“Focus,” the rogue’s voice was calm but firm, cutting through the storm of thoughts in my mind. "You have to learn to control it."
Control. Control over the power that surged through me like fire in my veins. Every breath felt like an inferno, and every thought was consumed by the overwhelming force that was awakening. My mother’s power—no, my power—was too much for me to grasp, too much for my fragile mind to handle. I closed my eyes and concentrated. The rogue’s instructions echoed in my ears: channel your anger, but don’t let it control you. But it was impossible. The anger, the grief, the fear—it all came crashing down on me. The images of my mother, murdered in cold blood by my stepmother, the countless nights spent in silence, the hours of punishment from Lucien—they were all part of the storm inside me. A crackling sound filled the air. My hands began to tremble as dark tendrils of magic spiraled from my fingertips, swirling around my body in a chaotic dance. "Focus, Cassia!" the rogue snapped, his voice breaking through the madness. "Don’t let it consume you." I grit my teeth, but the power didn’t listen. It pulsed, darker and more volatile, feeding off the rage inside me. My vision blurred, and I could feel the edges of myself slipping away, replaced by something far more dangerous. "You have to control it, or you’ll lose yourself," he warned, his tone tightening with fear. “Control it?” I whispered bitterly, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. “How do I control something that has controlled me my entire life?” The rogue stepped closer, his eyes flashing with a warning. "This power is yours. Don’t let the past own you. You’re not your mother, Cassia. You’re not a victim." The words hit me like a slap. Not a victim. Was that what I was? Could I ever truly escape the curse of my lineage? My heart pounded in my chest as the power inside me surged again. It was like a flood, drowning me, filling every part of me with its dark energy. And just when I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, the rogue’s voice broke through again, softer now. “Let it go. Let it flow through you, but don’t be consumed by it. Don’t become it.” But it was already too late. With a sharp cry, I released all the power I had been holding back. It burst from my hands in a violent wave, tearing through the air, snapping branches from trees, and sending a shockwave through the clearing. The rogue stumbled back, eyes wide with alarm. And then there was silence. The aftermath of the explosion left the air thick with tension, but there was no satisfaction in the release. The energy still hummed within me, restless, dangerous. I stood there, breathing heavily, my body trembling from the exertion. And then I heard it. A voice. Low, menacing, and far too familiar. “I didn’t think you’d be foolish enough to provoke this kind of power.” I froze. My blood turned to ice as I turned toward the source of the voice. Lucien. He stepped out of the shadows, his eyes dark with barely contained fury. His usual coldness was gone, replaced by something far more terrifying—a raw intensity, like a predator cornering its prey. I tried to move, to step back, but the rogue’s hand gripped my arm, holding me steady. “Cassia, don’t.” I glanced at him, but my gaze was drawn back to Lucien, who was now only a few feet away, his gaze locked on me with an almost predatory hunger. "You thought you could run?" Lucien's voice was a low growl, his expression unreadable. "You thought you could hide from me?" My heart raced, and the air around us crackled with tension. I could feel the power inside me, still burning, still untamed. But I was no longer afraid. Not of him, not of the power, not of the future. "What do you want from me, Lucien?" I demanded, my voice trembling, but filled with a fire I hadn’t known I possessed. “What is it you’re really after?” He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes narrowing on my face. “I wanted you to be mine,” he said softly, the words almost gentle. “But it seems you’ve become something far more dangerous than I ever anticipated.” The rogue’s grip on my arm tightened, and I could feel his unease. But Lucien wasn’t finished. He stepped closer again, his body blocking the path to escape. "You’re playing a dangerous game, Cassia," Lucien continued, his gaze never leaving mine. "This power you’re so eager to wield—it’s not just your mother’s gift. It’s something more. Something