STARLETTE“Lauren is missing.” Maximus announced, and I snapped my gaze to him, my eyes widening in disbelief.“What?” I exclaimed as I tried to wrap my head around how that could be possible. She had guards by her door. At all times. Or, maybe… the guards left there to join in the fight against the invisibles? Nevertheless, she had to be found, if not for anything, but because she was one of the very few people who could give us information on Gabriel’s supposed partner. Whoever the witch who appeared to us was, she looked powerful and capable of burning down the north. They had to be stopped at all costs before another attack was launched.“Listen, warriors. Somehow, Lauren had managed to escape. I want every one of you to search thoroughly for her. She has to be found.” Max passed an urgent SOS to the warriors through the mind link.“I could try casting a location spell on her.” Amelia offered.“That would be well appreciated.” Max said.And so, we all rushed to Lauren’s room becau
STARLETTEThe man struggled beneath me, attempting to break free, but I delivered a sharp blow to his head. He let out a pained scream, clutching his skull with trembling hands.I mind-linked Maximus immediately. “There’s an intruder in your office. Get here now.”“What? Who is it?” His voice was sharp with worry.“I don’t know. Just hurry!”“Stay away from him but don’t let him out of your sight. I’m on my way.” He said before ending the mindlink.Moments later, the door flung open and Maximus barged in, fury burning in his eyes as he took in the sight of the man under me. Only then did I finally lift myself up off him, allowing Maximus to grab him by his collar and yank him up to his feet.The alpha king glared at him, the intimidating look causing the man to shiver.“A warrior.” Max snarled. “What were you doing in my office?”He shook his head vigorously, his lips trembling with fear. “Nothing. Nothing. I didn’t come here to do anything.”“Who sent you?!” Max growled, tightening h
STARLETTEMy reason for going to Maximus’s office was to work, but thanks to the intruder and the scorching moment between me and Maximus, no work was accomplished. The next day, however, my office was fully set up, and I was ready to begin my official duties as Luna.I took a moment to admire the space. It was beautiful—just the right size, not too big or too small. The walls were painted white, but the furniture and décor showcased a harmonious blend of white, ash, and red. Just the way I wanted.“So…” Bella clapped her hands together, her eyes scanning the office. “Shall we begin?”I had asked her to be my assistant, knowing she could empathise with the maids' struggles and provide valuable insight into what could help them the most.“Yes,” I said with a tight smile, nodding as I picked up a pen and notepad. I settled behind my desk, ready to jot down our ideas.Bella sat across from me, her expression thoughtful. “What will happen to the maids once the system is abolished? Will th
STARLETTE The next day, I journeyed to my former pack—the Star Claw. I hadn’t set foot there since I left for the Royal Crest, and honestly, I didn’t miss it. It was a place filled with painful memories I’d rather forget. Maximus insisted on coming with me, determined to protect me. But I knew how disastrous that would be, given how much he despised my father. After much pleading and persuasion, he reluctantly agreed to stay behind and manage the pack’s affairs. As for Bella, she had fallen unexpectedly ill with a high fever—a rare occurrence for werewolves but not entirely impossible. That left me with no choice but to travel alone, accompanied by fifteen guards assigned to ensure my safety. When we arrived at Star Claw, James, one of the border guards, insisted on escorting me and my entourage to the pack house even though I very much remembered the way. “So, how has life been at the royal crest?” He tried to begin small talk, but I wasn’t in for that. I was anxious to meet my
MAXIMUSIt was past midnight, and Starlette still hadn’t returned. Star Claw wasn’t far from Royal Crest—it should have been a short trip. I kept checking the time and glancing toward the pack’s entrance, hoping to see the cars she’d left with. But there was nothing. I didn’t want her to go to that place alone, but she insisted. Now, I was regretting giving in to her demands. I should’ve insisted on following her.I didn’t know, but a nagging feeling weighed on me, a deep suspicion that something might have gone wrong. But I tried to wave that feeling off, hoping it was just my paranoia that was causing it.Kade tried to mind link me, and I let him through.“Yes?” I asked gruffly, the frustration of not having my mate with me eating deep.“One of the prisoners wants to talk.” He said.“Where are you?” I asked.“By the circle.”“Alright. I am coming.” I said before cutting off the mind link.Without wasting time, I headed there. Kade was standing in front of the circle, with the guards
STARLETTEThe bed felt incredibly soft and comforting against my skin. I wished I could remain like this forever, as it felt like heaven. But sadly, I had to wake up. Stretching my arm towards Maximus, I was met with emptiness. I sighed. He must have left early for work again today, like always, I thought. I had to get up too because I also had work to do. So, opening my eyes, I felt an unusual heaviness, and I had to shut them close. Groaning softly, I made another attempt, this time slowly. The room around me looked strange—very strange. This wasn’t our bedroom. Panic surged through me as I bolted upright. A sharp, throbbing pain exploded in my head, like a drumbeat pounding relentlessly. Whimpering, I cradled my aching head while scanning my unfamiliar surroundings. Where was I? I wondered. And just as I asked myself that question, memories came pouring in, and my heart began to beat dangerously against my ribcage. I could remember rogues attacking us and being injected with som
