It was a long day for Keegan. It was nightfall by time he retired to his chambers in the company of Kalaril. They spoke idly of the day's events as Keegan removed his heavy regalia. They shared a drink afterwards, the conversation drifting from trivial court matters to lighthearted jokes. But Kalaril's next words shifted the tone abruptly. "Don't you think you should let her go?" Kalaril asked.Keegan took a deep drink from his cup, not bothering to look at Kalaril until he had emptied it. "Who?""Sheera." He clarified. "The mate bond is gone now, and I understand that you want to punish her for hurting you. But don't you think it's more painful seeing her around? I was thinking it'd be best to let her go."Keegan's nose twitched in irritation. He poured more wine, the liquid swirling in the goblet like his unspoken anger. "No." His voice was hard. "I don't want her gone, Kalaril. Not yet. I still want her to suffer.""You used to like her. Love, maybe. Is it really necessary to k
A WEEK LATER.It was midday, and the sun hung heavy in the sky, casting a warm hue over the farmlands of Howling Ridge. Sheera, along with Tabitha and a lot of workers were working on some of the farmlands.Howling Ridge was known for it's abundant lands, and this very farm was one of the prized estates of Keegan's ownership. The rich, expensive field stretched out as far as the eye could see. It wasn't the first time Sheera was working on the farms, but never had they received guests while at work. That day was different. Six carriages arrived. Sheera couldn't breath as the riders drew nearer, her heart racing with an overwhelming mixture of fear and longing when she recognized the figure at the head of the procession. It was Keegan, his tall form regal atop his favorite black horse. What was he doing there?His golden hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like molten metal, and his cold silver eyes glanced the lands as if weighing it's worth with each glance. Sheera
Odessa's moans filled the room as she straddled Keegan, her hips moving fervently, her skin slick with sweat. Her breath came in ragged bursts as she bounced atop him, her nipples grazing his chest with every rise and fall. Keegan's hands rested loosely around her waist, his eyes closed. He was seated in his chair, a single bead of sweat trickling down his neck. It was supposed to feel incredible. Odessa was giving it her all, but even her guts told her something wasn't right with Keegan, as it had been ever since he regained consciousness. This is the third time they have been intimate since then, and the last two times, his mind seemed distant, and in the end, he didn't finish on her. Now, he sat there, his eyes closed. It looked like he was enjoying it this time around. Odessa desperately hoped he was. But she was far from the truth. As Keegan closed his eyes, all he could see were the memories of a certain lady on him, a lady with long black hair, vivid blue eyes, and a scent
It was late at night when Malkar knocked on Thessaly's door. The Mistress opened up and was taken aback to see the Prince standing before her. She was dressed in her night robe, a sheer, transparent garment that left little to the imagination."Prince Malkar?"He chuckled lightly. "Come on, let me in."He attempted to step inside, but Thessaly stood firm, barring his path."I'm sorry, but it's late. Do you need something?"Malkar looked around, uncomfortably. "Come on, Thess, someone might see us. Let me in."Worried that indeed, someone might see them and misconstrue the situation, she allowed him into the room. However, she stopped him at the door, refusing to let him venture further inside."What is it?" She demanded, her voice husky.Malkar drew a long breath, taking in ev
Keegan went towards her, his steps heavy. His aura was oppressive. "What were you looking at?" Sheera kept her head bowed, praying to the moon she wasn't the one he was referring to. But who was she deceiving?He stepped into her space and grabbed her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze?"I asked you a question," he hissed through gritted teeth. "Have you no idea you're not supposed to look me in the eyes?"The raw fear in Sheera was palpable. She wondered if he could feel her trembling as he held her jaw, if he could hear how hard she swallowed. She tried to speak, but the words died in her throat."I'm... I'm sorry..." She finally managed to stammer. She didn't know what else to say. She was terrified. For a while, Keegan glared at her. His face was twisted maliciously, his nails biting into her skin. He thought of so many words he could hurt her. So many ways he could make her weep. She had no right to be in his head. With a rough shove, he released her, sending her stumbling ba
Sheera was equally surprised when the Alpha took her to his chambers. She'd expected somewhere far worse, somewhere terrifying. As soon as she stepped into the room, her muscles twitched involuntarily. This room... Being away from it for so long made her realize it was her favourite place. It felt as if her lungs forgot to breath as her eyes darted around on their own. Everything was just like she remembered. The air was thick with his rugged, earthy scent, the very scent she's missed.She was lost, staring at the room and wasn't prepared for being hurled against the wall with such force that her head spun. Her eyes squeezed shut from the impact, and pain shot through her bones. When she opened them again, Keegan stood before her, towering over her like a dark tempest ready to consume her whole. His hand was clamped around her throat - unyielding and merciless.She closed her eyes again, the grunts of pain and protest stifled in her throat. She rekt the walls of her lungs constrict,
