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
ELIANAAxel's words hung in the air, leaving me with a sense of unease. What did he mean by "not now"? Was he implying that there would be a later time when I would have to face whatever fears I was trying to keep at bay?I tried to push the thoughts aside, but they lingered, making me feel anxious and on edge. Axel seemed to sense my unease, and he reached out, his hand brushing against mine."Let's get out of here," he said, his voice low and soothing. "We can talk more about this later." I noticed the way he gazed at the door before it returned.I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe getting out of there would help me clear my head, and I could try to make sense of the strange emotions that were swirling inside me.As we walked out of the space, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pulled into something deeper, something that I might not be ready for.Axel's eyes scanned me from head to toe, a hint of amusement dancing on his lips. "You look really cute,"
ELIANA"I don't know what to say," I admitted, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. For some reason, the whole story made me feel deeply uneasy, like I was stuck in a web of complexities I couldn't quite navigate. I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, my eyes drifting to the untouched food in front of me. The hunger I'd felt just moments before had surprisingly vanished, replaced by a sense of queasiness that left me feeling off-balance."Should I just tell my friend to forget about the whole thing?" Axel asked, his voice low and intense. He shifted his chair closer, his eyes narrowing as he fixed me with a piercing gaze. It was as if I was a suspect, and he was trying to extract the truth from my very mind.I felt a shiver run down my spine under his scrutiny, my heart beating slightly faster. "I...I don't know," I stuttered, trying to think clearly despite the intensity of his gaze."Okay, what if you were the one in this situation?" Axel asked, his voice tight with restrain
ELIANAI forced down the food Axel had served me, my expression a strained smile that hid the turmoil brewing inside. My senses were numb, and the flavors on my plate might as well have been cardboard. I ate slowly, my eyes scanning the room with anxiety and distraction.Minutes ticked by, and Axel still hadn't returned. His sudden departure after the weird conversation had left me bewildered. I fidgeted in my chair, my unease growing with each passing second. What was taking him so long?Alessia's absence only added to my growing unease. I couldn't help but feel a pang of longing for her return. Her presence had become a comforting constant, and without her, the room felt emptier and darker. I sent a silent plea to the moon goddess, my heart aching: ‘Please, bring her back to me.’As the minutes dragged on, Axel's prolonged absence began to gnaw at me. I was done with my food, and the silence was starting to feel oppressive. My mind wandered to the possibility of going after him, but
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
ELIANA The perfect opportunity. The crowd had dispersed, and now it was just Herold and I, alone except for the quiet presence of the maids. The air was thick with tension as I locked eyes with Herold, my gaze piercing and cold. I could feel the weight of my anger and resentment bearing down on me, but I kept it in check, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The maids, sensing the tension, kept their heads down, busying themselves with their tasks as they tried to blend into the background. But I knew they were aware of the dynamics at play here. They knew that something was about to go down. And I was ready to make my move.My eyes narrowed as I watched Herold approach, my mind racing with suspicion. What was he hiding? Why did he have so many female staff members surrounding him? It seemed... excessive. And then, a thought occurred to me. A thought that made my blood run cold. Was it possible that Herold was involved in something more sinister? Something that required a stead
AXELI stood in the empty hallway, my eyes wandering to the spaces where she used to be. I hated myself for it, but I couldn't deny the truth: I missed her presence around here. The way she used to move with quiet confidence, the way her eyes would sparkle when she thought no one was looking. It was all so... absent now. And I was left with this gnawing feeling of emptiness.As the Lycan King, I was supposed to be a force of nature, a being of raw power and instinct. But when it came to her, I felt like I was losing my grip on my primal instincts. I thought back to our last encounter, the way she had stood up to me, the way she had looked at me with such pity in her eyes. I couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of pride, knowing that I had been the one to bring out that spark in her.But now, she was gone, and I was left with nothing but the echoes of my own thoughts. I shook my head, trying to clear the cobwebs. What was wrong with me? I was the ruler of the Lycans, and I couldn't
ELIANA I walked down the stairs, my eyes scanning the room below. As I descended, I noticed heads turning in my direction. I was supposed to feel flattered, and happy that I was drawing attention. But I didn't. Because it wasn't good attention. It was the kind of attention that made my skin crawl, that made me feel like a specimen on display. I could sense the whispers, the curious glances, and I knew that I was being sized up, judged, and found wanting. My heart sank, and I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. I didn't want to be the center of attention, not like this. I just wanted to be left alone.As I walked into the living room, I was struck by the transformation that had taken place in just an hour. The room, which had been ordinary and unassuming earlier, now looked like a luxurious banquet hall. The decorations were elegant and understated, with soft lighting and intricate arrangements that added a touch of sophistication to the space. Soft music played in the background,
