HERAThe photographer's instructions sounded like muffled noise in the background as Atticus and I stood side by side, dressed in the finest royal attire, ready for the portraits that would forever mark us as king and queen. He has not even looked at me yet, his gaze fixed somewhere over my shoulder, his posture painfully stiff. I forced a smile, even though it felt strained. “Just a little closer, please, Lady Hera,” the photographer urged. I inched nearer, feeling the tension radiating from Atticus like heat from a fire. He didn’t flinch, didn’t so much as blink, and the forced distance between us felt like a wall he was determined not to break. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that he was avoiding me, more obviously than ever since the last time he’d barged into my room and fucked me with so much brutality, it left me sore for days. And I wasn’t even complaining.But after that night, he’d pulled away entirely, his presence as cold and absent as if we were strangers. It had gon
ATTICUSAs I stood there, my heart pounded in my chest, and every nerve in my body ignited with an overwhelming hunger.The gown fell away, cascading to the floor in a pool, revealing her naked back—smooth and flawless. My breath hitched as she turned to face me, her eyes a mixture of lust and challenge. The curve of her hips drew my gaze downward, the soft contours of her body, the hairless valley between her flawless legs igniting a fire inside me that I have been fighting so hard to contain for the past two weeks.I couldn’t help but take in every detail of her body that begged to be touched; the way her waist tapered into an enticing curve, the gentle swell of her breasts and obvious hardness of her nipples, the delicate line of her collarbone. I was mesmerised by the sight before me, the way her body seemed to beckon me closer, daring me to give in to the primal desire that coursed through my veins.Hold yourself back, Atticus. Don’t fall for this again. I chided myself.“Attic
HERAThe morning light spilled softly across my vanity, catching in the strands of my hair as Anisha carefully pulled the comb through it. But my mind was somewhere else—still back in that room with Atticus, still pressed against that wall as he plummeted into me with hunger. My folds began to moisten but not in the same way my heart fluttered despite myself, an unwelcome reminder of feelings I’d sworn to keep buried. I knew he felt something too, a pull neither of us seemed able to control, though he tried with everything in him to resist. And I understood why. To him, I was still the villain of his story, a constant reminder that he lost his wife. Despite everything I’d done—every effort I’d made to prove myself as anything but the villain in his story—he still couldn’t see me any other way.And yet, I was as much a victim as he was, manipulated just as he also was, a pawn, like him, in someone else’s game. If only he could see that. If only he’d see me.I barely registered when
HERABen strolled in, his presence filling the room effortlessly. His gaze settled on me, a charming grin spreading across his face as if he only walked in just to brighten my day."Lady Hera," he greeted, his voice warm, almost mischievous. He hardly spared a glance in Anisha’s direction, his attention fixed entirely on me. Anisha took the cue and slipped quietly out of the room, offering a polite curtsy before she closed the door behind her. Ben stepped in further, his eyes holding that familiar spark as they settled on me.“Lady Hera?” I repeated, my eyebrow raised slightly in surprise. “You’ve never called me that before.” I smirked. He shrugged, an easy grin forming. “Well, you’ll soon be the First Lady and Luna, won’t you?” He folded his hand across his chest, leaning against the wall beside my vanity. “Figured it’s time I start calling you properly.” I let out a small scoff, sensing the light tease behind his words. “Properly?” I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m not su
ATTICUSMy pen scratched across the invitation cards as I signed, the strokes quick and sharp, every word looking more detached than the last. My eyes scanned the reports from the other packs, but I barely saw them. My thoughts kept drifting, like a current I couldn’t swim against, always leading back to her. Hera. She was in my head, thoughts of her raging like a storm I couldn’t silence, even though I’d promised myself she wouldn’t matter.And that was the truth, she shouldn’t matter. I gritted my teeth, setting the pen down for a moment. Rachael had been the only woman I thought I’d ever feel anything for, but Hera—she was something else. She wasn’t supposed to affect me this way, shouldn’t have been able to claw her way under my skin. She was supposed to be a means to an end, nothing more, and even she knew that.We were supposed to just use each other to get what we want. Me, the throne, and her, revenge on the people that conspired against her and had her kicked out of Shad
HERAThe palace was buzzing with energy as I made my way down the corridors, Anisha trailing just a step behind, taking note of every correction I had to make concerning the wedding and coronation preparations. Everything had to be perfect, and it was my duty to make sure it was—even if my mind was somewhere else entirely.We stopped in the main hall, where a small group of caterers waited with plates of cake slices lined up on the table for tasting. They straightened as soon as they saw me walk in. I walked up to the table, looking at all the cakes. “Which flavour would you like, my lady?” one of the servers asked, gesturing to the neat line of miniature cakes on the tray.I glanced over the selection, catching sight of chocolate. The rich, dark swirls called to me and I leaned closer, picking up a piece of the chocolate cake. The taste was rich and decadent, melting on my tongue, and for a fleeting second, I felt a flicker of happiness. “Chocolate,” I murmured, savouring it.My
