The rage simmering inside me had only grown since the mark burned its way across my skin. Every second that passed without my mate by my side felt like a betrayal—not from him, but from the world itself. We were finalizing preparations for war. My beta, Loagm, stood at my side with his usual calm demeanor, which was a sharp contrast to the chaos in my mind. “We’ll lead with the vanguard,” he said, pointing at the map spread across the table. “Drogomor’s defenses are strongest here and here. If we attack from…” Suddenly, we were interrupted when the tent flap burst open, and a young scout stumbled in, gasping for breath. “Alpha!” he wheezed. “King Derek... he’s here.” I froze. “What did you just say?” My voice came out low, dangerous. He couldn't be here. He dared not show his face here after everything he had done to me, to my mate. “The Mad King is at the border,” the scout stammered in confirmation. “He’s demanding an audience with you.” I clenched my fists in anger as the g
Derek's POV I really wanted to speak with Nicole. Even though I am the last person she wants to see, I really wanted to tell her how sorry and pathetic I was for everything I did to her pack members. I wanted to tell her how I was ready all my life to pay for the damages. As soon as I got to Drogomor, I couldn't help a smirk as I saw Alpha Alaric. I never liked him; I never liked his pack. We have never been enemies, but there was just something about him, something that I just couldn’t lay my hands on, that I didn't like. I wonder why the Moon Goddess would have to fate him and Nicole together. “I need to speak to my mate!” I uttered as soon as I saw him, knowing full well that the word *‘my’* would anger him. I knew he must have found out about what happened when Nicole went into heat. I tried to spot the mark on his arm, but he had concealed it with a long cloth. That bastard! “He is not your mate!” His wolf roared, and that made me feel good. I wanted to get on
Chapter 30m Derek's pov We walked inside the living room and saw Charlotte sitting on the couch. I stared at her, my first love, the one whom i felll in love with first but had to let her go. I didn’t want to hurt her during one of the days when i snapp so i had to let her go. I ignored her pretending all our days together were nothing. Alaric’s mother was sitting on the sofa with a frown on her face. "What the hell happened?" I growled and sat opposite Charlotte.. Alaric walked towards her and took her face in my hands and saw that she had a huge wound on her head. It started healing slowly, but it was still bleeding. "Who did this?" Alaric asked her. Alaric sobbed quietly. "I am sorry, Alaric" "Why are you sorry?" he asked. "What happened?" "It was…Nicolas." she said quietly, looking down at her hands. I froze. What? Nicolas this? Why? I growled loudly. "What?! Why would she do that?!" Charlotte looked at me with a bit of surprise in her face but imme
Alaric's POVIt had been a few hours since we started our search for her. We found nothing. Not a damn thing.It was going to get dark soon, and it was cold outside, and I didn't want Nicolas to be out here all alone.And what also irks me more is King Derek who is in my territory, I do not like him, I do not like how he is in my terriyory, neither do i want anything to do him.I was going crazy. Everything around me was making me crazy.My Wolf was Whining and growling In my head, he was also unsettled just like me.My mate, my Nic was missing and i have absolutely no idea wherre he is. He must be scared, i don't care about his gender, i see him as a girl, he is too delicate and broken to go through all this.I could glance through King Derek, I doubt he was even breathing, but everything was just an act. He broke him, he rejected him, he made him so dejected and now he is pretending to care about him more than I? Psst!My mind wondered to Charlotte, I just couldn’t understand. Could
Emma's POVThe moment Alaric disappeared into the woods, a sly grin curled onto my lips, and my tears vanished as though they'd never existed. I leaned back against the tree, tilting my head to the side as a soft giggle escaped me. "Poor, sweet Alaric," I muttered to myself in amusement. "So noble, so predictable." I wiped away the remnants of fake tears, letting my gaze drift to the canopy above. Everything was falling right into place. "Nic, Nic, Nic," I whispered mockingly, the name rolling off my tongue with disdain. "I promise you, Alaric, you will never find him ever.” I leaned forward as I brought out a silver pen, something that had always been passed down from generation to generation in my lineage. Very small and priceless. I wonder what Charlotte sees in it, but I don't care. When she asked for this as a price to get involved in my façade, in testifying against Nicole, I totally agreed. She is someone Alaric and Derek would believe. My grin grew wider as I traced
My fists clenched tighter as Emma laughed, clearly enjoying her supposed victory. Every word felt like venom, wearing out my patience.The "mad king." They called me that for a reason, and today, Emma would see why.My beta, who was beside me, wanted to teach her a lesson, but I reached my hand out to stop him. This was my fight, and I wasn't going to let anyone intervene.I quickly walked towards Emma from where I was standing and suddenly stood in front of her.She looked at me with shock; she clearly wasn't expecting me.The look of shock on her face when her eyes met mine was almost satisfying. Almost."Enjoying yourself, Emma?" I asked as I tried to restrain my outburst of fury. "You seem to have a lot of fun playing your little games."Her smug grin faltered for a fraction of a second, but she recovered quickly. "King Derek," she said sweetly and almost innocently, "I didn’t expect to see you here.""Clearly." I took a step closer, and she instinctively took a step back. "You’ve
“I…I….” She stammered as she began to fight the command but it was too strong for her.I realized that my grip on her neck was hindering her from articulating any words. Without thinking twice, I released my grip from her neck with a scratch.She fell to the floor as blood covered that area. It wasn't really my doing, it was Ragner. He wanted to tear her head from her neck, but I fought back, causing a scratch on her neck.“I…I…” she stammered. “She is at a cabin, a family cabin around the Atlantic Ocean,” she uttered as she screamed in agony.She was trying—she was really trying—to fight back my command, but it only resulted in more pain for her.“I…have her locked there under…under….my watch!” she spat out.They called me the "mad king" for a reason. Emma, of all people, should have known better than to test that title. How dare she? How dare this weak, pathetic thing toy with me?Without another word, I pulled her hair down. She screamed in pain, but I didn’t care. She laid a hand
Alaric's Pov.I stood there frozen, every muscle in my body felt rigid as Derek’s words echoed in the clearing. *Nicole?* Nicole—*my* Nicole—was a she?If felt like he was mistaken, he must have mixed the names up, there was no way he woukd be a girl, even though he looks like one, he wouldn't in any way be something.Derek must have beeen mistaken, he must have mixed the names up but the looks in his eyes seemed so assured that he hasn't. My wolf stirred within me, restless and confused, mirroring my own turmoil. “Where is she?” I could hear Ragner, Derek’s wolf roar in annoynac and that was when the realization hit me hard.The realization settled over me like a suffocating weight. *He was a she?* The words repeated in my mind, twisting my thoughts into chaos. I stared at Emma, she had been my childhood friend and a cunnt bitch. But never have i thought that she was capable of kidnapping someone not yto talk of my mate.The thiugy and realization sickened me. She had done all t
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