Compromise...“Ashley,” Lucas said, his voice measured.“Lucas,” I responded, keeping my tone even. I walked forward and took the seat across from Simon, who had, till this moment, not had the decency to greet or acknowledge my presence except for the nod he had previously given. For a few moments, there was nothing but silence between us—an unspoken standoff of sorts.“I appreciate you coming,” Lucas began, his eyes searching mine for any sign of vulnerability. Simon, on the other hand, remained quiet, his piercing gaze unwavering. “I know this isn’t easy.”I crossed my arms, leaning back in my chair. “Let’s skip the pleasantries, Lucas. What do you two want? What’s so important that you had to call me out of nowhere after all this time?”He shifted slightly, clearly not expecting me to be so direct. He turned to face Simon, as if they had both rehearsed what was about to be said next, waiting for the moment to say it together. “We all know exactly why I reached out,” Simon began, an
Insanity...Now seated alone in my bedroom, lost in intrusive thoughts, I couldn’t help but reflect on everything that had transpired during my meeting with Simon and Lucas. After their not-so-friendly and indirect threat, my wolf was instantly on alert, dreading how much their influence might interfere with the life I had begun building for my sons.I had expected a reaction once I confirmed that Luke and Simeon were their sons. However, they both seemed so calm about it, as if my confirmation hadn’t changed anything about their pre-established ideas on the matter.Simon’s words still echoed in my mind, making me shudder:“...Then I’ll have to take other measures to ensure they get what they need.”They made it seem like being heirs to the throne was something Luke and Simeon needed, when in reality, they were perfectly content here with me and George. But as I stormed out of the hotel after the conversation with Lucas and Simon, my wolf said something that resonated deeply: although
Fire cracker 🔥🔥🔥“I thought you might be hungry,” he said, placing the tray on the table beside me. His gaze softened when he saw Luke, who was still sitting beside me, wide-eyed and confused. Lucas knelt down beside him, brushing a hand through his hair.“Hey, buddy,” he said gently. “Are you hungry?”Luke looked up at me, unsure, and I nodded slightly, letting him know it was okay. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded at Lucas, who smiled and handed him a small plate of fruit and bread.I watched the interaction, my heart sinking. Lucas and Simon weren’t monsters. As much as I hated to admit it, they weren’t wrong about everything. The boys *were* part of their world, whether I liked it or not. But that didn’t change the fact that I didn’t trust them to do what was best for my children. They were ruthless, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that they would use the boys as pawns in their political game.Lucas stood up and faced me, his expression more serious now. “We’re not askin
In the blood....Simon, who had been watching silently all along, said nothing. His expression remained stern, offering no comfort to her growing panic.I smirked, enjoying the sight of her unraveling before me. “Aww, it seems your husbands didn’t think you needed to know about this, did they? That’s just sad,” I teased, shaking my head in mock pity.Veronica’s face paled as she looked back at me. “Tell me what’s going on!” she demanded, her voice shaky but still filled with desperation.I took a step closer, leaning in as I spoke softly but clearly. “The so-called ‘unfortunate little things’ you referred to are Lucas and Simon’s children—*both* of them.”For a moment, Veronica looked as though she couldn’t breathe. She turned to Simon, who was still standing frozen by the door, his expression nonchalant.“Is this true?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper now, trembling with shock and betrayal.Simon still didn't say anything, but I was already growing very tired of the dr
Queen of infertility...### **Veronica's POV**Ever since the unfortunate return of Ashley to the mansion, I have not known peace, as the past keeps haunting me. I remember the first day I realized she was back. I was walking past her room when I heard the sound of giggles. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, since Simon and Lucas never allowed anyone to enter the room after she left. They only permitted two maids to clean it every two weeks. No one else was allowed inside. Hearing noise from there piqued my curiosity, as it made no sense that someone would be in the room.Seeing her again was terrifying, and I could feel my wolf threatening to leave me on the spot. However, this was not the end of the traumatic experience, as the worst possible outcome now stood before me: both her return and the presence of her children. They constantly avoided me at every opportunity.It’s been almost a week now, and Ashley is still in the house, which is beginning to wear on me. Honest
Agree to disagree...As I walked towards the courtroom, the grandeur of the space seemed to loom over me, making me feel smaller with every step. The high arches and the echo of my footsteps amplified the tension inside me. I kept wondering what could possibly be going on and why Lucas and Simon had decided to summon me there instead of their study or, at the very least, the living room. The choice of location was unsettling. By the time I finally reached the courtroom, I walked in with a façade of confidence, only for it to quickly dissolve as I was met with the piercing gazes of the elders, as well as both Lucas and Simon.Standing there, seeing each and every one of them present, I froze. My anxiety surged like a tidal wave, crashing over my once-confident exterior. How could I have forgotten the conversation I overheard between Lucas and Damien a while ago? I distinctly remembered Damien telling Lucas that the elders had requested a meeting. How could I forget something so crucial
Crazy options!!!I paced faster, my mind already racing with possibilities. “You’re right. If I can turn the packs against her, the elders might reconsider, or at least hesitate.”“That’s right. And as for Lucas and Simon… keep a close eye on them. They may seem indifferent, but if they truly loved you, they wouldn’t let this happen so easily. Don’t trust them blindly.”Her words were a painful reminder of my vulnerability. Lucas and Simon had been the center of my world for so long, but now it seemed like that world was crumbling. Could I really trust them? Or had they already made their decision to side with Ashley?“I understand,” I whispered, my voice hardening. “I’ll handle this.”“And Veronica,” my mother added, her tone softening slightly, “remember this: power is not given, it’s taken. You’ve fought too hard for your place to let it slip through your fingers now. Do what you must.”With that, the line went dead. I stood there for a moment, staring blankly at the phone in my ha
Alone....I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat and forced myself to speak, though my voice trembled. "If you go through with this... if you allow them to take everything from me, then I will never forgive you. Any of you."Elder Baron sighed, as though exhausted by my resistance. "We are not taking everything from you, Queen Veronica. You will still hold a place in the royal court, albeit one more suited to the circumstances.""I won't be sidelined!" I spat, rising from my chair. "You think you can just push me aside, that I’ll quietly fade into the background? No. I’ve fought too hard to be where I am. If you believe I’ll accept this without a fight, then you’ve grossly underestimated me."For a moment, a flicker of uncertainty passed through the room. Even the elders, so self-assured moments ago, hesitated. But it was Daniel, the elder who had confronted me earlier, who stepped forward."Queen Veronica," he said, his voice cold and calculating. "You speak of fighting, but