Chapter 46Azalea's hands were trembling as the ball came to an end. The chatter and laughter of the guests felt distant, muffled by the weight of Bennett's words. Every step she took away from the grand hall felt heavier than the last, her mind spinning with confusion and fear. Federico was by her side, his strong presence giving her a sense of safety, but the silence between them was thick, filled with unspoken questions.Federico led her down the long corridors of the castle, his hand resting gently on the small of her back. Azalea glanced at him from the corner of her eye, his face stern, jaw clenched. He hadn’t said much after Bennett’s dramatic entrance, but she could tell he was processing everything. The tension in his shoulders was palpable, and she could feel his anger simmering just beneath the surface.As they reached their chambers, Federico opened the door for her and followed her inside. Azalea felt the overwhelming need to collapse, her legs weak from the emotional str
Chapter 47Maya sat in front of her vanity, brushing her hair absentmindedly. Her mind was elsewhere, racing with thoughts of Bennett and what had happened at the ball. She had hoped that this day would never come, that the secrets she had buried so deep would stay hidden. But seeing Bennett again—his cold, knowing smile—had sent a shiver of dread through her entire being. The guilt and fear that had lingered on the edge of her conscience for years now threatened to consume her.The knock on her door startled her out of her thoughts. She jumped, the brush slipping from her fingers and clattering to the floor. Her heart raced as she called out, “Come in.”The door creaked open, and her mother, Margaret, stepped inside. Dressed in an elegant silk robe, her face held a look of concern, her sharp eyes scanning Maya’s face.“Maya,” she began, her voice soft but probing, “you seemed… unsettled tonight. I couldn’t help but notice how pale you looked when that man—Bennett—was speaking.”Maya
Chapter 48Azalea stirred in her bed as the early morning light crept through the curtains. Her body ached from the tension of the previous days, but there was little time to rest. A soft knock at the door startled her awake. She sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep as she heard the door creak open."My lady?" Vick's familiar voice called softly from the doorway. He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room before they settled on her. He smiled faintly, though there was an edge of concern in his expression. "Good morning. I’ve come to help you get ready."Azalea let out a small sigh of relief, grateful for his presence. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cold floor sending a shiver up her spine.“Vick,” she greeted him, her voice still groggy from sleep. “What’s going on?”Vick walked over to the wardrobe, pulling out a deep emerald gown that complemented Azalea’s pale complexion. “The king has summoned everyone for breakfast in the grand dining hall. Gabe will b
Chapter 49Azalea’s heart hammered in her chest as she entered the grand dining hall with Federico by her side. The atmosphere was tense, everyone was seated around the long table, their expressions carefully guarded. The memory from last night was still too fresh, too raw. And now, here they were, seated at the same table, forced to pretend that everything was normal.Federico, beside her, was tense as well. She could feel it in the way his hand hovered near hers, the way his eyes kept drifting toward Maya. His attention wasn’t solely on her, though. No, it was split between Maya and Bennett, who had just entered the room, his presence like a storm cloud sweeping in.Bennett made his way to his seat, his steps slow and deliberate. As he passed by, Azalea caught his eye for a brief moment, and the intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down her spine. She wasn’t the only one affected; she could see the unease in Maya’s eyes, the way she averted her gaze and shifted in her seat.Federico
Chapter 50The air in the grand hall was thick with anticipation. Azalea’s heart raced as she clutched Federico’s arm, trying to draw strength from his unwavering presence. It was time for the meeting, and though she tried to keep her mind clear, unease gnawed at her. With each step forward, she felt like she was inching closer to some dark revelation.Federico led her into the room where members of the court were already seated, their gazes piercing. At the head of the table sat the king, his expression as unreadable as ever. As Azalea and Federico took their seats, she noticed Maya seated nearby, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Bennett was present too, looking annoyingly calm, as if he hadn’t a care in the world.The king cleared his throat, demanding the attention of the room. "Azalea, Maya," he began in a voice that commanded authority, "please stand."Azalea felt her heart skip a beat as she and Maya rose to their feet. The king's cold gaze flickered between them, studyi
Chapter 51The morning sun slipped through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Azalea stirred, feeling the comforting weight of Federico’s arm wrapped around her. A faint smile touched her lips as she settled closer to him, savoring this rare moment of peace. But her contentment was soon interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.Federico let out a sigh, reluctantly loosening his hold on her. “Stay here,” he murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before rising to answer the door.He opened it just a crack, revealing two guards from his father’s quarters. The stern expressions on their faces instantly told him this wasn’t a casual visit.“The king has sent for Azalea,” one of the guards announced, his tone formal.Federico’s jaw clenched. He stepped in front of the door, blocking their view of Azalea. “Return to my father and tell him that Azalea won’t be going anywhere. If he has something to say to her, he can say it to me.”The guards exchanged glances but didn’
Chapter 52Ophelia sat patiently in the examination room at the hospital, glancing around with her usual air of detachment. Vick stood beside her, arms folded, her face an impassive mask as she waited. Ophelia had insisted on Vick’s company, using the checkup as an excuse, but Vick knew better—Ophelia was never one for random small talk.The nurse stepped in to take Ophelia’s blood pressure, and Ophelia shot Vick a pointed look, a silent command for her to speak up. “I’m fine,” Vick murmured, recognizing Ophelia’s questioning gaze. “Just thinking about Azalea.”Ophelia raised a brow, her lips curling into a faint smirk. “Azalea? And Federico?” she inquired with thinly veiled curiosity.Vick hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “They’re... getting along, from what I’ve seen.”Ophelia’s smirk deepened, clearly pleased. “Interesting. They’ve had their challenges,” she remarked as if testing Vick’s knowledge of the couple. “But I can’t help but feel there’s more happening behind close
Chapter 53Leandro leaned back in his chair, his expression dark, while Thomas paced restlessly across the room. The tension between them was almost palpable as they discussed the recent events swirling around the family, particularly with Federico’s rising favour in their father’s eyes. Neither of them could shake the growing sense of bitterness and frustration.“Federico’s becoming a problem,” Leandro muttered, tapping his fingers on the table. “It’s like he’s got everyone wrapped around his little finger. And now with Azalea...” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It’s sickening.”Thomas nodded, his gaze hardening. “Father’s coddling him as usual. And ever since Azalea came into the picture, it’s like nothing else matters to him. I can’t even imagine what’s going through his mind.”Just then, the door creaked open, and Bennett walked in, his usual confident stride carrying a hint of purpose. He gave them a faint smile, his eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and mischief. “Well, i
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