KAIUSBy the time we entered the gates of the Western Territory, my mind had run through every possible scenario. Battles won, kingdoms divided, blood spilled—all the ways this could have ended. But no matter how many times I replayed the past, there was one undeniable truth.I always won.It had always been that way. No matter how much my brother fought, no matter how hard he trained, I was always one step ahead. I wasn’t just stronger—I was determined. I had the will to win, the good reasons. And in the end, that made all the difference. I knew our mother would be devastated by what had become of us. Two brothers, two kings, now ruling separate lands.She had dreamed of us standing side by side, ruling together, bonded not only by blood but by trust. If she had been there—if she had seen the way Silas abandoned me, the way he let his own greed consume him—maybe she would have understood why I had no choice but to propose our separation. Maybe she would have seen that this was the o
KING KAIUSThat’s why I can’t let him steal her.Naia.My mate.I fought for this kingdom. I bled for it. I lost my brother, lost a part of myself in the process—but the one thing I won’t lose is her.She’s mine.Fate chose her for me. She was meant to be by my side, to fill the emptiness that’s been clawing at me since Silas and I parted ways. But now, he dares to take the only thing that could make me whole again?No.I won’t let that happen.Not this time.NAIAAfter I was all fed up, Silas kept me at the table. He said he wanted to talk to me."Why can't we go to that special place now?" I complained, shifting in my seat, my fingers drumming against the wood.His gaze darkened slightly, serious and unwavering. "It's important. I need you to tell me everything you know about the king who was at your pack."The sudden change in tone made my wolf, Kyra, stir inside me."It seems you need to get serious," she warned.I nodded mentally and met Silas’s eyes. "I don’t know anything about
SILAS"What do you want, you fuck?" I hiss into the phone, my grip tightening around it.Kaius.The name alone makes my blood boil.I had left Naia abruptly when I saw his call, and if this bastard thinks he can take what’s mine—if he thinks he has any right to be near my mate—he's dead wrong."You know what? I won’t even—" Kaius starts, but then he exhales, as if talking to me is a chore. "Anyway, come to the palace gates. Let’s talk."His voice sounds bored. Like I’m a damn child."How the fuck did those idiots even let you inside the pack?" I growl, my tone dripping with resentment as I storm out of the palace.Kaius chuckles, a low, amused sound. "It’s funny how things go your way when you have an aura powerful enough to demand respect. And, of course, I have Duncan. My mighty warrior."Duncan. That traitorI spot Kaius standing just beyond the gate, his posture too damn relaxed for my liking."Oh, I see you now, big brother," he muses, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Yo
SILAS"I wasn’t even surprised," Kaius says, his gaze locked on Naia. "Of course, we’d share the same beautiful mate." His lips curl into a smirk as he shifts his attention to me. "Now, big bro, open the gates. I need to touch my mate. I’m itching for it."The rage inside me boils over, my vision clouding red. What the fuck does he think he is?"You’re not touching her, you bastard," I hiss, my whole body shaking with fury. My fingers twitch with the urge to throw punches, to make him regret ever speaking.Naia stirs in my arms, pushing lightly against my hold. "Silas," she says softly, spinning to face me when I finally let her go. "I want to touch my mate too."She turns, flashing a playful grin. "I mean, I have two hot, powerful, rich men as my mates. Imagine all the fun." Her eyes sparkle mischievously as she looks at Carl, giving him a pleading stare.My jaw tightens. "Naia, how could you want that thing as your mate?" I ask, keeping my voice low, controlled—though laced with ve
NAIANAIA"Rejects us?" Kaius asks, his voice sharp with disbelief."Well, I didn't run away to be caught in a somewhat complicated situation," I say with a teasing smile, though the words taste bittersweet. I ran away because...I pause.I haven’t really thought about where I would go or what I would do. Maybe I’d go live with humans, blend in, pretend to be one of them. Maybe they were kinder. Maybe they didn't have bonds that chained people together, forcing emotions before love could even take root."But you can’t leave us," Silas murmurs, his voice low and firm as he steps closer, sandwiching me between them. "The mate bond is much stronger than that."I smirk, tilting my head up at him. "It’s just a bond, Silas. And bonds can be broken. And to be for real, it’s just a connection, not love or—"Before I can finish, Kaius moves behind me, his arms sliding around my waist. A shiver runs through me as his warmth seeps into my skin, his touch sending tingles up my spine. His lips gho
NAIASilas tilts his head, his smirk deepening. "Oh, love, we are walking. Just… in our own way."Kaius chuckles against my ear, his grip firm but teasing. "What’s wrong, little wolf? You seemed so confident a moment ago."I squirm, my pulse racing. This is unfair."You’re flustered," Silas states, sounding way too satisfied.I scoff, finally twisting free and taking several steps away, pressing a hand to my burning face. "You two are insufferable."Kaius grins. "And yet, you like us."I huff, crossing my arms. "I like cupcakes." I nod toward the maid still passing by. "Not whatever this is."Silas steps closer, his golden eyes gleaming. "You love us," he corrects.I roll my eyes. "I tolerate you."Kaius smirks, shaking his head. "We’ll see how long that lasts."I open my mouth to argue, but Silas suddenly takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. Kaius does the same on my other side, and just like that, we continue walking—like nothing happened.Except now, I’m hyper-aware of them.