MAXIMUSI mind-linked Kade, feeling rage rumble within me. “Kade. Meet me outside, now! We are going to Star Claw.”“Why? The Luna Queen still hasn’t returned?” He asked, concern evident in his tone.I couldn’t tell him what had just happened; my ego wouldn’t let me. “Stop asking questions and meet me outside.” I said dismissively.Grabbing my car keys, I hurried to my car. Just as I entered, Kade reached the car and joined me in the passenger seat.“Maybe she just wants to spend more time with her—“ He started, but I cut him off.“She wouldn’t want to spend more time with them. They don’t have that type of relationship. Now, shut up. I am not in the mood to answer your questions.”When we got to the Star Claw park, everywhere was quiet, the party seeming to have ended a long time ago.“Take me to your Alpha.” I told one of the guards at the pack’s border.Although surprised to see me in their pack, he quietly led me and Kade to the pack house, his eyes glued to the ground all the way
MAXIMUSI looked around, asking no one in particular. “Is it true that Isaac removes the nails of his victims?”If he did this, then he was as good as dead. I’d slowly skin him alive, make him feel every ounce of agony before chopping his meat to pieces.“Rogues.” One of the warriors replied. “After rogues attacks, he peels off their nails and keeps them. According to him, it serves as a means to teach other rogues a lesson and make them stay off the pack.”Isaac was so dead!Without hesitation, I rushed back to the Star Claw pack. I should have known. His complete indifference to his daughter’s disappearance and his refusal to join the search had been suspicious. I hadn’t pressed him then because his very presence irritated me. Now, I was furious at my oversight. “Isaac!” I growled so loudly when I reached the pack house, running upstairs in rapid steps to go find him. I didn’t have the patience to wait for him to come down.“Where are you?” I growled as I walked through the corrido
VIOLET“Who are you?” I asked the voice in my head. “I am Onyx. Your wolf. I’m glad to finally meet you,” she responded warmly. I was about to ask more questions when Axel jumped off the car hood, interrupting me. “So, met your wolf yet?” “No,” I blurted out. Suddenly, he seemed even more handsome, more attractive than ever. His scent—the combination of cedarwood and sandalwood—was much more intense and now had a touch of damp earth to it. The heavenly scent intoxicated me so much that all the restraint I had been holding onto for so long finally snapped. Before I could even stop myself, I closed the distance between us, wrapped my arms around his neck, and jammed my lips against his. I didn’t know what I was doing—I couldn’t control myself. The only thing ringing in my head was that I wanted him. He reciprocated with an equal amount of need, pressing my body to his and kissing me as if he was never going to let go. I allowed myself to get lost in his arms, yearning for
VIOLETNo doubt, I was attracted to Axel, but he was forbidden to me. I kept repeating that mantra in my head the entire way to the South. Sitting beside him in such close proximity made it really difficult for me to control my desire. It took everything in me not to throw myself at him. I asked him to park the car before we got to the pack’s border because I didn’t want my father knowing that Axel was the one who drove me here. “I’ll be right back,” I told him as I opened the door and jumped out of the car. “And I’ll be right here,” he replied with a grin. I walked towards the pack border, and the guards at the gate were surprised to see me. “We weren’t expecting you, Princess,” one of them said. “It’s an impromptu visit. I’ll be leaving soon. I believe the king is around, yes?” I asked. He nodded. “Yes, and welcome.” I made my way to the pack house afterward, going straight to my mother’s bedroom since she was the reason I was there. But she wasn’t there. Just as I
VIOLET Ring ring ring. The sound of my phone ringing woke me up from my deep sleep. I groggily reached for it from the nightstand, and without even glancing at the caller ID, I picked it up and placed the phone to my ear. “Hello…” my voice dragged into the phone. “Violet, dear, did I wake you up from sleep?” A familiar voice sounded from the other end of the line. “Mom?” I called. “I will call you back when—“ “No, it’s okay,” I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand and sitting up. “I’m up already.” “Happy birthday, darling!” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “Wishing you a long life and prosperity.” A smile curled on my lips as realization dawned on me. It was my birthday. “Thank you, Mom,” I replied with a smile on my face. “Are you sure you don’t want us to throw a party for you? If you change your mind—“ “Mom—“ I interjected. “You know how I am with parties. I hate them.” My parents had proposed throwing a birthday party for me here at school, and I ha