that’s tied to your family’s past. You’ve just scratched the surface. But what you don’t understand is that this power, this magic—it comes with a price." I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Was he threatening me? Or was there more to this than I realized? "And what exactly do you think you can do with that power, hmm?" Lucien's lips curled into a twisted smile. "Do you honestly believe you can defeat me? Control me?" I opened my mouth to respond, but the rogue stepped in front of me, his stance protective. “You’ve underestimated her for too long, Lucien. She’s not the weak, frightened girl you thought she was.” Lucien’s eyes flicked to the rogue, narrowing with suspicion. “And who are you to speak for her?” His tone was cold, calculating. The rogue didn’t flinch. “I’m someone who’s been watching, waiting for the right moment. And now that moment’s here.” For a long moment, there was silence. The tension in the air was suffocating, and every muscle in my body was taut, ready for whatever was coming next. Lucien’s gaze flicked back to me, and for the first time, I saw something like doubt flicker in his eyes. “I don’t know what game you’re playing at, Cassia," Lucien said, his voice softer now. "But you can’t win. Not against me.” I opened my mouth to argue, but then the air shifted again—this time, not with power, but with something far more sinister. A howl echoed in the distance. Low, mournful, and full of rage. Lucien’s eyes flickered toward the sound, and his expression darkened. He looked back at me, his jaw clenched tightly. “This is far from over,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “You’ve awakened something that you can’t control. And now, you’ll pay the price.” Before I could react, he turned and vanished into the shadows, leaving me standing there, feeling more uncertain than ever. I looked at the rogue, my heart pounding in my chest. “What did he mean by that? What have I unleashed?” The rogue didn’t answer right away. Instead, he gave me a somber look, his face filled with unease. “I don’t know,” he said quietly. “But we need to get out of here. Now.” And just as I turned to leave, the sound of footsteps reached my ears—slow, deliberate, and unmistakably close. “Cassia…” Lucien’s voice echoed from behind me, cold and terrifying. “You can’t escape this time.”“Why are you looking at me like that?” I demanded, my voice shaky but firm. Lucien stood in the doorway, his figure a shadow against the fading light. I could feel the tension in the room—the air thick with something I couldn’t name, but it wasn’t hatred. It was something else, something raw and unexpected.“I’m waiting,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “You always keep me in the dark. Well, no more. I want to know why.”He didn’t answer right away. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned me as if measuring whether or not I could handle the truth. I barely noticed the sweat trickling down my temples from the backlash of magic I’d just unleashed. My head throbbed, my energy drained, but I wasn’t backing down. “I want to know why you’re so cruel.” The words spilled out before I could stop them, rough and desperate. “Why do you hurt me? Why do you enjoy it?”Lucien’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. But then, something flickered in his gaze. A flicker of something human. Reg
“What do you mean, you’re working with the enemy?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fury and disbelief. The rogue didn’t even flinch. He just stood there, his dark eyes heavy with something I couldn’t quite place. Guilt? Regret? Or was it something far more sinister?“I didn’t want it to come to this,” he said, his voice soft, almost apologetic. “But I don’t have a choice. No one does.”I took a step back, a cold shiver running through me. The air felt thick, the tension unbearable. My stomach twisted, but I couldn’t stop myself. I needed to hear this, needed to understand.“Tell me what you’re talking about.” My voice came out sharp, demanding. “And don’t lie to me. I’m not some helpless pawn anymore.”He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling like he was preparing for something painful. “Cassia... what you don’t understand is that your family has been cursed. A curse that ties your life to your father’s. Your mother knew this—she tried to protect you from it. But she coul
