Lucien“You really think I did all of this to hurt you?” I asked, frustration clawing at the back of my throat.I should have let her be but guilt and regret were both threatening to swallow me whole. I had to make her understand. I had to explain everything but I was starting to realize that nothing I said would change how she saw me now.Irene stared blankly, but I could see the pain and anger in her eyes. All these emotions were in her eyes and stood there in front of me. While we stood there, I noticed that there was something cold in the air between us now. This was a feeling that had not been there before..She didn’t say anything for a long time. And then, as if the words had been boiling inside her for too long, she opened her mouth.“You did it for power. You can't convince me otherwise that you did it for your own damn selfish reasons.”My eyes bulged out and my lips fell open. I wanted to shout back at her and tell her that she was wrong, that she didn’t understand anyt
IRENE’S POV"How long have I been this blind?"I wish I could get the answer to that particular question but there was no one here to answer me.I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, my fingers digging into the fabric of my dress.My heart pounded against my chest and this was not as a result of love or excitement. It was far from that. I just suddenly realised that my entire relationship had been a lie and it was not just a small lie.It was a massive, twisted and ugly deception that I had been entangled in and I had been the fool who believed in it.My throat felt dry and my chest tightened. Everything I knew kept flooding in and it kept on hitting me like a sharp slap to my face. I was totally ruined by everything going on with me. Silas’s cold glances and his empty apologies were not helping and I had ignored it all. He had warned me so many times about making a good decision to forget about whatever relationship k had but I had convinced myself that he was just
Irene“But you know what, Irene? You are the last person I expected to see crawling back to me,” Kael said, bursting my bubbles. The switch in his reaction was crazy. So, everything he said to me earlier was just to deceive me that he actually felt good about helping me. This time, his eyes were burning with fire and his smile appeared wicked. I looked lost in everything and his laughter came rumbling close to my ears. I almost wanted to walk away from him so that I could ignore the way his words made me feel bad. The reason I was here was not because I wanted to waste my time or to settle whatever we had in the past. I had one purpose, and I wouldn’t let his arrogance distract me.“Are you done?” I asked him and my voice flat remained flat and unimpressed.Kael smirked, pushing himself off the wall. “Not even close,” he answered. “I knew you might be wondering why I decided to honour your call. Tell me, princess, why would someone like you want to talk to someone like me? Were
Irene"Meet me at the back of the pack tonight,” Kael said to me after he decided how and when we were going to meet. I had already had it in mind that the reason I was doing all of these was because I was desperate. But, my wolf won't let me deceive myself to that extent. She kept on bringing countless thoughts and suggestions to me but thankfully, I was able to shut her out. But, it was only for a short while…“You heard me, didn't you?” Kael asked and he sounded almost amused, as if he already knew my answer.“Why? Why should I meet you at the back of the pack house? And at night?” I asked, narrowing my eyes but he only looked at me as though I wasn't serious with what I wanted. To him, if I was serious. I wouldn't ask any question. I would just accept his request immediately. "You want the truth, don’t you?" He asked me and that made the hair on my body stand erect. That was where the problem was. I was being guilt trapped by everything that was happening around me. He knew
Kael POVMy sister sent for me and I couldn't decline her request, knowing fully well that she wanted to see me. There was a reason for that and there was a lot to discuss. I flipped my jacket over the chair when I got to the room where my sister was seated. "You wanted to see me. Now, I'm here. I'm really glad you were patient and waited until I came,” I said to her and I signalled a servant to get me some cold water because of how badly I was boiling inside. My sister, Liora, sat across from me with her arms crossed and even though I just commended her for waiting for me, she still had a mild look of impatience on her face."How far along is she?" she asked, without waiting too much time. "Irene, I mean,” she added and I tried hard to hide my smile. “She’s okay. Irene is very much okay but She is still fighting it. Irene is stubborn, as expected but she is this close to giving in. She just needs a little more push, and she will have no choice but to come to me,” I answered and
IreneMy stomach was rumbling greatly and I didn't need an angel to tell me to run down the stairs to the dining. I had never anticipated eating in this manner. As I ran down, I could hear the sound of my heavy footsteps echoing through the walls. My stomach twisted in knots. It didn't seem like hunger this time. It was more like the uneasy feeling I felt inside me. I began to think about stupid things that I shouldn't be bothered about. At this point, I didn’t want to face anyone. I didn't want to see Lucien or Silas or even Camille. But I knew I had to eat, and hiding away in my room forever wasn’t an option. As I reached the dining hall, I stopped at the doorway and took a deep breath. Damn! The food was so good that it hit my nostrils before I could enter the dining room. I knew immediately that this scene was coming from roasted meat and fresh bread. I salivated and my mouth watered. I needed to be in that room, digging into my food..I swallowed some saliva down my thr
