Knox led me through the winding halls of the palace, his strides confident and unhurried as I struggled to keep up. My new quarters, as he called them, were located on the eastern wing of the castle, far from the bustling activity of the main hall.
When we stopped in front of a massive wooden door, Knox pushed it open and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. The room was... breathtaking. Golden sunlight filtered through tall arched windows draped with sheer white curtains, illuminating the polished wooden floors. A grand four-poster bed with dark mahogany frames sat at the center, its plush mattress covered in soft cream linens and adorned with golden embroidery. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its crystals catching the light and scattering rainbows across the room. To the left, a small sitting area with velvet armchairs and a round table stood by the window, and a tall bookshelf lined one wall, its shelves filled with books whose spines gleamed with gold lettering. Across from the bed, a wide vanity with an ornate mirror rested against the wall, and beside it, a door led to what I could only assume was the bathing chamber. It was nothing like the cold, cramped spaces I’d grown used to in Amira’s pack. "Welcome to your quarters," Knox said, his voice breaking the silence. I turned to face him, my mouth dry. “This… this is all mine?” Knox smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. “For now. If you survive.” His words hit me like a slap, and I blinked, unsure if he was joking or simply stating a fact. “Survive?” I asked cautiously. “Alaric doesn’t waste time on dead weight,” Knox said bluntly. “He chose you. That means he’s watching, even if you don’t see him.” I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like the opulence of the room was a trap waiting to spring. Knox stepped forward, his posture more relaxed now. “Since you’ll be seeing me often, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Knox, Beta to the king. My job is to ensure you don’t make a mess of things—or get yourself killed.” “I see,” I murmured, feeling a lump form in my throat. “You’ll have questions,” Knox continued. “Ask them now or save them for later. Either way, you’ll find I’m not the babysitting type.” Before I could respond, a knock came at the door, and Knox turned toward it. A young maid stepped inside, her expression neutral as she took in the sight of me. Her sharp green eyes scanned me from head to toe, her lips pursing slightly. She was slender, with auburn hair tied into a neat bun, and wore a simple gray uniform. “This is Elise,” Knox said, gesturing toward her. “She’s here to assist you with settling in.” Elise gave a stiff nod in my direction. “Luna,” she said curtly, the word coming out clipped and almost resentful. “Thank you,” I replied softly, though my voice wavered under the weight of her cold stare. She moved around the room with practiced efficiency, straightening the already immaculate sheets on the bed and rearranging items on the vanity. I tried to break the silence. “Elise, isn’t it? How long have you worked here?” She glanced at me briefly but didn’t answer, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I was just wondering—” I started again, but she turned sharply and strode toward the door. Without another word, she stepped out and slammed it shut behind her, the sound echoing in the quiet room. I flinched, staring at the closed door in shock. “Well…” I muttered to myself, sitting down at the edge of the bed. “That was rude.” Knox chuckled from where he leaned against the wall. “Don’t take it personally. You’re not exactly a welcome sight for most here.” I looked up at him, my chest tightening. “Why does everyone hate me?” Knox shrugged. “You’re an omega, stepping into a position meant for someone stronger. They think you’re unworthy.” His bluntness stung, but I couldn’t argue. Knox straightened and walked to the door. “Rest up,” he said, his tone lighter now. “Tomorrow, the real fun begins.” He left without another word, leaving me alone in the too-grand, too-silent room. I closed my eyes, willing the tears to stay back, but they came anyway. “Oh, Olivia…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “If only you were here.” The thought of her—the only person who had ever cared for me—was enough to break the fragile dam I’d built around my emotions. I curled up on the edge of the bed, clutching the soft fabric of the sheets as sobs wracked my body. The room was beautiful, yes. But it was a prison all the same. My sobs grew louder, the tightness in my chest unbearable. I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stop the memories from rushing back, but they came anyway, vivid and unstoppable. I was back in the forest, the air thick with the scent of earth