Darius’s POVAs I drove back to the palace, my thoughts were a tangled web of ambition and fear. Anita’s face kept flashing in my mind, her trustful eyes, her unwavering faith in me—she had no idea what was being planned. How could I, of all people, betray her like this? But then, the pull of power gnawed at me, stronger than any guilt. It wasn’t just about keeping my mother in the royal family or holding onto our position. Alpha Orion needed to understand that he wasn’t the only one capable of holding power. He needed to see me, to fear me. Alpha Ethan was right: only after getting a taste of power could I ever truly understand what Alpha Orion clung to so desperately.But despite my yearning, I couldn’t shake the turmoil of treachery in what I was about to do. I clenched the steering wheel, forcing down my reservations. If only things could go as perfectly as I imagined them, I thought bitterly, then I wouldn’t be torn like this. But there’s no room for doubt. My desire for power su
Darius’s POV“I’m going for that throne,” I whispered to myself, barely able to contain the surge of ambition swelling within me. “I’m sorry, Anita, but I can’t keep my promise of being the good person you thought I was. I crave the power, the respect. Look at me now—revered in secret meetings, hailed like a true leader.” I could still feel the thrill of how the council members had spoken to me, with admiration and deference. I wanted that all the time. I wanted Alpha Orion’s power. I wanted to be the one who commanded the room, who felt untouchable. And I’d have it. Soon enough, Orion would be forced to watch me take everything he valued right out from under him. He would feel helpless and humiliated, and he would know what it was like to be stripped of dignity.The next morning, Alpha Orion summoned everyone for a meeting. He called them regularly, but today I felt a thrill—today, I’d attend. I was done being his obedient, diligent brother. Today, I’d sit among them as an equal, and
Anita’s POVI sat quietly in my room, nervously waiting while the council meeting was underway. I wasn’t permitted to join, and honestly, maybe it was for the best. I knew I’d be nothing but a distraction, especially with everything that had been unfolding lately. But even so, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to go horribly wrong. What if Maya couldn’t get the evidence we needed to expose Luna Nora’s schemes?Just as my mind began to spiral, a frantic knock echoed from the door. I rushed to open it, finding Maya on the other side. She stepped in quickly, her face tense, her eyes darting around the room as if expecting someone to overhear us. She locked the door behind her, then grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit beside her on the bed."Anita," she whispered urgently, "their plan has already started."Her words sent a chill down my spine. "Already? But...what are we supposed to do now? We didn’t even get the evidence we need against Luna Nora!"Maya shook her head
Anita’s POVI hadn’t expected my plan to stop the argument to work, but to my surprise, Alpha Orion’s gaze softened as he turned toward me, his shoulders dropping just slightly as he asked, "What do you want?"Caught off guard, I nervously rubbed the back of my neck. "I… I wanted to see you," I stammered, then quickly tried to think of a way to de-escalate the tension. "But, you know, if you’re too busy with this meeting, we can talk later," I added, my voice almost trailing off.Alpha Orion chuckled, his laughter filling the chamber. "Oh, you want to see me now, out of all times?" he asked, half-amused, half-exasperated. "We've barely spoken lately, and now, right in the middle of this, you want to see me? Really, Anita?"Ignoring his tone, I kept my gaze steady, sparing a quick glance at Darius. His expression was a storm of frustration, and his eyes met mine with a hint of anger. I knew he could tell that I was trying to disrupt his plans. Yes, Darius, I’m trying to ruin everything
Maya’s POVAs soon as I left Anita’s room, I made a beeline for Luna Nora’s quarters. Her room wasn’t far from Anita’s new chambers, and the short walk gave me just enough time to plan my approach. But as soon as I opened her door, my heart sank. The room was already filled with maids bustling around, tidying and cleaning under Luna Nora’s orders. Of all the times to clean, I thought, trying to hide my frustration. It was clear Luna Nora was always three steps ahead, carefully orchestrating her plans to ensure her secrets remained buried. She knew that her absence was the only safe window for anyone to enter her chambers. I squared my shoulders, determined to make this work. Taking a deep breath, I put on my best authoritative tone, fully aware that as one of the head maids, I could still command some respect.The maids noticed my presence almost immediately, stopping their work to greet me. I made my way to the center of the room, feigning disappointment. "What’s going on here?" I a
Maya’s POVStanding in front of the hidden lock, my heart pounded with excitement. I was finally so close to uncovering Luna Nora’s secrets—only to feel it sink as I realized that it was secured with a special code. My mind raced, thoughts buzzing. How would I unlock this without raising suspicion? I couldn’t just leave it; I needed that diary. I had promised Anita I’d uncover the truth, and this was the closest I’d gotten.Resolving to get the code from Luna Nora herself, I took a deep breath and carefully reset everything, ensuring her room was spotless. I knew that Luna Nora was sharp, so I couldn’t afford a single mistake. I heard the faint, familiar clack of her heels approaching down the hallway. Quickly, I grabbed a cloth, feigned cleaning, and awaited her arrival, my heart racing with each step closer.Luna Nora entered, her face etched with frustration, eyes blazing. She seemed tense, and her lips formed a thin line of displeasure. I kept my posture calm and respectful, bowin
Anita’s POVSitting on the Luna’s chair felt unlike anything I’d ever experienced. The authority, the weight of responsibility—yes, that was expected—but there was something else, something powerful and unexplainable. It reminded me of the strange surge I’d felt when I fell down the hill that day while following Luna Nora, the same mysterious energy that had saved me. Since then, that power had remained dormant, and now, suddenly, I felt it bubbling up, uncontrollable, overwhelming. I gripped the edges of the chair, silently praying for it to stop.A breathless tension filled the room. I didn’t want anyone to notice the inner turmoil I was experiencing, especially not Alpha Orion or, worse, Luna Nora, who was watching me with a strange intensity from across the room. Finally, after a few deep breaths, I managed to calm myself. The overwhelming energy vanished as quickly as it had arrived, leaving me almost as if it had been nothing more than a passing dream.By the time the meeting fi
Darius’s POVI stormed back to my chambers, frustration brewing within me. The audacity—I had been yelling at Alpha Orion, challenging him as if he weren’t still the Alpha, as if he weren’t still my elder brother. And yet, despite my rebellion, one look from Anita had me backtracking, softening in a way I despised. Her mere presence unraveled the anger I had so painstakingly cultivated, leaving me feeling exposed and powerless. Once I reached my room, my mother’s calls echoed from the hall behind me. I ignored her at first, but her voice grew louder, more insistent, until I couldn’t tune it out anymore. She was determined, almost desperate, as she caught up to me and grabbed my arm, her face etched with frustration."Darius, stop! We need to talk,” she demanded. “You had everything in your grasp today, everything! Why did you let it go? Why did you falter when you were so close?”I spun around, unable to contain my anger. “You don’t understand! I did exactly what you wanted. Exactly