes—to fear the wrath of a head maid, to be denied food as punishment.Memories of her past as a servant in the Crimson Moon Pack surfaced, stinging like old wounds. If she were still there, at least she wouldn’t have e
"Alpha. An important scroll has arrived from the Dark Towers," Cedric said as Darius stepped into the castle."Important scroll?" Darius muttered, snatching it from his hands.His eyes scanned the parchment. The more he read, the darker his expression grew.Without a second thought, he shoved the scroll against Cedric’s chest. "Deny it."Cedric kept pace beside him. "This is the third time you've rejected the park leaders. They’re determined to hold the ritual here this year.""Deny the fucking scroll!" Darius snarled. His voice echoed through the hall. "I don't want those heartless beings in my kingdom!"He stormed upstairs. Servants cowered in fear, stepping out of his path.Only one dared to follow him.Lady Miriam."I don’t want to hear it, Miriam," he snapped, not bothering to turn around."If you keep denying them, they'll sanction you," she warned. "You don’t want the wrath of all the clans against you, do you?""Let them come." He whirled to face her, his eyes blazing. "I’m re
"I'm telling you, Alpha. She purposely struck me!" Scarlet complained bitterly, her hand still pressed against her cheek.Darius barely glanced up from the parchments on his desk. "What did you do to her, Scarlet?""I didn’t do anything! I just wanted to see her, but she refused and slapped me across the cheek!" she lied, her voice laced with indignation.Then it hit him.A sharp pull deep in his chest.His hands clenched. His breath hitched.His vision blurred as his heart pounded erratically.Something was wrong.Before Scarlet could blink, Darius was gone.He moved with inhuman speed, his body twisting as he lunged out of the window. Mid-air, bones snapped, muscles expanded, and in a heartbeat, his wolf emerged.A beast of dark fur and lethal speed.By the time Scarlet realized what had happened, he was already a blur disappearing into the woods.---Lena barely had time to scream.The rogues lunged.Then, out of nowhere, a massive black wolf crashed into the clearing.It moved wit
The Next MorningDylia, the healer, worked diligently on Lena’s legs, the cool touch of medicinal herbs stirring her awake. A sharp sting shot through her as the salve seeped into her wounds, making her wince.Flashes of the previous night returned—the relentless run through the forest, the wolf carrying her, branches scraping against her skin.She exhaled deeply and sat up.Dylia immediately noticed. "You're finally awake." She offered a small smile, sitting on a stool beside the bed. "How do you feel?""Like I barely survived." Lena muttered, earning an amused chuckle from the healer."You're exaggerating. You'll be fine in no time."Lena hesitated before asking, "Whose wolf brought me back yesterday?"Silence filled the room.Dylia’s smile faltered. "Brought you back?""Yes," Lena said firmly. "A wolf saved me from those rogues in the forest. It carried me back here."Dylia sighed. "You must have imagined it, Luna. The Alpha said he found you just outside his study window and brough
Vargr followed Lena down the narrow forest path.After a short trek, they reached a clearing where a grand carriage stood waiting. Two powerful black horses stood hitched to it, their breath misting the cool night air.A cloaked figure leaned against the carriage, hand on the hilt of a sheathed sword. At the sight of Lena, he straightened.“You’re late,” the man said, his voice sharp yet familiar.Vargr’s eyes narrowed. The man’s face was hidden beneath his hood, but the smug stance — and the hint of a smirk — put Vargr on edge.“Who’s this?” Vargr asked, stepping protectively beside Lena.She ignored him, pulling open the carriage door. “We need to leave. The guards will notice I'm gone soon.”“You didn’t answer my question,” Vargr pressed.The cloaked man chuckled. “Relax.” He pushed back his hood, revealing sharp features and dark hair. “Name’s Jaime.”“Friend of mine,” Lena said. “He’s helping us.”“Helping us do what?” Vargr shot back.“Get away,” Jaime answered. “Unless you’d ra
A cloaked figure stopped at the brothel nestled near the park's edge, its dim lanterns flickering in the evening gloom. She watched as a servant hurried toward her."Is my husband inside?" she demanded."Yes, Luna. But—"Before the servant could finish, Kara was already striding past him, her heels striking hard against the cobblestone path.The air inside was thick with sweat, wine, and sin. Women draped themselves over men in shadowed corners, their garments slipping indecently low. Soft moans and drunken laughter filled the room. Kara’s stomach churned, but she pressed on.At the end of the hall, she reached a curtained chamber where Alpha Ethan's guard stood, his face blanching when he saw her."My lady," the guard stammered, stepping aside.Kara ignored him, seized the curtain, and yanked it aside.The sight hit her like a slap.Her husband lay sprawled on the bed, tangled between three half-naked women. One lay draped across his chest, her lips trailing down his neck. Another kn
Twenty-four hours.That was how long Scarlet had been trapped in this godforsaken cell. The cold stone walls seemed to close in on her, and the silver chains that lined the floor had seared her skin every time she moved too close.She had screamed until her throat was raw, banged on the iron door until her fists ached, and cried until her tears ran dry. None of it mattered. No one came. No one cared. Not even a drop of water had been offered."Please..." she rasped, her voice weak and broken. "Get my uncle... I'm dying."Her legs gave out beneath her, and she slumped against the wall, her breath shallow."Don't worry, you'll be out soon," a voice drawled.Her head jerked up. She knew that voice — even in her nightmares."Uthred," she croaked, her voice barely stronger than a breath. "You damned soul.""You look dreadful," he sneered. "Give me what I asked for, and you'll be free."Scarlet let out a bitter laugh. "I’ll tell the Alpha your plans."Silence. A cold, unsettling silence."I
