Tiaraâs POVBy the time I returned to my room, my entire body ached. I could feel the light throbbing on my temple and my hand shook when I held them out.The day had been long. I had scrubbed floors, cleaned the dining hall, dusted shelves, and ensured every corner of the pack house was spotless. I had done everything Luna Victoria expected of meâand most importantly, I had stayed out of sight. From what I knew, Alpha Nicholas was still very much in the pack.But I had not seen Alpha Nicholas once.The only glimpse I had of him was through whispers that floated around the halls. Some pack members mentioned that he had spent the day inspecting the training grounds, giving orders to the guards, and reviewing security plans with the warriors. It was clear that his visit was more than just a simple agreement with Alpha Darius. He wanted to make sure the MoonCrown Pack was strong enough to handle any threats. And since the MoonCrown pack will most likely come under his protection soon, he
Tiara's POVI had spent the entire morning completing my chores. My arms ached from scrubbing floors, my feet were sore from walking back and forth, and my clothes smelled like cleaning supplies. Yet, despite my exhaustion, I found myself standing by the window of my small chamber, my eyes fixed on the road leading to the pack gates.The morning sun was up, shining brightly over the pack grounds. Warriors trained in the open field, their movements sharp and precise. Omegas carried baskets filled with herbs and fresh produce, moving quickly to avoid getting in the way of the higher-ranked wolves. The scent of cooked meat and fresh bread wafted through the air, making my stomach grumble, but I ignored it.I wasnât hungry.I was waiting.My fingers gripped the edge of the window as my gaze stayed on the road.Alpha Nicholas would be leaving soon.There was no reason for me to care. His departure had nothing to do with me. I was just a lowly servant in the MoonCrown Pack, someone beneath
Tiara's POVI stepped out of the room, my heart beating too fast as I followed Rita through the narrow hallway.Alpha Nicholas wanted to see me.I couldnât understand why. I wasnât important. I had no reason to stand before an Alpha, let alone one as powerful as him. Yet, I had been called.Mia stirred inside me. âMaybe he wants to say good-bye to you. Now you don't have to stand by the window to catch a glimpse of him.âI ignored her. There was no use entertaining thoughts that could never be true.I kept my gaze low as I walked. I was nothing more than a servant, and no amount of decoration could change that.We were almost at the main hall when I suddenly heard the familiar voice of my stepmother, Luna Victoria."Where do you think you're going?"I stopped.I lifted my head slowly to see Luna Victoria standing in the middle of the hallway, her arms crossed. Beside her was Phoebe, her expression twisted in anger.I swallowed hard.Luna Victoriaâs presence always made me uneasy, and
Alpha Nicholasâ POVI stood in the grand hall, waiting. Alpha Darius was waiting too, but there was nothing to talk about anymore because I didn't like idle chatter.The silence stretched on, pressing down on me like an invisible weight. I had sent for Tiara, but she had not arrived yet. Time was slipping away, and my patience was wearing thin. I had other matters to attend to, but I could not leave without seeing her one last time.I needed to be sure she was being treated well. I needed to see how she was doing. And to set eyes on those beautiful eyes of hers again.I had expected her to be here already. The delay made me wonderâwas she being held back on purpose? The thought crossed my mind more than once. I did not trust Alpha Darius or his family to act in good faith. They had always been calculated in their actions, and I would not put it past them to stall this meeting.I glanced at Alpha Darius, considering whether I should ask what was taking so long. Just as I opened my mou
Tiara's POVI stood still, my hands clasped together, my head slightly bowed. There was a lot running through my mind and there was a lot that I expected to happen. A lot of unpleasant things. Alpha Nicholas was gone.The moment the large doors closed behind him, the air in the room changed.The false warmth, the forced kindnessâvanished. I knew my step mother and step sister would not be able to keep up the pretense for long. I felt it before anyone even spoke. Suddenly, it occurred to me that I could really do nothing here to help myself. I was helpless to whatever Luna Victoria and Phoebe did to me. I was defenseless. There was no Nina anywhere to try to step up and say something in my defense, even if it was pleading with my step mother or step sister. Then, Phoebe's sharp voice cut through the silence."Get out," she snapped. "Go take your stinking self out of that borrowed dress."I swallowed hard, keeping my expression blank.Minutes ago, while Alpha Nicholas was here, Phoeb
Tiara's POVJust as I neared the door of my room, Nina rushed up to me. My heart missed a beat when I saw her. What if she was carrying a bad message? What was it this time? What was I to expect?âHey, I'm glad I caught up with you,â she said, a little out of breath.âWhy?â I asked, swallowing the urge to cry suddenly.âPhoebe wants us to scrub her room too. She said she needs you to do it now. But I'm willing to assist you,â she said. I nodded. So I hadn't escaped. We walked back to Phoebe's room and started to work. I scrubbed the floor, moving the brush in slow, careful strokes.Phoebe liked perfection. Or rather, she liked making others work for it. I had learned that long ago.I focused on my task, trying to finish as quickly as possible.Then the door swung open.Phoebe stepped inside, her gaze sweeping over us.âStop working,â she ordered. Nina and I immediately set our cleaning supplies aside and stood.I kept her hands clasped in front of her, head slightly bowed.Nina di
TIARAâS POVI sat in my room, listening. The walls of the royal pack house were thick, but sound carried when you paid enough attention. Lately, I had learned to listen well. It helped me know when to move and when to stay out of sight.It saved me a lot of abuse. Luna Victoria would have to make up a good reason for beating me up if she did that now. This would have been the life I was content with a few days agoâ simply doing what I was asked and not getting beaten and wounded in so many places that sleeping would be difficult at night. But now, I couldn't say I was content with this life. This was not the life I wanted. Perhaps, I was beginning to deserve better than I did few months back. I sighed. âYou've always deserved better. Maybe you've never really allowed yourself think that way, but you actually do.â My wolf said in a small tone. I straightened my back. âI should say it now when I wake up every morning. I deserve better, and that would come to me in due time,â I said.
