AXEL She was proving stubborn, refusing to open up to me. Just like her father, secretive and tight-lipped. But that wasn't an issue, not for someone like me. A simple mind link would reveal what was bothering her. I was certain she hadn't sought out this spot just to breathe in some fresh air. I was sure she was just making up stories; it was so obvious she was terrible at lying for her not to want to spill it. It might be something that will facilitate my work here so I can return to the pressing issues.My people needed me.Something was off about her; I could sense it, feel it. Her unease was palpable, and yet, I couldn't help but notice the small smile that played on my lips within a few minutes I spent with her. It was a rare sight, one that I reserved for a few occasions. My father's words echoed in my mind: "We enjoy the prey a little before making them suffer.”I couldn't concentrate fully on my gaze, staring at secret glances at her naked chest. I desperately wanted to tear
ELIANA My heart was still racing; I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that settled in the pit of my stomach. My father's face flashed before my eyes, his cold, calculating gaze making my skin crawl. I knew him, knew the depths of his cruelty and the lengths he'd go to get what he wanted. And what he wanted was me back under his control. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I wondered with a sense of inevitability when he'd finally come for me.I couldn't blame myself for lying to Axel. It wasn't something I'd planned on doing, but how could I have told him the truth? That my own father had sent those men to capture me? The weight of that betrayal was still too much to bear. So, I'd spun a web of deceit, hoping to protect Axel from the darkness that had haunted me for so long. But now, as I stood before him, I wondered how long it would take for him to find out that I was full of deceit.I swallowed hard as Axel moved closer, his husky voice sending a shock down my spine
ELIANA I followed Axel out of the forest, my heart pounded in my chest like a drum. I whispered a desperate prayer to the moon goddess, my eyes flicking up towards the sky. ‘Please, don't let my father see me. I couldn't afford that.’ The thought of facing him made my heart sink deeper. I had to remain hidden, at least for now. Axel seemed to not pay much attention to me, but I was certain he was aware of the turmoil brewing inside me; it was like he knew aware ofeverything; his long strides ate up the distance as we emerged from the forest's shadows.The thought of my father seeing me was unbearable, but what was even worse was the possibility of Axel finding out about my arranged marriage and all the lies I had told him. My stomach churned at the memory of beta Harold’s face; the memory of his face made my skin crawl. The idea of being tied to him for life was suffocating, and I knew Axel would never understand why I had agreed to such a union, and there was no way possible I would
ELIANA I walked beside Axel, the forest seemed to grow darker, the shadows twisting into menacing shapes. Every snap of a twig almost made me flinch, but Axel's stern Warning couldn't let me. My heart raced with a fear I couldn't shake. But Axel just kept moving, his eyes fixed on some point ahead, his silence more unnerving than any words could be.I tried to calm myself down, to tell myself I was being ridiculous, but my mind wouldn't listen. I was too busy thinking of the terrible things that could happen.As we approached the house, my senses went into overdrive. I could pick up the faintest sounds from inside - the murmur of voices; I could hear growling sounds from my father; I was certain I was the topic of discussion. My heart was racing, and I felt my anxiety spike.Alessia's voice was a gentle whisper in my ear. ‘Stay calm, Eliana.’ But her words of reassurance fell flat. One misstep, one careless mistake, and my life would be forever shattered. The weight of that realizati
ELIANA "You don't have to look at me like I'm going to kill you," Axel said, his voice low, his gaze still fixed on the road ahead. "I just asked you a simple question." Something was unsettling about the way he seemed to know exactly what I was thinking, about the way he could read me so easily. I swallowed hard, trying to compose myself, but my heart was still racing with fear."Sorry," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was lost in thought, thinking about something... and wondering why you asked the question you did." I glanced at Axel, trying to read his expression, but his face remained impassive, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. This wasn't originally my pack, and if my father found out I'd been talking about our past... I shuddered at the thought. He would use me as leverage, a pawn in his game of power and manipulation. I knew that all too well. Axel's question had unwittingly stirred up a hornet's nest of secrets and fears
ELIANA I sank into the plush queen-sized bed, letting out a deep breath as I tried to process everything. My mind was a jumble of emotions, but the silence of the room was a welcome respite.I stood up, took off my clothes, and walked towards the bathroom. As I stepped onto the cold tile floor, my bare feet prickled with sensation, but it was a calming feeling, like a soothing balm for my frazzled nerves.I turned on the faucet, letting the water flow, but I didn't step under its stream. Instead, I stood there, lost in thought. Alessia's voice whispered in my mind, “What did he mean by 'the favor he is rendering you is for his benefit'?" The question swirled in my head, refusing to let me shake it off."I don't understand either," I replied to Alessia."Maybe he likes you," she suggested, her tone laced with a hint of curiosity.I scoffed, dismissing the idea. "That's impossible," I said to Alessia. "Let's forget he's the Lycan King for a second - have you seen this man?" I asked, my