and blood. “No!” My scream echoed through the trees as I ran, my legs burning, my breath coming in sharp, panicked gasps. “No, please don’t hurt her!” The clearing came into view, and there she was—Olivia. My beautiful, kind Olivia. She was on her knees, her golden hair disheveled and streaked with dirt, her hands bound behind her back. A sharp blade glinted in the fading sunlight, pressed against her throat. “Don’t do this!” I pleaded, stumbling forward, my voice cracking. “Please, she hasn’t done anything!” Another guard held me tight. “Oh princess you are going to watch the consequences of your actions.” He bit my ears so hard, I screamed. The man holding her smirked, his grip tightening on the knife. “Orders are orders, little wolf. You should’ve stayed out of this.” “No!” I screamed again, falling to my knees as tears blurred my vision. “Take me instead! I’ll do whatever you want, just let her go!” Olivia turned her head slightly, her blue eyes meeting mine. Despite the fear all over her face, she remained calm and that broke me. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her voice trembling but steady enough to reach me. “Liana… it’s okay.” “It’s not okay!” I sobbed, clawing at the ground, desperate to reach her. “You can’t leave me! Please, Olivia!” The man didn’t wait. He grinned as he stabbed the knife into her throat, twisting it while laughing. “No!” The word tore from my throat, raw and guttural, as I watched the light in her eyes begin to fade. Blood seeped through her tunic, staining the forest floor as she crumpled forward. I scrambled to her, my hands shaking as I pressed them against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. “Olivia! Stay with me! Please, don’t go!” Her eyes fluttered, her breaths shallow and labored. “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her lips barely moving. “Don’t apologize!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. “You’re going to be okay. I’ll get help. Just…just hold on!” But she was already slipping away. Her trembling hand reached up to touch my cheek, her blood smearing against my skin. “I am glad to have known you…. lily,” she whispered. “Stop it!” I screamed, shaking her. “Don’t say that! You’re going to live! Olivia!” Her hand fell limp, and her eyes closed. I threw my head back and screamed her name, my voice echoing through the forest like a wounded animal. “Olivia!!!”I gasped. My chest tightened, each breath shallow and painful. The tears had dried on my cheeks, but the ache in my heart had only grown worse. My hands clawed at the sheets as I tried to steady myself, but the heaviness of my memories made it impossible. I couldn’t breathe. I clawed at my chest but it was impossible. Panic surged through me, sharp and unrelenting, as though invisible hands were squeezing the air from my lungs. I stumbled off the bed, my legs trembling beneath me. The room felt too small, the walls pressing in on me, it felt as if they were squeezing me in. I staggered to the door, wrenching it open, and rushed into the hallway. My bare feet padded against the cold stone floor as I searched desperately for an escape, any place where I could breathe again. My vision blurred with fresh tears, but I kept moving, driven by the overwhelming need for air. A balcony. The double doors stood at the end of the corridor, the moonlight spilling through the gla
I woke to the sound of knocking, sharp and hasty, pulling me from restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. The lavish bed, the ornate chandelier, the faint scent of lavender,it all came rushing back.A second knock followed, louder this time.“Wake up,” came Knox’s voice from the other side of the door.Groaning softly, I sat up, pushing the covers off. I adjusted my nightie, standing up. “Why? What time is it?”“It’s time to stop pretending this is a vacation,” he said dryly.I dragged myself out of bed, my body still aching from the tension of the previous night. Opening the door, I found Knox leaning casually against the frame, his arms crossed.“Do you always wake people up like this?” I muttered, brushing a hand through my messy hair.He smirked. “You’ll get used to it.”“Doubt it.”Before he could reply, the, Elise, stepped in, passing from beside Knox and me. She barely spared me a glance as she moved past, carrying a small bu