Tiaraâs POVI was making several trips to the kitchen and back. The kitchen was warm, filled with the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meat. The clatter of pots and pans mixed with the murmured voices of the servants, all too busy with their tasks to pay attention to me. They didn't know the inner turmoil I was battling. They went about their day doing their duties. Unlike me, no one bullied them or tried to make them suffer for things they didn't have the power to control.I kept my head down as I picked up the tray of sliced fruit and honeyed nuts.I had already been here too many times, running back and forth to fetch whatever Phoebe and Luke demanded. My arms ached from carrying trays, and my feet were sore from walking across the long hallways of the royal pack house. But none of that mattered.What mattered was that I was doing what Phoebe asked me to. I was pleasing her and her suitor and that was what counted. Phoebe was doing this on purpose, of course. But today,
Tiara's POV I woke up still feeling sore from the previous night. I couldnât shake the feeling that Phoebe and Ryker were both involved in something, working together in ways I hadnât fully understood before. Ryker, always nearby, his eyes constantly scanning the room. Phoebe, too, had been acting oddly, especially after what happened last night. I needed proof. I had to watch them closely, just as Ryker had once done to me.As the day stretched on, I kept my distance, keeping an eye on their every move. Ryker always seemed to be near Phoebe, never far from her. There was something about their connection that didnât sit right with me.I had to find out more. But I knew I couldnât confront them directly. I needed something solid, something I could use to expose whatever they were hiding. They had to slip up. I had to be patient.The sound of my name pulled me from my thoughts. "Tiara," a voice called from the hallway, and I turned to see one of the servants standing at the door. "Al
Tiara's POV He didnât waste any time. Nicholas stood up and turned to his warriors. His voice rang out strong, cutting through the chaos in the hallway. âSearch the pack house,â he commanded, his tone firm. âFind whoever entered this pack and attacked someone under my protection. They are not to touch anyone here.âThe guards, sharp and ready, nodded and quickly dispersed, moving throughout the pack house to search every corner. The air seemed to hum with energy as they went to work, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls. My mind was still reeling from the attack, and I couldnât help but watch them, hoping theyâd find whoever had hurt me. Nicholas had spoken with such confidence, such authority, that I knew he wasnât going to let this go.Nicholas turned his attention back to me. He crouched down beside me, his presence suddenly more intense. His golden eyes found mine, and for a moment, I felt like he was looking right through me. âDid you recognize their voice?â he ask
Tiara's POV The noise around me was overwhelming. Guards were shouting, trying to make sense of the situation, but their voices only added to the confusion. My mind was still spinning, still trying to grasp what had happened to me. My body felt weak, and the fear Iâd felt earlier still lingered in my chest, making it hard to think straight.I could barely make out the words of the guards. They were speaking to Phoebe and Luna Victoria, trying to get them to back away, to calm down. But nothing seemed to stop the chaos until a deep, commanding voice rang out, cutting through the noise like a knife.âEnough.âIt was Alpha Nicholas. His voice, calm and powerful, immediately silenced everyone in the hallway. I looked up, startled by how quickly everything had quieted down. I wasnât sure how much time had passed since Iâd first collapsed to the ground, but it didnât matter now. The moment Nicholas stepped forward, his presence seemed to settle the air around us.His golden eyes swept over
Tiara's POV I rubbed my arms, trying to calm the frantic thoughts that raced through my head. The cold floor beneath me only made me feel more vulnerable. I wanted to cry, to scream, but no sound came. My throat ached from the cloth that had been shoved into my mouth, the harshness of it still making it difficult to swallow. The taste of it lingered, bitter and foreign, and the fear still gripped my chest.Just as I was about to gather the strength to stand, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the hallway. I froze, holding my breath. Who could it be? The footsteps grew louder until a voice called out my name.âTiara!âIt was Phoebeâs voice, sharp and worried. I turned toward the sound, trying to focus, but my vision was still blurry. I couldnât see her, not clearly. I could only hear her footsteps getting closer, and then, before I could react, I felt her hands on my shoulders. She crouched down next to me, her grip firm but shaky.âOh my God, tell me what happened!â P
