Nikita's POVI looked at Rykor, his steady gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, everything around us seemed to disappear. There was so much I wanted to say, but the words were stuck in my throat. My heart pounded in my chest, threatening to burst out. I wanted to let him in, to let him help me. But I couldn’t bring myself to say it—not in a way that felt like it would make sense.I’d spent my entire life pushing people away, building walls higher than anyone could ever see. Letting someone in, letting them see the real me—the monster—felt wrong. But deep down, I knew what I needed. I needed him. Needed help. I just couldn’t admit it.“Okay,” I said, barely above a whisper.I hoped he understood. I hoped that simple word would be enough to show him that I wanted more than just his pity. That I was finally ready to stop pretending.A smile spread across Rykor’s face. It wasn’t the kind of smile that mocked me or felt like pity. It was real, warm, like he was actually happy I had sai
Nikita's POVI stood there, frozen, unable to move or speak. My heart was pounding, my thoughts a chaotic blur. The realisation hit me like a tidal wave: Rykor was my mate. The one thing I had been trying to avoid for as long as I could remember—finding my mate and knowing that I could never truly be with them.I couldn’t stand there, not with him, not with the pull between us that threatened to tear me apart. I couldn’t process it. I couldn’t breathe.Without thinking, I turned and ran. I took off through the forest, my wolf pushing through the trees, my heart racing as if it could outrun the truth. I knew I couldn’t hide from this forever, but I needed time. Time to get my head around the fact that everything I had fought against for so long had come crashing down. I needed to be alone.I shifted back into my human form as I reached the gates of my palace, my mind still spinning. I rushed through the halls, past the guards, who barely glanced at me until I reached my room. I slammed
Nikita's POVI had spent hours alone in my room, my mind spinning with indecision. I couldn’t focus. My wolf and my heart were so drawn to Rykor that it felt impossible to think clearly. Every part of me wanted him, needed him. But the truth was, I couldn’t have him. It was a cruel joke, one that the moon goddess had decided to play on me. My curse was killing me slowly but surely, and with every passing moment, I felt like I was running out of time.Iian had left hours ago, leaving me with nothing but my own thoughts. And all I could think about was Rykor. Sometimes, those thoughts were inappropriate. I would imagine him standing in front of me, half-naked, his chest ripped with muscles, his hair messy and wild. The thought excited me more than I cared to admit. I even pictured myself touching him, kissing him. It was like a forbidden dream, one I couldn’t escape.But as much as the thoughts excited me, they also caused me pain. Because I knew those things could never happen. I could
Rykor's POVI stood there, feeling no regret about pouring my heart out to Nikita. I had to do it. I had to make her understand how deeply I felt for her. Every word had come from a place of truth. And when I saw that single tear slide down her cheek, it took everything in me not to reach out and wipe it away. It felt wrong, so painfully wrong, to stand there knowing I could never touch her. But I couldn’t just stand silently, pretending nothing was between us.I didn’t know what she was going to do next. She might run. She might order me out of her kingdom, or she may just reach out and end my life now without a second thought. But one thing I knew for certain was that I had to get my feelings out. I couldn’t keep them locked inside any longer. She had to know that I wasn’t going anywhere, even if it meant pain, even if it meant heartache.The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. And after what felt like a lifetime, she finally looked up at me. Her eyes were still fil
Rykor's POVThe morning air was crisp as I made my way over to Nikita’s kingdom. The sun had barely risen, casting a soft glow over the landscape. I was up early, eager to see her. I found myself sitting at the dining table, waiting for her, my thoughts spinning.The soft creak of a door echoed through the quiet room, and I lifted my head to see her walking around the corner. A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. She hadn’t noticed me yet. She was lost in her own little world, just like always. The way her long black hair cascaded down her back, the way her body moved with perfect grace—it was all so mesmerising. Everything about her, every inch of her, turned me on in a way I couldn’t explain.I stayed seated, just watching her, admiring the woman in front of me. The curve of her hips, the quiet confidence in her stride—she was stunning. But when she lifted her head, and her eyes slowly began to turn toward me, I could feel it. She could sense me, feel my presence. She ha
Nikita's POVRykor’s words hit me like a slap, each one piercing through the walls I had carefully constructed around myself. I had always known my pack feared me. It was something I accepted as part of the role I was forced into. But for him to say I needed to guide them, help them become stronger, to not have them shy away every time they saw me—it didn’t make sense. They were mine to control, mine to rule with the strength that my curse gave me. Fear was the only thing that kept them in line. Fear of me, just like they had feared my father.I stared at him, my expression cold, the mask I wore tightening in place. He was still watching me, studying every movement, every shift in my posture. And I couldn’t help but feel that judgment slicing through me like a blade.He continued to look around, taking in my pack’s village, the people who lived here, the ones who had given their loyalty—or their obedience—to me. I could feel the guilt start to creep in, gnawing at me. What had I creat