NAIAI forgot.I forgot what I was going to say.They told me not to worry about their relationship, said they’d fix it for my sake. That I didn’t need to be caught in the middle of their unresolved grudges.But the silence between us feels thick. Unmovable.We sit in the green fields, gazing at the castle in the distance. The air is warm, the scent of earth and grass fresh after the morning dew. I sit in the middle—Kaius on my right, Silas on my left. Behind us, the thick, endless stretch of the forest looms. Birds flutter somewhere in the canopy, unseen but heard.Yet none of us speak. I don’t even know what to talk about.Then a crazy thought hits me. Something stupid. Something reckless."Can you shift?" I turn to Kaius, my lips quirking into a playful smirk.He frowns slightly. "Why?""I met Silas while he was in his Lycan form." My eyes flicker to Silas for a moment before shifting back to Kaius. "Are you also a Lycan?"He scoffs, like the question itself is ridiculous. "Of cour
NAIAThen he shifts back—his human form replacing the beast as he leans down, capturing my lips with his.I freeze.His mouth moves over mine, slow and deliberate, releasing soft, desperate sounds between our kiss. He grips my thigh, his fingers digging into my skin. His tongue brushes against my lips, demanding entry—But before I can even process what’s happening—Silas kicks him off me.Only this time, I go rolling with him.When we stop, I find myself on top of Kaius.His hands rest on my hips, his eyes locked onto me—but not my eyes. Lower.I glance down, and my face erupts in heat.He’s staring at my bare chest.Shamelessly.Oh my Gosh.I swallow, turning my head toward Silas, who now walks toward me, his Lycan form long gone. But his gaze—his dark, smoldering gaze—is no better than Kaius’s.His lips curl, a smirk tugging at the edges."You don’t talk much when you’re being exposed, do you?"Kaius chuckles low, his voice thick with amusement as his hands slide up my sides, rough
NAIAThen he shifts back—his human form replacing the beast as he leans down, capturing my lips with his.I freeze.His mouth moves over mine, slow and deliberate, releasing soft, desperate sounds between our kiss. He grips my thigh, his fingers digging into my skin. His tongue brushes against my lips, demanding entry—But before I can even process what’s happening—Silas kicks him off me.Only this time, I go rolling with him.When we stop, I find myself on top of Kaius.His hands rest on my hips, his eyes locked onto me—but not my eyes. Lower.I glance down, and my face erupts in heat.He’s staring at my bare chest.Shamelessly.Oh my Gosh.I swallow, turning my head toward Silas, who now walks toward me, his Lycan form long gone. But his gaze—his dark, smoldering gaze—is no better than Kaius’s.His lips curl, a smirk tugging at the edges."You don’t talk much when you’re being exposed, do you?"Kaius chuckles low, his voice thick with amusement as his hands slide up my sides, rough
NAIAI forgot.I forgot what I was going to say.They told me not to worry about their relationship, said they’d fix it for my sake. That I didn’t need to be caught in the middle of their unresolved grudges.But the silence between us feels thick. Unmovable.We sit in the green fields, gazing at the castle in the distance. The air is warm, the scent of earth and grass fresh after the morning dew. I sit in the middle—Kaius on my right, Silas on my left. Behind us, the thick, endless stretch of the forest looms. Birds flutter somewhere in the canopy, unseen but heard.Yet none of us speak. I don’t even know what to talk about.Then a crazy thought hits me. Something stupid. Something reckless."Can you shift?" I turn to Kaius, my lips quirking into a playful smirk.He frowns slightly. "Why?""I met Silas while he was in his Lycan form." My eyes flicker to Silas for a moment before shifting back to Kaius. "Are you also a Lycan?"He scoffs, like the question itself is ridiculous. "Of cour
NAIASilas tilts his head, his smirk deepening. "Oh, love, we are walking. Just… in our own way."Kaius chuckles against my ear, his grip firm but teasing. "What’s wrong, little wolf? You seemed so confident a moment ago."I squirm, my pulse racing. This is unfair."You’re flustered," Silas states, sounding way too satisfied.I scoff, finally twisting free and taking several steps away, pressing a hand to my burning face. "You two are insufferable."Kaius grins. "And yet, you like us."I huff, crossing my arms. "I like cupcakes." I nod toward the maid still passing by. "Not whatever this is."Silas steps closer, his golden eyes gleaming. "You love us," he corrects.I roll my eyes. "I tolerate you."Kaius smirks, shaking his head. "We’ll see how long that lasts."I open my mouth to argue, but Silas suddenly takes my hand, lacing our fingers together. Kaius does the same on my other side, and just like that, we continue walking—like nothing happened.Except now, I’m hyper-aware of them.