Everyone heard it. The entire castle.Lena couldn’t believe Darius had done that to her — in front of his pack of wolves. As she limped through the halls, trying to conceal her pain, heads turned. Some whispered, some snickered, and some kept their eyes down, pretending not to see her shame.Disgust twisted inside her.From his balcony, Alpha Darius stood watching her. His sharp gaze followed her every step."My Alpha," Beta Cedric greeted with a respectful bow.Darius didn’t turn around. "Returned?" he asked coolly."Yes... but with news."That caught Darius's attention. He turned sharply, eyes narrowing."Come, stand with me," he ordered.Cedric moved beside him, following his Alpha’s gaze. But while Darius’s eyes remained on Lena, Cedric's attention drifted elsewhere — to Milicent.The nervous handmaiden flitted about like a thief in daylight, glancing over her shoulder as she tried to usher Lena inside.Unaware, Darius’s gaze shifted to follow Cedric’s."It’s been a long time sinc
Beta Cedric crept silently through the forest, his steps muffled by the damp earth. His sharp gaze never left the witch as she moved between the trees, plucking herbs with practiced fingers. He’d tracked her since she’d left Lydia’s home, careful to keep his presence hidden.Then, just as his amber wolf eyes flared and his claws extended, a whisper of wind brushed past his ear — the telltale hum of an arrow slicing through the air.The arrow struck the witch’s back with a sickening thud. She crumpled to the ground, her eyes wide with shock as blood bubbled from her mouth.Cedric spun around, instincts roaring to life.A figure — crooked and cloaked — vanished into the trees, black shadows curling in its wake like living smoke.A mage.Cedric turned back to the witch, but his breath caught.She was gone. Not a trace of her body remained — only a faint smear of blood and crushed herbs scattered across the dirt.---Darius didn’t say a word as he gripped Lena’s arm and marched her throug
Lena broke through the crowd just as the guards forced the boy’s trembling arm onto the blood-stained wooden block.The boy’s face was pale, his breathing rapid, and his wide eyes stayed fixed on the sharp blade hovering above him.“Wait!” Lena’s voice rang out.The crowd stirred, murmurs spreading as people turned to face her. The guards hesitated, lowering the blade slightly.“Who dares interrupt the Alpha’s judgment?” one of the guards barked.“I do,” Lena declared, stepping forward. “Release the boy.”“She’s the Luna,” someone whispered.The guards exchanged uneasy glances.“My lady,” one of them said, lowering his head slightly in respect. “The Alpha’s orders were clear.”“I know the Alpha’s orders,” Lena replied. “But I question the wisdom of punishing a starving child like this.”“Theft is theft,” the guard argued. “The boy knew the risk.”“And what did he steal?” Lena challenged. “Gold? Weapons?”“Food,” a voice answered from the crowd. An elderly woman stepped forward. “He to
"My lords," a man greeted, bowing his head before turning to the Alpha. "Alpha, may your reign be long.""What is the matter?" Darius asked.The man gestured to a young human boy, bruised and dressed in torn clothes."For some time now, I've noticed food disappearing from my kitchen," the man explained. "My family and I decided to set a trap. We stayed up through the night and caught him red-handed.""And he's still breathing?" Lord Ronan drawled, sounding bored."My lord, according to our laws, such matters must be brought before the Alpha for judgment.""I know the traditions well," Ronan said, his voice sharp. "But those laws were made for werewolves — not humans. This shouldn't even be a matter for the court."Some of the elders murmured in agreement, shaking their heads."Boy," Alpha Darius called.The boy lifted his battered face, swollen and streaked with dirt."How old are you?" Darius asked."Thirteen years, Your Grace," the boy answered, his voice weak yet steady.Some of th
"In the ways of the old," the elder began, his voice firm yet distant, "a werewolf wedding was more than just a union of hearts. It was a binding of souls. The ceremony wasn’t merely about vows; it was a pact sealed by blood and magic."He paused, giving the room a moment to grasp the weight of his words."The couple would stand beneath the Blood Moon, surrounded by their pack. The Alpha or an elder would draw a ceremonial blade, cutting both bride and groom's palms. Their blood would mix as they clasped hands, creating a bond stronger than words alone."His gaze darkened."But with such power comes risk. If the bond is forced, if one heart wavers or doubts, the magic can turn unstable. A failed bond weakens the mind and spirit. Some say it drives the pair to madness."Murmurs rippled through the room, but Lena wasn’t done."And what about... the effects?" she pressed.The elder nodded gravely."A true bond, one forged in love and trust, strengthens both wolves. They become attuned to
What Lena encountered as they stepped into the northern wing of the Shadow Fang Pack was far beyond what she had expected. She had underestimated him — greatly.The place was vibrant, almost bustling with life. It mirrored the lively markets of the human world, where merchants called out their wares, eager voices mingled in conversation, and stalls lined the streets, brimming with goods — from richly woven fabrics to fragrant herbs and rare trinkets. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, blending with the faint aroma of burning incense.Children darted between vendors, their laughter ringing out like a melody, while traders haggled with customers over prices. There was warmth here — a sense of community and normalcy that felt foreign compared to the cold tension that clung to the Shadow Fang Pack’s main grounds.This wasn’t the grim, oppressive environment she had braced herself for. It was thriving, welcoming — a corner of the pack’s territory that felt almost un