The question struck Lucy like a blow and she stumbled under the weight of it—not physically but emotionally. Her breath hit her and she blinked rapidly, trying to compare herself. Love Leo? The words echoed in her mind, unwelcome and painful.Lucy stared at the ground, her grip tightening on her clothes on either side. She didn't answer immediately. Her thoughts were a mess, tumbling over each other in disarray. Why is she asking me this? Why now? And what am I supposed to say?After a long, tense silence, Lucy finally spoke, her voice measured but laced with bitterness. “Leo rejected me with his own mouth,” she said, each word carefully enunciated, “and he told me to forget about him… and that's what I did exactly. Or, how can you expect me to love someone that doesn't love me, huh?”Isabella raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of skepticism and disbelief. She gestured with one hand, a small, sharp flick of her wrist, as if physically brushing aside Lucy's words. “You didn't answ
The training ground buzzed with tension, the air thick with anticipation as Lucy hurried down the dusty path, Marie trailing close behind her. The sun hung high, casting sharp shadows over the guards and the few pack members who had gathered to witness the spectacle. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest, her feet barely touching the ground as she weaved her way through the throne of armored figures.“Excuse us,” Marie muttered, pushing past a particularly burly guard.Lucy didn't stop, her eyes scanning the clearing until she caught sight of the center. A small crowd encircled the two figures at the heart of the commotion, the tension radiating off them like waves. She stepped forward, ignoring the murmurs around her, and found a spot just close enough to get a clear view.She barely noticed the guards muttering about their presence or Marie's standing slightly behind her. Her attention was fixed entirely on the two figures in the center.Aiden stood in a composed stance, his hands clas
The tension in the air was fierce even after the fight had come to an abrupt halt. Dust from the scuffle lingered in the breeze and the faint murmur of the dispersing crowd hummed in the air. Leo's hand was still stiffened in the air as he looked up. All focus shifted to the one who had stopped the fight. Alpha Eric stepped in the training ground, his presence commanding immediate attention. Eric strode forward with long, purposeful steps, his silver edge clock billowing slightly behind him. His guards flanked him, their expressions stoic and beside him walked Ethan. Ethan has been the one to deliver the news of the escalating fight. Ethan's eyes scanned the ground, his sharp gaW noting every detail, from the guards to the pack members.Leo straightened the moment he saw his father approach, wiping the sweat from his brow as he quickly stood to his full height. Aiden, however, didn't move right away. Sitting on the dusty ground, he tilted his head slightly, spitting blood to the sid
The smell of the stable was thick in the air, the sharp tang of hay and animal waste clinging to Lucy's senses. She gripped the wooden handle of the shovel, its rough texture grounding her as she stared down at the pile of straw and dung before her. But she wasn't really seeing it.Her mind was far away, replaying the events from the training ground. The clash between Leo and Aiden felt like a whirlwind in her memory. She could still see Aiden's swift movements, how effortlessly he had dodged Leo's initial attack. For a moment, it had seemed as though Aiden was untouchable, as if he was calculating every move before it happened. But then his focus had shifted—his gaze had locked with hers.Lucy felt her cheeks warm as she remembered the way their eyes had met. The intensity in his expression had been unlike anything she'd experienced before. And then he'd been hit.Her heart ached at the memory of Leo's fists connecting with Aiden, the force of each blow sending shockwaves through th
“That's one of Aiden's guards,” Marie whispered, her voice low, eyes flicking nervously to the man. “What's he doing here?”Lucy swallowed, her pulse quickening in her chest. She hadn't expected this. Aiden? Why would he send one of his men here? But before she could process the thought, the guard's eyes met hers. He bowed his head slightly, acknowledging her presence.Lucy stood frozen, feeling the weight of his gaze. Marie nudged her lightly, raising an eyebrow. “Well, aren't you going to ask him what he wants?”Lucy blinked and nodded, taking a step forward, slowly. The guard's posture was stoic and though he was clearly waiting for something, there was jonsign of urgency in his demeanor. As she approached, Marie's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them.The guard cleared his throat softly and addressed Lucy. “Miss Lucy,” he said, his voice calm and composed. “Prince Aiden has requested your presence.”Lucy's gaze flicked over to Marie, unsure of how to react. She lifte
Leo paced his room, the floorboards groaning beneath his restless steps. His jaw clenched and unclenched as fragments of the past few days swirled in his mind like story clouds. His hands occasionally boiled into fists, then relaxed, only to tighten again. The room, bathed in the amber glow of the evening sun, felt oppressive, it's walls closing in on him as he pieces the puzzle together.Aiden's actions puzzled him more than he cared to admit. Why had Aiden chosen to punish Lucy that day, only to let her go without any consequences? It didn't add up. If it had been about discipline, Aiden would have seen it through and yet… he hadn't. He had simply asked her a few questions and since then, Lucy had been different.Leo whispered to himself. “What if Aiden didn't want to punish her at all? What if…” He stopped mid-pace, staring at the floor as the radiation hit himHe thought back to what Isabella had told him. Her words rang in his ears like a haunting melody. “What if Aiden is inter
