*Zander*I knew the moment she averted her eyes that she had made up her mind to reject me. The thought of losing her was terrifying, a fear I couldn’t even put into words. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last.But when our lips finally met, I felt the resistance she had been holding onto dissolve. The mate bond between us surged to life, undeniable and overwhelming. Lyon growled in my head, so overcome with love for our mate that he wanted to take over, to mark her, to make her ours forever.Goddess, the moment I saw her in that silvery bridal gown, I had wanted to do this. She looked so breathtaking, so irresistibly stunning, I couldn’t think of anything else. I wanted to forget about the trial and take her to the wedding hall, marry her, make her my wife, mate with her, impregnate her, and make her have my pup. Catching her lower lip between my teeth, I tugged harder, unable to get enough of her. She moaned softly, and I deepened the kiss, our lips overlapp
I followed Selena silently toward the council courtroom, my eyes fixed on her back. It was as though I were trying to see through her, to reach the depths of her soul—but it was a futile attempt.Lyon was just as restless as I was and the uncertainty of what Selena would announce as her decision before the council made both of us anxious. Selena entered the courtroom first, her steps graceful yet determined. I followed a few paces behind, watching as she moved with quiet confidence and grace. She took her seat beside the High Priestess, while I settled into a row just behind her. Despite the physical distance between us, I could sense her awareness of my presence. Her subtle shifts in posture and the faint tension in her shoulders told me she knew I was there.The council head entered the courtroom, and everyone rose in respect. He was an elder of the werewolf community, a figure of immense authority and wisdom, with over two centuries of experience. Known for his unparalleled powers
Though Mother wasn’t pleased with my decision, she refrained from voicing her disapproval. She knew that no amount of arguing would change my mind, especially after the council had formally sealed the agreement.Zander approached me, holding Austin’s small hand, and my heart ached with the overwhelming need to embrace my son. Maddox and Blair followed closely behind, their expressions unreadable.“Austin, this is Selena,” Zander said gently, crouching to meet our son’s gaze. “She’s going to live with us now.”Austin’s curious eyes studied me with a mix of confusion and innocence. I offered him a soft smile, silently praying that some part of his heart would recognize me—perhaps just a trace of the bond we shared, the blood and flesh that connected us, would make him realize who I was.“Why will she live with us?” Austin asked, tilting his head toward his father.His words pierced through me, and I sighed deeply, the weight of despair settling over my chest. My baby boy didn’t recogniz
I sat on the edge of the guest room bed, glancing around. Everything here felt so familiar, yet at the same time, it felt like I didn’t belong. What had happened in such a short time that made me feel so lost in what was once my home? Or... was it even my home anymore? I let out a sigh, still wrestling with the unanswered questions swirling in my mind.Zander left for the pack office to handle some work with Maddox, and Blair took Austin with her. As if things couldn’t get more complicated, I discovered that my father, stepmother, and half-sister were also here when I returned. Now, I had to live with them in the pack house as well.To my shock, none of them remembered me—not even my own father. To make matters worse, they all seemed to despise me the moment Zander introduced me as his mate. Their resentment stemmed from their desire for Anne to be with the alpha king instead.What luck I had.Slumping back onto the bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to quiet my thoughts. Su
*Selena*"Why would I marry your daughter?" I heard a deep, sexy voice emanating from my father's office."If you meet her, you will like her. She is pretty and has been training to be a good and perfect Luna. She would be a perfect wife and mate. She is a very calm and obedient girl," my father's voice pleaded, and I couldn't help but wince at his words.Which daughter was he talking about? My younger sister, Anne, was only fifteen – he couldn't possibly be considering marrying her off already, right? The acceptable minimum age for werewolf marriages was sixteen. So, it dawned on me that they must be talking about me, as I had turned eighteen just last month."Still, Alpha Albert, I don't buy your words. Why would I marry a wolfless girl just to make this filthy alliance with your pack?" The same deep, husky voice responded with arrogance.Alliance?!Curiosity gnawed at me as I tried to decipher the situation. Who was this man who seemed so dismissive of my father's offer, yet held su
*Selena*He sent his car to pick me up for the date. Not that I expected him to come himself. Of course, the almighty Alpha King couldn’t be bothered to do something as simple as that.When I arrived at the restaurant, I stopped dead in my tracks. The entire place was empty. Reserved. For us.In the center of the room, a table sat perfectly set, glowing under soft candlelight. My eyes immediately landed on him—Alpha Zander Blake. He was already sitting there, dressed in a black tuxedo that looked like it was tailored just for him. Because of course it was. I hated how unfairly handsome he looked. The cold-hearted monster somehow managed to look like he’d stepped out of a dream.“Alpha,” I mumbled, walking toward the table.He didn’t stand. Didn’t offer so much as a smile. Typical. The waiter pulled out my chair, and I sat down across from him, pretending I wasn’t the least bit impressed. But I couldn’t help it—I glanced around, taking in the sheer extravagance of it all. The place was
