Just as I started to lose myself in Alaric's warm embrace, we heard footsteps rushing down the hallway. I immediately pulled away from Alaric, my heart racing as we spotted a guard approaching, looking tense. “Alpha Alaric,” the guard called out as soon as she set her eyes on him, before bowing respectfully. “I apologize for the interruption, but we’ve got a situation. Another rogue has been spotted near the southern border. The patrol team thought it best to inform you immediately.” Alaric sighed as his fingers reluctantly slipped from my waist. He gave me a reassuring look before addressing the guard. “Understood. I’ll be there shortly.” The guard immediately walked away. Alaric turned back to me with frustration in his eyes, as if he didn’t want to leave just yet. “I have to handle this, but we’ll continue… later,” he murmured. I nodded with my cheeks still warm from the kiss. “Be careful.” With a final look, he turned and followed the guard down the hall, leaving me alon
I didn't know why I cared so much, neither did I know what to do. Derek—my rejected mate, my tormentor, my enemy—was calling my name in his feverish delirium. I didn’t know whether to feel satisfaction or guilt. Wasn't that what I wanted? For him to suffer? Why was I feeling sad now?I was lost, so lost! Neither did I know what to do. I could hear Mina grunting in my mind, her mate, whom rejected her.‘Mina!’ I sighed as I sat at the edge of the flower vase. 'I don’t know what to do, Mina. If I help him, I feel like I’m betraying myself. But if I don’t…''Then you’ll become the very thing you hate,” she interjected. “You’ve seen what monsters like Derek can do. Don’t let anger and pain turn you into one of them.'My throat tightened at her words. 'You think I’m being a monster?''I think you’re on the edge,' she admitted. 'And it’s understandable. Derek caused you so much pain—he took everything from you. But ending his life by walking away while he’s defenseless? That’s not you,
As soon as I caught sight of Drogomor, my blood instantly ran cold. It wasn’t just Derek’s territory—it was the scene of my nightmares, the place that had stolen my family and my peace.Before I could get closer to the main gate, I saw Beta Logan, King Derek’s Beta, looking all tensed up and watchful, as if he was waiting for someone or something to appear.How would I be able to inform him that I was actually here to treat King Derek? They wouldn't believe me. They would see me as someone not to be trusted.Maybe I should just leave anyway. It probably wasn’t my fate to heal him myself. Maybe it was destined by the moon goddess...But as soon as I turned my back, I heard a voice call my name. The voice was familiar; it sounded like Logan’s.I slowly turned to look to see who that was, and I instantly locked my gaze on Logan, who was staring at me with a hint of surprise on his face.“Beta Logan! I…I…” I said.“Nicolas, we need your help,” he interrupted, cutting me short as he steppe
I woke up and realized I was sleeping close to King Derek. “How did I get here?” I asked myself, getting out of the bed. As I walked past the door, I noticed a small pen knife on the table. It looked sharp and skinny, and a thought crept into my mind. *Make him pay for what he did to you. Kill him and end it once and for all! He killed your family; he doesn't deserve to live. Kill him.* The voice in my head kept repeating. I tiptoed over to the knife, purposefully cutting my pinky finger with it to test how sharp it was. I walked toward the bed, closer to King Derek. *Kill him, it all ends here,* the voice urged. I watched him sleep peacefully, oblivious to what I was about to do. I thought about my happy family, my pack members. He was the reason I was separated from them, the reason I would never see them again. It was all his fault. My life was a complete mess because of him, “He doesn't deserve to live. I should send him to the hell he came from!” I muttered silently
Alaric's POVI didn’t realize how much I’d grown used to Nicolas, my mate, being around until I couldn’t find him after our meeting. At first, I thought he’d simply slipped away for some air—he was good at disappearing when the pack became too suffocating. But as time went on, no one seemed to have seen him, and a knot began to form in my chest. Something was wrong. Something was so wrong. I ought to have caught his scent by now, even if he were twelve miles away. But the fact that I haven't caught his scent shows that something was definitely wrong. He wasn’t in the pack, he wasn’t nearby—what could have happened? It's 2 a.m., and nothing seemed to be favoring me in his search. “Nicolas!” I shouted, my voice echoing through the silent corridors of the palace. My wolf growled in the back of my mind, feeling restless and agitated. He was feeling uneasy, and so was I. I needed to find him. I needed to find my mate. I ignored the clawing unease and continued down the hallwa