Leo's expression darkened, his instinct sharpening. He motioned for Ethan to stay quiet, then moved silently toward the door.Ethan's back pressed against the wall near the door, his shoulders rigid as his fingers splayed wide, trembling faintly as if longing to shift into claws. His breaths were shallow but controlled, his focus unyielding. He couldn't fully shift—not here, not now—but his instincts surged, the wolf within straining to break free.Leo moved into position, his body low and tense, a predator ready to strike. His gaze bore into the doors, his thoughts racing. Whoever stood outside, if they had heard too much, they wouldn't leave this room without consequences. His fists clenched, knuckles whitening, a slow exhale leaving his lips to steady the simmering rage beneath.The door creaked open, a sound so small yet magnified by the charged air in the room. Ethan raised his fists higher, his stance widening, every muscle coiled to unleash a decisive strike. His mind darted th
Her words hit him like a slap and for a moment, something flickered in his expression—guilt, regret, maybe even shame. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the cold, unyielding mask he always wore.He stood there in silence, his gaze heavy as Isabella's words hung in the air. He didn't answer immediately, instead letting his eyes roam her face—searching for something, perhaps, or merely buying time.“Leo,” Isabella pressed, stepping closer, her voice soft yet insistent. “You can't keep avoiding this. Just tell me.”Her persuasion seemed to have him but yet, he didn't flinch, not yet. Instead, he sighed, his expression softening for the briefest moments. His hand moves almost instinctively, his fingers grazing her chin and sliding gently along her cheek. The touch was fleeting, like a whisper but it was enough to still the air between them.Isabella froze, her breath catching. The unexpected tenderness left her momentarily unguarded and she leaned into his hand, press
Aiden and his men clashed fiercely with Leo's warriors. The sound of fists hitting flesh and the clang of claws echoes through the night. Aiden moved swiftly, striking down anyone who came near him. His strength was unmatched, but the numbers were against him.Leo stood back, watching the fight with cold eyes. A twisted smile played on his lips as she saw his men overpowering Aiden’s men one by one. Soon, only Aiden remained.Despite being alone, Aiden refused to back down. He had already taken down dozens, his movements sharp and precise, but the endless wave of enemy wore him down. Though he breathed heavily and his muscles ached, he didn't stop fighting.Leo's men surrounded him, moving in from every direction. Two of them threw a thick chain around his arm, another around his legs. Aiden struggled but more chains came. They pulled tight, dragging him to the ground. He tried to break free but the weight of the chains and the force of the guards holding them pinned him in place.Leo
Leo stood in his room, his hands clenched into fists as he stared blankly at the wall. His mind raced when the thoughts of the fight. The shame of losing to Aiden, openly, burned inside him, twisting his pride into rage.The door suddenly flew open with a loud creak. Alpha Eric stepped inside, his face was cold with anger. His sharp gaze pierced through the room as he slammed the door shut behind him.“What was that?” His voice sounded harsh. “You had the upper hand! How then did you lose to him?”Leo remained quiet, refusing to answer. Eric took a step closer, his frustration growing.“What did you do? You cheated, right?$ he hissed. “I know you did. You poisoned him—and still, you lost.”Leo didn't flinch. His heart pounded harder. “Answer me!” Eric snapped, raising his hand. Before Leo could react, a sharp slap struck his face, the sting echoing through the room.Leo slowly turned his head back to face his father, his eyes burning with anger. He had endured enough—his father's dis
Eric leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Go on,” he allowed, his tone curious.Aiden didn't pause. “If I win against Leo,” he smiled. “I will take Lucy, the maid that held my hands back there with me.”For a moment, there was silence. The words hung heavy in the air, and the crowd exchanged confused glances. No one had expected such a demand, especially not for a maid. Isabella, who had been sitting quietly, stood up in an instant. A wide smile stretched across her face as excitement flashed in her eyes. If Aiden won and took Lucy away, it would solve everything. Lucy would no longer be a threat to her. But then, is it the best option… what would happen with her and Leo? She thought. And as for Leo, the request struck a nerve. His smile faded as he marched toward his father. Leaning close to Eric, he lowered his voice, hoping no one else would hear.“Don't agree to it,” he hissed frustration clear in his tone. “You can't let him take her.”Alpha Eric remained still for a mome