Nikita's POVI stood in front of the mirror, staring at the light blue dress I was wearing. It was nothing like what I was used to—flowy, light, and soft. It didn’t fit me. I didn’t fit it. The fabric itched against my skin, the colour unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I had become so accustomed to my black leather, the tight, harsh material symbolising the only life I knew. The life I had to build around my curse. The life that kept everyone at a distance.But this dress? It felt like a foreign world, one I didn’t belong in. I hated it.I pulled my gloves up higher, trying to shield my hands from the world. The black marks that covered my skin burned under the fabric, itching as if they were rejecting the softness of the dress, just like I was rejecting the idea of it.Rykor's voice broke through my thoughts. “What do you think?”I turned to look at him, nearly tripping over the long hem of the dress. “I hate it. I don’t understand what my clothes have to do with making my pack fear me l
Nikita's POVWhen I woke, the sun filtered through the curtains, and my mind was clouded with doubts. The events of yesterday still lingered in my thoughts—the promise I had made to my pack, the changes I was trying to bring about. But as the light streamed through the window, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, I had failed before I even began. Could I truly lead them to a better place? Were they too far gone, too set in their ways to ever change?I dragged myself out of bed, still feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. I moved to the window, needing some fresh air and some clarity. But what I saw stopped me in my tracks.There were people at the training grounds—more people than I had ever seen there before. They were working together, cleaning up the space, fixing the worn-down equipment, and rebuilding what had been left to rot. I blinked, unsure if my eyes were deceiving me. This couldn’t be real. Had I really seen this?As if he sensed my gaze, Rykor turn
Nikitas Pov"Speak, then," I replied, crossing my arms defensively.His eyes, clouded with the weight of countless past grievances, met mine. I could see something akin to desperation—a vulnerability mirrored in an elder, a man traditionally emblematic of unshakeable resolve. There was a bottomless depth of weariness in his gaze that resonated with the part of me that understood the burden all too well."I'd much rather do this somewhere else," the Elder finally said, casting an uncomfortable glance around the grand but claustrophobic hall. His voice was low, carrying an urgency that piqued my curiosity despite myself.It was risky to leave the safety of the hall, yet inexplicably, I nodded, gesturing for him to follow through the labyrinthine corridors that led to my father's office. The walls bore silent witness to secrets long since buried—a skewed juxtaposition of the legacy I carried and the decisions I had to forge along the way.Stepping into the office felt like entering a tim
Nikitas PovI lay in bed, pretending to be asleep as the night slowly dragged on. Rykor sat in the chair beside me, his presence a silent sentinel against the darkness that threatened to consume me. There was a safety in his vigil, a protective weave of silent strength that should have been comforting. Yet, for the first time, I wished he would leave. I craved solitude, space to let the tears flow without witness, to crumble quietly without judgment. My soul ached with the desire to submit to my pain and reveal the true extent of my brokenness, but that would never be possible—not with Rykor here, steadfast and unyielding. I couldn’t share this weakness with him, for it would mean admitting defeat against the vile man who had dared to touch me.The memory of last night lingered like a shadow, clinging to my thoughts with cruel tenacity. I had always been aware of the world's darkness, but nothing had prepared me for the soul-deep violation the man forced upon me. As the first light of
The room was filled with a heavy silence, the weight of despair hanging in the air like a dense fog. Nikita now seemed like a shadow of herself, wrapped tightly in her own arms, as if trying to protect her fragile soul from further harm. Her vulnerability was achingly palpable, a stark contrast to the fierce leader she was known to be."Nikita," I whispered gently, not daring to reach out and touch her, though my heart ached to provide comfort. "I’m here."Her shoulders quivered, but she didn’t lift her head. The room fell into a deep hush as if echoing her unspoken pain. I stayed there, a silent sentinel by her side, my own heart breaking at the sight of her suffering.Words would be hollow, echoes in the wind, unable to banish the shadows that had wrapped themselves around her heart. So I just sat there praying that being there would be enough.Slowly, her tear-streaked eyes met mine, each glance like a sharp blade slicing through the emotional barricade that had built up around my
