Anita's povI stood up immediately as if I’d been struck, unable to form a single word that could capture the depth of my disappointment. I wasn’t expecting her to treat me this way, to make me feel so weak."Is this really how you want it? Is this why you're acting this way? Do you want me not to go at all? You’re just trying to cause problems for me. You know my life is tied to Alpjha Orion. He’s the only one who can tell me what to do because he’s the one who bought me from my first owner.” I shake my head.No. I can’t say something like that. I don’t want to. These thoughts have to go away. Her throat clearing pulled me back to reality, and I turned to her."Really? I just gave you a condition, and you stand up? Is that how little respect you have for me?" she asked. I shook my head and rushed to her, gripping the hem of her dress."That’s not what I meant. It’s just that your condition is too hard for me to accept. I can’t say I’m not going to the banquet. I’m meant to go, even if
Darius povI could already hear the music from the banquet. Guests had begun to arrive, visitors from other regions filling the hall. I paced back and forth in my room, a mix of confusion and frustration building inside me. My mom had promised she would talk to Anita, but she wasn’t back yet. This was driving me mad. I didn’t want to walk into that banquet alone. I needed Anita. She was like my good luck charm. She was all I could think about.Just then, the door opened, and my mom entered, dressed and ready for the banquet."Why are you still pacing?" she asked. "I thought you’d already be at the banquet.""Why are you still here?" "Are you waiting for something?" she added.I scoffed and turned to her. "Really? You’re asking me if I’m waiting for something?""Of course, I’m waiting. I’m waiting for Anita. You said you’d bring her to me. Where is she?" I asked, panic creeping into my voice."She’ll come," my mom said calmly. "She’ll be your escort. I made sure she accepted it.""But
Darius povWe were soon in front of the grand gates, and I could see that Anita was still very nervous. I turned to her and assured her with a smile. “Do not worry. Nobody's going to hurt you in there. I am the one who invited you; I am the one who wants you here, so nobody has the audacity to go against my wishes,” I assured her.Just then, the door was opened wide, and all attention was on me—or should I say on us—because they were all so shocked to see Anita.Anita seemed to be walking very carefully, as if she didn’t want to miss a step and embarrass herself, but something about the atmosphere was off. The way everyone stared at us, the way everyone interacted with us—it was clear something wasn’t right, but I kept quiet and didn’t say anything.We soon reached our seats, and I realized that Alpha Orion had only arranged for two chairs—one for him and one for me. I thought he already knew I was coming with an escort. Anita looked at him and bowed, but he just looked away, then look
Alpha's Orion's pov After saying those words to my brother, I realized I had just told everyone that Anita was my mate. Despite how I treated her, what do people think of me now? I had made a huge mistake out of frustration. It wasn’t my fault, though. It was all Darius’ fault. He had a way of making me talk. He wanted me to. He kept forcing me to talk. He was so stupid, knowing she belonged to me, yet he wanted to take her away. I would never allow that to happen.Darius looked shocked, stepping back, and for the first time, he wasn’t looking at Anita. Normally, his gaze was always on her, but now he looked away—at our mother and then back at me. "Anita is your mate. Anita is your mate. And you expected me to know that?" he said, still stunned. It seemed like everyone was happy about this revelation because I noticed people watching closely, some even recording the moment."Let’s talk about this somewhere else. Let’s not discuss it here," I whispered to him.He scoffed and walked o
Anita's POV"Was this a dream?" I thought to myself as I rubbed my eyes, making sure I was seeing clearly, even though I had misheard some of his words. He smiled at me and stepped back."I know you don't believe it. I know you think I'm lying and just saying things to keep you with me, but I don't care if you leave. I don't care about your final decision, as long as you know that I really love you. It's not fake love. I sincerely love you, and that's why I want to keep you with me for as long as possible. I don't want you to be distracted by Darius. He means nothing, and you won't gain anything worthwhile from him,” he said to me, but I wasn’t going to fall for him that easily. He could act nice today and change completely by the next morning.I don't want to be in a situation like that, and who said Darius isn’t nice? He’s very kindhearted, and he’s innocent in all of this, yet you disgraced him and blamed him at the banquet as if he had done something wrong."It’s because of him tha
Ethan POVIt has been over a month now, and yet I cannot stop thinking of Anita. I thought everything was already over now. I thought I had made the right decision. Why is she still stuck in my mind? I sat up on my bed as I still thought about her.She was the only thing in my mind, which confused me. I felt so angry and so pissed that Alpha Orion was able to take her from me. I was so foolish, I muttered to myself.As I stood up from the bed and walked towards the window to see the guards still patrolling, it was very early in the morning, and I had not been able to sleep all day long until this morning.If only I was rising up, then I would have not left her for her own. What if she gets to love him and they get to love each other? I don't want that to happen. Not yet. It is just so disturbing the fact that I left her there with him.I paced around the room, thinking of how I can possibly check on her. I can't just walk back to his park and say I want to check on Anita. It'll be craz