Aiden moved fast, charging straight at Leo. His fist swung towards him but Leo was quicker. He dodged Aiden's punch and struck back with a hard blow to his side. Without giving him a chance to recover, Leo landed another punch on his chest, then his ribs, hitting him from every direction.Each strike pushed Aiden back, weakening him more. Leo's eyes gleamed with victory as he spun and delivered a powerful hook to Aiden's jaw. The force lifted Aiden off his feet. His body twisted in the air before he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.Dust rose where he fellz and the sound echoed across the field. He landed close to where Lucy and Marie stood. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at his body. Around her, the crowd roared in excitement.Their voices filled the air, chanting Leo's name over and over again. Some clapped, others cheered loudly, praising their future Alpha.Eric leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile. He clapped his hands together, proud of his son
The field was crowded with pack members. The full moon hung high above, casting a pale glow over the open space. Excitement and tension filled the air as everyone waited. But the one person they had expected—Luna Ava— was still not there. Murmurs spread through the crowd, quiet questions hanging without answers. Alpha Eric sat at the head of the gathering, his face calm but his fingers drumming lightly against the arm of his chair. His sharp gaze swept over the field, but there was no sign of her. The longer he waited, the heavier the silence became.A figure moved toward him—a guard, stepping close enough that only Eric could hear. He bent his head and whispered something quickly. Whatever the words were, they made Eric's expression tighten. He gave a slow nod before standing up, his towering form commanding everyone's attention. The noise faded as the pack focused on him. “The Luna will not be joining us anymore.” his voice rang out. “There are matters to be handled elsewhere and
Evening settled iber the pack, casting a warm glow as the sun dipped low behind the distant hills. The air buzzed with energy—laughter echoed through the open fields, the scent of roasted meat drifted from the kitchen and every wolf seemed eager for the celebration that would soon begin. Lanterns hung from the trees, flickering softly as pack members hurried about, preparing for the night ahead.Meanwhile, Leo stood near a pole inside the main hall, his sharp gaze scanning the royals, the elders and other representatives from other packs. He had been searching for Ethan, but there was no sign of him. Frustration flickered in his chest as he swept his eyes across the familiar faces—men in black exchanging quick words, young wolves chasing one another in playful bursts, the elders speaking quietly among themselves—but not the one person he needed to see.He sighed quietly, shifting his focus toward the center of the hall. And there he was, that was when he noticed him—Aiden.He was dres
Leo walked with heavy steps, his fists clenching tighter with each stride. The sun was higher now, warming the air, but the heat inside him burned hotter. Isabella's words played over and over in his mind—Lucy was the wolf. And Aiden was there with her.He had suspected something was off for a while. Aiden's movement has always been too careful, too quiet. But without proof. It was nothing more than a feeling. Now, there was no doubt left. Aiden had been helping Lucy and without doubt was the one who unlocked her wolf. He had done it right under his nose, in his pack without leaving a single trace. Leo's jaw tightened as he thought about the night he had smelled blood on Aiden's fingers. He had brushed it off then, convincing himself it couldn't be Lucy. After all, she wasn't supposed to be out of her room. But now, it all made sense. Aiden had been watching her and protecting her this entire time. And what had he been doing—that got him angry as he wished it should be him doing all
The sun hung high in the sky, casting light over the pack's territory and inside her room. Isabella sat on the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the sides tightly. Her mind raced as she replayed everything she had seen the night before—the wolf, the way its growl had echoed through the woods and how right in front of her, it had shifted back into a human. But not just anyone. Lucy.The name twisted inside her like a thorn. Lucy was supposed to be gone. Dead. she had made sure of it when she sent those useless Omegas to handle it. Yet, here she was—alive and stronger than before. That wolf… it was no ordinary shift. Isabella had never heard a wolf growl like that—not even the strongest warriors in the pack. The power in Lucy's growl which was able to shake the trees even the pack itself was in itself stronger. It was different and intense and it made her heart pound.If Lucy was alive, what else had she survived? Had Aiden been protecting her all this time?A shiver ran down her at t
Lucy's eyes burned bright red as she stared at the figure that was distant from her. Her body was still tense, her claws digging deep into the ground, creating marks and shapes as they made contact. The air around her felt somehow heavy, thick with threat and danger. Aiden knew she was thinking straight—her wolf had taken over. Her wolf had never been let out and now that it had, everything around it felt like a threat… she wouldn't want to go back to that state where her wolf was locked.The figure standing a short distance away trembled, her hands shaking by her sides. It was Isabella. Aiden recognized her scent before his eyes fully adjusted. She stood frozen, her face a pale-like color and her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to speak but could not.“Who is that?” she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible. Aiden could hear the confusion in her tone, the disbelief. She didn't know who or what she was looking at. But sure, she could tell it was something differen