AYRA'S POVA frigid fury snaked its way through me, coiling and tightening with each passing moment. The news, a cruel whisper carried through the gossiping halls, had settled in my gut like a venomous stone. The coronation – postponed.I slammed my hand down on the vanity, the gold-rimmed mirror shuddering under the impact. Tiara and Maki, my ever-present handmaidens, flinched at the sudden noise."What is it, Your Grace?" Tiara ventured cautiously, her voice laced with concern."What is it?" I echoed, my voice dripping with scorn. "Don't you two know anything? Apparently, the grand coronation, the supposed pinnacle of my existence, has been… postponed."Maki, usually quick with a comforting word, remained silent. I knew the news had shaken them as well. But their concern was a mere annoyance compared to the inferno raging within me."The last person to find out, of course," I continued, my voice a low growl. "The Luna herself. A mere afterthought in this grand spectacle."Tiara opene
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POVThe vial in the guard's hand pulsed with a malevolent green glow, the potent poison within shimmering like a captured emerald fire. Rage, a primal and searing entity, coiled within me. How dare she? Ayra, the woman I'd chosen as Luna in a desperate attempt to maintain stability, had attempted to take my life.The irony wasn't lost on me. I'd been too lenient, too willing to overlook her sniveling and tantrums. Perhaps I'd mistaken her blatant disrespect for youthful defiance. But this… this was a declaration of war.Nana, her weathered face an impassive mask, stood sentinel in the corner of the dungeon. Maki, the omega Ayra had sent on this treacherous errand, knelt in the center of the room, a whimpering mess. Blood caked her face, a testament to the interrogation she'd just endured."Speak, whelp," Nana rasped, her voice cracking with barely contained fury. "Where did you acquire this… concoction?"Maki flinched, her voice barely a whimper. "The w-witch v-village…
VESTA'S POVMy heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Dom had been staring at the wall for an eternity, and the silence was suffocating me. Today was the day. Today, the truth, the whole ugly truth, would slither out of my mouth and stain the perfect picture we'd painted of our little life together."Dom," I ventured, my voice barely a whisper.He finally turned, his eyes searching mine, a flicker of confusion swirling in their depths. "Yeah, Lila?""Listen," I began, forcing a lightness to my tone that felt foreign on my tongue, "whatever your reaction is, that's okay. I just… I can't keep doing this. Can't keep lying to you, not anymore."He simply nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. Taking a fortifying breath, I plunged in."My name, Dom. It's not Lila."A jolt of surprise shot through his features. "What do you mean? Of course, it's Lila.""It's Vesta," I corrected him, the unfamiliar name feeling heavy on my tongue. "Lila… well, Lila's part of me, but she's dorma
VESTA'S POVMy stomach churned with every passing minute. The warriors' meeting dragged on, each booming voice and alpha decree a nail hammering into the coffin of my fragile hope. Every eye that flickered my way felt like an accusation, a silent question about the truth I'd kept hidden.Then, a familiar figure slipped through the doorway, interrupting my spiral of anxiety. Dom's presence, even from a distance, was a beacon in the storm brewing within me. He scanned the room, his gaze finally landing on me. A flicker of something – maybe understanding, maybe anger – crossed his features before he settled into the seat beside me.The meeting continued, but my focus was solely on Dom. He reached for my hand, his touch sending a jolt through me. His fingers intertwined with mine, a silent promise of support in the face of the unknown. The warmth of his hand grounded me, a small comfort amidst the chaos in my head.The meeting finally reached its conclusion, the pack dispersing with a flur
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POVThe scent of old parchment and forgotten magic filled the air as Nana shuffled into my office. Sunlight streamed through the expansive windows, casting long shadows across the opulent rug. My gaze lingered on the ornately carved desk, the untouched paperwork mocking my inability to focus."Lucius," her voice, rasping yet firm, broke the tense silence. "We need to speak of Ayra."My jaw clenched. The mere mention of her name ignited a cocktail of fury and frustration within me. "She remains where she deserves," I said, my voice flat.Nana's gaze, usually filled with a serene wisdom, held a hint of something else. Pity, perhaps? "For how long, though? She may be a traitor, but a pack cannot function with its Alpha neglecting responsibilities.""Responsibilities? Nana, the woman tried to murder me!" I slammed my fist on the desk, the sound echoing in the vast room. "Does she deserve leniency after such an act?"Nana remained unfazed. "Justice, not leniency, Lucius. You
VESTA'S POVLaughter bubbled up from my chest as Dom fumbled with the takeout boxes, spilling a rogue spring roll onto the counter."Seriously, Dom," I teased, wiping a tear from my eye. "You're about as graceful as a baby giraffe on roller skates."He scowled playfully, finally wrangling the containers into a precarious tower. "Hey, at least I didn't burn the rice again," he said, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips.We settled at the kitchen table, the aroma of spicy noodles and sesame chicken filling the air. It wasn't exactly a five-star meal, but with Dom beside me, even cafeteria food would have tasted like a Michelin-starred masterpiece."So," Dom began, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I was thinking…""Thinking?" I echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Dangerous territory, babe. You might hurt yourself with all that deep thinking."He chuckled, swatting playfully at my arm. "Okay, okay, but seriously. We've been dating for a while now, living in this shoebox apartment…""Hey!" I mock-
VESTA'S POVDisappointment gnawed at me as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky. Dom had promised a picnic lunch by the serene lake, a chance to escape the city's clamor and steal a few quiet moments together. But here I sat, the blanket spread out on the soft grass, leftover sandwiches drying in the picnic basket, and Dom nowhere to be found.Hours bled into one another. I'd tried calling him numerous times, but his phone remained stubbornly silent. Worry gnawed at my insides, a cold, unwelcome feeling. Dom wasn't one to flake. We had plans, and he wouldn't just disappear without a word.Finally, unable to bear the suspense any longer, I gathered the picnic basket, my smile strained and brittle. The idyllic setting mocked my churning stomach. Back at the apartment, a heavy silence greeted me. Dom still wasn't there.Panic surged through me, icy tendrils wrapping around my heart. Rushing downstairs, I bumped into a young girl with bright, inquisitive eyes. "Diana?" I blurted, reco
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV The oak doors swung open with a heavy thud, and Delta Zane, my most trusted enforcer, stalked in, his face grim. Relief washed over me, momentarily eclipsing the dull ache in my lower back from sitting through the interminable cabinet meeting."Target acquired," Zane announced, his voice clipped."Excellent," I purred, leaning back in my plush chair. "Did you encounter any… inconveniences?"Zane's lips thinned. "The extraction was smooth. No witnesses, no complications.""Good. Very good." I steepled my fingers, a satisfied smile playing on my lips. Vesta wouldn't know what hit her. After all these months of running, she'd finally be back where she belonged – by my side."Anything else, Alpha King?" Zane asked, his posture rigid."No," I said, dismissing him with a wave of my hand. "You've done well, Zane. Get some rest."He inclined his head curtly and exited the room, leaving me alone with the silence. Anticipation crackled in the air, a delicious counterpoint to