AXELMy gaze drifted to her round boobs. They were perfect. I could feel them calling me to pop it, I was taken aback by the sight. Her curves were flawless, and for a moment, I forgot myself. I had seen a lot of views, but this was resplendent. But as soon as desire sparked within me, I suppressed it. I hated that I reacted to her that way. She swiftly turned, but I knew she was aware that I'd seen everything."I'm used to sights like this," I said, placing the clothes on the vanity, trying to sound nonchalant. But the truth was, seeing her was different. It was more intimate and more personal, and it stirred something within me that I couldn't ignore.She let out a choked little cough, her discomfort palpable. As she turned her back to me, I couldn't help but notice the curves of her body: the long lines of her back, the tiny waist, and the rounded contours of her hips."Is there a towel?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I hesitated, my eyes still on her. "Nah, I'll bri
ELIANA I stood there, my mind reeling from the intensity of the moment. My cheeks flushed as I recalled the way he had gazed at my body, his eyes burning with desire. For a fleeting instant, I had seen the hunger in his eyes, but as usual, it was quickly veiled by an enigmatic mask.“I told you, he likes you!”"Alessia, stop it," I scolded her. "He can't fall for someone like me... He's notorious for not catching feelings, and even if he wanted to try, it would never be with me."I let out a frustrated chuckle at the absurdity of it all. That was impossible."I saw the way he looked at you, Eliana," Alessia persisted. "Like he wanted to devour you whole in that moment. I swear, I saw it.""Alessia, please stop it," I begged, trying to shake off the unwanted thoughts. "Just stop putting these ideas in my head, okay?”"Remember what you said about Gabriel?" I asked Alessia, my tone dripped with sarcasm. "How did that turn out?" I already knew she was aware of how miserably her predicti
ELIANAI slowly opened my eyes to find the morning sun peeking through the gap in the curtains. It was morning already? The day seemed to have flown by, with the night feeling eerily short. I stretched languidly, feeling the comfort of the bed, and trying to shake off the sense of urgency that had settled in my mind.The heat was oppressive, making a morning bath a necessity. I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, but as I reached for the doorknob, I found it wouldn't budge - the door was locked. Confusion etched on my face, I wondered, "Didn't I just...?" But my train of thought faltered, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.I had just used the bathroom last night; how come it was locked? Was the door knob spoilt or something… I thought.A knock on the door broke the silence, and I called out, "Come in." A woman entered, her smile faltering for a moment before she regained her composure. I could tell it was forced."Good morning, ma'am," she said, her tone p
ELIANAAxel reappeared in an instant, his eyes scanning the room as he took in the scene. "What's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.I was still gasping for breath, my chest heaving up and down. Axel's gaze locked onto mine, and he sat down beside me on the bed, his movements fluid and gentle. He shifted closer, his presence a comforting warmth that enveloped me.Axel's hand gently lifted my chin, guiding my gaze to meet his. I was certain he could see the fear lingering in my eyes, but he searched for something more. "What happened?" he asked again, his tone laced with concern, yet edged with a hint of frustration that I wasn't opening up to him. His eyes seemed to bore into mine."I... I had a nightmare," I admitted, feeling an overwhelming urge to rest my head on Axel's chest, but hesitating, unsure if it was too intimate.Axel's brow arched in curiosity. "A nightmare, huh? What happened in the nightmare, exactly?" he pressed, his eyes locked onto mine.Just as I was
ELIANAI sprinted for my life, desperate to escape the two enormous wolves hot on my heels. With every passing second, they closed in, their panting growing louder. My heart racing, I pushed my legs to their limit, but they felt like lead, threatening to buckle beneath me. Refusing to give in, I summoned every last ounce of strength and kept running.Although the larger wolf was closing in on me, I found myself fixated on the smaller one. Despite the bigger wolf's proximity, I felt a greater sense of fear towards the smaller one.Just as the larger wolf was about to pounce, I braced myself for impact. But instead of attacking me, it gently swept me up in its thick, luxurious blue fur. The unexpected tenderness brought instant relief, soothing the temporary pain and leaving me stunned.We thought we'd escaped, the large blue-furred wolf and I fleeing together from the relentless pursuit of the smaller wolf. But soon, the smaller wolf caught up, and to my shock, the tables turned. The l
