STARLETTEWhatever this was, whatever made me control Silas, I hoped it worked on Lila as well. I slowly approached her, my gaze fixed on her. “Lila, I want you to turn around and pretend you never saw me.”Her brows furrowed before she let out full-blown laughter. “Is this supposed to be a joke?”It didn’t work. I sighed exasperatedly.“What do you want?” I spat.“If you are trying to run, forget that idea. I would never allow you to escape. I need you,” she groaned.“Why?” I asked, venom lacing my voice. “Because you want to use every last drop of my blood for your evil plan? Never, Lila! Never will I allow you to harm me or my child.”Her eyes darted to my belly. “Your child?”“Yes. When I eventually conceive. With Maximus’ child, of course,” I quickly added to dispel her suspicion that I was already pregnant. “Isn’t that when you’ll need my blood? When there’s life growing inside me?”She moved closer to me, her eyes boring into mine. “You are never going back to the north. You wi
MAXIMUSMy heart shattered into pieces the moment I saw the condition my mate was in. Scrambling out of the car, I ran straight to her, gathering Iris into my arms. She was fading fast, and before long, she lost consciousness entirely.“I never thought you’d find out she was here,” Silas said, his voice cold. I lifted my head to see him standing by his car, a smirk of defiance etched on his face.“Let me carry her,” Lucius offered, holding out his arms. Trusting my brother, I handed her over, watching as he carefully took her to the car. My heart broke even more as I wondered how much she had had to endure. Silas would pay for it with his life.I returned my gaze to Silas, growling with burning fury as I unsheathed my sword and launched toward him. “I will kill you!”Silas unsheathed his own sword immediately, ready for my attack. My sword hit his powerfully, making a loud clank. And so the war began. Every other soldier around us attacked each other, fighting with relentless vigor an
MAXIMUSI rushed back to my mate and held her in my arms as the driver sped back to the pack. Once we arrived, I carried her straight to the hospital, where the doctor was already prepared for our arrival. Starlette was still unconscious, and my worry grew with every passing moment. If anything happened to her, I would never forgive myself for failing to protect her.Without hesitation, the doctor began examining her, and I lingered by the hospital bed, refusing to let her out of my sight again.The doctor turned to look at me. “Alpha, please, can you excuse me while I—”“I am going nowhere!” I growled. “I’m not disturbing your work, so get on with it. And make sure she survives. If she doesn’t, you will have to follow her.”Fear flashed in his eyes before he turned back to Starlette, working with urgency. He examined her thoroughly before finally addressing me again.“She is fine,” he said.“Then make her wake up!” I groaned with frustration. How could she be fine when she was still
STARLETTEMaximus wouldn’t leave my side as I headed to Lauren’s room. He had promised to never let me out of his sight ever again. I also didn’t plan on making dumb moves ever again. What was I even thinking, going to my father’s pack without him? I should’ve known it was a trap; I mean, no one changes overnight. But I was too blinded by my desire for even a glimmer of fatherly love that I fell for it, and it had cost us a lot. From the moment we were ambushed, I knew my father was behind it. But I deliberately pushed that thought away while I was still in captivity, not wanting to break myself even more.Anyway, I was really grateful for my newfound gift that helped me escape; if not, the rescue plan would have been more difficult and more deadly. And I planned on using that gift on Lauren. Hopefully, I would be able to tell if the baby was really Maximus’ or someone else’s.We came to a stop in front of her room and pushed the door open. She was lying on the bed but quickly sat up
STARLETTE“How did you do that?” Maximus asked, amazed and confused.I rubbed my belly gently, a small smile gracing my lips. “I think the baby came with gifts. It was those gifts that helped me escape Silas’ captivity before you rescued me. I have the ability to control minds.”After thinking about it, I had come to the realization that it was the baby who had those abilities, and it only allowed me to tap into them. I could only imagine how powerful my pup would be.“That’s... incredible,” Maximus muttered, though it was evident that he was still confused. I was still grappling with this newfound ability myself, but I planned to exploit its full potential nevertheless.“What did you do to me?” Lauren yelled as she snapped out of the trance I had put her in. Tears welled up in her eyes as she shook her head. “I would never have said that. You made me lie against my will.” She turned to Maximus, begging desperately. “Please do not believe all that I just said. That wasn’t me speaking.