Darius POVI was going to get over all this. Right? I would later learn to let go of everything? I thought to myself. I wasn't even able to think about it to the end when my mom walked in. She knocked after she had walked in with a smile on her face. "I'm so sorry. Am I obstructing something? You seem to be thinking a lot these days. Hope there is no problem?" she asked. I sat up and hissed in annoyance. She knows why I'm acting this way. She was the one who kept me in the dark despite the fact that she calls me her son, yet she could not warn me that I was stepping into a trap."Do not look at me with those eyes. I warned you. I told you it was a trap. I told you that you should not take Anita with you, but all that mattered to you back then was Anita. You could not stop singing Anita. Every little thing, Anita would be mentioned. And guess what? I hope you're having so much fun with the Anita who does not belong to you," she said to me. I felt even more angry."What exactly do you w
Anita POVAfter listening to Alpha Orion and the fact that he wanted me to become someone special to him, I still could not believe it. It felt like I was imagining things and it would never happen.Come to think of it, why would he want me? Of all people, he called me useless. He made me a slave. I got used to it and now he wants to change everything. I sat alone in the garden just behind the palace kitchen, thinking about everything.I felt so confused and frustrated. I did not even know what I wanted anymore, but I knew that I wanted nothing but freedom. I just wanted to be free. I didn't even want to be made to anybody anymore because it felt like nothing but trouble. It gave me troubles and troubles continuously, and now I am so fed up with it.I stretched one more time, preparing to go inside because I knew it was very late and the guard would soon be active and vigilant for anyone who was going to come, and I might get punished if I sat outside for too long.Just as I was about
Alpha Orion povMy mind reeled from the events unfolding around me, the realization that Luna Nora was capable of such darkness pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake. But I couldn't afford to let that weight pin me down. I had one mission—find Anita. Whatever it took, wherever she was, I would bring her back. The tangled webs Luna Nora had woven would have to wait. Right now, my heart and mind had only one target.I sat on my bed for a moment, the silence thick as I ran my hands through my hair. "How would I find her? She said she might go missing, but I never expected it to happen so suddenly," I murmured, frustration clawing at me.Then a thought struck me—her scent. My wolf surged to life, knowing that if anything could lead me to her, it would be the bond we shared. Rising, I left my room, moving with purpose toward the garage. My Beta trailed behind, as steady and loyal as ever, and I could feel Luna Nora’s gaze watching from the shadows, the corners of her mouth cur
Alpha Orion povDespite my best efforts, sleep remained a distant memory, evading me like a ghost in the night. No matter how tightly I closed my eyes, the unsettling feeling lingered. Frustration built as I glanced at the clock—just past midnight. An unfamiliar dread gnawed at me, and I had no explanation for it.Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to relax, telling myself that everything was fine, that I could rest easy. But my wolf stirred, an urgent instinct pushing me up from the bed. I paced to the window, throwing it open to breathe in the crisp night air. And then I caught it—a faint trace of Anita's scent. It was like a whisper, but it drew me in, rekindling a longing that I tried so hard to suppress. I missed her more than I’d ever allow myself to admit.Clenching the windowsill, I held back the desire to storm to her room, to see her, to reassure myself that she was there and safe. No, I have to control this. She needed to know that my love for her went beyond any physica
Darius povThere was something off about the way Maya looked at me earlier. The nervous glances, the way Anita seemed wary when Maya entered the room… They were hiding something. I felt it in my bones, and it was only a matter of time before I found out what.I headed down the hall and knocked on my mother’s door, feeling my own frustration simmering beneath the surface. She opened it quickly, her expression frantic, her movements erratic as she tossed books and papers aside, clearly searching for something. I locked the door behind me, hoping to give her a sense of privacy, though the sight of her disarrayed room sent a spike of worry through me.She looked at me, her face pale and eyes wide with fear, almost as if she were on the brink of tears. “Darius… someone’s betrayed us,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Someone was listening. They’ve taken my diary—my diary, Darius. All my secrets, all our plans, everything is in there. If Alpha Orion gets his hands on it, everything we’ve
