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
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I adjourned to the dining room to have my breakfast before I left for the meeting I was having later today. I got to the dining and it was already set with the maids standing at the corner to serve me. I was hoping to meet her there but she wasn’t there and it was like she was avoiding him for some reason, it wasn't like I didn’t know what it was. Last night she also didn’t show up for dinner and I was begging to be worried. She was ready to push everything aside as long as it would result in her not seeing me. I sat down and loosened the button of my shirt and sat down with an impatient aura lingering around. After the maid was done serving my food, she was about to turn to leave when I called her back. “Serve that plate too.” I gestured at the side of the table where Vesta was supposed to be seated. The maid hesitated for some reason and I was pissed. “Didn’t you hear what I said? I said you should serve that plate! Are you trying to go against me?” I sna
VESTA'S POV I stirred from my slumber, blinking groggily as I tried to make sense of the figure standing in the dimly lit room. Lucius. My heart skipped a beat as I sat up, my mind racing with a thousand questions. Why was he here? And why did he look so serious?"Lucius?" I asked, my voice still thick with sleep. "What are you doing here?"He didn't answer immediately, instead fixing me with a piercing gaze that made my skin prickle with unease. "Vesta," he said, his voice low and measured. "Do you want to say goodbye to Dom?"My heart lurched at the mention of Dom's name, a pang of guilt washing over me. I hadn't seen him since Lucius had taken him captive, and the thought of him leaving without so much as a farewell filled me with a sense of sadness I couldn't quite shake."I-I don't know," I stammered, torn between wanting to see Dom one last time and dreading the inevitable confrontation with Lucius.Lucius nodded, as if he had expected my response. "He's leaving tonight," he sa
VESTA'S POVA bony hand clamped over my mouth, stifling the scream that threatened to erupt from my throat. The world swam into focus, revealing Nana looming over me, her usually bright eyes narrowed with a strange intensity. "Luna," she rasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Silence." I blinked, disoriented. Sleep clung to me like cobwebs, remnants of a dream both vivid and unsettling. Nana, the palace sage, hadn't visited me since I… since Lucius… The memory sent a fresh wave of nausea rolling through me. "Nana?" I croaked, my voice hoarse. "What are you doing?" She removed her hand, her gaze unwavering. "Get dressed, Luna. We have a walk to take." I stared at her, my initial panic ebbing into a dull ache. What did she want? What walk? I hadn't the energy, or the will, to argue. The fight had been slowly draining out of me with each passing sunrise, replaced by a weary acceptance of my fate. Lucius might be a brute, a barbaric alpha who'd claimed me with more force than finesse, b
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POVFrustration gnawed at me like a persistent wolf pup. Dinner with Vesta had been a tense affair, the air thick with unspoken words and simmering resentment. I'd hoped for a flicker of warmth, a hint of the old Vesta who used to challenge me, tease me, even defy me. This new Vesta, silent and withdrawn, was a stranger cloaked in the familiar scent of honeysuckle. "Tired already?" I asked, a touch of annoyance creeping into my voice as she pushed back from the table. The barely touched meal mocked our strained attempt at civility. "Yes," she replied, her voice devoid of its usual fire. "The journey back was long." There it was again. The distance. The constant reminder that I'd taken her away from her life, her pack. But it wasn't like she'd had a choice. The pull of the mate bond was undeniable, a primal force that transcended mere desire. She was mine, and I was hers, an unbreakable tether that stretched across the miles. "Very well," I rumbled, pushing myself out
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I had a meeting I needed to attend, which unfortunately I wouldn’t be able to ignore like the rest. It was about the Packs security and the moment a mistake happened there it was a risk even I wasn’t willing to take. I had a strict deadline by which everyone present had to be there because I was not letting anyone in after my entrance, which was an insult. I checked the time on my watch and I still wasn’t convinced that I was supposed to be this early so I sank back into my chair. There was a knock on my door and I frowned in annoyance, this wasn’t a time for me to attend to anyone and the conference meeting was the only one in my schedule today. I ignored whoever was knocking on the door till I suddenly remembered that I asked a maid to call Vesta in for me. “Who’s that?” I inquired coldly. “It’s me, you called for me.” She replied calmly: I was convinced and I asked her to come in. She walked in with a surprisingly calm countenance on her face and shut the
