CHAPTER TWO-WILHELMINA-The next morning marked the start of my duties as the freshly appointed Delta. Despite the unsettling encounter with Boris, I was ecstatic to finally be fulfilling my lifelong dream. Before the sun even peeked over the horizon, Weldon and I departed from the house and headed towards the pack mansion.The mansion was a sprawling edifice that had stood strong for centuries, the stoic backbone of our pack's heritage. It gleamed in the first light of morning, encased in dew-kissed ivy and nestled amidst lush greenery. The sight of it always filled me with a mixture of awe and reverence; a castle made of stone and timber, standing tall against the backdrop of dense woodland.It felt surreal to walk down those long halls as an authority figure rather than a subordinate. Weldon by my side, I reveled in this new reality, drinking in every pristine corner of this age-old mansion.Our first task of the day was to meet with the pack's elders and the previous leadership.
CHAPTER TWO-WILHELMINA-The silence in the room was replaced by gasps and whispers, a sea of wide eyes staring at me in disbelief, as if I was a mirage in some barren desert. But the loudest sound was the pounding of my heart in my ears, beating like a wild drum against my ribs. His intentions were clear from the start; his warning the day before was a foreshadowing of this plan. But I wouldn't fall for his manipulative offer, especially after already turning him down once.I pulled my hand away, crossing my arms. "Boris," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me.As I was once again preparing to decline Boris's advances, a voice shattered the tense silence in the room."Oh how wonderful!"All eyes turned towards the entrance, silhouetted in its archway stood a woman of formidable stature— Trisha Gravemaw, Boris' mother. A woman in her late fifties, clothed in a dark green dress that hugged her tall and lean figure. Her presence was powerful, commanding respect from eve
CHAPTER TWO-WILHELMINA-As the cheers and howls resonated through the grand hall, I stood beside Boris, my gaze fixed on the crowd. His arm snaked around my waist possessively, his grip tightening with each cheer. Fear and dread pooled in my stomach, but I forced a serene mask onto my face. I was Luna now, an Alpha female of the pack, whether I liked it or not.My gaze fell upon my father, his expression filled with worry and concern. Though the mirthful cheers echoed around him, he remained stoic, his eyes locked on mine, echoing my turmoil. Leon sat beside him, trying to maintain a façade of confidence while his eyes, too, mirrored anxiety.I tried to offer a reassuring smile, but it fell flat.Once the applause subsided, Boris leaned into me—a chilling reminder of my new status—and whispered in my ear. His warm breath fanned against my neck, making my stomach churn with unease. "You have made the right choice, Wilhelmina," his voice coated with a smooth confidence that did nothing
CHAPTER TWO-WILHELMINA-Hours later, the sun had set, and I finally made it back to my house. Trisha's lessons had been grueling. She spoke at length about diplomacy, patience, and leadership. About strength without arrogance, about compassion without weakness. Her words echoed in my mind as I opened the front door.The living room was occupied by my father, mother, Weldon, Dermon, and Raina. They all had concerned expressions on their faces, filled with worry and anxiety."Wilhelmina," my mother's voice quivered as she rose from the chair, her eyes scouring me for possible signs of distress.I forced a smile, one that would hopefully mask the turmoil swirling inside me. "I'm fine," My voice echoed throughout the quiet room, bouncing off the wooden walls and heavy curtains. For a moment they didn't respond, their eyes so deeply engrained with worry that my return seemed to make no difference.Dermon hastily rose from his seat, "You aren't fine. The look in your eyes and the tone of y
CHAPTER THREE-WILHELMINA-Nearly a week had passed since the disastrous meeting. I spent my days alone in my room, trying to heal my wounded ego. The image of Boris' cruel and mocking expression, replaying the humiliating defeat over and over again. Trisha, my future mother-in-law, had been busy telling everyone that I was Boris' Luna and that our wedding was to be arranged in the near future. Just the thought of spending the rest of my life with Boris made me feel sick.I had never felt so trapped in my life. The suffocating pressure of what was being planned for me, the c
CHAPTER THREE-WILHELMINA-Severa and I ventured further, the subtle perfume of flowers filling my senses as we entered our local park. A cobblestone path wound its way through fields of vibrant green, meticulously maintained beds of flowers, and towering trees that provided a comforting canopy overhead. The park was a world away from the gloomy confines of my room, bathed in the gentle glow of the evening sun.Families were scattered about, children played games while their parents watched fondly from benches. A slight breeze stirred the leaves and ruffled my dress, bringin
CHAPTER THREE-WILHELMINA-I sat listlessly at my vanity, staring at the vase of red roses my soon-to-be husband had sent. The flowers stood tall and proud, their petals unfurling like a lover's promise, but they offered her no solace. The reality of my situation seeped further into my mind as the fresh scent of the roses tainted the air, reminding me of the prestigious life I would soon be entangled in. My heart throbbed within the cage of my ribs, akin to a bird desperately trying to escape its confines.M
