Lucy ran with every strength she'd got, crashing through the bushes and tall grasses of the forest, stumping on dried leaves and branches so that they made some creaking sounds. She peeked behind her, constantly as she made an effort to lose the guards that ran after her. She gasped and breathed heavily, holding on to the wish to outrun them. It was either to stop and be captured or run and stay alive. She could hear the sound of their footsteps which became more audible as she ran. The sound of their growls was scary enough to make her quiver and made her have thoughts of what might happen if she was to be caught She merely escaped from the Moonshine pack where she had to labor as a handmaid in the Royal residence of Alpha Eric and Luna Ava. Though she didn't work directly for them but for their daughter, Isabella. Though Isabella was not the biological daughter of Alpha Eric. She was the daughter of his Beta who died alongside him with his mate during a war. Alpha Eric had to tak
Lucy opened her eyes which were still blurry. She shook her head swiftly as she endeavored to notice all that surrounded her. Being oblivious to her surroundings, it took her a while before she detected the iron door that was fixed to the wall, keeping her from breaking out, and the dried leaves that were strewn all over the ground. She was struck with fear when a rat squeaked by, climbing over her back. She moved with great rapidity and with a sudden sharp scream. Her legs dangled, scattering the leaves as she crawled hurriedly and leaned her back against the wall. She gasped for breath as it took a toll on her. "Hey, Katherine... You're here," She whispered, her heart racing faster than usual, and maneuvered hastily to where Katherine was. She was unconscious, she tilted her head swiftly so she opened her eyes but it was all in vain. Her head bleeds and there were spots on her face, so obvious that anyone could tell she received an intensified beating. Katherine was the one who as
Lucy walked under the fiery sun, sweating profusely as she made her way to the room where she was kept with Katherine. She hurried away without stopping not until she bumped into Isabella who was already standing in her way. She shrugged and immediately bowed her head. "Where are you off to in such a hurry," Isabella smirked and dared to reach out for her jaw, lifting her head slightly upward so she would make eye contact with her. Lucy struggled as she didn't want that but received a resounding slap that weakened her, causing her eyes to become fuzzy. "You look at me when I'm talking to you," Isabella vocalized with a sharp tone. Lucy slowly raised her head high up and stared at Isabella, solemnly with a straight face. She was angered, every instinct of her body telling her to fight back but she decided to keep her calm. Her eyes caught Marie who stood behind Isabella. Marie fixed her eyes on her for a moment but then, Lucy was smart enough to read the look on her face as it gav
"How could I perceive this scent, how is this possible," Lucy said in a low tone with her lips partly apart. "I don't even have my wolf yet," She pondered as she trod along the path which the scent she perceived had taken her to. She watched back and forth to see if anyone was following her trail as she could not be found roaming about in such a restricted area. The scent became stronger and soon sensed it must be Leo. She was brought to a stop when she got to a balcony that looked like an abandoned site. She sighted no one but yet, it was the place the scent stopped. She proceeded stealthily without her foot, making a slight sound. "Leo,' She uttered with a soft voice when she sighted him, standing only a few strides away from her. He looked fit in his black jacket and black jeans as he seemed to stand in a stance. "Lucy, you are here, how come," Leo said as he turned around to notice her. Lucy didn't get what he meant by his words, rather, she rushed at him and embraced him firml
Lucy walked sluggishly along the path that led to the meadow where she was stationed. Uncontrollable tears rolled down her cheek as she could not fathom what happened between him and Leo but yet, strived to put on a smile on her face when a few guards passed by. Thought of Leo rejecting her pestered her mind, having a nostalgic recollection of the plans she made after figuring out he was her mate. "I'm lost, why did he do it… Like he was scared of his Father," She whispered, silently and rubbed the tears on her face. She bowed her head and strolled away hurriedly when a guard approached her. "Father, I don't know what to do… I'm never getting out of here," She shut her eyes and gulped. Her heart raced, chest lingering upward and downward, so apparent that anyone could notice her restlessness. She was oblivious to her surroundings and didn't see Isabella already standing in her way. She walked into her and at that instant, apologized for not being watchful. She was about to take
The sun lurked around the clouds as it dimmed its light and was about to settle down. Marie grunted and raised her head slightly to notice Lucy whose back was also bent, with a spade in her hand, packing horse dung into a bucket and disposing of them in another spot a long distance away from where they were. They'd been there for hours as the guard who ordered them to follow him decided to punish them both for disobeying his command. Marie had been taking a brief look at Lucy but she wasn't looking her way and didn't notice her. Marie had been waiting for an opportunity to speak with Lucy but couldn't find the right time as Lucy was busy all through without even making a sound. Marie stood upright and yawned her back behind her back, stretching herself. She whimpered as she felt a slight pain right in her lower back. She stared at Lucy who wouldn't even raise her head and take a break from working endlessly for hours. She took a few steps towards Lucy but discontinued when she sig
Lucy rubbed her eyes aggressively with the back of her hands and soon opened them wide. She pressed her gaze on Marie at first but soon took a few steps forward to get closer to her. Marie immediately backed away and stretched her hand at her so she would stop walking. "What was that," Marie questioned, her chest lingering. "I don't know… you could see that I was rubbing my eyes a few seconds ago," She said with a high-pitched sound, flipping her hands in the air. "How is it, is it gone?" She asked with curiosity. "Yeah, it's gone," She responded after replying with a grunt. Lucy bowed her head and fell to her knees. She raised her hands slowly and widened them both, directing them to her face. She started for a while and soon scratched her hair. "What's happening to me, I felt a surge of energy running through my veins a while ago," She whispered, her lips partly apart. "Lucy, don't tell me you've been hiding your wolf from everyone,"Lucy unhurriedly lifted her head in respo
"Now I've got so many questions… I knew it, what has Katherine been keeping from me?" She muttered, silently, questioning herself, her chest lingering upward and downward."I have got some answers no matter the cost," Lucy whispered, talking to herself as she trod down the hallway of the Royal residence with haste in an attempt to see Katherine. Her hands moved swiftly back and forth on either side. She rattled on with a few words in a low tone as she pressed on. The sweat on her face dripped down from her face and dropped on the cloth. It looked so dirty since her face was already caked in dust. Her whitish shirt was already stained and becoming brown. Her hair already changed its color like they were grey. Yet, she was less concerned about that. All she thought about was getting answers from Katherine. She turned her head a little bit and directed her eyes on the miles of wall that surrounded her. She noticed the shadow of one who seemed to be stalking her and since it was sunny
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