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I wondered why she hated me. Every time I looked at Vesta, the raw pain in her eyes was a constant reminder of my own shortcomings. Two years. Two years I'd watched Vesta fight our bond with every fiber of her being. Two years of clenched jaws and strange stares, a constant reminder of the past I desperately wanted to amend. Vesta sat by the window, her back was rigid, her silence a wall I desperately wanted to breach. With a deep breath, I approached with a bouquet of wildflowers clutched tightly in my hand. “Vesta," I began. "May I come in?" I was greeted with silence. I was beginning to get frustrated but I forced it down. This wasn't about me. This was about making amends, however flimsy they might seem. I pushed the door open further, stepping into the room. "I brought you these," I stated, extending the bouquet towards her. They were violets and lilies, her favorites. It was a long shot, a gamble, but her reaction was worth the risk. Surprised crossed her
VESTA'S POV Lucius' relentless efforts to win me over were starting to feel suffocating. Breakfast on the balcony, walks in the guarded gardens – it was all a carefully orchestrated performance, a display of a love that I didn’t feel. Behind the facade, I saw something else - a determined predator, waiting for the right moment to pounce. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that it was only a matter of time before my resolve cracked. One evening, Lucius entered the room. "Vesta," he began, his voice surprisingly mild, "I have something to propose." Intrigued, despite myself, I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" “I've arranged a temporary transfer back to your old pack," he declared. "A week to reconnect with your family." My breath hitched. A transfer back to my pack? It was a tempting proposition, a chance to see familiar faces, to breathe the air that wasn't saturated with the memory of the shitty things Lucius have done to me. But could I trust him? Was this another ploy, a way
LuciusI traced Vesta’s scent to a horrid looking place. But I couldn’t care less, all that was on my mind was where to find my Luna. I kept on following the trail of her scent and it lead me deeper into the unknown.As I pushed forward, the scent of my mate intensified, mingling with the odor of the unknown wolves. A low growl rumbled in my chest, a warning to any who dared stand in my path.Finally, the path opened into a vast underground chamber and in there, stood two figures. I recognized the unmistakable scent of Vesta clinging to them. But something was wrong. Their movements were jerky, and their eyes glowed with emerald light.“Vesta!" I roared. "Where is she?"The figures turned towards me, their heads snapping in unison. A guttural growl erupted from their throats. Their glowing eyes never left me. Their lack of response, their wolf appearance, sent fury coursing through me."Where is my mate?" I repeated. "What have you done to her?"Another guttural growl was their o
VESTA'S POV Even while I knew I and Elara were cooked, I was still defiant. I challenged him, I said all sorts of disdainful remarks towards him and for a moment, I saw fear. But he wouldn't let a naive pup like me unravel it all. "Don't be foolish, Vesta," he hissed. "I've worked too hard for my position. A few more lives, even yours, are a small price to pay for ultimate power." Darius didn't care about the pack, not truly. It was all a game of control, a desperate scramble to maintain a power he never rightfully earned. And if that meant silencing anyone who threatened to expose his treachery, then so be it. “You think fear will silence me?" I retorted, my voice laced with newfound steel. "You underestimate me, Uncle." Darius's smile vanished completely, replaced by a menacing scowl. "Perhaps," he said, taking a menacing step forward. "But underestimation can be a very effective tool." A signal was barked, and the two guards flanking him lunged forward. Before I could react, t
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV With I and Mayra in the same castle as Vesta, I knew Vesta was definitely going to observe my relationship with my sister. She had spoken to me about family and bonding. She made me understand that family is forever even if they can be dickheads. I was reluctant to have ‘that talk’ with my sister but Vesta had convinced me to do it. With a gentle nudge and a smile, she left us alone in the library, a silent encouragement to bridge the gap that separated us. Mayra, frail but determined, reached out a hand, her touch hesitant yet filled with longing. I clasped it in mine. "I'm so sorry, Lucius," she said, her voice cracked. "For everything." "There's nothing to apologize for, Mayra," I replied, my voice cracking as well. "We were just children, caught in the crossfire." A gentle smile touched her lips, in that moment I saw a glimpse of a vibrant young woman I remembered. "Do you remember the stories Mama used to tell us?" she asked. I nodded, I felt bitte
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV Everything going on with Vesta was unfortunate. As much as I wanted her to be with me in my castle so we could make love from dusk till dawn, I had to give her the time and space she needed to heal. I didn’t know much about what had happened back in her pack but I do know it had something to do with her uncle. One morning, Vesta walked up to me in the study. “Lucius, the night my parents died, do you have any idea what happened?” She asked me, she appeared almost lifeless. As though she had been troubled with something heavy. “I wasn’t there. I have little to no knowledge of what happened that night.” I confessed. “How can I trust you! Everyone has been lying to me, why are you any different?!” She yelled. Vesta's words hit me like a physical blow. The raw pain and accusation in her voice felt like a betrayal. But I could understand her pain. “Believe me, Vesta, I had nothing to do with your parents' death." "How can I believe you?" she cried, her voice
