ALPHA LUCIUS'S POVThe gilded doors slammed shut with a bang, the echo bouncing off the high, vaulted ceilings of my office. Nana, bless her fiery spirit, had just finished delivering a tongue-lashing that would make a lesser man flinch."Piff!" she'd huffed, her tiny frame radiating enough fury to rival a simmering volcano. I clenched my jaw, forcing a smile. Nana had been by my side since I was a pup, practically raised me after everyone left me. Yelling at her wasn't an option, even if every muscle in my body tensed with the urge to roar back."Nana," I began, my voice carefully measured, "we both know Vesta is my fated mate. Whether she likes it or not, she'll be Luna Queen by my side.""Like it or not?" she scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Lucius, you can't force someone to be your mate! You tried that once, remember how well that ended?"My smile faltered. Ayra, the she-wolf I'd foolishly chosen as Luna, still festered in the dungeon, her betrayal a constant thorn in my
AYRA'S POVI was locked in the dungeon for what felt like an eternity. The damp walls, the cold stone floor, and the dim torchlight were my constant companions. It had been almost a month since Lucius discovered my plot, and he hadn't bothered to come see me since then. Not that I expected any compassion from him; after all, he was the one who threw me in here in the first place. I feel like a fool knowing that all my scheming and careful planning have gone up in the flames because of someone I trusted betraying me. It had to be Tiara who leaked my secret, I thought we all shared the same hate for the foolish alpha king but alas I was wrong as hell. Nana, the old sage of the palace and Lucius's favorite advisor, came to visit me. I was shocked to see her, wondering what business she could possibly have with me. "Ah, Ayra," Nana greeted me with a sad smile. "I see you're still holding on to hope." I scoffed bitterly. "What hope is there left for me?" Nana sighed, her wise eyes s
VESTA'S POVSeven days. Seven agonizing days since Alpha Theodore had told me to be patient, that the search party would find Dom. But patience was a luxury I didn't possess. Every sunrise felt like a punch to the gut, every sunset a reminder of another day wasted while Dom remained missing. I couldn't take it anymore. The pack center, once a haven, felt suffocating. The concerned glances, the hushed whispers – they all chipped away at my already fragile resolve. Packing my bag felt like a betrayal, a rejection of the life I'd built here, the home I'd found. Ellie, my ever-reliable patrol partner, found me by the window, a half-packed duffel bag at my feet. Her normally bright brown eyes were clouded with worry. "Lila," she began hesitantly, "what are you doing?" I forced a smile, the gesture feeling brittle on my face. "Just packing a few things," I mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "Are you leaving?" The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fear. "I..." I trailed off, unab
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV A satisfied smirk played on my lips as I leaned back in my chair, the evening sun casting long shadows across my office floor. Beta Marcus, his ever-reliable presence, stood before me, clearing his throat."Well, Marcus?" I prompted, my voice laced with an underlying impatience. "Do tell, did our wayward Luna grace us with her presence?""Indeed, Alpha," Marcus confirmed, a hint of amusement flickering in his brown eyes. "She arrived just as you predicted, a little worse for wear but otherwise unharmed."The news sent a thrill coursing through me, a delicious mix of anticipation and control. Vesta was back, just as fate, and my careful planning, had ordained. A small, traitorous part of me yearned to see her, to witness the fire in her emerald eyes and the defiance that had always simmered beneath the surface.But I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. Not yet. "Excellent," I replied coolly, steepling my fingers in front of me. "Have her taken to the private halls on
VESTA'S POVThe gilded cage held all the allure of a prison cell, albeit a more comfortable one. I sank into the plush velvet chaise lounge, the scent of lavender and something vaguely musky clinging to the air. Musky, like Lucius.A shiver ran down my spine, a stark reminder of the predator I was trapped with. Letting out a frustrated huff, I tossed a silk pillow across the room, where it landed with a soft plop.Lucius, true to form, hadn't graced me with his presence. Predictable, really. He was letting me stew, letting the uncertainty gnaw at me. Fine. Two could play at this game.I paced the room, the luxurious carpet muffling the sound of my steps. A day had passed. A whole day. And I still had no answers. No word on Dom, no indication of Lucius' plans. The silence was deafening, and my gut churned with a gnawing anxiety.Was Dom alive? Was Lucius torturing him? Was it all a sick game to break me? The questions swirled in my head, a storm brewing in my heart. I hated feeling help
VESTA'S POVA soft knock shattered the peaceful rhythm of my sleep. Yawning, I stretched beneath the silk sheets, the luxurious surroundings starkly contrasting with the place I use to call home."Luna Vesta," a handmaiden announced, her voice soft yet firm. "The King has summoned you."My eyes snapped open, a flicker of amusement dancing in their depths. Lucius was playing his little games, was he? He wanted a reaction, a fight. But I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.He could dangle his alpha title all he wanted, but I wouldn't be his puppet anymore. My mind was made up, a plan simmering beneath the surface.The handmaidens bustled around me, transforming me from a sleepy mess into a vision in a flowing emerald gown. I allowed them their ministrations, and I am playing the part of the docile Luna for now.Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I was ushered into a sleek black car. The ride to the main palace was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the coming encounter.My heart h
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POVDisbelief clawed at me as Marcus delivered the news. Ayra, dead? The infuriating, rebellious she-wolf who had dared to poison her alpha? The woman who'd been replaced so easily in my mind by the fiery defiance of my true mate, Vesta?"Autopsy," I barked, the word a growl in the sterile silence of my office. Dead was dead, but the cause… suspicion gnawed at me. Marcus, bless his ever-observant soul, suspected foul play.Ayra, despite her defiance, had been a pawn in this game. A pawn I didn't mourn, but a loose end nonetheless.With a curt nod of dismissal, I left Marcus to his grim task. My steps were heavier than usual as I headed for the holding cell where Dom remained a captive. The news of Ayra's death wouldn't affect him, not directly. But it might be a useful tool.The scent of stale sweat and fear hit me as I entered the small, sparsely furnished room. Dom, his back turned to me, was pacing like a caged wolf. A growl rumbled in my chest, a visceral reaction to
VESTA'S POVDespair settled over me like a suffocating fog as I surveyed my new, gilded cage. No longer confined to the bleak halls on the palace outskirts, I was now a resident of a luxurious wing, strategically placed just a floor below Lucius' own chambers.The absurdity of it all gnawed at me. Fine furnishings, expensive artwork, a balcony overlooking pristine gardens – all designed to appease the captive mate. He'd learned his lesson once, allowing me to slip through his grasp. This time, his control was absolute. No more handmaidens who could be swayed to my cause, no more whispers of escape plans behind tightly closed doors.I wasn't naive enough to believe this was some act of benevolence. He knew I wouldn't willingly remain here. He was simply tightening the noose, ensuring I wasn't going anywhere.A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Running away was a fool's errand. Every attempt had only resulted in more pain, more suffering for innocent bystanders.The heavy oak door creaked op