Derek's povChaos went on the Palace followed by loud noises, My guards had assembled a few men and women before the castle waiting for meto meet them.I had just slowly began to heal thanks to Nicolas who was still sleeping for spending the night with me.I slowly stepped out with a cold expression on my face.“Who are you?” I asked roughly,“King, please spare us, we are refugees from the silver lake pack, our pack has been attacked and we are the only ones to escape” a woman answered.The silver lack pack and the moon shadow palace has been in conflict for a while now, they had resisted the alliance of the red moon pack to the point of even insulting my authority, when I heard about them, a frown formed on my face, why do i have to help them when they had mocked me and promised not to come to me for help.“Why do I care about you guys? I said coldly, making the woman think twice if I would actually help them.“Because we have no one but you, our enemies has laid waste to our pack a
Nicolas and I were now in my chambers behind closed doors when, he held a poised face to not show me that he was scared of what he might as of her. “Do you really mean what I said earlier, you would do anything I ask you?” I questioned. “Yes, he answered with his head held up high, it was now his duty to protect the boy and make sure he went through no harm. “Do you know him?” I asked and he shook his head. “But you are willing to do anything for him?” I was a bit jealous that he would do that for just a little boy, he was my mate, the one whom I had rejected but could see feel the undeniable bond and wanted him to only care only about me and not some random boy he knew nothing about, making me look like the villain. “Yes” he answered. I felt silent while gathering my thoughts, before I finally spoke. “Stay with me for the next 24hours" I demanded. His gaze was filled with surprise at my demand, i giess he must ahve expected it “OK, I will.” He answered and a smirke
Emma's POv My blood ran cold at Charlotte’s revelation. Nicole? What was she talking about? Veronica shot me a sharp look, clearly catching the flicker of alarm that crossed my face. “Nicole? What the heck are you talking about, Charlotte?” Charlotte smirked as she handled me paper, “Let’s just say our dear Nicolas isn’t exactly who he claims to be.” She handed the paper to Veronica, who scanned it quickly and immediately gasped in shock, “What the heck is this? How…? How??” “Impossible,” Veronica whispered, looking up at me, then back at Charlotte. I immediately collected the paper from Veronica who asked, “Does Alaric know?” Charlotte shook her head, feigning innocence. “Not yet. But imagine his reaction when he finds out his supposed mate is actually a woman” She said before she turned back at me, “I wonder what's going to happen Emma, My eyes scanned at the paper in shock, how? Just how could she perfectly had hidded herself under the facade way too well for most people
It’s been three days since Nicole regained consciousness for a brief moment, only to slip back into unconsciousness. And every single minute, I’ve stayed by her side, whispering in her ear how much I miss her, hoping that one day she’ll wake up and gift me with that beautiful smile of hers again. The doctors say her body is healing, but it’s her spirit I’m worried about. Nicole has always been strong, but this—this is different. She’s not just fighting for her life; she’s fighting against the weight of everything she’s lost. Alaric, however, hasn’t spent much time by her side. I’ve noticed his absence more than I care to admit. He’s been keeping himself busy, avoiding the room as though the very sight of her fragile state is too much for him to bear. Or maybe, just maybe, he’s up to something. I couldn’t help but wonder what was keeping him so distracted from our mate—our little mate. His absence wasn’t like him, not when it came to Nicole. It was almost as if he were tending t
Derek's POV “She thought she had died. She thinks she is dead,” I said, glancing at Alaric as we both stood outside the room. Alaric nodded, unable to meet my gaze. “Yes, my little pup…” His voice cracked slightly, betraying the pain he was trying so hard to suppress. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry for what happened, man. I really am.” He didn’t respond immediately, but I could see the storm raging behind his eyes. I knew I shouldn’t have lost control when she opened her eyes. I shouldn’t have let my emotions take over. But I couldn’t help it—what I had been yearning for had finally happened, right in front of me. “It’s okay. I understand,” he said simply, his voice tight as though he was wrestling with some inner demon. “We both want the best for her,” I said, taking a seat on the bench outside the room where the doctors had asked us to wait. Alaric hesitated for a moment before joining me. The silence between us was heavy and filled with un
Alaric’s POV I stood in the corner of the room, my chest tight and heavy as I watched Derek hold her hand while she lay unconscious. It hurt—hurt to see my girl like this, so broken and almost lifeless. Derek held her hand as he caressed her fragile arm. “I need you, Nicole. I need you!” he told her. I hit the wall as I battled with my own turmoil. I needed her too—we all did. I needed her to wake up. She was my mate, after all. My one true mate. “Nicole! Baby!” I could hear Derek scream her name in anxiety. I turned to see what was going on, and my eyes finally landed on those pretty, half-closed eyes. Oh, how I had longed to see those beautiful eyes of hers. She was awake. It felt unreal—it felt like a dream. I ran towards her, but all I could see was confusion. Confusion clouded her pale face, and I doubted her inner mind was truly here. Her eyes fluttered open, and confusion was etched across her pale face. I felt something twist deep inside me. Relief? Guilt? Both, maybe.
