Chapter 32Azalea stood in front of the mirror as Vick carefully helped her into her dress, adjusting the straps and smoothing the fabric against her skin. The gown was a deep shade of emerald, complimenting her dark hair and eyes, and Vick gave her a satisfied nod once everything was in place. “You look perfect, my lady,” she said, stepping back to admire her handiwork.Azalea glanced at her reflection, her face calm, though her thoughts were elsewhere. Tonight’s dinner wasn’t something she was looking forward to, but it was part of the charade she had agreed to with Federico. Their contract may have dictated their actions in public, but she was under no illusion about what it meant behind closed doors.Federico was across the room, adjusting the cufflinks on his royal robe. The quiet sound of his movements was interrupted by the sharp ring of his phone. Azalea glanced toward him just as the phone lit up on the nightstand. The caller ID flashed: Maya.Her expression didn’t change, an
Chapter 33Leandro and Thomas made their way through the palace gardens, the cool evening air brushing against their skin as they walked toward Federico’s section of the palace. Their conversation was light, but there was an underlying tension as they both recalled the strange events of the past few days. It wasn’t like Federico and Azalea to keep to themselves this much, especially given their usual distant relationship. Yet, the odd shift in their behaviour hadn’t gone unnoticed.As they approached the parking lot outside Federico’s residence, Leandro’s sharp eyes narrowed. “One of his cars is missing,” he said, pointing toward the empty spot.Thomas looked over, frowning. “Seems like they’re out,” he muttered, his gaze scanning the quiet grounds.They continued forward until they spotted Jake, one of Federico’s trusted guards, standing just outside the house. He gave them a polite nod as they approached.“Evening, Jake,” Leandro greeted casually, though his curiosity was evident in
Chapter 34Vick walked briskly through the corridors of the palace toward the grand hall. Her footsteps were soft against the marble floors, but her mind was focused. As she approached the entrance, she wasn’t surprised to see Maya’s car parked outside. Maya had a knack for showing up exactly when expected—and sometimes when she wasn’t.Just as she took a step closer to the hall, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, noticing the caller Maya. Vick took a deep breath before answering.“Hello, Miss Maya,” Vick said, her tone neutral.“Where’s your mistress?” Maya’s voice was sharp as if she couldn’t quite hide her curiosity. “Is Azalea with you?”“No, my lady is back at the palace,” Vick replied calmly, her eyes scanning the hall entrance. “Is there a message you’d like me to deliver to her?”For a moment, there was a pause on the other end of the line. Then Maya’s voice came through again, but this time it was softer, almost dismissive. “No need. I’ll handle it myself.”B
Chapter 35Maya stormed into her home, her heels clicking angrily against the marble floor. She didn’t pause to greet the staff or acknowledge her family’s presence in the living room. Instead, she made a beeline for her bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her with such force that the walls seemed to shake. She paced back and forth, seething, her hands clenching into fists. “Azalea,” she hissed under her breath, the mere thought of the woman making her blood boil. The way she had dared to show up at the meeting—Maya’s territory, where she was supposed to be the one standing at Federico’s side. Yet Azalea had waltzed in, full of grace and confidence, making it clear she wasn’t backing down. There was a soft knock on her door. “Maya?” came the voice of her younger sister, Marie, from the hallway. “What’s wrong?”Maya spun around, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Go away, Marie!”Marie opened the door cautiously, peeking inside. “You’ve been acting strange since the meeting with
Chapter 36Ophelia stood in front of the grand mirror in her chamber, adjusting her gown with a smug smile. Her plan was falling into place, and she couldn’t wait to execute it. She turned to face Mack, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, deep in thought, his expression distant.“We leave for the Red Moon pack in two days,” she announced, running her fingers over the delicate fabric of her gown. “I’ll need to visit the hospital there.”Mack raised his eyebrows, mildly curious. “The hospital? Why?”Ophelia gave him a side glance, her smile growing wider. “You know it’s one of the best in all the clans combined. I need to check in on a few things. Besides, it’s good to show that we’re staying informed about the state of things outside of our pack.”Mack shifted, his thoughts still tangled in doubt. He had followed Ophelia into this relationship, thinking it was driven by his desires, but lately, he wasn’t so sure. Her pull on him was undeniable—she was beautiful, seductive, and smar
Chapter 37Gabe and Jake entered Federico's office, their expressions carefully neutral. Federico, seated behind his large oak desk, raised an eyebrow as they approached, already sensing what was coming.“Your brothers, Leandro and Thomas, were here to see you,” Gabe said, folding his arms across his chest.Federico let out a dry laugh, leaning back in his chair. “You don’t have to behave as if you don’t know that I don’t get along with them. You can skip the formalities.”Jake exchanged a glance with Gabe before shrugging. “We know, but it’s still good to keep you informed.”Federico shook his head, tapping his fingers on the desk, his mind already wandering. His brothers had always been trouble, always scheming behind his back. But today, they weren’t his main concern. “Alright, enough about them,” he said, rubbing his temples. “Let’s talk about the ball.”Both Gabe and Jake straightened, understanding the seriousness in his tone.“I need you two to be vigilant during the ball,” Fe