CHAPTER THREE-WILHELMINA-The following day, the sun began its ascent and its rays peeked through the parted curtains, illuminating the opulent suite. I rose early, my sleep having been restless and disturbed. The room, although majestic in design with its high ceilings and lavishly draped windows, felt empty and too large for one person to inhabit. The ornate furniture was made of rich mahogany and the bed was luxuriously dressed with velvet quilts and silk pillows that were fluffed to perfection. On the walls, priceless art hung in ornate frames that told stories of battles won and lost, of love found and squandered.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-From the window of Weldon's car, I observed the plane taking off in the distance. Severa was leaving with Maria, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Arnet. It would be some time before I saw them again. Weldon had suggested that I go with them, but I quickly shut down that idea. I was done being a helpless damsel; I would fight my own battles, with or without men by my side, even if one of them happened to be Antonio.Boris and Trisha were my adversaries. It was their actions that led me to this predicament, and now it was up to me to find a solution. A
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-BORIS-The arrogant Lycan actually believed he could steal my woman away from me! Who did he think he was? Just some pompous prince? That didn't mean anything to me!I stormed through the halls of Gravemaw Mansion, my fists tightly clenched. The servants wisely stepped aside as I made my way past them; they knew not to interfere with my seething rage."Boris," a familiar voice called out from around the corner. It was my mother. Her expression was unreadable as usual. "Follow me. We need to tal
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-SEVERA-Thorin kept his promise and brought me back to my family's home the next day. The drive there was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. I knew he could sense my anxiety.Thorin looked at me, his brown eyes softening. "Severa, you'll get through this," he murmured, placing a comforting hand on top of mine that was clenched on my lap."I know," I responded, trying to smile at him.My gaze dropped to his neck, where I had le
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-Maria and Severa stood close together, their arms locked. I stood before them like a shield, savagely determined to protect them at all costs."What do you want, Remus?" I asked.His laugh was a cold echo in the room, chilling me to my bones. "You're not naive, Wilhelmina," he chuckled. "You understand why I'm here. The Alpha demands the return of his fiancés.""We aren't going anywhere," I said, my voice low and threateni
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-It had been roughly a week since we uncovered that Trisha was responsible for the manipulated feelings between Prince Kinnsion and Eris, utilizing a Potion of Charm, while also pressuring Estrada into creating said potion.Antonio, Weldon, and Thorin had confronted Boris and Trisha about their criminal activities, sparking the beginning of an investigation. Antonio had also revealed our mate bond to them during the confrontation.Antonio warned us that there were spies from the Lyca
CHAPTER TWELVE-ERIS-We were now aboard a plane, en route to the Lycan Empire. The group consisted of myself, Hiro, Princess Alina, Kinnsion, Nora, and Estrada. The tension inside the aircraft was palpable, the air felt thin and suffocating, the silence echoing louder than the hum of the plane's engines.Hiro had originally been sitting across from me, but he eventually moved to sit across from Princess Alina. The two of them were now murmuring quietly to each other.Nora and Estrada were situated far from us, each engr
CHAPTER TWELVE-ERIS-Exhaustion consumed me. My head throbbed and my body felt like it had been run over by a truck. Even my emotions were worn out. It had been two days since Mrs. Arnet cured both Kinnsion and myself of the Potion of Charm. I could still remember the sensation of being cured so vividly.A cooling wave washed over me, erasing the shimmering illusion that had once trapped my mind. I remember looking into Kinnsion's eyes, seeing his love for me dwindle. Our love wasn't real. It was manufactured by a potion, by magic, nothing more. It left a hollow feeling in my heart
CHAPTER TWELVE-HIRO-Prince Antonio then turned to me. "Hiro," he said in a more gentle tone, "could you please explain how you came to be in the basement of the Alpha's Estate?"A slight chill ran down my spine as I nodded in agreement. I took a deep breath and began recounting the events that unfolded, starting from our mother's order to Eris and I."It all began a few days ago when Prince Kinnsion and Princess Alina came to visit," I explained. "Our mother commanded us to use the Potion of Charm to make them fall in
CHAPTER TWELVE-HIRO-Glancing around, I could feel the tense atmosphere in the room. Everyone seemed to know something that I didn't. I turned to Eris. She seemed uneasy, her usually flushed cheeks now drained of color. "What's going on?" I asked, bewildered by the sudden shift in mood.Eris remained silent, her gaze fixed on Prince Kinnsion. Her eyes glimmered with pain and sadness.Prince Antonio let out a heavy sigh, then turned back to me. "This could mean your father is involved in your brother's and mothe