STARLETTEJohn Smith was taken to the dungeon afterward, leaving only Maximus in the room.He moved closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning into my neck to take in my scent. “I cannot overemphasize how much I missed you.”“I missed you too,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck. “So very much.”“He is going to pay for this,” he said, and I could feel his body stiffen as he continued. “Silas will pay for this.”I nodded, savoring the mesmerizing blend of cedarwood, musk, and a sweet hint of lavender that I had missed so much.He abruptly pulled away and held me by my shoulders, worry saturating his features.“What?” I asked with a raised brow.“I want to ask. Did he...” His voice faltered, and he swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence.“No,” I replied, knowing what he was going to ask. “He didn’t touch me. He wanted me to give it to him willingly.”Relief crossed his features as he pulled me in again, holding me so tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay
MAXIMUSThe baby wasn’t mine, so I didn’t care if she was in labor or not. But what I did care about was that the baby was innocent, and regardless of its mother’s atrocities, the pup was still a member of my pack, and I wouldn’t let it suffer.I mind-linked Kade. “Lauren is in labor. Go there, take the baby from her, make sure the pup is well taken care of, and throw the mother in the dungeon afterward.”“Okay, Alpha,” he said before the mind link ended.I turned my attention to my brother and his mate. “I don’t see you both leaving. Off you go. Now.”I needed time with my mate—I had missed her so much.The witch rolled her eyes. “We missed her too, you know? And we also want to spend time with her.”Lucius dipped his hand into his pocket, and, ignoring what I had just said, he asked, “What do you plan to do with Lauren’s pup?”“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “Maybe find an adoptive parent for it.”Before Lucius could respond, Kade mind-linked me again. “Lauren is having a difficu
MAXIMUS“Who?” I curiously asked Tom.“The Eastern Alpha King,” he informed me. “He is here and is asking for you.”My brows furrowed as I tried to comprehend why he had suddenly shown up. The North had not associated with the East or the West in a long time. Sometimes, I even forgot about their existence. Each kingdom had kept to its own affairs, living peacefully for decades. The only exception was the ongoing tension between the North and the South, fueled by a never-ending conflict over that disputed piece of land.“Where is he?” I asked Tom.“In the meeting room, with the other Alphas,” he said.“Okay.” I returned my attention to my mate, muttering, “He says the Alphas are here to see you. If you don’t feel comfortable yet, I could tell them to leave and maybe come back another time—or never, if you never want to see them.”“It’s fine,” she told me as she took the baby from my arms and stared at her adorably. “Sorry, baby. We have to leave now.”She walked toward a nurse and han
VIOLETAs much as I loathed Axel for the hurtful things he had said about me, I hated that he had been suspended, especially knowing it was because of me. The only reason he had used his powers on the guards to leave school was so he could drive me home. He was caught and punished, while I, the one who should have been the main culprit, hadn’t even been discovered. I was on my bed, sad all day. Despite Daisy’s attempts to talk to me, I wasn’t giving her an audience. I hadn’t spoken to her since I found out that she was Axel’s cousin and had hidden it from me all along. “Violet,” she called, attempting once again to get me to talk. I didn’t even spare her a glance. “You know we can’t keep being like this forever,” she muttered. Again, I ignored her. “You are making me feel very sad and guilty,” she breathed. “That was exactly how I felt when I found out that you had been deceiving me all this while,” I spat. “I know. Until when are you going to punish me?” she asked.
AXELFather quickly organized a search team for the missing girl as we all wondered what could have happened. Security in this park was tight, ensuring the protection of all pack members, so what could have gone wrong? The Alpha King allowed me to tag along to the girl’s home, where they said her name was Alice. We got there to meet her heartbroken mother, who wouldn’t stop crying, and her father, who was consoling her. “Alpha!” the mother cried and rushed towards him the moment she sighted Father. “Please help me find her. She is my only child.” “That is why I am here—to help you find her.” His voice was soft as he placed his hand on the woman’s shoulder. “I want to ask a few questions, and you must answer sincerely.” She nodded repeatedly. “I will.” “Okay, please have a seat.” He gestured towards a couch before settling on one himself. “When was the last time you saw Alice?” Father asked her. “Last night. She said she was going to visit a friend and would be back befor
AXELFather stood in the middle of the training grounds, surrounded by warriors engaged in rigorous combat practice. “Alpha Prince.” Various voices echoed in unison as warriors bowed in respect when I approached him. The moment I reached him, he threw a sword at me. I caught it instinctively, but before I could process what was happening, he lunged at me with full force. My reflexes kicked in, and I raised my sword just in time to block his attack. “Easy on me, Alpha!” I groaned. “No one will go easy on you when you become the Alpha King!” he growled as he withdrew his sword, only to immediately attack again. I blocked the attack, our swords clanking against each other. “That’s still a very long time away.” In a split second, he was at my back, attempting to attack from behind, but I was swift enough to turn around and bend over, evading the attack. However, I lost my balance in the process, giving him enough time to knock me over and stand in front of me, his sword pointe