Otis led Zarek through the winding hall, the scent of damp stone and the faint aroma of meat wafting from the chamber ahead. As they approached, the murmur of low voices ceased. Otis pushed open the door, revealing a room and a table untouched food and goblets of wine. Albany Sebastian and Cyrus Rose on their feet as the two Alphas entered. When news of what had transpired during the Peace Treaty reached Zarek's ears, he sent a letter to Sebastian, seeking a team up. He couldn't see a more befitting partner than a man who was as hurt as he was. Their pleasantries were brief, their formalities clipped and hollow, before they shifted the conversation to what truly mattered. "I should have listened to Laycoan when he warned me not to go for the Peace Treaty," Sebastian began, his jaw tight with the bitterness of hindsight. "Now, he mocks me for my blindness, and I think I deserve it. Keegan took something very dear to me - my most precious possession. He never intended to make peac
Her vision blurred with red, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of something dark and dangerous. She wasn't sure what she might do next if not for the sudden interruption. "Greetings, Mistress Odessa," the maid bowed in respect as the imposing figure of Odessa stormed in, flanked by several stern-faced Keepers.Only then did Sheera snap out of her illusion. She sucked in a painful breath as if emerging from deep waters. Good Hades! What was wrong with her!? What had she almost done!?She was breathing heavily, fear prickling her skin. Something wasn't right. The last time she'd felt that way was when that Keeper had tried to force himself on her months ago, in his room. Back then, she concluded she'd been triggered, but now, she didn't even know what to think anymore. She was so lost in her frantic thoughts that she didn't notice Odessa striding towards her, fury blazing in her eyes. She only snapped back to awareness when a sharp slap struck her cheek, sending her reeling
"Release her," his voice was low and taut as he gave the command. "Take her to Elke."He turned to Odessa, his gaze as cold and sharp as ice. "With me."Odessa swallowed hard, the fear of what awaited her eclipsing her rage at seeing Sheera set free.She hesitated but then hurried after him, her cheeks burning with shame under the watchful eyes of the gathered crowd.Once inside his room, Keegan moved with binding speed. He seized her throat, and with a force that knocked the breath out of her, he slammed her against the wall.The impact rattled through her bones, and a strangled gasp died in her throat, her eyes widening in shock and pain.His grip tightened, iron-hard fingers digging into her delicate skin. She struggled to breathe. Her lips parted, wanting to plead for his mercy, but no words escaped—only the faintest, pitiful wheeze."How dare you?" He gritted through clenched teeth, his face inches from hers. "How dare you do that to her?"Odessa wanted to defend herself, to remi
Her vision blurred with red, and she felt herself teetering on the edge of something dark and dangerous. She wasn't sure what she might do next if not for the sudden interruption. "Greetings, Mistress Odessa," the maid bowed in respect as the imposing figure of Odessa stormed in, flanked by several stern-faced Keepers.Only then did Sheera snap out of her illusion. She sucked in a painful breath as if emerging from deep waters. Good Hades! What was wrong with her!? What had she almost done!?She was breathing heavily, fear prickling her skin. Something wasn't right. The last time she'd felt that way was when that Keeper had tried to force himself on her months ago, in his room. Back then, she concluded she'd been triggered, but now, she didn't even know what to think anymore. She was so lost in her frantic thoughts that she didn't notice Odessa striding towards her, fury blazing in her eyes. She only snapped back to awareness when a sharp slap struck her cheek, sending her reeling
Otis led Zarek through the winding hall, the scent of damp stone and the faint aroma of meat wafting from the chamber ahead. As they approached, the murmur of low voices ceased. Otis pushed open the door, revealing a room and a table untouched food and goblets of wine. Albany Sebastian and Cyrus Rose on their feet as the two Alphas entered. When news of what had transpired during the Peace Treaty reached Zarek's ears, he sent a letter to Sebastian, seeking a team up. He couldn't see a more befitting partner than a man who was as hurt as he was. Their pleasantries were brief, their formalities clipped and hollow, before they shifted the conversation to what truly mattered. "I should have listened to Laycoan when he warned me not to go for the Peace Treaty," Sebastian began, his jaw tight with the bitterness of hindsight. "Now, he mocks me for my blindness, and I think I deserve it. Keegan took something very dear to me - my most precious possession. He never intended to make peac