VIOLETThree hours of detention seemed like an eternity. Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly hate this school more, I found myself trapped in yet another unbearable situation. I needed to get out of here, but that was just wishful thinking. My father wouldn’t let me leave until he accomplished whatever mysterious goal had led him to send me here in the first place.After we left the principal’s office, I quickly pulled out my phone and sent Zara a text, letting her know I wouldn’t be able to make it to practice. With a sigh, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and made my way to the library, where the other three were already seated around a single table.Axel sat directly across from me, making it nearly impossible not to look at him. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and for a long while, no one spoke until Emily broke the silence.“Axel,” she called, staring at him. “I’m sorry about the… inconvenience.”Axel didn’t even bother to lift his head, let alone respond to her,
. VIOLETAxel’s eyes blazed with fury as he lunged toward the boy and pushed him hard on the chest until he stumbled backward.“You are so dead!” the boy yelled, aiming to push Axel in return, but he dodged. Swinging around, Axel hooked his leg around the boy’s and knocked him to the floor.Just when Axel was about to jump on him, the boy sprang up and charged at Axel, wrapping his arm around his waist and pushing him down with him. But Axel was quick to react, rolling over until he was on top.“Wow!” A loud clap suddenly echoed, and I turned to see the trainer slowly walking into the middle of the circle that had already been formed by students. “That was a great demonstration of what you were taught. Excellent!”The crowd erupted in cheers, but it was obvious that Axel and whoever the boy was weren’t having it as they continued glaring at each other.“Enough!” the professor growled, gesturing for silence. The noise quickly died down, and he continued, “But that behavior isn’t allow
AXEL“Axel?” Aunt Amelia crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side.“Uhm…” I scratched the back of my head, thinking of what to say. “I— Uhm— was just serving justice.”“Elaborate,” Uncle Lucius chimed in.“Why are you guys here?” I quickly changed the subject.“Hmm-hmm.” Aunt Amelia shook her head. “You can’t do that here. Don’t change the subject.” She turned her attention to Mason. “Mason? I believe you’re a good boy, and you’ll talk.”Mason and I made eye contact, and we burst out laughing, knowing that Mason was way more stubborn than I was.“The thing is—Uhmm—” I scratched the bridge of my nose, deciding to tell them what happened. “Those boys did something terrible. They terribly assaulted one of my classmates, and because Emily was involved—”“Emily?” She cut me off, raising a brow. “The Eastern Princess?”“Yes.” I nodded before continuing. “Because she was involved, they were only suspended when they should have been expelled.”“Who’s this girl that was
AXELMason met me at the school gate, and after catching up on everything that had been happening in our lives and discussing my plans for those boys, we proceeded toward the school gate. Of course, the guards there stopped us from leaving."I was also suspended for one week and asked to go back home. And I’d like to leave with my friend here," I told them, hooking my arm around Mason’s shoulders."We were informed," one of them said, unmoving. "There are only three students who were asked to leave today with their parents. And you aren’t one of them.""There is something I must do. Can you just let us pass? We will be back before you know it," I pressed."Control their minds already. Why are you wasting time when there’s an easy way out?" Mason mind-linked me, his voice impatient."I like playing games, you know," I replied. But I had to do what I needed to do now before the boys’ parents started taking them out of the school. They were around already.Straightening my shoulders, I c
AXELWhen I arrived at the library, I spotted Emily browsing the tall shelves, her fingers trailing across the spines of the books.“Emily!” I called out, my voice booming as I strode toward her.“Oh, Axel,” she said, turning to face me with a wide, almost mischievous smile.“What did you do in Violet’s dorm room?” I growled, keeping my voice low but firm.“Oops,” she gasped dramatically, her hand flying to her chest as if she were truly shocked. “I got caught?”“Don’t play games with me, Emily. What did you do there?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.“Axel.” Her expression suddenly turned serious. “What is it about her? She’s not prettier than me. Why do you seem to be so interested in her?”I raised my brow. “And who told you I was interested in her?”Confusion crossed her face. “I thought you were—”“What if I was?” I cut her off quickly.“I am just jealous,” she admitted. “When we were together, you never defined our relationship. It never even went public. You just kept me h
AXEL“What was she doing there?” I asked Daisy as I began descending the stairs to leave the arena.“I don’t know. I walked in, and her scent was everywhere,” she replied.“Alright. Do something to mask the scent before Violet gets back. I don’t want her panicking. I’ll deal with Emily myself,” I told Daisy before cutting off the mind-link.“Axel!” Indie called from behind, hurrying after me. “What happened? Where are you rushing off to?”I had almost forgotten I didn’t come here alone. Turning back, I stepped closer to her, planting an apologetic kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry, Indie, but I have to go. Something’s come up.”“What’s going on?” she asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.“Bye,” I promptly said, intentionally ignoring her question, before turning around and whisking out of the arena.It seemed Emily wasn’t satisfied with getting away unscathed after what she did to Violet. Unlike the boys she hired, who I had ensured endured excruciating pain, Emily had walked away witho