NAIANAIA"Rejects us?" Kaius asks, his voice sharp with disbelief."Well, I didn't run away to be caught in a somewhat complicated situation," I say with a teasing smile, though the words taste bittersweet. I ran away because...I pause.I haven’t really thought about where I would go or what I would do. Maybe I’d go live with humans, blend in, pretend to be one of them. Maybe they were kinder. Maybe they didn't have bonds that chained people together, forcing emotions before love could even take root."But you can’t leave us," Silas murmurs, his voice low and firm as he steps closer, sandwiching me between them. "The mate bond is much stronger than that."I smirk, tilting my head up at him. "It’s just a bond, Silas. And bonds can be broken. And to be for real, it’s just a connection, not love or—"Before I can finish, Kaius moves behind me, his arms sliding around my waist. A shiver runs through me as his warmth seeps into my skin, his touch sending tingles up my spine. His lips gho
SILAS"I wasn’t even surprised," Kaius says, his gaze locked on Naia. "Of course, we’d share the same beautiful mate." His lips curl into a smirk as he shifts his attention to me. "Now, big bro, open the gates. I need to touch my mate. I’m itching for it."The rage inside me boils over, my vision clouding red. What the fuck does he think he is?"You’re not touching her, you bastard," I hiss, my whole body shaking with fury. My fingers twitch with the urge to throw punches, to make him regret ever speaking.Naia stirs in my arms, pushing lightly against my hold. "Silas," she says softly, spinning to face me when I finally let her go. "I want to touch my mate too."She turns, flashing a playful grin. "I mean, I have two hot, powerful, rich men as my mates. Imagine all the fun." Her eyes sparkle mischievously as she looks at Carl, giving him a pleading stare.My jaw tightens. "Naia, how could you want that thing as your mate?" I ask, keeping my voice low, controlled—though laced with ve
SILAS"What do you want, you fuck?" I hiss into the phone, my grip tightening around it.Kaius.The name alone makes my blood boil.I had left Naia abruptly when I saw his call, and if this bastard thinks he can take what’s mine—if he thinks he has any right to be near my mate—he's dead wrong."You know what? I won’t even—" Kaius starts, but then he exhales, as if talking to me is a chore. "Anyway, come to the palace gates. Let’s talk."His voice sounds bored. Like I’m a damn child."How the fuck did those idiots even let you inside the pack?" I growl, my tone dripping with resentment as I storm out of the palace.Kaius chuckles, a low, amused sound. "It’s funny how things go your way when you have an aura powerful enough to demand respect. And, of course, I have Duncan. My mighty warrior."Duncan. That traitorI spot Kaius standing just beyond the gate, his posture too damn relaxed for my liking."Oh, I see you now, big brother," he muses, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Yo
KING KAIUSThat’s why I can’t let him steal her.Naia.My mate.I fought for this kingdom. I bled for it. I lost my brother, lost a part of myself in the process—but the one thing I won’t lose is her.She’s mine.Fate chose her for me. She was meant to be by my side, to fill the emptiness that’s been clawing at me since Silas and I parted ways. But now, he dares to take the only thing that could make me whole again?No.I won’t let that happen.Not this time.NAIAAfter I was all fed up, Silas kept me at the table. He said he wanted to talk to me."Why can't we go to that special place now?" I complained, shifting in my seat, my fingers drumming against the wood.His gaze darkened slightly, serious and unwavering. "It's important. I need you to tell me everything you know about the king who was at your pack."The sudden change in tone made my wolf, Kyra, stir inside me."It seems you need to get serious," she warned.I nodded mentally and met Silas’s eyes. "I don’t know anything about
KAIUSBy the time we entered the gates of the Western Territory, my mind had run through every possible scenario. Battles won, kingdoms divided, blood spilled—all the ways this could have ended. But no matter how many times I replayed the past, there was one undeniable truth.I always won.It had always been that way. No matter how much my brother fought, no matter how hard he trained, I was always one step ahead. I wasn’t just stronger—I was determined. I had the will to win, the good reasons. And in the end, that made all the difference. I knew our mother would be devastated by what had become of us. Two brothers, two kings, now ruling separate lands.She had dreamed of us standing side by side, ruling together, bonded not only by blood but by trust. If she had been there—if she had seen the way Silas abandoned me, the way he let his own greed consume him—maybe she would have understood why I had no choice but to propose our separation. Maybe she would have seen that this was the o
KING KAIUSKING KAIUSI watch as my mate disappears through the open gate, slipping into the night with reckless determination. A smirk tugs at my lips—she’s fast. Smart, too. But she doesn’t know what’s waiting beyond these walls.The amusement fades, leaving only the sharp edge of unease. The world outside isn’t safe, not for someone like her.I step forward slowly, my gaze sweeping over the warriors standing frozen in place. None of them moved to stop her. None of them even tried.Cowards.Not that I expected better. The Eclipse Hollow Pack is full of them, and their Alpha? He’s worse. A man who would sell his own sister for power."Pathetic," Kael, my wolf, growls. "How does someone like that even lead?"I don’t answer. I just wait by the gate, expecting Duncan—at the very least—to drag her back. He knows better than to come back empty-handed."My King!"I turn my head slightly, finding Lorein standing a few feet away. Luke’s mate.She hesitates before speaking. "I thought you mig