ATTICUSThe scene outside my window felt like a thorn in my flesh, one I couldn’t seem to ignore. I have been watching Hera out in the garden from the window of my study for more than twenty minutes, watching the way she shot arrows at the target, a deep scroll crossed over her forehead. But it had changed.Hera was now wearing that beautiful smile of hers that I hardly see, and there, right by her side, was Ben. The way she’d rushed to him, her arms slipping around his shoulders, the ease with which he held her in return—it dug under my skin like ice.Why the hell was he back? He should’ve been halfway across the mountains by now. The time he went was strategically planned for weeks, and nothing short of a blizzard would’ve delayed it. I turned from the window, jaw tight, just as Kai stepped into the study.“Why are you back?” I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended. Kai paused, sensing the edge in my tone.“A snowstorm,” he said, steady as always. “Hit out of nowhere, block
HERAThe grand hall where the reception for the coronation and wedding will be held was buzzing with activity as decorators hung drapes of deep crimson and gold. I watched them closely, nodding here and there, making slight adjustments to placements. The scent of fresh flowers lingered in the air, adding a softness to the atmosphere that did little to calm my nerves after the last few days.I was acting like the perfect trophy Luna even though I was anything but. It was beginning to get exhausting to play this part. I just can’t wait for the wedding and coronation to come and go, so that I can go back to my life.That’s if I even survive it. Just as I was about to oversee the floral arrangements, a commotion near the doorway caught my attention. Lilith had arrived, her presence commanding as always, chin held high and eyes flashing with annoyance. The guards moved immediately to block her path, crossing their arms and positioning themselves like an unmovable wall.“Out of my way,”
ATTICUSIt was evening, the setting sun sipping into the grand dinning room where I was having my dinner.More or less.My plate was untouched, the food growing colder by the minute. It wasn’t that I wasn’t hungry—I simply didn’t have an appetite, not without her.Hera hadn’t joined me for dinner. Again.I swirled the wine in my glass.She was still upset, and I couldn’t blame her. All I needed was to fix things between us. I couldn’t bare this silent treatment for long.Kai burst through the doors, interrupting my thoughts.“My Alpha,” he said, barely catching his breath, “the Alphas are here.”What? I frowned, confused. “The Alphas?”“Yes,” he said, his tone tight. “Logan, Vance, and Draven. They are in the council chambers as we speak with Elder Rowan and Malik.”I stood, my chair scraping against the floor. “Did I call for a meeting?”Kai shook his head. “No, My Alpha.”My jaw tightened. I hadn’t summoned them, which meant their arrival was likely calculated. Whatever their re
ATTICUS“Hera, wait,” I called as I strode down the hall, her sharp footsteps echoing in front of me.“Why?” she snapped, turning around swiftly, I feared she might fall. “So you can dismiss me again? Like you did in there?”I stopped at the door to my chambers, turning to face her. Her eyes were blazing, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked every bit the fierce woman I knew her to be, but beneath the anger, I could see the hurt. It twisted something inside me to think I might have caused that.“Hera, it wasn’t about dismissing you,” I said, my voice calm but still firm. “I was trying to avoid further conflict. The council is already divided, and Rowan—”“Rowan!” she cut me off, stepping closer. “That man’s ideas are a disaster waiting to happen, and you know it,” she jabbed a finger into my face and I veered back. “But instead of standing by me, you sided with him. You made me look like a fool in front of everyone.”I opened the door to my room and gestured for her t
HERA"My Lady," Anisha gasped out as she burst into my room, bowing slightly before straightening up. I was lounging on the chair, dropping the book in my hand on my lap as I looked up at her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her wide eyes betrayed her panic. "Forgive my intrusion, but I need to speak with you immediately." "What is it, Anisha?” I asked, sitting up. “What’s happened?" She hesitated for a moment, glancing around as if to ensure we were alone. My brows quirked in confusion."I was in town earlier, running errands,” she began, taking a deep breath to catch her breath. “and I… I saw Elder Rowan and Elder Malik together. They were talking—loud enough for me to hear part of it." I straightened at the mention of Elder Rowan’s name. Ever since our last council meeting, I have been very wary of that man. “Go on,” I urged. Her hands twisted nervously in front of her as she continued. "They were speaking about the Alpha, about how he’s become weak and… and about restoring