Nicole's POV Am I awake? No, I am dead. I must be dead! There was no way I could be awake. I mustn't have been rescued. It felt like I was dead. Everything was still, silent, and surreal. My body didn’t feel like mine—it just didn’t. It felt heavy, cold, and unresponsive. I lifted my body, ready to move. There were so many things I had to do. While I was dead, I needed to find my parents. I needed to see their faces at least one more time—to kiss my mother and whisper how much I miss her. I remember her laughter, her smile, her face, her pretty face. If this was the end, at least I would appreciate a more palatable one. But why did I feel so safe? Why did the air feel different? Was I rescued? There was no way I could have been. There was no way Alaric would come back looking for me—not to mention Derek. He had shed me and dumped me. I was a fool, a victim to his pawns. The sharp scent of antiseptic hit my nostrils first, then the faint hum of something mechanical. Was that in th
“Nicole, are you awake?” I asked an already obvious question as I leaned over to her side in panic. “Hey baby, you’re okay! Thank God you're awake!” I uttered as her eyes moved from hers to mine. God! How I have longed to see those pretty eyes of hers. “Nicole, can you hear me?” Alaric asked in a trembling voice. But she didn't move; her gaze was still fixed on me. She looked so confused and disoriented. I turned to Alaric, “Get the doctor!” He nodded before dashing off to the room. “Nicole, baby! You’re okay. You’re safe," I said as I ran my hand through her pretty brunette hair. “You’re with us now, baby.” But I didn’t get any response or attempt at a reply from her—not even a nod. Before I could say anything, I felt a trail of tears slide down my cheeks. How long I had missed her, her beautiful eyes, her anger at me, her touch, her flair—everything. I sniffed as I tried my best to conceal it. Immediately, the doctor opened the door and walked in. “King Derek, ple
Soon enough, the nurses arranged the bed on both sides, making it easier for us to stay close to Nicole.I climbed onto the bed slowly, wrapping an arm around her from the side. I didn’t bother to look at Alaric, who was seething behind me.He let out a low growl as soon as I placed my hand over Nicole’s and pulled her closer.She was cold—so cold.Alaric climbed onto the bed, moving closer to her. His hand rested on the other side of her frail body.His growl deepened as he adjusted his position, his intense gaze locked onto mine. The tension between us was suffocating.“Don’t,” I warned with, my voice steady and firm.He ignored me, his hand trembled slightly as he touched Nicole’s other arm. His jaw tightened, barely containing his emotions.“Nicole...” I whispered, my voice cracking as I leaned in closer. Her fragile, lifeless body felt like it could slip away at any moment.“Stop pretending you care more than I do,” Alaric snapped, his voice low but sharp. His red-rimmed eyes gla
I slowly walked towards her. I shouldn’t think of anything that might bring down my spirit. What matters right now is the safety of my mate, my girl, my lovely girl. I slowly walked to the other side where Alaric was standing and held her hand. I could feel my hand trembling. I had never felt this way before—so broken, so raw, so shattered. I slowly held her hand as I sat beside her on the bed. I lifted her hand towards my face and kissed the back of her hand. I could feel tears threatening to fall from my eyes. I gently caressed her cheeks—my poor girl. “My girl! My poor girl!” I uttered with my voice trembling. It was taking all I had not to let Ragnar take control. He wanted to see her, the little mate we had both broken—not yet! Not while she was still critical. The door clicked open, and the doctor walked in. Alaric slowly lifted his head as she looked at her. She bowed slightly, a sign of respect for both of us. “Alpha, I heard that the nurse informed you about
I started pacing around nervously. My gaze was on the door the whole time. I needed that nurse to come out and take me to my mate. I could hear Alaric's mom sigh before turning to Alaric. “I will take care of the pack, honey," his mom told him. "I won't bother you unless it is an emergency." He nodded absentmindedly. Nothing was important to him at this moment. I just wanted my mate in my arms. I just wanted Nicole. The door finally opened, and a nurse came out. "King Derek, Alpha, please follow me," she said and walked back inside. Alaric and I ran inside. I could hear his mom telling Alaric to link them when she woke up. He rushed inside and headed straight to a room. "Alpha, King Derek! You need to wait!” I could hear the nurse call us. We stopped and turned to look at her with a menacing growl. What the heck was happening? I could hear Alaric growl beside me too. He was just as angry and pissed off as I was. "You need to wash yourselves first," the nurse said as she
Never had I ever felt silence so deafening. Derek and I exchanged a glance full of surprise and anxiety. What the heck was happening in there? I don't think I have ever been this anxious, this angry. She has to be OK. My strong mate—she must be OK. "Alaric!" my mom's panicked voice pulled me from my thoughts. I stood up and hugged her. I needed it. I needed my mom to tell me that everything was going to be okay, that she was OK. "How is she?" she asked with a trembling voice, looking at Derek. "I don't know," he sighed, leaning against the wall. "She was barely breathing when we found her." She sobbed, and my mom gasped loudly. "She will be okay," I said with a shaky voice. "She has to be okay." "She will be. She is the strongest person I know." It was Derek. He was saying that more to convince himself, to tell himself that she was going to be OK. I let out a sigh. I really hope so. She must be! Nobody spoke next; everybody stared at each other with tensi