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
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
I couldn't help but sulk as I made my way through the dense forest, heading towards the annual celebration dinner that our pack was throwing. The air was filled with the scent of grilled meats and the laughter of my fellow pack members, but all I felt was irritation. My uncle, the alpha, had extended an invitation to none other than the alpha king himself, King Lucius. He didn't have to do that, but he did it anyway.King Lucius was a name that brought a wave of anger crashing over me. I had despised him for as long as I could remember, convinced that he was responsible for the death of my parents. My hatred for him ran deep, and the mere thought of his presence at the celebration made my blood boil.I hated how much my uncle disregarded what he had done to us, to our family. I will never forget that man and his sword that night. That devil took the most essential things from me and left me empty and dead inside.I had heard tales about the man to last me forever, and the last thing I
I felt my entire world freeze over at the utterance of the same man who killed my parents and ruined my childhood. I couldn’t tell if he knew what I looked like, but something about the way a dark smirk made its way to his face made me uncomfortable. Something about his smirk reminded me of who this man was and why he thought of himself as untouchable.“My sweet little mate,” he whispered as he lifted his hand and brought them to my face. He trailed his hands over my face with the dark smoke still intact. My feet seemed to have a mind as they stayed rooted to the spot. His trails left hot feelings in their wake, and I enjoyed how he touched my face.Lila, my wolf, seemed to enjoy this even more because all she did was purr in comfort. For a split moment, I felt betrayed even by my wolf. She was acting like a damn weakling; this wasn’t the Lila I had all my life. My wolf is strong, but I blamed the mate bond for her reaction.I shouldn’t be doing this. I shouldn’t be letting this murde
The cold feeling of the floor against my body was the first thing I felt as I slowly opened my eyes. Everywhere was pitch dark, and it took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness finally.The floor was cold against my skin, and I tried to move; that was when I felt the cold feeling of chains against my skin. I was tied in a dungeon like a criminal.I could feel my anger rising again as memories of earlier started to hit me. My neck was still a bit sore from all the choking that demon had done, but knowing we were no longer mates made me happy. I rejected him and was ready to pay for whatever the consequences were.Lila whined in my head, and I chose to ignore her. If she refused to see my point for not wanting to mate with a criminal, I would miss her until she realized I was doing this for both of us.“He’s not that bad of a man, Vesta. You need to give him a chance,” she whined, and I cackled. Like a witch, I knew Lila was speaking from a wolf’s point of view, but it doesn’t
The day passed in a blur, and the stupid knots at the bottom of my stomach remained. After much back and forth, my uncle got me out of the dungeon and promised that I would not try to run or act out of order. My skin crawled in irritation as I watched them talk about me like I was the luckiest person in the room. I was getting mated to a monster, and nobody batted an eyelid.Aunty Lulu massaged my head and detangled my hair; nobody said a word to each other, and the room was very silent. For the first time since I was a child, Aunt Lulu and I weren’t gossiping over some random stuff or her telling me about her plans for the next day. The silence was uncomfortable, but I wasn’t ready to break it.My life was over; her husband had ended it before it even started, and I do not think I have the time to exchange words with her. Or act like their actions didn’t hurt me. Even when I had no reason to blame Aunt Lulu, I needed somewhere to transfer my aggression.“Do you want me to pack it up
I watched in fear as my uncle tried to convince Lucius to let me stay behind for a few more days. The rest of his men were packing their things in preparation to return to the palace, and it was starting to look like the truth. I went from being happy to being enslaved in less than two days.I was going to be the Luna Queen to someone who killed my parents and made my childhood plagued with nightmares. Every day, I hated him for taking away my dream. I didn’t know how I was going to face the fact that I would spend the rest of my life with him, forgive him, and bear him strong pups.“I’m putting her in your care, Alpha Callum. If she’s not delivered to my palace in a week, you’d have me to answer to, and I’m sure your pack members wouldn’t want that. Don’t play stupid games with me; you will end up winning stupid prizes,” he growled, and my uncle nodded rapidly.Relief flooded me, even if it was temporary. He had just granted me one week to stay with my people, and I would cherish it
Lila's restless pacing echoed in my mind, a relentless drumbeat of urgency. "Vesta, we need to go back. Lucius is waiting."I hate that she wasn’t listening to me. Since I ran yesterday, I’ve been disgusted at myself. How could I run? I had a better plan but running made more sense yesterday. Now he would see me as a weak little wolf, when all I want to be is his worst nightmare. My wolf not being in sync with me made everything even worse. She was fighting hard to take control, If she took control, she would lead us back to him. Lila just wanted to be with her mate. "No, Lila. We can't risk it. He's the one who took them away from us," I retorted, clenching my fists. She needed to see my own reason too, I was the human here, the logical one. The mate bond was affecting her own decisions. "He's our mate! We belong with him!" Lila's voice growled, a fierce undertone of desperation. She was scratching the back of my mind, she was fighting so hard to take control and I couldn’t let h
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