"You're too late, Cassia," my stepmother sneers, her voice dripping with triumph. "Your father’s fate was sealed the moment you married Lucien."My breath catches in my throat. The words hit me like a dagger, but I refuse to let them sink in. No. It can’t be true. I push forward, my heart pounding, my fists clenched at my sides.Lucien stands beside me, his body rigid, his gaze locked on my stepmother. He says nothing, but the tension in his posture tells me everything—he knows. He knew something and didn’t tell me. My blood runs cold."Where is he?" My voice trembles, but I force strength into it. "What have you done to my father?"My stepmother tilts her head, her lips curling into a slow, taunting smile. "Oh, Cassia. Always so full of questions. But you should be asking yourself—what will you do now that he’s gone?"Gone?The word crashes into me. A chill seeps into my bones. My stepmother loves her mind games, but this time, I see it in her eyes. This isn’t a game."You’re lying,"
"You knew, didn't you?" My voice trembles, but not with fear. With fury.Lucien stands across from me, arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression unreadable. The flickering firelight casts shadows over his face, making him seem even more distant, more untouchable."Some fates can’t be changed, Cassia." His voice is calm, too calm.I take a step forward, my hands clenched into fists. "That’s not an answer."He exhales, a muscle in his jaw tightening. "And what do you want me to say? That I knew? That I kept it from you?""Yes!" I snap. "Because that’s exactly what you did."For a moment, I expect him to deny it, to lie. But he doesn’t. Instead, he turns slightly, his gaze drifting toward the darkened window."Your father was doomed the moment you married me, Cassia. There was nothing either of us could do to stop it."The words hit me like a slap. My stomach twists, nausea rising. "You could have warned me."Lucien meets my eyes then, and for a fleeting second, I see something t
"You want freedom?" Lucien’s voice was low, a dark promise wrapped in silk. He stood too close, the scent of cedar and frost surrounding me. "I’ll give it to you—if you agree to my terms."I stiffened, forcing myself to hold his gaze. I wanted to hate him, to recoil at his presence, but the weight of his words coiled around my mind like a snake."What terms?" I forced the words out, my throat tight.Lucien’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. He reached out, brushing his fingers against my wrist. A spark jolted through me, something I didn’t understand. His touch was light, teasing, and yet it carried an unspoken command."You will stand beside me, as my queen." His voice was steady, unwavering. "Not just in name, but in power."I sucked in a breath. "You expect me to rule beside you?" My voice was sharp, disbelief cracking through it."I expect you to act as my mate," he corrected, watching me too closely. "To strengthen this pack. To be more than a prisoner."I la
"Get away from him!" the rogue snarled, his blade glinting in the dim light.Lucien stood rigid, his breathing heavy, blood dripping from a shallow cut on his forearm. His eyes flickered with something dangerous, something primal, but I stepped between them, my heart pounding."Cassia, move," the rogue hissed. "You don’t know what he’s capable of."I knew exactly what Lucien was capable of. He had spent weeks breaking me, controlling me, twisting me into something he could own. But right now, I wasn’t sure if he was the worst threat in the room."I won’t let you kill him," I said, my voice firm.The rogue’s jaw clenched. His name was Eryk. He had been the one feeding me information, sneaking me supplies, whispering promises of freedom when I thought I had none. But he didn’t understand what I had just realized. Killing Lucien wouldn’t free me. Not yet."He’s our enemy, Cassia," Eryk said again, his grip tightening on the hilt of his dagger.Lucien chuckled darkly, wiping the blood fro
I jolted awake, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. Something was wrong. My skin burned as if invisible flames licked at my flesh. I flung the blankets aside and pushed up the sleeve of my nightdress.My heart stopped.A dark, swirling mark curled along the inside of my wrist—black as ink, pulsing with an eerie glow. It hadn’t been there last night.I reached out to touch it, but the moment my fingers brushed the strange symbol, a jolt of power surged through my veins. I gasped, pulling back, my pulse hammering.“What the hell…”The door burst open.Lucien stood in the doorway, his chest bare, his muscles tense as his sharp golden eyes locked onto mine.He must have sensed it too.His gaze dropped to my wrist, and for the first time since I’d met him, I saw something that looked like fear flicker across his face.He took slow steps toward me, his movements careful, and calculated.“Do you even know what you’ve done?” His voice was quiet, but there was something lethal behind it