LucienI clenched my jaw as I walked into the council chamber, closing the heavy wooden doors creaking behind me. I was here to meet the elders to discuss something important. This was not something I usually do because I mostly summoned them when I wanted to scold them for something stupid that they did. Right now? I didn't know. I was not in the right frame of mind. I barely walked in with my head raised up high and the room was already smelling because of the fire burning beside them. I was a little bit reminded that I was dealing with the elders who thought they had better authorities in front of me. The elders sat in a semicircle, their eyes narrowing the moment I stepped in. I already knew what was coming.I was expecting anything from them. I was expecting them to wail and to wag their tongues in anger. But, I was already not bothered about anything that they had to say to me. "Lucien," Elder Faron spoke first, his tone sounding so disappointed. He was about to say somet
Irene "She's not even a Luna. So why is everyone acting like she matters? I hate her!”There were so many things I heard when I was coming down the stairs and it made me stop dead in my tracks. I had to look at the direction that voice came from and it hurt me badly to see that a maid was the person saying terrible things about me. It hurt my feelings that I was referred to as someone who wasn't Luna yet and the worst thing was that I was being hated because of my simple existence. “You are right. She keeps acting like someone who is very important when she's not. I have no idea why the Alpha still keeps her here,” another supported what the first maid said and goosebumps appeared all over my body. “He claims he loves her, which I doubt. How the hell did he love someone like that?”The sound of the maid’s voice hit me like a stone to the chest and because of all that I heard, I could barely breathe. I wasn’t even trying to eavesdrop. I just wanted to get some air, to walk past t
Irene pov A month later, peace had finally returned to the pack and I could finally breathe. The air shifted and changed into something better and less contaminated. During that same time, I had been working really hard to gain the trust of the pack. "You know they're calling you 'The Gentle Luna' now, right?" Camila said, grinning as she handed me a mug of tea. I blinked and paused for a while. "Wait, what? Seriously?" I asked and She nodded at me. Her eyes were full of excitement. "It's spreading. The news is spreading outside the pack house. Even the traders in the market were saying how kind you were to the orphanage. Someone even mentioned you helped a little girl fix her broken doll. I'm so proud of you, sweetbreads,” she revealed and I chuckled, feeling warmth rise in my chest. "I didn't think people noticed that. This has to be very lovely news!” "Well, they did. And they are talking about it and they are doing that In a good way." That morning sunlight came i
Lucien “It is done, Alpha.” The guards assured me about Malcolm's additional punishment already carried out. I felt at peace at last. The traitors had been punished, and the pack would begin to heal. Though Kael was still out there, I knew he was no match for me, especially since his actions had been so wildly spread. If he were to ever be seen, he would not escape my wrath.The pack members would see that he was duly executed. Left to him, I would have killed him. He touched Irene and that alone should have made me behead him myself. Irene joined me in our room after talking to Silas. I was content that they were bonding well. She came to meet me on the bed, her warmth a gentle reminder of why I shouldn't bother about anything. She was cool, she was ice and she was fire. As we rested, Irene asked. “Lucien, why did you spare the council member's lives? I mean, you had every right to kill them, but you didn't. That's the punishment for traitors, death.”I looked at her, my eyes sea
Lucien“Long live the Alpha, long live the Alpha.”The crowd cheered loudly, content about the verdict I gave each of the traitors. It was the hardest for me to do. Tos sentence all seven of the council of Elders, but I was sure that was the right thing to do.“It's time for Malcolm Stark's verdict!” One of the guards announced. The ground fell silent as the elders were led away, their fate sealed. I nodded to the guards, my voice firm. "Bring Malcolm in."The guards returned with Malcolm, his eyes gleaming with desperation and anger. He wasn't remorseful. He didn't even reflect on what he had done. To him, he was right and everyone was wrong. He stood tall, his shoulders squared, but I saw the faintest tremble in his lips. As he faced me, his gaze darted around the room, searching for an ally or an escape.“If you're looking for where to run to, I assure you that you wouldn't move two feet without getting stabbed in your neck, so, relax and be good.” I said. The guards chained him