AXEL“Mom, Dad?” I darted my gaze between both of them. “Why are you here?” “You are in trouble,” Mom spat, her tone sharp and disapproving. “I guess so,” I mumbled. “Axel, you’ve been breaking too many rules, and I can’t allow you to continue this way. I had to call your parents,” Alpha Richard said, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I sighed. “What did I do this time?” “When you were admitted into this school, you were thoroughly warned not to use your psychic abilities. You were banned from using them while on the school premises.” He sighed. “But recently, you have broken too many rules using those same psychic abilities, and the school can’t continue to have you here.” “Am I being expelled?” Chills ran through my body at the thought. I used to hate it here, but now I was starting to find reasons to stay. I didn’t want to get expelled. “Because of your parents, no. You’ll only be suspended. But this is your final warning. If you use your powers again, not even your pa
VIOLETMy body vibrated with anger, and instead of turning around and leaving like I normally would, I confronted him. “What did you just say?” I groaned out as I marched forward. “You heard me right,” he mumbled, averting his gaze. “Axel!” Daisy exclaimed, clearly disappointed in him. He stood up and attempted to leave, but I grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. “Apologize.” He raised an eyebrow, his expression turning cold. “And what if I don’t?” “Apologize,” I pressed. I desperately wanted him to take back his words and say that he never meant it. As much as I was angry, it hurt me so much that someone called me that—especially him. Without another word, he snatched his arm from my grip and marched out of the café. “Violet...” Daisy called in a low tone, and I turned my attention to her. “How do you know Axel?” I asked, trying to fathom why she was seated with him and having that sort of conversation. “I—uhm...” She took in a sharp breath. “I’m sorry, I should
AXELI thought I had heard Violet’s cry for help, which was why I came running into the forest. I never expected that I would be the one needing help instead. The sharp ache that struck my chest at what I had just seen was excruciating. Without wasting another second, I turned around and left before I did something I would regret. Orion howled in agony, urging me to go and beat up that boy for touching our mate. But I had my pride to protect. I would never fight over a girl—not even if she was my mate. Of all people, why him? Emmett? I tried to imagine how and when they got together, but the mere thought of that as painful.The rage and hurt coursing through me were overwhelming. I stopped in front of a tree and punched it hard, over and over again, until my knuckles were raw and bleeding. But even then, I didn’t stop. I kept going, hoping the physical pain would replace the ache in my chest. It didn’t work. The image of what I had seen kept replaying in my head, intensifying m
VIOLET Mustering every ounce of strength within me, I jammed my elbow backward, forcefully striking his stomach. “That was hard,” he said as he finally released his hands from my eyes. I flipped around, rage vibrating through me. My eyes narrowed when I realized who it was—Emily’s brother. “Abel?” I groaned. “Abel?” he asked, chuckling. “Who is Abel?” Father had gotten his name wrong, and I had stupidly called him that without bothering to confirm. Which made me wonder if Dad had intentionally called a random name, catching me in my lies. I sighed heavily and started swimming toward the shore. “Whatever your name is, don’t ever try that with me again.” He followed. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” I reached for my clothes, and my frustration was palpable in the way I aggressively put them on. What I needed was a moment of quiet solitude to process everything going on—not some dude randomly showing up and scaring the shit out of me. Of course, I would be frus
VIOLETWatching him play did so many things to me, and Onyx wouldn’t stop purring about how hot he was. “I can’t wait for us to have his mark,” she purred. “Oh, please.” I literally rolled my eyes. “That’s never going to happen. He doesn’t want us. And after what happened last night? I don’t even want him.” “Stop acting like you weren’t the one chasing him away in the first place. He’ll come around, I’m sure,” she retorted. “I don’t care,” I shot back. “Oh, yes, you do.” I sighed in frustration. I needed to start getting used to the fact that she was now part of me and knew my every emotion. I couldn’t lie to her or deceive her because she knew it all. Even as I tried to push the thoughts away, my eyes remained locked on Axel until the very end of the game. He was annoyingly hot, and the way he played so effortlessly, so perfectly, sent a thrill through me. With Axel on the wolves’ team, the witches never stood a chance. It was an easy win. The team erupted in celebrat
VIOLET“What have you both been up to?” Zara demanded the moment Axel rolled down the window. Her tone was laced with accusation. “First off, get out of the car. Now.” He stepped out of the car and glanced at me before looking back at Zara. “I’m listening, Axel,” Zara fired on. “I can see that you’ve been the one misleading the innocent girl. Hence why she hasn’t been showing up for practice. Don’t drag her into your mess.” “What?!” he exclaimed in shock. My eyes also widened in shock. How the hell did she come to that conclusion? “Yes?” She shot her brow up. “Prove me wrong if I’m mistaken.” Axel shook his head, clearly at a complete loss for words. “Zara,” I quickly chimed in. “I promise it wasn’t Axel. My life has been hectic recently. That’s why I haven’t been showing up. I promise to be there for the game today.” “I was already considering replacing the manager,” she said. “That won’t be necessary. I will show up. I promise,” I assured her quickly. She gave a