Anita povAfter warning Orion, I knew I had done all I could. The decision to believe me rested with him, and for now, I would let him handle things as he saw fit. As much as I longed for his touch, his closeness, and the warmth we once shared, his focus was elsewhere, consumed by the demands of his pack. I couldn’t bear to add to his burdens. So, I returned to my chambers, determined to give him space, even though it tore at my heart.I waited restlessly for Maya’s return. Evening began to settle, and finally, I heard that Darius, Luna Nora, and Maya had arrived back at the palace. No one else seemed to think much of it, but every instinct in me was on high alert. I knew Maya was taking dangerous risks to help me, and I needed to ensure she remained safe. She’d promised to pass along Luna Nora’s diary code and any final information about their plans to eliminate Orion. But as the minutes dragged on, doubt gnawed at me. It had been hours since they’d returned, and still, Maya hadn’t c
Anita povThe palace was eerily quiet. It seemed everyone had somewhere else to be today. Even Maya was gone, having followed Darius and Luna Nora out on some mysterious errand. Alpha Orion, too, was occupied. His Beta had returned with what I imagined was critical news, leaving him tied up in urgent matters. For once, I found myself truly alone, with no one to talk to and nothing to occupy my mind but restless thoughts.I sighed, making my way to the dining hall. Sitting down to lunch, I couldn’t shake the pang of unease that had lingered since morning. As I picked at my food, my phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Maya. I opened it quickly, feeling a strange thrill of both dread and curiosity. Maya had told me plenty of secrets before, but something felt different about this.The message read: “Warn Alpha Orion. His life is in danger this week. And… Anita, they’re planning to kidnap you. Darius has arranged it, and it will happen in two days.”I felt my heart skip, the bloo
Maya povAs I sat quietly in the carriage, my mind raced with plans and calculations. I’d uncovered Darius's intentions, yet the real challenge would be trying to unravel his plan, to find some way to divert him from his path. I took a deep breath, rehearsing the words that I hoped would plant seeds of doubt in his mind. This had to work.“Darius, have you thought about the consequences of kidnapping Anita?” I began, my voice careful and measured. “The bond she shares with Alpha Orion is still incredibly strong. Her inner wolf could easily reach out to him, revealing her location, or he might even be able to sniff her out with time. That’s the thing about mate bonds… they’re stronger than most realize.”Darius's hands gripped the steering wheel, his fingers drumming in agitation as I spoke. I watched his jaw tighten, frustration flashing in his eyes. He turned to me sharply, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Do you think I haven’t considered that? I’ve already made preparations. I
Maya povI pressed myself against the wall outside Luna Nora’s chambers, heart pounding as I strained to hear every word that passed between her and Alpha Darius. My breaths came shallow and quick, barely keeping pace with the shock that coursed through me as their conversation unfolded. Darius had finally reached the edge, and from the sound of it, he was ready to plunge into the abyss, dragging anyone in his path down with him. I gritted my teeth, swallowing down the fear that bubbled up. Anita wouldn’t last long under this relentless hatred; in fact, I wasn’t even sure she’d survive the week.I clapped a hand over my mouth, stifling a gasp that threatened to escape, glancing around to ensure no one saw me. Fortunately, the layout of Luna Nora’s rooms provided just enough cover, thanks to the heavy stone walls that shielded me from view. Even if a guard passed by, they wouldn’t easily notice me standing here. I had to be silent and invisible—a shadow in the dark.Just as I thought t
Darius povPacing around my room, my mind was a chaotic storm, and no amount of pacing could tame it. For once, I felt utterly cornered. Every move I’d made, every calculated risk, every attempt to push Orion down had somehow slipped through my fingers. And here I was, empty-handed and with no Plan B in sight. The frustration was a gnawing ache in my chest, and I knew, deep down, I couldn’t face this alone. I needed guidance—a plan, a ruthless strategy. Without thinking twice, I made my way to the one person who had always known what to do.I knocked on my mother’s door, heart pounding with both frustration and a grudging sense of relief. She opened the door immediately, her piercing gaze slicing through me. She was dressed elegantly, her dark hair pulled back with the grace and dignity of someone ready for battle. I felt her scrutinizing look sweep over me, lingering on the tension in my jaw, the pleading in my eyes. For the first time in what felt like ages, I was back in her presen
Alpha Orion’s povSitting alone in the darkened room, my gaze fell to the shadows on the wall, shapes cast by the faint, flickering candlelight. Patience had always been a virtue I possessed, but tonight, it felt like a thin thread stretched too tight, one more whisper away from snapping. I could feel the tension in my bones, the gnawing anxiety as I waited for my Beta. I had sent him on a mission, one so secret that even Anita knew nothing about it. Ever since that damned banquet, where everything felt… off, I knew I couldn’t ignore the quiet, insidious changes I sensed in Alpha Ethan. Something was wrong, terribly wrong, and I intended to uncover every piece of it, even if it led me down a dangerous path.And then there was Darius. His mask of loyalty had slipped just enough to reveal his true intentions, ones I had been too blind to see until now. His betrayal simmered in my mind like poison. I clenched my fists, the thought of his schemes roiling in my gut. Darius didn’t want what