LucienPeris would receive his judgement today. And then the council of Elders too. I didn't want to judge them altogether. I was going to hear each and everyone's side of the story. To me, that was fair and just. I was dressed and ready for the day when Irene came to stand by my side. "It's time for Peris's judgment," I said, my voice firm.She placed a hand on my arm, her eyes searching mine. "I wish you luck, my love,” she took a pause and went on. “Peris is not a man of many words, Lucien. He is timid and loyal, in his own way. Perhaps you should allow him to speak for himself. He might not even understand half of the plan.”I nodded, considering her words. When Silas and I had been listening to the conversation they had in Kael's house, Peris seemed like the last person to understand the plan. He wasn't much of a contributor, just a sleeping accomplice. "Very well," I said. "I'll hear him out. But, why am I feeling like you want me to spare him?”She laughed. “No, silly. I know
Irene's POVI closed the door softly behind Lucien, his kiss still lingered on my lips. He said he wanted to meet with some pack members, to reassure them after the chaos of the arrest.He seemed relieved at least. That was all that mattered to me. Apart from the butterflies tingling at the pit of my belly, I was fine. It was late now and all I wanted was Lucien's presence with me. To hold me, kiss me, and feel me. I couldn't ever get enough of him. He was my strength and my weakness.A knock broke through my thoughts and I answered.“Come in,” I said, rising to my feet, heart thudding for a reason I didn't know.The door creaked open, and Silas stepped inside. He stood, his eyes somber, rimmed with guilt and sadness. He looked pale. I hadn't forgotten that he had been stabbed, his arm had been bandaged.“Silas, are you okay? You look so pale.” I said, already moving closer to him. “Did you eat at all?”“Irene,” he said, his voice low. “Can I talk to you?I nodded slowly and motione
Lucien's POV“Take them to the dungeon, make sure their screams don't disturb the peace of the house.” I ordered, my words heavy and final.The guards began to pull Malcolm, Peris, and the Elders forward, their hands were bound and their heads were lowered for the first time in years. The crowd parted for them, watchful. If not for the guards, I'm sure the pack wouldn't hesitate to kill them with their claws.Malcolm was the first to open his mouth. He was never the type to accept defeat when it came.“This is madness, Lucien!” he barked, fighting against the guards as they shoved him forward. “You’re letting emotion cloud your judgment. This is not the way of the council! You can't just discard us like that, this is barbaric!”I stepped forward, my gaze not leaving him. “You taught me the ways of this council. You knew everything, didn't you? But you still failed to live by your teachings. It's over, Malcolm.”His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak again, the eldest member of
Irene's POVI tried to sleep. The warmth of the blanket should have comforted me, but my instincts prickled beneath my skin. I was too restless. The bond between Lucien and I hummed with something heavy.Then I heard it—his voice, cold and full of command.“BOW DOWN!”“Lucien?” I echoed, and sat up instantly. My breath was caught in my throat. That wasn't a command whispered in private. That was Lucien's Alpha voice; the kind he'd used on Silas the first time we met. He told me to stay inside, but that was the last thing to do. I threw the blankets off and dressed quickly, tugging a robe over my body. I left the room and ran down the hall. I met a few guards posted around.“What's going on?” I asked breathlessly.The guards looked at themselves before one of them answered. “Alpha Lucien is exposing the traitors. The Council of Elders are being arrested.”“What?” I was shocked. Lucien hadn't said anything like that this morning. Why had he asked me not to come out? I didn't wait for
Lucien's POVThe morning sun barely broke out before I had my bath, got dressed, and crawled back into bed with Irene. She smelt nice after the thorough bath we had during midnight.“I need to meet the council,” I said, tightening the last button of my shirt as Irene stirred beneath the sheets.She opened her eyes slowly, still drowsy from the night we spent locked in each other's arms. “Good morning. What did you say?”I leaned down and kissed her gently, brushing her hair from her face. “You look so beautiful, Irene.”She giggled and kissed me. “That's not what I asked you, Lucien.”“I am meeting the pack council.” I repeated slowly. “This is something I should’ve done a long time ago, it's not too late now, though. But I need you to stay here.”Her brows furrowed, worry creeping into her gaze. “Stay here? Why?”“Because I can't risk you getting hurt again. Not like before.” I kissed her, slower this time, memorising the softness of her lips. “Please, Irene. Trust me, huh?”Her sile
Lucien's POV“I have stitched up his wound. He would come around in the morning. It's nothing serious.” The healer assured us and I gave him a nod of gratitude.Irene stood still, not wanting to leave the room.“Silas will be fine, Irene. Let's go to our room.” I whispered, pulling her away from the healer's chamber. Silas had passed out because of the blood he lost, but the healer assured us that he would be fine. I had no intention of going to the hospital, I wanted to do this low key and get to the councils when they were totally relaxed. Irene didn't argue with me this time, she just held my hand tight as I led her out. She made sure Silas was settled and he was breathing. “Will he be fine?” She asked silently, her voice warm.I nodded without saying a word. She seemed to trust my silence because she willingly allowed me to lead her down the hallway, past other rooms, until we got to our room. When we reached the bedroom door, I paused, reluctant to go in with her. She might b