Nikita’s POVThe door clicked softly, closing behind Rykor. I let out a breath I didn’t realise I was holding. The air in the grand hall grew colder, as if the shadows of my ancestors were watching, disapproving of this new alliance, or perhaps they were merely echoing my own doubts. "Yuri," I called, summoning my beta back into my presence. His hurried steps reflected a mix of concern and determination.I hated that I had to question his loyalty now after he had stood by my father's side for so long."Gather the pack, Yuri. We have important matters to address," I ordered, my voice steely and resolute.Yuri nodded, sparing no time to question. As he left to gather the others, my hand instinctively moved to the hilt of my father's sword, a relic of power and death. The leather of the sword’s handle was worn, bearing the imprints of my father’s grip, each mark a reminder of our bloody history.To wield this sword was to accept the legacy of fear and dominance my father had instilled i
Rykor's POV Silently, I followed Nikita inside, my senses attuned to every nuance of her movements. The sunlight streamed through the mansion's tall windows, casting elongated shadows that seemed to wrap around her like spectres. Her gait was strong, a front for those who needed to believe in her invincibility. But as I watched her closely, I saw the seams of her façade fraying. When she reached the grand hall, she was no longer the Luna of Death but a tortured soul, weighted by burdens unseen. My heart ached for her, the contradiction of her existence. Outside, she was a monster—a killer. Inside, she was a scared little girl haunted by her curse. "Fear is not the way to be a good alpha," I said softly to her. Nikita turned to face me, an icy gaze shielding her vulnerability. "You can't just walk into my home uninvited," she snapped, trying to mask the tremor in her voice. I stood there silently, studying her. She shifted on her feet, telling me that she was uncomfortable with m
Nikita's POVThe throne room was empty, its cavernous expanse echoing with memories. Sitting on my father’s throne, my fingers brushed over the cold metal of the sword I still held, the same sword that had spilled so much blood. Each drop seemed to whisper tales of my past, pulling me back to days when my heart was still capable of warmth.My eyes closed, and I was once again a frightened child, stumbling through shadows cast by a cruel curse. I could barely understand what had happened when my touch had taken my mother's life. Her eyes, once full of love, turned into hollow pits of lifelessness. The marks on my skin began on that fateful day, one for every soul I would touch and kill. They were countless now, but my mother's mark and that first one seared into my memory like a brand of eternal torment."Do it, Nikita," I heard my father’s voice resonate through the past, commanding my every action. "Prove your loyalty."I had been so young, so desperate to make him proud. His grin as
Rykor's POV The pile of documents symbolising various pack issues seemed less daunting in this soft light. I had been up since dawn, sorting through reports and letters, mentally preparing myself for another demanding day as the Alpha of my pack. Just as I was about to delve into a particularly convoluted treaty negotiation, a soft but hurried knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, looking up from the parchment. Thorne, my beta, stepped in, his generally composed features strained with subtle tension. He strode towards me purposefully, his footfalls nearly silent against the polished wooden floor. “Thorne, what’s the matter?” I asked, arching an eyebrow in mild curiosity. Thorne inhaled deeply before speaking. “Alpha, there’s been an unexpected arrival in our territory,” he said, his voice low but steady. My interest piqued, I sat back in my chair. “Who is it?” “It’s Alpha Nikita, sir. She’s already at the border,” Thorne declared, his gaze unwavering as
Nikita's POVAs I followed Rykor through his territory, my emotions were a whirlwind beneath my cold exterior. The greeting he received from his pack was a stark contrast to the reactions my presence evoked. People smiled and nodded as he passed, their faces lighting up with genuine warmth. It made me uncomfortable, the way their eyes followed me with thinly veiled curiosity and trepidation. I struggled to keep my face unreadable, to bury the turmoil that threatened to break through."Magic? Here?" I muttered, a mix of fascination and anxiety spilling into my voice as we approached the secluded clearing surrounded by an ethereal glow. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat a reminder of my cursed past.“Yes. While it’s not common knowledge, we have a few members who possess unique abilities,” Rykor explained. “I don’t usually bring outsiders here, but I wanted to share it with you.”My gaze wandered, taking in the delicate balance of nature and enchantment that permeated the air. Th
Nikita's POVThe air in my territory felt colder, more foreboding, as I crossed the border back into familiar lands. My steps were purposeful, echoing the storm of fury within me. Yuri, my beta, awaited my return near the entrance of our kingdom, his face a mask of concern."Alpha," Yuri stepped forward, his eyes searching mine. "How did the visit go?""Rykor’s pack is weak and pathetic," I spat out, not bothering to slow my stride. The sight of his pack—warmth, smiles, and trust—agitated the wound festering inside me.Yuri fell into step beside me, his brow furrowing deeper. "Understood, Alpha," he responded with his usual unwavering loyalty."And tell everyone," I added, still not turning to face him, "Alpha Rykor is no longer welcome in my territory."We reached my grand stone fortress, the architecture as imposing and impregnable as the barrier I kept around my soul. "As you command," Yuri said, a subtle bow punctuating his agreement.I stormed through the castle halls, my emotion
Rykor's POVThe walk back to the palace was fraught with a storm of conflicting emotions. Nikita's abrupt departure, her venomous words, kept replaying in my mind. The hurt in her eyes was evident, making her outburst sting all the more. Deep down, I knew there was more to her rage than met the eye, but understanding it was a different matter entirely.My beta, Thorne, awaited me at the entrance to the palace. His eyes quickly scanned my face, picking up on my troubled demeanour."Alpha," Thorne began cautiously, "how did it go?"I let out a weary sigh, attempting to shake off the disquiet. "It was... unexpected," I replied, my voice tinged with frustration and confusion. "Nikita freaked out, and I can't understand why."Thorne's brows furrowed in concern. "Do you think she plans to attack?"Shaking my head, I dismissed the notion. "No, I don't believe she will. She's hurting. It runs deeper than her curse. There's a wound there that her rage helps hide. But I don't think it's direc
Nikita's POVThe kingdom was cloaked in darkness, the stillness almost suffocating as I sat alone a few feet away from the pyre where my father's body had been reduced to ashes. This was my favourite time when most were asleep, and the watchful eyes of my people were closed in slumber. Their fear, their judgment—gone, if only temporarily.The moon hung low in the sky, its rays a comforting presence even in my solitude. I closed my eyes, letting the silvery beams wash over me, draping me in their ethereal light. For a moment, I could almost pretend that this cursed existence wasn’t my reality.A rustle from the forest jolted me from my reverie. My eyes snapped open, and I stood, every muscle taut with readiness. The shadows shifted, and a figure emerged, shrouded in a hood. My heart betrayed me for a second, foolishly hoping it was Rykor. But as the figure drew nearer and removed their hood, disappointment settled in."I'm sorry, Miss Nikita. I didn't mean to scare you," the rogue apol
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?”