AXEL I needed her to feel at ease around me, to trust me implicitly, and to obey my every command without hesitation. That's what I craved. She smiled back at me, revealing her flawless teeth, and for a moment, I felt a spark of excitement; this wasn't just going to be another revenge; it would be an exciting journey.I couldn't help but wonder why that asshole had left her. The new Luna, the woman I'd seen earlier, was a far cry from the genuine article. All she seemed to care about was power, and it was painfully obvious. The fool probably thought she loved him, but I wasn't buying it.It was laughably obvious, and yet he claimed to be an alpha? It was a joke. He couldn't even detect the most basic of manipulations, and that was a pathetic display of leadership. What a shame.Perhaps fate had other plans; events had fallen in order to bring her into my life at the perfect moment. It was as if fate itself had conspired to deliver her into my hands, and I couldn't help but feel a sen
ELIANAAxel's beta emerged from the corner, bowing slightly as he took in our surroundings. "Any issues?" Axel asked.His stern face was back, his expression unreadable. "No," his beta replied, his voice low. “But there is some information I want to pass”“Okay, go on.”The beta leaned in closer to Axel, presumably to whisper the details in his ear. But Axel's gaze never left mine. Instead, he commanded, "Spill."His voice was firm and authoritative, filling the space around us. It was as if he didn't care if I heard the conversation or not.My heart sank. Was it my father? Had they finally caught up with me? But before I could worry more, the news was released: "The Alpha of the Nightshade Pack is making his new mate Luna."My heart dropped like a stone. Axel's gaze locked onto mine, searching for my reaction. I tried to appear strong, to mask my emotions, but a sharp pain pierced my chest, threatening to expose my true feelings."The Luna ceremony will be held in the next full moon,
***33 YEARS AGOThe sky was a deep, foreboding grey, like a physical manifestation of the unease that settled over the land. Just minutes ago, the sun had been out and clear on the Nightshade Pack's territory, warming the earth beneath their feet. But now, the air was electric with anticipation, the thunder booming and crackling through the air.It was a storm like no other, one that seemed to draw the very breath from the atmosphere. The pack's elders would later tell stories of a similar storm, one that had ravaged their lands centuries ago when the ruthless Lycan King Azrael had met his end.But this storm felt different. The thunder seemed to vibrate through every molecule of air, the lightning illuminating the dark clouds in eerie, pulsing flashes. The storm's intensity was palpable, and it seemed to be building towards something - a reckoning, a revelation, or a transformation that would change the Nightshade Pack's world forever.Sophia's faint shout echoed through the empty r
AxelI slammed the plates into the kitchen cabinets, the clatter echoing through the room as I struggled to contain the anger boiling inside me. My hands trembled with rage, my fingers clenched into fists as I fought to maintain a fragile grip on my temper.Everything was going well. I hope Anastasia doesn't ruin it for me. If she does, I would thirst for the last of her blood.I gritted my teeth, my anger simmering just below the surface. I had thought my beta had everything under control, but now I wasn't so sure. One of them had escaped, and I had a sinking feeling that they might have made contact with her.I was certain it was Anastasia.She had chosen to keep secrets from me, to lie about the issues brewing within my own walls. The audacity was staggering. Once she left, I would confirm whether any of them had been involved, and if so, there would be consequences.Eliana's actions only made my suspicions stronger. Her deception and dishonesty were proof that I needed to take dra
ELIANAAxel emerged from the corner, his eyes scanning the hallway with an unnerving intensity. His gaze followed the path the stranger had taken, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition - in his eyes.Axel's gaze shifted back to me, his eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, "Was anyone here?"I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. My eyes darted around to the empty hallway as if searching for an answer. The stranger's sudden departure had left an uncomfortable silence, and I felt caught in the middle, unsure of what to reveal or conceal.I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. Axel's intense stare made me feel like I was withholding a secret, even though I wasn't entirely sure what was going on."Ummm, no," I stammered, the words tumbling out before I could reconsider. I wasn't sure if I had just made a terrible mistake by lying, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice.My mind was a jumble of conflicting emotions and
ELIANA"Then why are you here?" she asked, her eyes darting backward every few seconds, as if she feared being ambushed. There was something undeniably odd about her, and I found myself growing increasingly uneasy.Her question caught me off guard, and I felt a spark of defensiveness ignite within me. Did I need permission to be at Axel's? "I'm here with Axel," I said, arching my brow in query. "Is there a problem?"The moment Axel's name left my lips, the stranger's expression transformed. Fear flashed across her face, her eyes widening in alarm. Even I, not exactly skilled at reading expressions, couldn't miss the terror etched on her features.She glanced over her shoulder again, her fear intensifying. Her gaze darted around the room, as if she expected Axel to materialize at any moment. The air seemed to thicken with tension, and I sensed a dark undercurrent lurking beneath the surface."He's not interested in you," she whispered intensely, her eyes locked on mine with a desperat