I didn’t want to see him. But I felt like, out of respect, I should.I gave Knox a look, biting my lips as I glanced at Alaric, who stood there like some stone-cold statue. His gaze was unwavering, piercing straight through me.Knox smirked and nudged me forward. “Go on, little wolf. Don’t keep him waiting.”I shot Knox a glare, but my feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the man who ruled everything within these walls and beyond. The closer I got, the more I felt his presence, like a suffocating weight in the air. His icy blue eyes tracked my every step, unreadable and unnervingly focused.When I finally stood before him, I bowed my head slightly, more out of instinct than anything else. “Your Majesty,” I murmured.Alaric didn’t say anything at first. He just watched me, his gaze dipping to my face, lingering like he was trying to read my thoughts.My skin prickled under his scrutiny, and I dared to glance up, locking eyes with him. For a split second, I swore I saw something
“Wait, wait, wait,” said the woman sitting across from Knox, barely able to contain her laughter. “He kissed her hand?”Her name was Mira, one of the few people in the palace who could get away with teasing the king without losing her head. She was the palace’s head strategist and a close ally to Alaric, though she often acted more like a sister than a subordinate.“Oh, it gets better,” Knox said, leaning back in his chair. “He called her my Luna like he was in some kind of romance novel.”Mira burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. “I can’t believe I missed this! Where was I?”“Probably off doing actual work,” Knox replied, smirking.Mira wiped a tear from her eye, her laughter finally subsiding. “You’re serious, though? Alaric actually did that?”“As serious as the scowl he gave me when I told him I was going to tell you.”Mira shook her head, grinning. “Poor Liana. She probably thinks he’s lost his mind.”“He has,” Knox said with mock seriousness.Mira slapped his arm playfully
Liana's POVI wanted to spend the day learning more about the castle byt I had no idea where I was going to. Not with how people were giving me strange looks. Down to the maids who came to my room to clean. They were all whispering amongst each other.The whispers started small, faint murmurs that I could barely make out as I walked through the palace halls.At first, I thought I was imagining it the quick glances, the half hidden smirks, the way conversations stopped the moment I entered a room.But then, the rumors grew louder.“She’s the one who killed that councilman, you know,” one of the maids said loudly as I passed by the kitchens. Her voice carried, sharp and biting, and I froze just out of sight.“I heard it wasn’t just the councilman,” another chimed in, her tone conspiratorial. “She killed her own friend too. Olivia, wasn’t it? The healer? They said she died during the week she came and the. She tried to act as Luna to cover it up. Like oh my God.”“That’s right,” the fi
Liana's POV"If you plead guilty, you will endure 200 lashes with a silver whip. If you plead not guilty, you face death. Liana Waters, Omega of the Red Blood pack, do you plead guilty?" The judge's voice echoed in the silent courtroom as the air became still. I took a deep breath as I stared down at my chained hands, the iron biting into my skin, blood seeping from the wounds. My eyes, once gentle brown, now blood red from punches from the guards. Up ahead, the judges sat in judgment, their solemn faces betraying no hint of mercy. Behind them loomed the alpha and Luna, their imposing figures casting a shadow over the courtroom. The pack members, my kin, watched with scornful eyes, their whispers of condemnation echoing in my ears.My heart pounded in my chest as I grappled with the weight of their ultimatum. Guilt would mean agony, but innocence would mean death. I had not killed a council member but no one believed me, no one wanted to listen. The unfairness of it all threatened
Amira's eyes squinted, her arms crossed tightly against her bosom as she regarded me with a look filled with frustration and disbelief. "Really? Are you going to use that as an excuse?" she shot back, her voice laced with irritation.I bristled at her words, the sting of her accusation, how could it be an excuse when the goddess was the one who twisted our fates? "He rejected me, didn't he?" I countered, my voice trembling with anger. "So why are you still so hung up over it?"But Amira's expression remained unchanged, she didn't reply so I continued, "Is that why you didn't do anything about the tomatoes and eggs...or a healer to help me with the silver splinters?" I pressed.Amira sighed heavily, as always her eyes revealed nothing. "You will remain here, sis," she declared, "I have no vendetta with you. I can't get a healer; it goes against the judgment of the court. Even as Luna, I am not above the law. You will have to make do for tonight. Tomorrow someone will come to release