ElianaThe weight of my situation bore down on me, making me feel hopeless. Maybe I shouldn't even bother trying to escape. I had no one to turn to, no ally to trust. If I did manage to escape, where would I go? Axel's face flashed in my mind, but I pushed it away. He would probably hate to see me, and besides, I had no idea where he was. I was completely alone, with no one to rely on. The thought was suffocating. Even if I did escape, I would be on my own, with no one to help me. The risk was too great, and I felt like I was trapped with no way out. Maybe it was better to just accept my fate and try to make the best of it. ‘Best out of it.’ I scoffed bitterly at my own thoughts.But the thought of giving up, of surrendering to Herold's plans, was unbearable.I snapped back to reality, the lady's waving hands breaking the spell of my reverie. "Hello, ma'am," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of amusement. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized how lost in thought I had
ISABELLAI watched as he remained oblivious to my presence, his attention focused elsewhere. I couldn't help but wonder what he was doing here and why he seemed so out of place.Within me I wished we would cross paths, but that would just mean unleashing another phase of pain.But before I could ponder further, the ladies escorted me into the house.The interior was luxurious, but in an old, faded way. The air was thick with the scent of decay and rot, and I could feel the weight of years of neglect bearing down upon me.One of the ladies spoke up, her voice breaking the silence. "I will direct you to the shower, where you can prepare for tonight," she said, her tone firm but polite. I nodded, still feeling a sense of unease and disorientation.I looked at the lady; I noticed a subtle shift in her demeanour. She seemed softer and more gentle, and her voice took on a slightly warmer tone.It was a stark contrast to the way she had spoken to me earlier, in the presence of Herold. I reme
IsabellaCannis tossed me to the floor, and I landed with a thud, my palms scraping against the cold surface. Herold's voice cut through the air, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Don't treat her like that," he said, his words laced with mockery. "She's my wife, after all." The way he said it made it clear that he was only defending me out of mockery.His voice was tinged with disdain, and I felt a sting of humiliation at his words. I looked up at him, meeting his gaze, and saw the amusement dancing in his eyes. He was enjoying this, enjoying the power he held over me.I shook my head, trying to process the surreal scene unfolding before me. At first, I had thought that Victoria and my so-called father were pretending to be kind to me just to appease Herold, to keep him happy and invested in their twisted games. But now, I wasn't even sure of that. Everything seemed to have taken a wild turn, and I was struggling to keep up. Herold's sarcastic defense of me, Canis's rough handling, an
ELIANA"Congratulations to you," she said, the sarcasm dripping from her voice like venom. I could feel the malice emanating from her, but before I could respond, I heard a voice behind her. "Gooday ma’am.”It was Canis, his deep voice low and even. He bowed slightly to greet Vivian, his eyes never leaving hers, before turning to me. His expression darkened, and he strode towards me, his movements swift and purposeful. I tried to step back, but he was too quick. He grabbed my arm, his grip like a vice, and dragged me out of the room violently, leaving Vivian's mocking smile behind.So ironic I was the one treated like a slave in my father’s house. The disdain was too much Vivian was given so much attention and real while me? I was just… a failure.As Canis dragged me out of the room, I couldn't help but wonder if I was being freed. Was my father finally considering releasing me from this mysterious prison? The thought sent a spark of hope through me, but it was quickly extinguished b
ElianaDarkness had shrouded me for what felt like an eternity - three days, maybe more, lost in a void without sustenance or reprieve. Hunger and thirst gnawed at my belly, a relentless reminder of my confinement.The thought of escaping was tempting, but I knew it was hopeless. Even if I somehow managed to break free, I had nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The thought sent a chill through me, leaving me feeling lost and alone.For three long days, I'd been spared the agonizing stabs of pain that had become my unwelcome companions, a small mercy in an otherwise desperate My mind was consumed by thoughts of Axel. I desperately wanted to see him, to explain why I'd lied and tell him the truth. I felt overwhelmed by my secrets and longed to confess everything to him.Sleepiness crept in, but the pangs of hunger kept me alert. I knew I had to dig deep and find the strength to keep going, no matter how bleak things seemed. Survival was my only option.The sudden burst of sunlight bli
ELIANAI begged, my voice cracking with desperation. "No, Dad, please! I'm very sorry, I'm so sorry!" I collapsed to my knees, my body wracked with sobs as Cannis approached me with an unyielding expression. My hands grasped at my father's legs, pleading for mercy, but he remained unmoved, his face a mask of stone.A blood-curdling scream tore from my lips as Cannis seized my arm with brutal force. I couldn't contain my anguish; tears burst forth from my eyes, streaming down my face like a torrent of despair.Memories of my last confinement in the dungeon came flooding back, and I shuddered at the recollection. The relentless darkness, the gnawing hunger, the parching thirst, and the absence of sunlight had nearly claimed my life. The thought of facing such brutal punishment again was almost too much to bear.I was already writhing in agony, but the sly, triumphant smile spreading across Vivian's face was like a dagger twisting in my wound, amplifying my suffering."Shut your mouth