VESTA'S POV In the days that followed, I was conflicted by my emotions. I was uncertain, the truth was a constant torment in my mind. I couldn't shake the image of a dark figure, a glimpse from a night etched in blood and loss. Was it Lucius after all? Or was I clinging to a fabricated truth, a narrative constructed by years of resentment? Determined to uncover the truth, I embarked on a relentless quest for knowledge. Every spare moment found me looking through anything in hardcover the pack library. My fingers tracing the worn spines of ancient tomes. My frustration built with each dead-end. Until one dusty afternoon, buried beneath a pile of forgotten scrolls, my fingers brushed against a hidden compartment in an old leather-bound book. Inside, resting amongst brittle parchment and faded ink, lay a single, folded letter. My heart pounded in my chest as I carefully unfolded the yellowed paper, the words written upon it swimming before my eyes. It was a desperate plea, a despera
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I wondered why she hated me. Every time I looked at Vesta, the raw pain in her eyes was a constant reminder of my own shortcomings. Two years. Two years I'd watched Vesta fight our bond with every fiber of her being. Two years of clenched jaws and strange stares, a constant reminder of the past I desperately wanted to amend. Vesta sat by the window, her back was rigid, her silence a wall I desperately wanted to breach. With a deep breath, I approached with a bouquet of wildflowers clutched tightly in my hand. “Vesta," I began. "May I come in?" I was greeted with silence. I was beginning to get frustrated but I forced it down. This wasn't about me. This was about making amends, however flimsy they might seem. I pushed the door open further, stepping into the room. "I brought you these," I stated, extending the bouquet towards her. They were violets and lilies, her favorites. It was a long shot, a gamble, but her reaction was worth the risk. Surprised crossed her
VESTA'S POV I practically skipped into the pack house, my heart humming a happy tune. Elara, who was by the window, looked up, her brows raised in amusement. "What's gotten into you?" she teased. "Elara, you won't believe it!" I gushed, practically bursting with the need to share. "Lucius and I… we went for a walk." "A walk?" Elara said, her voice laced with curiosity. "That's it?" I blushed furiously, but couldn't contain my excitement. "Well, it wasn't just any walk," I stammered. "We talked… for hours. And then…" I paused dramatically, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. "He kissed me, Elara." A gasp escaped Elara's lips. "He kissed you?" Her eyes widened in surprise. "And… and you?" "I…" I confessed hesitantly, "I kissed him back." Elara's face broke into a wide smile. "Oh, Vesta!" she squealed, clapping her hands together in delight. "That's amazing! I knew there was something simmering there." The memory of the kiss sent a shiver down my spine. "It was… unexpected
VESTA'S POV All of a sudden, the outrage I felt towards Lucius seemed petty. After that gift, he was a powerful Alpha, sending me such a heartfelt gift, and all I could do was shut him out. Elara, who had watched me open the book again, spoke up softly, "It's beautiful, isn't it, Vesta?" I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. "He put a lot of effort into it," Elara added. "Maybe you should cut him some slack." Her words echoed in my mind. Perhaps she was right. Lucius had his flaws, his controlling tendencies were a constant source of irritation, but this… this was different. This was a man reaching out, trying to forge a connection. “Give him a chance?" I said, trying to mask my feelings. “Think about it," Elara urged. "Flowers from so far away? Jewelries, trinkets. A book, that obviously means something to you? He's clearly trying." Maybe, just maybe, it was time for me to reciprocate, to meet him halfway. Later that evening, as I sat by the fire with a steaming
ALPHA LUCIUS'S POV I watched with satisfaction as the messengers I'd hired left the castle grounds, a precious package safely in their hands. Inside? Another token for Vesta – a stunning emerald bracelet this time, a subtle nod to her captivating eyes. A smile played on my lips. Perhaps, with this one, she'd finally relent, finally acknowledge the depth of my affection. "Alpha Lucius," Marcus barged into the room, his usual stoicism replaced by a flicker of urgency. "We have a situation." My smile faded. "What is it, Marcus?" "News from Vesta's pack," he replied, stepping closer. "Our scouts report… peculiar developments." Intrigued, I leaned forward. "Peculiar?" “Yes, Alpha. It seems the women and young girls… they've been seen wearing expensive jewelry. Gold, diamonds, even silver." A frown etched itself onto my face. Jewelry? I’ve been sending boxes of the finest jewelries to Vesta. Could news of my generosity have spread so quickly? Perhaps word of my extravagant gift had in