Tiara's POV That evening, I felt a tight knot in my stomach as I walked through the dimly lit hallway. The air around me was quiet, almost too still. The house was unusually calmâmost of the packâs warriors were either out training or resting after a long day, leaving the halls empty and echoing. I had been walking in silence for what felt like ages, my footsteps soft against the cold stone floor. The goal was simple. Find Alpha Nicholas, tell him everything, and make sure he understood the threat I was feeling.I was nervous. I couldnât deny that. But the thought of Ryker and whatever he might be planning made the worry seem small. I needed to speak to Nicholas. I had to. If Ryker was truly dangerous, I couldnât let him get away with it. I had to trust my instincts, even though everything inside me screamed that something was wrong. My steps were measured, careful, as I neared the entrance to the training ground. The heavy wooden door was only a few paces away, but something in the
Tiara's POVWhat if I was just overthinking things?I had to admit that the whole situation felt wrong, but I didnât know how to explain it. Was Ryker a threat? Or was I being paranoid? And then there was Phoebe. I couldnât help but wonder what was really going on between her and Ryker. Was she flirting with him? Was there something more sinister happening? My wolf growled uneasily at the thought, but I didnât know what to make of it. I couldnât confront Phoebe or Ryker directlyâwhat if I was wrong? What if I was overreacting?I heard the soft creak of the door, and I looked up to see Nina standing there. Her face was soft, filled with concern, and she stepped inside without a word. I gestured to the bed beside me. âHey, come sit.âShe crossed the room and sat down next to me, her eyes taking in my tense posture. She didnât say anything at first, but I could tell she could tell something was off. âWhatâs going on, Tiara?â she asked quietly.I let out a deep breath, trying to gather my
Tiara's POVRyker was still everywhere I went.It was becoming harder to ignore him. His presence, his eyes, had followed me everywhere. At first, I thought it might be paranoia, but now, I was sure. He was always there, lurking in the background, making me feel uneasy.I had tried to avoid the places where I had noticed him beforeâavoiding the garden, the packâs dining hall, and even the training grounds. But it never worked. No matter what path I took, he seemed to be waiting somewhere, always too close, his watchful eyes on me. The more I tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to consume my thoughts.So, today, I decided to take a walk through the park. The fresh air, the open spaceâit usually helped clear my mind. The scent of flowers filled the air, and the soft rustle of leaves above me was soothing. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax, letting my guard down. The sun was shining through the trees, and I could feel its warmth on my face.I took a deep breath, inhaling the swe
Tiara's POVFor days, I felt the pair of eyes on me each time I stepped out of the house.Ryker, one of the guards, seemed to be everywhere I went. At first, I brushed it off. He was a guard, after all. It made sense that he would be around, keeping an eye on things. But the longer it went on, the more I realized it wasnât just a coincidence. Every time I turned around, I caught him looking at me. Sometimes he pretended to be busy, talking to other guards or inspecting the grounds, but his eyes always followed me. I could feel the weight of his gaze, and it made my skin crawl.I was walking with Nina in the fields, I stopped for a moment, taking in the view of the open field.Ryker was behind me now, and I could sense him standing off to the side, his watchful eyes never leaving me. It was as though no matter where I went, he was always there, lurking in the background. My wolf stirred uneasily, a quiet growl rising in the back of my throat. Something about it didnât feel right.âYouâ
Tiara's POVI sat by the window in my room, nursing a mug of coffee. I kept replaying the events of the night before, over and over again. I couldnât dismiss the way his eyes had lingered on me, the softness in his voice when he told me to go to bed.But I wasnât sure if it meant anything. Nicholas wasnât the type to show weakness, and I had no idea if what I had seen in him was a sign of something more or just a fleeting moment.âTiara, youâre quiet today,â Nina said, settling down across from me with a wide smile on her face. She looked at me, practically glowing with excitement, her eyes bright and expectant.I took a deep breath, setting my mug down, and met her gaze. âItâs nothing,â I muttered, trying to dismiss the thought. But Nina wasnât about to let me off the hook that easily.âYouâve been thinking about last night, havenât you?â she asked, leaning forward eagerly. âYou canât hide it from me, Tiara. I know you. I can see it on your face.âI bit my lip, unsure of how to respo