"Preg...pregnant?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as shock coursed through me.Amira, seated on Max's lap, shared a knowing look with her mate before turning her attention back to me. "Yes," she replied simply, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "You look surprised, sister. Did you not expect me to be pregnant?” I forced a smile shaking my head, "I...I didn't know," I admitted, my voice a bit shaky. I was happy for her truly but a part of me is envious that she got her life all figured out. Amira just shrugged, "You wouldn't have known... a witch gave me a potion to hide my scent because of enemies," she revealed, her words hanging heavy in the air. "Olivia would be coming to assist me if there would be any complications."I frowned, confusion swirling within me as I struggled to make sense of her words. Why Olivia? Why not another healer? But before I could voice my concerns, Max's urgent shout shattered the fragile peace of the moment."Guards!" he bellowed, hi
Liana's POVI wanted to spend the day learning more about the castle byt I had no idea where I was going to. Not with how people were giving me strange looks. Down to the maids who came to my room to clean. They were all whispering amongst each other.The whispers started small, faint murmurs that I could barely make out as I walked through the palace halls.At first, I thought I was imagining it the quick glances, the half hidden smirks, the way conversations stopped the moment I entered a room.But then, the rumors grew louder.“She’s the one who killed that councilman, you know,” one of the maids said loudly as I passed by the kitchens. Her voice carried, sharp and biting, and I froze just out of sight.“I heard it wasn’t just the councilman,” another chimed in, her tone conspiratorial. “She killed her own friend too. Olivia, wasn’t it? The healer? They said she died during the week she came and the. She tried to act as Luna to cover it up. Like oh my God.”“That’s right,” the fi
“Wait, wait, wait,” said the woman sitting across from Knox, barely able to contain her laughter. “He kissed her hand?”Her name was Mira, one of the few people in the palace who could get away with teasing the king without losing her head. She was the palace’s head strategist and a close ally to Alaric, though she often acted more like a sister than a subordinate.“Oh, it gets better,” Knox said, leaning back in his chair. “He called her my Luna like he was in some kind of romance novel.”Mira burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. “I can’t believe I missed this! Where was I?”“Probably off doing actual work,” Knox replied, smirking.Mira wiped a tear from her eye, her laughter finally subsiding. “You’re serious, though? Alaric actually did that?”“As serious as the scowl he gave me when I told him I was going to tell you.”Mira shook her head, grinning. “Poor Liana. She probably thinks he’s lost his mind.”“He has,” Knox said with mock seriousness.Mira slapped his arm playfully
I didn’t want to see him. But I felt like, out of respect, I should.I gave Knox a look, biting my lips as I glanced at Alaric, who stood there like some stone-cold statue. His gaze was unwavering, piercing straight through me.Knox smirked and nudged me forward. “Go on, little wolf. Don’t keep him waiting.”I shot Knox a glare, but my feet moved on their own, carrying me toward the man who ruled everything within these walls and beyond. The closer I got, the more I felt his presence, like a suffocating weight in the air. His icy blue eyes tracked my every step, unreadable and unnervingly focused.When I finally stood before him, I bowed my head slightly, more out of instinct than anything else. “Your Majesty,” I murmured.Alaric didn’t say anything at first. He just watched me, his gaze dipping to my face, lingering like he was trying to read my thoughts.My skin prickled under his scrutiny, and I dared to glance up, locking eyes with him. For a split second, I swore I saw something
I woke to the sound of knocking, sharp and hasty, pulling me from restless sleep. My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was. The lavish bed, the ornate chandelier, the faint scent of lavender,it all came rushing back.A second knock followed, louder this time.“Wake up,” came Knox’s voice from the other side of the door.Groaning softly, I sat up, pushing the covers off. I adjusted my nightie, standing up. “Why? What time is it?”“It’s time to stop pretending this is a vacation,” he said dryly.I dragged myself out of bed, my body still aching from the tension of the previous night. Opening the door, I found Knox leaning casually against the frame, his arms crossed.“Do you always wake people up like this?” I muttered, brushing a hand through my messy hair.He smirked. “You’ll get used to it.”“Doubt it.”Before he could reply, the, Elise, stepped in, passing from beside Knox and me. She barely spared me a glance as she moved past, carrying a small bu
