Anita's povThe day light shined brightly into my eyes as I opened it slowly. The scorching of the morning sun was somewhat hot to my skin as I opened my eyes. I was outside. Naked and tired. My body was still tied to the stone. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to recall what had happened, or maybe go back to sleep so I could appear in my real life. As I did, memories of what happened yesterday came flooding into my head again. Shit! This fuck is real! I am outside, fucking outside! And everyone's eyes were on me. It was as if there were gatherings of people, the slaves surrounding the place, and I was just in the middle of them, yielding to the stone. I shifted my face to the other direction. Madam Betty was standing there, looking at me angrily. Her right foot was stomping heavily on the ground while her hands were kept akimbo. I was shocked. I was surprised. And as our eyes met, she flared up evenly, "You idiot!' She roared, moving closer to me like an angry beast. My eyes
Anita's povAs soon as the guards removed the rope from my body, I fell flat to the ground. My bones were weak, as were my muscles. "So what did you say you saw happen in the scene as you guys started running along?" Madam Betty asked him, drawing him closer. "The breeze continued blowing, stones hitting on the running guards, making them stumble to the ground and as they all fell down, the breeze started swirling at a spot. The storm calmed down and everyone paused, looking at it. I was thinking it would just end not knowing it was going to cause a heavier disaster than before. The guards that were on the ground started staggering up and as all stood, wanting to walk away, the tornado raced towards them, knocking them off to the ground."All the slaves that were around started running off, we became scattered, littered around. Everyone was looking for the perfect place to hide. After some time, the tornado started reducing and we all became calm, waiting for it to go down finally
Anita's povThere were fallen leaves scattered on the ground under the tree. I sat on them, relaxing my back against the tree. How do I manage to eat? I am so hungry and tired. I placed my head on the tree for support. The pains in my stomach became much that my hand flew over, wrapping it up. Tears started welling up in my eyes as I thought of my life. Being accused daily is now like a routine for me. Not even a day of escaping. The welled up tears, started pouring, streaming down my cheeks. Memories of how the guards were whipping me with the flogger came crashing down on me. Their faces were beaming with lots of wicked smiles when they were hitting that thing on me. One was calling me a 'laughing cheap stock' saying I was lucky he wasn't Alpha Orion, he would have chained me to his room and fuck me day and night. I marveled at their opinions, their thinking faculty was trash like it would always be. There are some men in this world that do not deserve to live but die and a par
Anita's pov. Causing nuisance? Me? "Why don't you think properly before you talk? How would you just come to a conclusion that I am here causing trouble?" I barked at him.He looked at me, made a little scoff, lowering his head, "You should better have something to do than come here to make noise, disrupting people's peace."What the hell? This man is up to something right now. What did he just say? I am here also trying to find comfort in my distress and he is saying I came to make a lot of noise? "I do not understand where this conversation is leading to. You don't even know anything about me yet you talk like someone who had known me for a very long time. Mind you, if you think I came to disturb you or whoever, take your fucking bags and leave. Find somewhere else. After all, this is not the only forest available in the world, so… " I wasn't able to finish my statement when the bread I was eating mistakenly passed through another pathway in my throat. I started choking. Coughin
Darius povLeaving my little hut in the forest, I started my normal training in front of my house. My sword slashing through the air, cutting through the ties, hitting different angles and corners.Just then, strange noises from someone in the garden started blaring out, making me uncomfortable. But I didn't mind that, I continued fighting through the air. Aiming to get a particular spot before unlocking my full potential. Waving my sword through different directions, I dropped them off, now moving on with my hands. I started throwing blows in the air. Many blows, different ones. Instructions from my past master, Master Chen was: "Always start slow and steady, looking at the side and tactics of your opponent. Where his next punch is heading to. Make sure you are able to avoid him beating you, I know he would at a time, but try not to allow him to do much, even if you aren't punching him at first, allow him till the fight intensifies before you strike. All your blows should be light
Darius povI quickly entered the water to grab her before she drowns and when she was finally up, she opened her eyes which were already red because of the water influx in it. I carried her in my arms out of the river to the shore and placed her on the marbles. She was breathing fast, very fast. "Anita, are you ok?" I questioned her. She didn't respond to me. Her face was still stoic and expressionless. Maybe she wasn't happy about what happened. "Anita, Anita…" I called her again and she shifted her gaze to me. Her face fierce, giving me a dangerous look."You wanted to use this method to kill me right?" She questioned, shifting her gaze from mine. How? Why was she talking this way? I only wanted her to learn how to swim all by herself without being afraid. I wanted her to take a bold step herself and learn the simple tricks on how to do it. "No Anita. I do not. I wanted you to learn how to do it all by yourself, " I said looking at her face, then she turned to me and I slightl
Anita's povEven as Darius suggested that he wanted me to swim alongside him, I refuted immediately. I have already done things on my own before so why would I need someone to teach me how to do things? Besides, I do not trust him all that much. He might be someone that has been sent to kill me and he is trying to do it in the most entertaining and sweet way ever. There are a lot of reasons spinning in my head on why I shouldn't allow him teach me, so that's why I objected. With the ones he had shown to me, I am more than content with them, I can do this. As I reached the river, I dived into it at once. He was thinking I would come to meet him but I did the opposite at a very close distance to him. I didn't know the water would fail me. I thought people always said that the water was friendly, like always friendly. But it did the opposite to me. Just like a payback for what I did to Darius a few minutes ago. I nearly drowned inside the water as I lost balance but after a few seco
Darius's povI thought I had lost her as she got deep into the water. My mind started racing and my eyes remained widened.I quickly ran to stop her, diving into the stream at once. She had already gone far and my eyes weren't able to capture the exact position she had swam to.I swam with a fast speed trying to reach her when I heard a splash at the top of the water and I swam out, only to see the most beautiful girl cleaning her eyes happily. "Where have you been?" I questioned her and she smiled. She didn't know how I felt when I lost track of her. She didn't know how my heart clenched with pain and agony when I thought she was gone.For once, I thought I wouldn't be able to fall in love because I was not always available in the crowd but the moon goddess made it so that I could one day see an angel like this and fall in love with her at first sight. I was startled and angry with her at the same time. She really made my mind skip and with that, I raced towards her, hugging her at
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