RoseI’m pregnant.A smile tugs at my lips. I twist in front of the wall mirror, checking if I will notice a bump, even though I just found out today.I was so sure I would never experience being a mother because of how weak my wolf is. But miracles really do exist.During the Lycan and Werewolf war four years ago, I lost my father and got terribly injured. The pack healers confirmed my wolf was damaged—A knock sounds on my door, and I jolt, removing my hand from my stomach just as my personal maid enters. “Luna Rose!” Aneesa lowers her head. “Alpha Jacob is here.”Before she can even blink, I bunch up the skirt of my long gown and rush out of my room.So help me, goddess. Because I’m running in four-inch heels. But I can’t give a damn about falling face flat now. My pulse races. Fierce excitement burns through me, threatening to burst out. When I get to the ballroom, pack wolves are milling about the entrance part respectfully.I touch the shoulders of those I can while they surr
Rose“After all you’ve done, how am I supposed to understand you?” I shook my head.A few days ago, Rhiannon mentioned that the Alpha of the neighboring pack had brought home his fated mate. His Luna, despite the ache it must have caused, accepted it.I don’t know if I have that kind of strength. Perhaps we should wait until after the Ball to bring this up. But I need to know his heart and his intentions first.“Will you want to reject me because of this?”The crease on his forehead deepens. “How can you even ask me that, Rose? I will never reject you.”I hold onto the fact that he still loves me. He made a mistake because of the true mate bond, which is irresistible. I can forgive him. We can overcome this together.“Listen, Rose, you’re the best Luna this pack has ever had. Who am I to deny my wolves from receiving a blessing like you?” I let him hold my hands, lowering my head, because I don’t want him to see my smile. “This pack needs you. I need you.” He drops his voice to a crac
Rose“I think you should take a moment to cool off. When you're ready, we can continue the conversation.” He says it coldly before leaving.I’m flung on the floor of my bedroom by his guards.I cry out as my head crashes into my bedpost, tears falling furiously. “Jacob, please!” I wail, crawling forward on my knees to where he’s standing, watching me suffer. “Why… Why are you letting them treat me this way?”“Shh.” He places a finger over his mouth and crouches to run the back of his palm on my cheek. “You promised you would never hurt me,” I say, and he shakes his head, still holding my cheek.“Rose, I’m not abandoning you. My home is still your home. Every vow I made to you stands. I just need you to calm down. Okay?”I bob my head slowly, like he wants me to.And Jacob spares a half smile before leaving my room with the pack guards.The locks on my bedroom door fall in place with a loud clang, and my breath hitches in my throat. I bring my knees to my chest, on the floor against
RoseI’m shivering in a corner of the dungeon.It’s always dark; its ice-cold air reeking of damp earth and rot. The dungeon guard patrols once every day, and when I hear his footsteps now, I rush to the bars. “Please!” I shout, throat parched, because meals are scarce here. Sometimes, I have to drink up the puddles in the ground to survive. “Tell the Alpha I need to see him. I have something important to tell him!”Jacob needs to know that I’m pregnant before it’s too late. I’m worried our baby will get hurt here.“Get back!” The guard barks. “Listen to me! It’s a matter that will decide the fate of our—” I shriek, falling on clay when he hits the bars, his claws narrowly missing my eyes. Roaches crawl up my arm, and I just swipe them off, already used to their presence. I settle back in the corner, crying silently. Jacob won’t come, but once he hears I’m also carrying his child, he will leave Zaneta. I’m certain of it.I trace the cracks on the wall, my frail, dirt-stained fing
RoseThe Lycan’s chief warrior unlocks the chains binding our wrists immediately after we arrive at the north guard base. I look around me, noticing how strikingly tall and tatted most of them are. They may have removed our bonds, but the saying goes, you can never escape the Lycan King’s territory without a pass. And if you are seen wandering alone, you’ll be tried and killed. Twenty-five of us line up in five columns. I’m at the back of the line, where I hope to not draw any attention to myself. “From this day, your past is no more.” The chief warrior says with menace, burly, tattooed arms crossed over his chest as he paces. “Your life is now to serve—”My eyes snap to where the cry we all hear suddenly is. Everyone looks, but not them. A warrior is pounding mercilessly into his slave from behind in broad daylight.Lycans are wild. They hold tradition close to their hearts, even closer than werewolves. But this is just horrible.Belonging to a warrior is the worst slave rank p
RoseI glare at the Beta from where I am at the back of the line, fists clenched. Going deeper inside the Lycan King’s territory is far from my plan. Dread settles in the pit of my stomach. How do I escape this place now?They lead us through residential areas with homes and arenas used for the popular Luna games, but I’m not awed by anything because I know how fierce the competition amongst slaves is.Everyone wants to control and not be controlled.The air around me tightens, and my chest heaves. I just want to leave. “Show them the dressing room,” the Beta says once we arrive at the grand palace made of glass and gold. “I will choose the Lycan King’s slave on his behalf.”My heart skips a beat. I don’t know if that news should fill me with thrills. I’m certain the Beta saw me eavesdropping; that’s how I found myself on his radar. Now I have to do something about that. I can’t get stuck here. Rhi needs me.Flashes of how the Lycans came at her, even though she was innocent, mak
RoseI’m trapped. My plan to escape went south. I can no longer get to Rhi.A knock sounds on the door of the bedroom they gave me, and I jerk, goosebumps on my arms. My heart races in my chest. It could be him. The Lycan King chose me and kept me here. I’ve not seen him ever since, but I dread the day it will happen. I open the door a bit. “Yes?” I ask through the small space. Two female Omega slaves are standing out there. I’ve never seen them before, but everyone in this territory must know me by now. “Rose,” one of them says.I stop hiding behind the door, stepping outside. “Is anything the matter?”“King Darius wants to see you. He’s waiting outside.”My heart skips a beat. I gulp. The moment has come. I’m not exactly sure what a slave of the Lycan King is meant to do, but I won’t be used as anyone’s sex tool.I clench my fists and walk down the hall, feeling the weight of their stares on my back. More Omega slaves pass me on my way down, whispering amongst themselves about
Rose“Violet eyes are rare in the Lycan King’s territory.”The Beta’s slave won’t stop gaping at me. I was brought to her from the wall.I try to look anywhere else, but it’s impossible to ignore someone studying you like a lab project. “Yes, yes, how did you know? I have magic powers, and I can see the future,” I deadpan, hands raised in surrender, and she looks like she may have a stroke.“Are you serious?!”“No, actually.”She places a hand over her heart, feigning hurt as she gasps. “You know, I think we are going to be really good friends.”A smile plays on my lips, but I immediately avert my narrowed gaze to the room. There has to be a way out of here. Earlier, at the west wall, a warrior caught me, and I had been about to lose my head when Beta Kai saved me again.This time, I didn’t return to the palace.He brought me to the slave house, where other assigned slaves live. It’s sort of a demotion, but I’ll take this any day over death. “I’m Tessa.” She extends her hand, and I