I gasped. My chest tightened, each breath shallow and painful. The tears had dried on my cheeks, but the ache in my heart had only grown worse. My hands clawed at the sheets as I tried to steady myself, but the heaviness of my memories made it impossible. I couldn’t breathe. I clawed at my chest but it was impossible. Panic surged through me, sharp and unrelenting, as though invisible hands were squeezing the air from my lungs. I stumbled off the bed, my legs trembling beneath me. The room felt too small, the walls pressing in on me, it felt as if they were squeezing me in. I staggered to the door, wrenching it open, and rushed into the hallway. My bare feet padded against the cold stone floor as I searched desperately for an escape, any place where I could breathe again. My vision blurred with fresh tears, but I kept moving, driven by the overwhelming need for air. A balcony. The double doors stood at the end of the corridor, the moonlight spilling through the gla
Knox led me through the winding halls of the palace, his strides confident and unhurried as I struggled to keep up. My new quarters, as he called them, were located on the eastern wing of the castle, far from the bustling activity of the main hall.When we stopped in front of a massive wooden door, Knox pushed it open and stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.The room was... breathtaking.Golden sunlight filtered through tall arched windows draped with sheer white curtains, illuminating the polished wooden floors. A grand four-poster bed with dark mahogany frames sat at the center, its plush mattress covered in soft cream linens and adorned with golden embroidery. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its crystals catching the light and scattering rainbows across the room.To the left, a small sitting area with velvet armchairs and a round table stood by the window, and a tall bookshelf lined one wall, its shelves filled with books whose spines gleamed with gold lettering. Acro
My heart was beating against my chest, my eyes blurry as I stepped forward, one step heavier than the last.I was changing my destiny.My fate.I had watched my best friend die in front of me. Smelled her blood and listened as how my own sister, my younger sister who I took care of from childhood plot my own death. Every pair of eyes in the room turned to me, shock and disdain clear in their gazes. I could feel their whispers like daggers at my back, their murmurs turning into a dull roar."She’s insane.""She’ll die before the week’s out.""A mere omega with the beast king? What is she thinking?"Amira’s violet eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting as if she couldn’t form the words to express her horror. Max, standing beside her, looked at me like I’d grown a second head.The once-confident sneer he wore now faltered, replaced by confusion.Even the Lycan king himself paused. Alaric, towering above everyone else at the foot of the staircase, stared at me with an expression I
Alaric Sokolov stood on the balcony shirtless, the moonlight shining on his bronze skin that seemed to sparkle, a cigarette in his mouth as he puffed smoke into the air. His assistant stood behind him, arms crossed awaiting orders. “Is everything ready?” Alaric asked. The assistant nodded, “Everything is ready sir. They will arrive in a few hours.”Alaric nodded, “Good…remember what the witch told you, right?”“Yes sir.”“But if nothing happens before I pick one of them, make sure to keep aside the strong-headed one, the one that no one would care about if they were dead.”****Liana's POVI knelt before Olivia's lifeless form, my thoughts clouded as I gazed upon her vacant eyes, the crushed throat, and the gaping mouth. Her knees shattered and her arm contorted.She met such a tragic end, subjected to unspeakable torment. How could I have been so blind? Why did I fail to notice the second carriage trailing behind us, carrying the torturer and another healer?Why did I heed Amira's
"Preg...pregnant?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as shock coursed through me.Amira, seated on Max's lap, shared a knowing look with her mate before turning her attention back to me. "Yes," she replied simply, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "You look surprised, sister. Did you not expect me to be pregnant?” I forced a smile shaking my head, "I...I didn't know," I admitted, my voice a bit shaky. I was happy for her truly but a part of me is envious that she got her life all figured out. Amira just shrugged, "You wouldn't have known... a witch gave me a potion to hide my scent because of enemies," she revealed, her words hanging heavy in the air. "Olivia would be coming to assist me if there would be any complications."I frowned, confusion swirling within me as I struggled to make sense of her words. Why Olivia? Why not another healer? But before I could voice my concerns, Max's urgent shout shattered the fragile peace of the moment."Guards!" he bellowed, hi