Chapter 38Azalea woke up with the soft rays of the morning sun streaming through the large windows of her bedroom, casting a warm glow on her face. A smile crept across her lips as she stretched lazily in bed, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over her. Today would be the day her sister Ophelia and Mack arrived, and she couldn’t wait to see the shock and disappointment on their faces. They had imagined her suffering, broken by her circumstances, but instead, they would find her thriving. Her confidence and newfound strength made her eager for the confrontation.Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Vick stepped in quietly, her hands clasped in front of her."Good morning, Luna," Vick said with a small bow. "Queen Selena is here to see you."Azalea sat up abruptly, her eyes widening in surprise. “Queen Selena? What is she doing here?”"I don't know, but she asked to speak with you immediately," Vick replied, moving over to help Azalea into her jacket. Azalea n
Chapter 39Federico sat behind his desk, deep in thought as he reviewed the security protocols for the upcoming ball. He knew it wasn’t going to be an ordinary event. With the political tension between the packs and the presence of rogues lurking in the shadows, nothing needed to go wrong. His thoughts were interrupted when Gabe and Jake walked in.“Everything is set for the ball, Alpha,” Gabe said, standing tall before the desk. “But we wanted to check in to see if there were any last-minute orders.”Federico looked up at them, his brow furrowed. “Make sure to check the halls thoroughly. I don’t want any mistakes. Rogues or worse, Lycans, could try to sneak in, and I won’t tolerate any threats. I want every inch of this place covered.”Jake nodded. “We’ll sweep the halls and make sure everything’s in order.”As they turned to leave, the door creaked open, and Maya made her way into the office, a soft smile on her face. Federico’s mood lightened instantly at the sight of her, and he r
Azalea POVI ran out of the throne room and tears began to flow down my face. I tried to hold it in but I couldn't even hold it in for long as all the tears poured and I tried to cover my mouth just to silence it.I can't continue doing this, I keep lying to alpha Federico that I love him when I don't…yes, I have affection for him but that love could never be like the one I felt for Luther, Alpha Federico kept asking me if I loved him but I kept saying I loved him when I didn't.I wish I could just truly love him but I couldn't do it. Walked sluggishly to my room and closed the door as I began to think about all that Alpha Federico said, he kept mentioning my second chance mate coming back but I couldn't really agree to my mate ever coming back. What if he came back and I hate him? What if I reject him because I have become too deeply in love with Luther?But I won't want anyone to pass through the rejection. I knew how much pain I held in the day Kade rejected me and now I would hav
ALPHA Federico The priest and everyone stared at me as my beta asked the same question for the second time. I knew that I wouldn’t dare tell them that I had just stolen my own son's mate.“It’s nothing, I just remembered that I need to discuss something with Luther.” I lied before moving backward a little and then left the secret room and went back to the palace.I staggered slowly through the hallways as I was unable to believe what just happened…it began to make perfect sense to me, that was why Azalea wasn’t able to stay away from Luther even though my inner wolf was very weak.It was because of the pull which she kept feeling and that was what I had always thought was cheating.“I tried to separate them but I was just making the situation worse and their bond to keep getting close,” I muttered to myself as I staggered like a person who was drunk, I stopped again when I realized something.“How am I even sure that they haven’t slept with each other in secret already?” I asked myse
Alpha Federico povKade was soon done with his childish treat and walked away but I wasn’t as calm as I sounded, I looked at Azalea and she was happy because I backed her up…I was also happy because happiness was the only thing I wanted, all I wanted to see was a smile on her face at all times and she never deprived me of that….I smiled back at her subconsciously before looking away, “You shouldn’t mind him, If truly she was seeing things and kept having nightmares we like to have heard her shouts at least once or twice but none of that has happened.” Azalea said before looking at me with a smile.Just when I was about to reply to her my phone beeped and when I checked it was a message from my Beta letting me know that the priest I had sent on an errand had arrived.“I need to go, I have very important things to attend to,” I said to her and stood up even before she could question my reasons,As I walked down the hallway I hoped that he had found a way and that the priest had nothing