"Cassia, move!"Lucien's voice was a harsh command, but I barely had time to react. A monstrous creature lunged at me, its blackened claws slashing through the air. I ducked, rolling across the blood-streaked marble floor just as its talons scraped against the stone.I had seen monsters before—beasts of war, cursed rogues—but nothing like these. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, their skin twisted and unnatural, moving like shadows given flesh.The castle was chaos. Pack warriors fought desperately, outnumbered by the dark creatures that poured in through shattered windows and broken doors. Screams echoed through the halls, a mix of agony and battle cries.Lucien was beside me, sword flashing in the dim light as he cut down another creature. Blood splattered across his face, but he didn’t flinch. His movements were precise and efficient. A true warrior.I lifted my hand, feeling the burn of power thrumming beneath my skin. I still didn’t fully understand what I had become, but I didn’
My breath comes out in shaky gasps, my heart racing in my chest. The Keeper looms before us, towering, its presence suffocating in the air. His form is an enigma—shrouded in shadows, like a living void. His eyes, black as the abyss, penetrate me.Lucien stands beside me, his presence is as solid as ever, yet his usual steely composure is replaced with something I haven’t seen before: fear. His jaw tightens, fists clenching at his sides. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t move, as if the air around him is too thick to break.I feel the weight of his hand on my shoulder, a small comfort, but my mind is consumed by the Keeper. This ancient being before us holds the power to alter everything. To change our fate.The Keeper’s voice echoes through the space, as cold as the grave, “I’ve waited for this moment, little wolf. To test the limits of your strength. You think you can save him?”I open my mouth, but the words catch in my throat. My gaze shifts to Lucien, his face a mask of determination, but
“Do you hear that?” My voice was barely a whisper, and I strained my senses to catch the faint sound that echoed from the depths of the shadowed realm. We had entered this place not by choice but out of desperation. A world between worlds, a limbo where the lost and forsaken souls were bound, trapped in endless torment. This was the prison where Lucien was trapped, where the essence of those who had fallen from grace lingered, unable to move on.“What is it?” Arawyn, my closest ally, and protector, asked, her voice tight with apprehension. I could feel her unease radiating from her, her normally composed demeanor shaken by the weight of this place. She was a seasoned warrior, but even she had her limits.“I don’t know,” I said, my eyes scanning the landscape ahead. The sky above us flickered with unnatural colors, the swirling hues of violet and crimson casting an eerie glow over the endless expanse. The ground beneath our feet was cracked and jagged as if it had been torn apart by so
I stepped forward, feeling the pull of something beyond the veil of reality. The air around me shimmered as if it were made of liquid light. My heart pounded, the rhythm syncing with the pulsing glow that surrounded us. This place, this strange world we had entered, was unlike anything I had ever encountered. It wasn’t just the colors—shifting in shades I couldn’t name—but the very sensation of being here. It felt unreal and yet, at the same time, undeniable. There was weight to it, a heaviness in the atmosphere that weighed down on my soul.I could feel the presence of my companions behind me, their breathing shallow, and uncertain. We had crossed into a realm between realms, a world suspended between life and death, where the laws of nature and time seemed to bend and twist. The ground beneath us was soft, like the deepest sand, yet it didn’t give way beneath our feet. It was as though we were walking on air, hovering just above a surface that shifted with each step.“Is this…real?”