*Selena***ONE YEAR LATER**"Congratulations, Luna! You're pregnant!" The doctor's words kept ringing in my mind, filling me with joy as I made my way to my mate, the Alpha King's office, to tell him the good news.After many tries, I was finally going to have my Alpha's pup. Zander and I had wanted a baby for so long since we had mated. But every time I got pregnant, it ended sadly with heartbreaking miscarriages, losing my precious pups.This time, when I realized I had missed my periods, I decided to keep it to myself. I didn't want Zander to go through the pain and disappointment of another loss.I kept my pregnancy hidden from everyone, waiting for the right time. It wasn't until three months had passed that I went for a check-up, hoping for good news. When the doctor confirmed that the baby was growing healthy and strong, tears of happiness flowed from my eyes. I couldn't contain my joy, rushing to share this incredible news with my mate.I was going to knock on the door, but my
*Selena*A grand conference had descended upon the Moonglow pack, nestled in the heart of the North. Known far and wide as the largest and most prestigious pack, it stood under the rule of none other than the Alpha King himself, Zander Blake. Alphas from every corner of the world converged upon this sacred ground, drawn by the significance of the gathering. And at the helm of it all, leading the congregation, was the formidable figure of Alpha King Zander Blake.I wiped away my tears, summoning the strength to compose myself. Taking a deep breath, I hurried towards the conference hall. The pain of betrayal made it challenging to drag my weary body forward. Tears persisted, blurring my vision and momentarily blinding me. Nonetheless, I fought against them, pushing them back."Luna Queen, I'm sorry, but you can't enter. The conference has already begun, and I've been instructed not to let anyone in," the guard pleaded, attempting to prevent me from entering. However, as the Luna Queen,
I sat on the edge of the guest room bed, glancing around. Everything here felt so familiar, yet at the same time, it felt like I didn’t belong. What had happened in such a short time that made me feel so lost in what was once my home? Or... was it even my home anymore? I let out a sigh, still wrestling with the unanswered questions swirling in my mind.Zander left for the pack office to handle some work with Maddox, and Blair took Austin with her. As if things couldn’t get more complicated, I discovered that my father, stepmother, and half-sister were also here when I returned. Now, I had to live with them in the pack house as well.To my shock, none of them remembered me—not even my own father. To make matters worse, they all seemed to despise me the moment Zander introduced me as his mate. Their resentment stemmed from their desire for Anne to be with the alpha king instead.What luck I had.Slumping back onto the bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to quiet my thoughts. Su
Though Mother wasn’t pleased with my decision, she refrained from voicing her disapproval. She knew that no amount of arguing would change my mind, especially after the council had formally sealed the agreement.Zander approached me, holding Austin’s small hand, and my heart ached with the overwhelming need to embrace my son. Maddox and Blair followed closely behind, their expressions unreadable.“Austin, this is Selena,” Zander said gently, crouching to meet our son’s gaze. “She’s going to live with us now.”Austin’s curious eyes studied me with a mix of confusion and innocence. I offered him a soft smile, silently praying that some part of his heart would recognize me—perhaps just a trace of the bond we shared, the blood and flesh that connected us, would make him realize who I was.“Why will she live with us?” Austin asked, tilting his head toward his father.His words pierced through me, and I sighed deeply, the weight of despair settling over my chest. My baby boy didn’t recogniz
I followed Selena silently toward the council courtroom, my eyes fixed on her back. It was as though I were trying to see through her, to reach the depths of her soul—but it was a futile attempt.Lyon was just as restless as I was and the uncertainty of what Selena would announce as her decision before the council made both of us anxious. Selena entered the courtroom first, her steps graceful yet determined. I followed a few paces behind, watching as she moved with quiet confidence and grace. She took her seat beside the High Priestess, while I settled into a row just behind her. Despite the physical distance between us, I could sense her awareness of my presence. Her subtle shifts in posture and the faint tension in her shoulders told me she knew I was there.The council head entered the courtroom, and everyone rose in respect. He was an elder of the werewolf community, a figure of immense authority and wisdom, with over two centuries of experience. Known for his unparalleled powers