Azalea’s povWith those words, I was a bit taken aback by what she was trying to insinuate.“What do you mean?” I asked.“I won’t tell you anything, you just keep acting dumb and trying to find out why Luther cannot do without you,” Susan said and even though I was at the doorway she still walked away and left me in the garden again, while I thought about why exactly I felt this way and why she just said those words but yet I felt like what she had just said had some hidden meaning I have to find out more on.“She wouldn’t say those things if she hadn’t heard something or knew about what was going wrong in my life,” I whispered to myself before walking out of the Garden and into the palace only to see Alpha Federico waiting in front of the doorway with a frown making me wonder if I have done something wrong to him.“Why are you standing there and staring at me like I have done something wrong?” I asked Alpha Federico as then his frown turned to a cheerful look.“I was worried Susan wa
Azalea POVI couldn’t say anything and just kept quiet. Susan walked towards me with a smirk as she became so close to me I could feel the harsh breath from her nose on my skin making me very uncomfortable.“I understand what you mean,” I said but I still didn’t understand what the secret was all about.“I know you think the secret is a minor something but I called you here just to let you know that I would make your life a living hell, I liked you back then as I always thought that you would favor us when you became the Luna but now we all paved way for you to be the queen and now Alpha Federico made you the queen even without a ceremony and you threw us all away,” Susan said with bitterness oozing out of her voice but I still stood cool as I knew deep within me that she was the one who took that photo but with the way, I saw things now I knew she couldn’t do anything… she just wanted attention and to be favored by alpha Federico she was not as determined as Lucy.I walked up to her
Azalea’s povI lay beside Alpha Federico who was fast asleep, I couldn’t help but remember what he said. What good I possibly do to Isabelle that would make her regret ever being born into this world or even being in this pack?I don’t know why Alpha Federico can’t just chase them all away, at least Alpha Rozan left but why weren’t Isabelle and Kade leaving?Suddenly I remembered Kade and that made me angry with myself, I don’t know why I always remembered him. He rejected me and yet acted so emotionally with me,I stood up from the bed and wore my key favorite dress to stroll around and that’s when I searched around for my novel from the other day but couldn’t find it, “where could I have kept it?” I questioned myself and then I remembered the night of my intimacy with Luther, he had collected the book from me while he kissed me and took me to his room and that’s when I recalled seeing him drop it on the shelf in the hallways.I checked on Alpha Federico and he was still fast asleep,
Kade povIsabelle scoffed at my words but that was the truth and I didn’t intend on lying to Isabelle anymore, the love I had for her had slowly begun to wash away and I couldn’t deny the truth anymore.Isabelle paced towards me and with a frown she slapped, I held my cheek in surprise…I never expected her to slap me yet she did.She raised her hand to slap me again but I held her hand and threw it to the ground.“You can’t tell me who to love Isabelle,” I said to her but still she grinned.“I am your mate!!” Isabelle yelled and I couldn’t help but smile.“You are not my mate, you are the main reason why I lost someone as precious as Azalea, just to be with your fucked ass!!” I said to her out of anger and annoyance that Azalea was my mate but was deflowered by another alpha.“What do you mean my fucked ass!! Do you know what I passed through just to be with you!!” Isabelle yelled at me with a teary voice and even though I felt so much pity for her and tried to come close to her I rem
Isabelle povI rushed into my bedroom and touched my cheeks one more time to be sure I wasn’t dreaming…I yelled angrily and threw my phone into the mirror as I couldn’t help but yell.“Ahhh!!!!” I yelled angrily, I couldn’t stop thinking of what she said to me…“You think you can just walk in here and steal what’s mine!? Well, think again!” I recalled,How dare she do something like that, how can she say I was trying to steal what was hers ... .Alpha Federico didn’t even belong to her and still, she was in love with Luther.“I can’t take this, for goodness sake she almost killed me there and Alpha Federico couldn’t even stop her,” I muttered to myself before taking my seat and angrily starting at all the injuries in my body, I can’t believe I would need to hide my body due to how badly she treated me.I looked at my phone on the floor and I was slowly tearing up and unexpectedly the tears slid down my cheeks.“I should call Father,” I muttered and rushed to my phone as I tried turning
Azalea’s povI took my seat on Alpha Federico's bed as I tried to relax my nerves from all that I had just done, Alpha Federico handed me a glass of water which I collected with a wide smile and gulped it in.“I still can’t believe you did that to Isabelle and could still act cool about it.” Alpha Federico said followed by a chuckle, I smiled as I slowly sipped my water like it was wine…I couldn’t even tell how I felt, if I was being angry with myself for showing Alpha Federico I liked him.Suddenly everything I said previously started coming back to me as I dropped the cup and covered my face in embarrassment.I still couldn’t believe such words came out of my mouth. I told him I loved him!!Alpha Federico noticed I was shy and pulled me in for a hug.“I know you are a jealous kind but why would you take it to the extent of beating her almost to a coma.” He muttered to my cheek before kissing it gently.“I didn’t know what hit over me but it’s not just about jealousy, I just hate Isa