"Do you believe in fate, Cassia?" His voice echoed in the stillness, sharp and disembodied, yet so real I could feel his breath on my neck. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a sudden cold sweat trickle down my spine."No," I replied, my voice firm despite the tightening in my chest. "Fate is a lie told to keep us in place."The mist swirling around us seemed to thicken, the shadows elongating into strange, shifting shapes. The portal in front of us flickered, its edges glowing faintly, like the last remnants of a dying star. But just as I thought we might be able to cross into the realm beyond, something changed.A figure stepped forward, so suddenly that I couldn’t even react in time. It was cloaked in shadow, its features hidden beneath the hood. Yet, I knew who it was before it even spoke."You are not welcome," the figure growled its voice a low, gravelly whisper that resonated through my bones.I froze, my blood turning to ice. The Guardian of the Gate had appeared.Lucien had
The air was thick with an unnatural chill as we ventured deeper into the forbidden lands. The trees towered over us, their twisted branches like skeletal fingers reaching toward the sky, blocking out what little light remained from the setting sun. The ground beneath our feet was soft, as though the earth itself had grown tired of bearing the weight of time. Every step felt like a warning, a reminder that we were walking on the ground not meant for mortals.I had never been this far from the pack’s territory. The stories of the forbidden lands were whispered in fear, told in hushed voices by the elders to keep us from venturing too far. They spoke of ancient magic, of rifts between worlds, and of dangers beyond our comprehension. But I had no choice. Lucien, my Alpha, my husband—or the man who was once my husband—was lost to me, pulled into a realm beyond the mortal world. And I would stop at nothing to bring him back.The others were close behind me, their eyes scanning the surroundi
The air around me buzzed with an energy I couldn’t quite explain. My body hummed, both with the power that I had finally learned to control and the anticipation of what was to come. Every fiber of my being was ready for the next step, but there was a gnawing ache in my chest—a fear that no amount of magic could erase."Are you sure about this?" Caden’s voice was soft, yet firm, as if he too was carrying the weight of this decision. I turned toward him, meeting his brown eyes with a steady gaze.“Lucien is out there. Somewhere. I can’t just walk away from him,” I replied, my voice filled with an emotion I hadn’t let myself feel in so long—hope.Caden gave a small nod, his lips pulling into a tight line. I could tell that he understood the depth of my words, that he knew just how much I had suffered, yet still—somehow—how much I loved the man who had once tormented me. “I’ll go with you,” he said, his tone resolute. "You don’t have to do this alone."“I know. I’ve never been alone. You’
I hadn’t expected this.A hooded figure stood before the palace gates, the fabric of his cloak flowing like shadows in the dim light of dusk. I had been pacing within the palace, the weight of my responsibilities heavy on my shoulders. I had almost convinced myself that Lucien was lost forever—that his absence, his death, had been the final, inevitable end to our tangled story. But then the guards came rushing in, breathless, their eyes wide with shock."The man at the gates," one of them said, his voice trembling. "He claims he has a message. For you, Your Majesty."A message. My heart skipped a beat, but I buried the tremor beneath the surface. "Let him in," I ordered, my voice steady, though my thoughts were anything but. I had not known peace since Lucien’s disappearance. His memory haunted every waking moment of my life. Could this man bring me answers? Or was it just another cruel twist of fate?The hooded figure was escorted into the throne room. I studied him with careful eyes
I stood at the balcony of the palace, gazing out over the land that Lucien had fought to protect. The sky was a dull gray as if the heavens themselves wept for all we had lost. My fingers traced the edge of the stone railing, cold and firm, much like the reality I had come to accept. He was gone.The war had ended, and the battle was won, but at what cost? I had gained everything, yet the price was unbearable. Lucien, the man I had come to love despite all the darkness that had surrounded him, was lost to me forever.I could still feel his presence in the corners of my mind, in the spaces between my breaths. He had been my tormentor, my savior, and in the end, he had been my love. The contradictions were maddening. But it was those contradictions that had made him who he was. A man who had loved with all the ferocity of his broken past and, in doing so, had given me the strength to rise above my own chains.I didn’t know how to rule without him. We had been a team, his fierce leadersh
"Lucien," I whispered, barely able to make the words escape my lips, my heart heavy with the weight of everything I knew was about to happen.He stood before me, the air around us crackling with energy. His golden eyes locked with mine, and in that moment, everything I had ever feared and wanted collided. There was a fire in his gaze, a fire that burned for me, for us, for the world we were trying to save—yet it was tinged with sorrow, an almost unbearable sadness."Cassia," he replied, his voice low, almost a growl. "This is the only way. You know that, don't you?"I nodded, my throat tight with the grief I could no longer suppress. My body was trembling—not from fear, but from the deep sorrow of knowing that everything we had fought for, every moment we had shared, was leading up to this. Lucien was about to make the ultimate sacrifice, and there was nothing I could do to stop it."I love you," he whispered fiercely as if trying to etch those words into the very fabric of my soul. "