HERAThe door shut softly behind me, sealing me inside Ben’s secret room. It was just as eerily quiet as I remembered, save for the steady ticking of a small clock on the desk. Ben was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands clasped together, staring at the floor like it held all the answers.“Ben,” I said carefully, stepping further into the room.He didn’t look up, didn’t acknowledge me. I sighed. “Ben, I—”“Go,” he said flatly, his voice low but sharp.I froze for a moment, swallowing my frustration. “I’m not going anywhere. We need to talk.”“Talk about what, Hera?” He finally looked up, his eyes emotionless. “How you stood there and let him strip me of my powers? How you didn’t say a word while he took the only thing I had left?”“It’s not like that,” I said softly, taking a cautious step closer. “That and this is only temporary, Ben. You know that.”“Temporary?” He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. “You think that makes it better? You think that makes me feel less humilia
ATTICUSI entered the council chamber with Hera by my side, feeling the tension in the room thicken. The elders were seated, their eyes on us, some curious, others wary. Elder Aaron, the oldest and wisest elders of all, and my father’s oldest friend, gave me a small nod of acknowledgment, but Elder Rowan leaned back in his seat with his usual air of superiority, his lips curling into a faint smirk.This is going to be an interesting meeting with what I’ve got planned. Hers and I sat down, and the curiosity in their eyes doubled. They have never seen a Luna in the private council chamber before during a meeting, so I get it.All that is about to change. I took a steadying breath before addressing the room. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” I began. “As you’re aware, we’ve suffered a grave loss. Elder Ayo’s death at the hands of my brother, Ben, is not just a personal tragedy—it’s a loss to the entire kingdom.”“Yes,” Elder Zahrah added softly. “But Alpha, how do you
ATTICUSSoon, we were back to Feral Blood.When the car came to a stop, I got out first, moving quickly to Hera’s side to open her door.“Hmmmn, how chivalrous,” she teased as she took my stretched hand. I chuckled, threading my fingers through hers.“Only for you, my Luna,” I responded with a smirk as we started up the stairs together.The front doors swung open before we even reached them, and Kai strode out to meet us. His expression was serious, almost grim, and I knew before he opened his mouth that something was wrong.“Welcome back, Alpha,” he bowed to greet me, then did the same for Hera. “Luna,” he smiled faintly and she smiled back in response. “What is it?” I asked, my voice sharp and direct. There wasn’t time for pleasantries—not after the tension I could see in his posture.Kai hesitated, glancing at Hera briefly before focusing back on me. “Before you go in, I just want to let you know that we have some sort of… eh, situation.” He said and I frowned, my grip on Hera’s
ATTICUSIn the haze of sleep, my body stirred before my mind caught up.At first, I thought it was just a dream—one of those vivid ones where everything feels heightened. But then I felt it. A soft, deliberate stroke along my length, the sensation sending a jolt straight through me. My breathing grew heavier, the pressure building with every teasing glide of what I swore were fingers. I groaned low in my throat, thrusting my hips instinctively into the sensation. It felt so good—too good to be a dream.Then came the wet heat, soft and slick and entirely too real. My groan deepened, the sound raw and guttural. My hips jerked involuntarily, and my hand fisted in the sheets beneath me.What the hell—?Forcing my heavy eyelids open, my gaze trailed down my bare body. The sight that greeted me made my heart slam against my ribs. Hera.She was kneeling between my legs, completely naked, her beautiful and lush hair spilling over her shoulders as her mouth worked over me. Slowly. Torturou
HERA“Look at me,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.I locked eyes with him, helpless to look away, and when he buried himself fully inside me, a strangled groan tore from his throat. The sound reverberated through me, raw and primal. My nails dug into his shoulders as I adjusted to the fullness of him.Fuck.“You feel incredible… always so tight!” he rasped, his lips brushing against my jaw as he began to move. “So do you,” I forced out breathlessly and he smiled slightly. His hips rolled, slow and deliberate, each thrust sending ripples through the water and waves of pleasure through me. He filled me to the hilt, his pace unhurried yet intense.I moaned softly, letting my hands roam his back, feeling the muscles flex beneath my touch. As his thrusts grew deeper, I tilted my hips to meet him, taking him harder and earning a guttural groan from him. The sound sent a thrill coursing through me.“Take what you want,” he growled, his hands sliding to my hips to guide me.And
HERAThe night air was cool against my skin, but it did nothing to calm the heat coursing through me as I watched Atticus from the entrance of the tent inside the river a distance away. It was dark and I wouldn’t be seeing him if not for the moonlight.The moonlight kissed every ripple of his muscled body, water cascading down his chest as he tilted his head back, running his hands through his wet hair.I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Fuck! He is beautiful.The way his body moved, so strong and commanding, was hypnotizing. He was raw power and unshakable control—my mate, my Alpha.My husband. And right now, all I could think about was tearing that control away from him.I had tried to stay put in the tent, I really had. But this was our last night in the valley, and I couldn’t let it slip away without making it memorable. These past days had been different for us—no sex, just the two of us connecting in ways I hadn’t thought possible. It made me realize just how much I loved him.