Sheera was equally surprised when the Alpha took her to his chambers. She'd expected somewhere far worse, somewhere terrifying. As soon as she stepped into the room, her muscles twitched involuntarily. This room... Being away from it for so long made her realize it was her favourite place. It felt as if her lungs forgot to breath as her eyes darted around on their own. Everything was just like she remembered. The air was thick with his rugged, earthy scent, the very scent she's missed.She was lost, staring at the room and wasn't prepared for being hurled against the wall with such force that her head spun. Her eyes squeezed shut from the impact, and pain shot through her bones. When she opened them again, Keegan stood before her, towering over her like a dark tempest ready to consume her whole. His hand was clamped around her throat - unyielding and merciless.She closed her eyes again, the grunts of pain and protest stifled in her throat. She rekt the walls of her lungs constrict,
Keegan went towards her, his steps heavy. His aura was oppressive. "What were you looking at?" Sheera kept her head bowed, praying to the moon she wasn't the one he was referring to. But who was she deceiving?He stepped into her space and grabbed her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze?"I asked you a question," he hissed through gritted teeth. "Have you no idea you're not supposed to look me in the eyes?"The raw fear in Sheera was palpable. She wondered if he could feel her trembling as he held her jaw, if he could hear how hard she swallowed. She tried to speak, but the words died in her throat."I'm... I'm sorry..." She finally managed to stammer. She didn't know what else to say. She was terrified. For a while, Keegan glared at her. His face was twisted maliciously, his nails biting into her skin. He thought of so many words he could hurt her. So many ways he could make her weep. She had no right to be in his head. With a rough shove, he released her, sending her stumbling ba
It was late at night when Malkar knocked on Thessaly's door. The Mistress opened up and was taken aback to see the Prince standing before her. She was dressed in her night robe, a sheer, transparent garment that left little to the imagination."Prince Malkar?"He chuckled lightly. "Come on, let me in."He attempted to step inside, but Thessaly stood firm, barring his path."I'm sorry, but it's late. Do you need something?"Malkar looked around, uncomfortably. "Come on, Thess, someone might see us. Let me in."Worried that indeed, someone might see them and misconstrue the situation, she allowed him into the room. However, she stopped him at the door, refusing to let him venture further inside."What is it?" She demanded, her voice husky.Malkar drew a long breath, taking in ev
Odessa's moans filled the room as she straddled Keegan, her hips moving fervently, her skin slick with sweat. Her breath came in ragged bursts as she bounced atop him, her nipples grazing his chest with every rise and fall. Keegan's hands rested loosely around her waist, his eyes closed. He was seated in his chair, a single bead of sweat trickling down his neck. It was supposed to feel incredible. Odessa was giving it her all, but even her guts told her something wasn't right with Keegan, as it had been ever since he regained consciousness. This is the third time they have been intimate since then, and the last two times, his mind seemed distant, and in the end, he didn't finish on her. Now, he sat there, his eyes closed. It looked like he was enjoying it this time around. Odessa desperately hoped he was. But she was far from the truth. As Keegan closed his eyes, all he could see were the memories of a certain lady on him, a lady with long black hair, vivid blue eyes, and a scent
A WEEK LATER.It was midday, and the sun hung heavy in the sky, casting a warm hue over the farmlands of Howling Ridge. Sheera, along with Tabitha and a lot of workers were working on some of the farmlands.Howling Ridge was known for it's abundant lands, and this very farm was one of the prized estates of Keegan's ownership. The rich, expensive field stretched out as far as the eye could see. It wasn't the first time Sheera was working on the farms, but never had they received guests while at work. That day was different. Six carriages arrived. Sheera couldn't breath as the riders drew nearer, her heart racing with an overwhelming mixture of fear and longing when she recognized the figure at the head of the procession. It was Keegan, his tall form regal atop his favorite black horse. What was he doing there?His golden hair caught the sunlight, gleaming like molten metal, and his cold silver eyes glanced the lands as if weighing it's worth with each glance. Sheera
It was a long day for Keegan. It was nightfall by time he retired to his chambers in the company of Kalaril. They spoke idly of the day's events as Keegan removed his heavy regalia. They shared a drink afterwards, the conversation drifting from trivial court matters to lighthearted jokes. But Kalaril's next words shifted the tone abruptly. "Don't you think you should let her go?" Kalaril asked.Keegan took a deep drink from his cup, not bothering to look at Kalaril until he had emptied it. "Who?""Sheera." He clarified. "The mate bond is gone now, and I understand that you want to punish her for hurting you. But don't you think it's more painful seeing her around? I was thinking it'd be best to let her go."Keegan's nose twitched in irritation. He poured more wine, the liquid swirling in the goblet like his unspoken anger. "No." His voice was hard. "I don't want her gone, Kalaril. Not yet. I still want her to suffer.""You used to like her. Love, maybe. Is it really necessary to k