Rykors PovThe air was thick with a potent cocktail of fear and rage, and I had liked it momentarily as if the world knew something pivotal was about to transpire. I forced myself to focus, my senses sharpening like the instinctual keenness of a wolf in the hunt. The path to Nikita's kingdom stretched before me, each step purposeful and laden with an urgency that threatened to consume me.I couldn't let another day pass. The decision I had mulled over grew more resolute with every heartbeat, becoming a fire that was now wild and consuming in its intensity. The moon hung low, a sentinel watching over my advance. Its light illuminated the entrance to Nikita's grand palace.As I entered, I met Iian, emerging from the hall. Fatigue etched itself into the lines of his face, yet his smile remained steadfast and warm. "Alpha Rykor, good to see you," he greeted, strength lacing his voice. His eyes, though tired, still carried the patience and empathy of a trusted Beta he had shown himself to
Nikitas povMy heart clenched, even as I fought to maintain a semblance of control. A silhouette shifted in the corner of the room, separating itself from the shadows like a spectre called forth by some dark incantation. I held my ground as the figure coalesced into a man—a predator cloaked in darkness, his eyes gleaming with a malevolent purpose.With measured calm, I swung my legs out of bed, the cold floor grounding me against the tumult within. Standing, I faced him, embodying the deadly power that pulsed beneath my skin. I could unravel him instantly, but it was the excitement that throbbed within my curse that I feared. It yearned for connection, hungered for an end.The man stepped into the moonlight streaming through the window, his face poisonously serene. "All you had to do was give it to me," he drawled, his voice a sickly sweet melody that turned the air sour. "Perhaps you would've had a few more days on this pathetic earth, free from your curse, able to touch that patheti
Nikitas povThe dim warmth of my room was barely comforting against the chill that wrapped around my bones like a shroud. Weakness coursed through me, and every step felt like a battle of its own. My limbs trembled as though they fought a hidden adversary, an unseen force gnawing at the edges of my composure.Reaching my sanctuary, I leaned heavily against the door, drawing a shaky breath to regain some semblance of control. My gaze fell to the new marks on my skin—unmistakable evidence of the path I walked. They were dark, curling with an unsettling elegance across my forearms, yet these marks brought no pain. Instead, an uncanny tranquillity washed over me, a juxtaposition to the chaos I expected.Still, the memory of him lingered— the way my curse had filled with so much excitement the closer I got to him; the look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. He was pure evil, wanting the curse for reasons I would never understand, and I wasn't sure I wanted to. It scared me h
Nikitas povThe dim light of early morning cast long shadows through the tall windows of my father’s office, and I sat alone at his desk, confronting the silence with an iron will. Exhaustion gnawed at the edges of my mind, a persistent ache growing stronger with each sleepless night spent grappling with the relentless curse within me. It had become a separate entity, living beneath my skin, whispering insidious thoughts of surrender and relief in the quiet moments between each breath. But none of that would deter me from my chosen path. I would not let it win; this curse died with me, even if that meant going through this pain for years.A soft knock interrupted the grim silence of the room. “Come in,” I managed, my voice barely above a weary whisper.The door creaked open, and disappointment flickered across my heart as I saw Iian step inside. How I wished it was Rykor—his presence was something I had craved since we last parted. Yet I reminded myself repeatedly that I had made peac
Rykor's POVThe air in the palace was thick with a heavy silence, broken only by the faint, haunting echo of my footfalls against the cold, stone floor. My heart felt heavy like it was trying to anchor me to the ground, pulling me into the depths of despair that threatened to swallow me whole. Returning to the palace hadn't been my intention, But where else was I meant to go? I couldn't run and hide forever.As I stepped through the ornate doors, the echo of voices pulled me from my thoughts. Up ahead, down the dimly lit corridor, I noticed Thorne leaning against the wall, his expression unreadable. I hesitated, torn between approaching or slipping by unnoticed. Thorne had always been more than a beta to me; he was a confidante, a brother in arms, yet a weight of unspoken words lay heavily between us.Just as I was about to pass, his voice cut through the silence, sharp and pointed. "You're being selfish, Rykor. If you truly loved her, you'd be there, helping and supporting her, not r
Rykors pov My fists pounded against the unrelenting rock, the sharp scent of my blood mixing with the brisk night air. Each strike jolted through me, a painful reminder of my grief, yet I embraced the pain willingly. Sweat and dirt smeared my skin, marking the gruelling hours I'd spent lost in an emotional storm of anger and sadness. My body ached for rest, but I couldn't listen to its demands. All I could see was Nikita's lifeless image haunting my thoughts.As the first light of dawn mingled with the night, her voice—impossibly real—whispered behind me. “Rykor.”I froze, my fists still clenched, caught in a moment of disbelief. Was this my mind's cruel trick? My arms fell, weighed down by exhaustion and an unwillingness to face what might be another figment of my delirium.She approached, the familiar sound of her footsteps almost comforting. Yet I couldn't turn around, fearful of the pain of seeing her again. If she was merely a ghost, I didn't want to know.“How did you find me?”