Nikita's POV:As I made my way back to the palace, I felt something shift inside me. The walk felt longer than normal; the air around me seemed thick, pressing down on my chest. My head throbbed with an intensity that was like no other headache I had ever had, and a weakness washed over me, leaving me with the unsettling feeling that something was very wrong.I tried to shake it off, but the feeling didn’t go away. I felt dizzy, my legs heavy with each step, as though the weight of my own body had become unbearable. Something was happening to me, and I knew what it was.As I entered the palace, I was greeted by Iian, who immediately fell into his usual routine, handing me a report on the pack.“Alpha Nikita,” he began, his voice steady as always. “The training sessions are going well. The pack has been more disciplined than ever today, thanks to Rykor’s guidance. They’re learning fast. More members have joined. I’ve had a few of the more experienced wolves help train the younger ones,
Rykor's POV:The next day, I made my way to Nikita's kingdom, my resolve stronger than it had ever been. I was going to stick to my word. I had to. For her sake, for both of us. I couldn't keep living in denial, hoping for a miracle when the truth was standing in front of me. She had accepted her fate, and it was time I did the same. The idea of watching her die, of being powerless to stop it, ate at my insides. But I knew the longer I resisted, the more time I would waste time that I could be spending with her. Time I would never get back. And every inch of me knew that I wouldn't be able to live with myself, the regret would kill me.I walked towards the training grounds and spotted Iian. He was standing there watching the members train, but something felt off about it."Good morning, Alpha Rykor," Iian greeted me with a nod. "Alpha Nikita is out on the training field. She's been at it since early this morning."I looked across the field, searching for her. There, near the far side,
Nikita's POV:The halls of the palace felt unusually cold as I walked, the echoes of my footsteps bouncing off the stone walls. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, racing from one concern to another, but I couldn't seem to focus on any of them. Every time I tried to think clearly, Rykor’s presence from behind me pulled me away from it, making the world feel like a disorienting blur. His question, his insistence on talking, hung in the air between us. But for once, I wasn't ready to answer.Rykor's voice cut through the silence again, his tone urgent. “Why won’t you answer me, Nikita? What’s really going on? You’re not fine.”I didn’t reply. I couldn’t. I had already told him enough. I could feel the heaviness of his gaze on me, but I refused to let it get to me. Instead, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other, pretending like everything was normal when, in fact, nothing was.As I turned the corner, a man dressed in dark, sharp clothing caught my attention. He wasn’t one
Nikita’s POVI stood in my father’s old office, my gaze fixed on Iian as he slowly read the letter from the Elders. The seconds felt like minutes, each tick of the clock dragging on endlessly as I waited for his verdict. Every now and then, his brow furrowed, and his lips twitched as though he was reading between the lines. It felt like the weight of the world was resting on his interpretation of that letter.When he finally set the letter down, he didn’t look at me immediately. He stared at it, and I could see his thoughts whirling around, struggling to find the words. Finally, he met my eyes, and the gravity of the situation seemed to settle between us."From my experience, Alpha, when the Elders call on you, it’s never a good thing," he said quietly, his voice tinged with concern.I stood tall, doing my best to mask my anxiety. "But what are they calling on me for?" I asked my voice tight, a mix of fear and confusion."I don’t know, Alpha, but they want all the kingdom’s records,"
Nikita's POVI had lost track of time, hours slipping by in the cold, damp dungeon. The walls felt like they were closing in, the weight of the past bearing down on me. My hands had begun to shake as I flipped through the journals, each page revealing more of the atrocities I had committed under my father's orders. I could hear the distant echoes of footsteps, but I didn’t look up. My eyes stayed fixed on the words in front of me. The cruel reality of my past reflected on each page.As my eyes scanned the page, the images flashed through my mind like I was back there, reliving it all over again. I was fifteen. My father had sent me to a remote location, to a place where one of the alphas kept his bloodline hidden away. There were thirty children, all with royal bloodlines—kept hidden to protect them from threats. My father wanted me to kill them while they were awake, playing so he could make a statement.But I had convinced him that it would be much quicker if I went while they were
Nikitas pov I sat there, the journal trembling in my hands, as Rykor's presence hovered like a storm cloud ready to break. The air was thick with unspoken tension, a silent acknowledgment of the darkness that lingered within these stone walls. My father's last words echoed in my mind, unravelling decades of pain and regret that had been woven into the fabric of my existence."Nikita, are you ready for us to start taking the journals and having them loaded?" Iian's voice cut through the air, a gentle reminder that time was slipping away. I could see the worry etched in his face, a depth of concern that threatened to reach me through the steel-enforced walls I'd built around my heart.Before I could respond, Rykor's voice, full of urgency, interjected. "You can't let her do this, Nikita. The Elders will not be kind once they read all of this."The weight of Rykor’s plea pressed on me like a boulder teetering on the edge of a cliff. I met his gaze, holding my ground, not letting any sig
Nikitas pov As dawn began to drape the horizon with its gentle light, I found myself cloaked in solitude, nestled within the carriage that would escort me to the Elders' city. The rhythmic clatter of the wheels against the cobblestones was a soundtrack that matched the tumultuous cadence of my thoughts. I preferred to travel alone, with no guards, not even Iian by my side. This was a journey I had to undertake without them. After all, there was little sense in dragging others into the focal point of my fate—a fate heavy with the sins of my father.The outline of the Elders' city emerged intricately against the morning light. I clutched my father’s journal tightly under the folds of my cloak. Its presence was both a source of comfort and a haunting reminder of the legacy I had inherited. My father had managed to evade justice for the crimes he committed, shaping me into a creature burdened by the weight of his misdeeds. Yet, the irony remained—I would come to answer for his sins, to f
Nikitas pov I turned on my heel, and there he was—Yuri. His face had barely changed since the last time I saw him, the same predatory glint in his eyes, the same smirk poised to taunt. I felt my heart thud heavily against my chest, an instinctive response, a reminder of the hatred lying dormant but never forgotten."Yuri," I said, my voice carrying the chill of winter past. Just the sound of his name seemed to scrape against my soul, dredging up memories I'd fought to bury.He started toward me, his steps deliberate, eyes roving as though he were cataloguing every aspect of my discomfort. "This look suits you," he taunted, his gaze lingering on the iron kissed by the shadows of my cloak.A stirring of dread rippled through me, but I stood firm, defiance simmering beneath my skin. "I don't need my hands to kill you," I replied, each word tempered with steel.Instead of retreating, Yuri laughed, the sound echoing like shards of glass in the empty hall. "We've been here before, Nikita.
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?”