*Zander*I knew the moment she averted her eyes that she had made up her mind to reject me. The thought of losing her was terrifying, a fear I couldn’t even put into words. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat louder than the last.But when our lips finally met, I felt the resistance she had been holding onto dissolve. The mate bond between us surged to life, undeniable and overwhelming. Lyon growled in my head, so overcome with love for our mate that he wanted to take over, to mark her, to make her ours forever.Goddess, the moment I saw her in that silvery bridal gown, I had wanted to do this. She looked so breathtaking, so irresistibly stunning, I couldn’t think of anything else. I wanted to forget about the trial and take her to the wedding hall, marry her, make her my wife, mate with her, impregnate her, and make her have my pup. Catching her lower lip between my teeth, I tugged harder, unable to get enough of her. She moaned softly, and I deepened the kiss, our lips overlapp
"Alpha King Zander is already betrothed to Alpha Albert’s daughter, and Queen Selena is promised to God Kaelvor. It’s only fair to proceed with the planned arrangements and not disrupt them simply because the Alpha King suddenly realized he is the mate of our queen," the High Priestess argued firmly in my favor. She cast a sharp, instructive glance my way, urging me to speak. But I remained silent, unsure why I felt compelled to hold my tongue."High Priestess, how can you say that?" Zander retorted, his tone filled with fury. My gaze lingered on the imposing figure of my mate, the Alpha King, as tension filled the air. A deep unease settled in my chest, knowing that a conflict between my mother and my mate was brewing. If it came to a confrontation, whose side would I even take?"You know what a mate means to us werewolves!" Zander’s thunderous voice echoed through the hall, his words cutting through the murmur of the council like a blade."The times have changed, Alpha King," my mot
*Selena*The wedding was halted, and when I was summoned to appear before the Council for my trial, I didn’t even have time to change out of my wedding dress—a traditional royal attire of the Lunar Realm.I glanced down at the silver blouse, its snug fit and intricate embroidery catching the light. The flowing silk skirt swayed gracefully around my legs as I moved and its elegance was undeniable. A delicate veil, pinned at the crown of my hair, trailed behind me, secured by a crescent moon clip. The diamond jewelry I wore sparkled brilliantly, perfectly complementing the attire and completing the regal look.I must have looked like the most beautiful bride today because Zander’s gaze hadn’t faltered for even a second since it landed on me. His expression was one of pure astonishment, his eyes wide and unblinking. My cheeks grew warm, and I was certain they were flushed as red as a ripe tomato. His gaze roamed over me, slow and deliberate, filled with raw hunger.I fought the urge to s
Author’s POV.“Mother, why can’t I save the realm without marrying a god?” Selena argued, frustration lacing her voice.“Because marrying a god will multiply your powers,” the high priestess replied calmly, though her tone held a firm finality. “You are not a complete goddess, Selena. You only carry the essence of the Moon Goddess as her descendant.”“But what about my mate? I’ve been married to him, and we have a son,” Selena questioned defiantly as her voice trembled with emotion.They called her the queen of the realm, worshipped her as their goddess, but as others continued to dictate her life, she felt less like a queen with authority and more like a pawn in their game.“He has forgotten about you,” the high priestess reminded Selena. “They all have forgotten you, even your son. If it weren’t for the mate bond, Alpha Zander would never have acknowledged you, Selena. You don’t matter to them, to Alpha Zander. So it’s better you stay here and fulfill your duty as the queen of the L
"Mate, don’t do this to me," I whispered, desperation lacing my voice.For a moment, hope flickered in my chest as I saw the yearning in her eyes. I was certain there was love for me too. But before I could even hold on to that hope, the high priestess raised her moonstaff, directing a beam of light straight at me. The last thing I heard before everything went dark was my mate's soft and regretful voice whispering, "I'm sorry."Then, in the blink of an eye, I was gone, pulled from the lunar realm, and transported to my Moonglow pack. She betrayed me. Tricked me into being sent back—so she could marry some god?! No. She was my mate and mine alone. I wouldn’t stop until I made her realize there was no escaping me.“Alpha!” Maddox’s voice snapped me back to reality. I turned to see him and Blair watching me, their faces etched with concern.“Where have you been?” Blair asked, her tone sharp with worry.I hadn’t told anyone where I was going. Only Freya knew as she had shown me the way to
*Zander*I couldn’t believe she was in my arms, and the spark that ignited confirmed what my heart—and Lyon—had been screaming all along: she was my mate. My mate. She was so close, I could almost hear the rhythm of her heartbeat. The way she shivered and gasped at my touch only cemented the truth—she felt it too. The spark. The undeniable pull between us. Only mates could react this way to a single touch.But confusion clouded my mind. If she was truly my mate, then what was Avery? Why had I married her?Now, here was this woman, the queen of this realm, ruling not just her people but also my heart. Yet, I didn’t even know her name because she hadn’t told me. And to top it off, she dropped another bombshell—we were married, a fact I had no memory of. She sounded annoyed that I had forgotten her, which only made things worse.How could this be possible? No one had ever mentioned I’d been married twice. Sure, maybe I had forgotten, but was it really possible that everyone else—my famil