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
VESTA'S POV Lucius hadn't shown his face since the bewildering apology and the even more baffling bouquet of lilies.I refused to give him the satisfaction of my worry. He wouldn't see me crumble, wouldn't witness the fear gnawing at my insides. Instead, I adopted a façade of aloof indifference, immersing myself in books and trivial pursuits.One particularly tedious afternoon, as I was attempting to lose myself in a historical romance novel (anything to distract myself from the reality of my situation), the door creaked open. I glanced up, fully expecting a maid with a tray of untouched delicacies.Instead, Lucius stood there, his face an unreadable mask. My stomach clenched, a primal reaction I couldn't control."Vesta," he began, his voice devoid of warmth. "May I come in?"I raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing my voice. "May you? Isn't this your palace? Isn't this your wing? By all means, Alpha King, make yourself comfortable."He ignored the sarcasm, entering the room and closin
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I paced back and forth in the dimly lit room. Dom. Vesta's new flame. The poor fool didn't know what he'd gotten himself into. But then again, none of them ever did.Nana, my trusted advisor, stood by the door, her arms crossed over her chest. "Lucius, you need to let him go," she urged, her voice a mixture of concern and frustration. "This isn't going to end well for any of us."I stopped my pacing and turned to face her, my gaze cold and unyielding. "I'll decide what's best for my pack, Nana. And right now, what's best is for Vesta to come back to where she belongs."Nana shook her head, her expression grave. "But forcing her hand like this? You think she'll just forgive you for kidnapping her lover?"I scoffed, the sound sharp in the silence of the room. "Vesta knows how this works. She knows the consequences of defying me.""She also knows how much you've changed," Nana countered, her voice softening slightly. "She loved you once, Lucius. But now? Now she's afra