Hades POV"Bring in the traitor," I commanded coldly, leaning back against the chair.All eyes turned toward the door as two guards dragged the traitor into the hall. Gasps of shock rippled through the once-quiet room as everyone stared in horror at the sight before them.I tapped my fingers rhythmically on the armrest, my gaze shifting to the figure now sprawled before me. I tilted my head, studying his battered state. One ear had been ripped apart, deep slashes crisscrossed his body, one eye was swollen shut, and a gruesome mark from a branding iron marred his chest. His shallow, labored breaths were the only sign he was still alive.I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of admiration for Draven’s brutality—it was thorough, almost artful though he wasn't as brutal as Cyrus but that was why I had ordered him to do it this time around.I needed the bastard alive for this moment.I had ordered Draven to interrogate two people: the royal chef and the guard who handed Felix the keys while
Cyrus POV "Let her go, or I will tear you apart," I growled, my voice echoing menacingly through the hall. Rage consumed me, and all I could see was red—blood and his severed head in my hands. I will kill him for laying his filthy hands on her. "King Cyrus..." I heard Draven mutter, but I didn’t tear my gaze away from her. My eyes stayed locked on the rat as his widened in fear. His hand trembled as he pressed the knife closer to her throat, drawing blood that trickled down her neck. She was scared. I could see it in her eyes, no matter how calm her expression appeared, and that only fueled the surge of killing intent within me. "Don't kill him... not yet," Hades' voice echoed in my mind, forcing me to narrow my eyes. My muscles tensed as I wrestled for control, using every ounce of my strength to rein myself in. It was a battle, but I refused to lose. Not now. “I will kill him, Hades,” I said, standing my ground as a slow smirk spread across my lips. Tilting my head, I continued
Davina’s POV I managed to open my eyes and groaned as I sat up, trying to recall what had happened yesterday. When the memories came rushing back, I frowned. I had been held hostage yesterday. So much had happened—it began with Draven announcing someone’s execution, followed by the agonizing gasps of the condemned, which left me trembling. Before I knew it, I was taken hostage, a knife pressed to my neck. Of course. Another thing I remembered was Hades threatening the man to let me go, and then— I held my head and groaned. Everything was so fuzzy. I raised my hand to my neck, fighting the urge to curse my luck. I would have died if it hadn’t been for Draven. I couldn’t recall the last thing that happened, but I remembered that just before the knife could pierce me, Draven had saved me. His voice whispered that everything was okay, and then I passed out. I stretched out my hands, feeling around me. I was in my room. Did that mean everything had turned out okay yesterday? Eva. Her
Evangeline's POV“Daddy, please. Can I just come with you? I promise I won’t do anything, I would just be a good girl,” I pleaded, my lips forming a perfect pout as I stared at him. But, as usual, he didn’t even look up from the papers on his desk.“Daddy, I’m talking to you! Please, I really want to meet the king today. Can I go with you to the palace?” This time, I clung to his arm, swinging it side to side with a sheepish smile, hoping to break his resolve. Yet again, I was ignored. Like I was invisible!I hated being ignored. What I despised even more was not getting what I wanted.“I’m talking to you! Stop acting like you can’t hear me!” I shrieked, my frustration boiling over as I grabbed the files from his desk and flung them to the floor. Papers scattered in every direction, but I wasn’t done. “Listen to me when I’m talking! I already said I was sorry for last time!”I reached for more things to throw—pens, folders, anything within reach. When there was nothing left, I turned
Davina’s POV“Come in,” I heard Hades' cold voice from behind the door, and my heart involuntarily skipped a beat. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped inside.“Your Majesty, I’m here to bring your shirt,” I murmured under my breath, my voice barely audible. I felt his sharp gaze flicker toward me, but then he turned away, acting as though I wasn’t there. Keeping my head lowered, I walked to the bed, my hand stretching forward as I carefully set the freshly ironed shirt down from the tray I was holding.I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me in my tracks. Quickly, I turned around and bowed, though his next words made my eyebrows arch in surprise.“Come here and help me change.”I gasped at the unexpected request. Helping him change wouldn’t have been unusual—I was a servant, after all, and assisting the king with his needs was part of my duties. But what startled me was that Hades had ignored me for the past three days since the attack. Whenever I came to his chamb
Davina’s POV A scream tried to escape my lips, but all I could manage was a sharp gasp. I shut my eyes and braced myself for the inevitable fall, but before I could hit the ground, a firm hand seized my arm, halting me mid-descent. “Oh goddess, you have to be careful,” an unfamiliar female voice said lightly behind me. “It could be really dangerous if you fell, you could break a bone or two, or worse, you could die.” It wasn’t a mistake. That was the first thought that came to my mind. It couldn’t be—because it was a deliberate shove from behind. “Are you okay? You were just about to fall,” the person asked with a sigh, pulling me to safety. I would have believed it was a sincere question if it weren’t for the slight excitement and mockery dripping from her voice. I clenched my fist by my side and took a deep breath to calm myself. I didn’t want to react, not like I did with Stella and Marie. I couldn’t afford anyone finding out about my identity, so I had to be careful. “Thank
Draven’s POV 10 years ago. “Is she here?” The prince whispered, his eyes darting around like a squirrel on caffeine. He jabbed me in the side with his elbow, nearly knocking the wind out of me. “Well? Is she here?”I groaned, clutching my ribs. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know. Last time I checked, my job description didn’t include bait for little demons.” I whispered and his highness turned to me, his eyes narrowing like he was plotting something. “Go check, Draven.” “Nope. Not happening.” I shook my head so hard it was a miracle my neck didn’t snap. “I can’t do it, Your Highness. Please I like being alive.”He jabbed me again and smirked with an eyeroll. “You’re exaggerating. Just go look!” “I’m not exaggerating. Last time, she threw a rock at me because I didn't want to tell her where you were hiding, A rock, your highness! And then she laughed like a tiny, maniacal goblin. I’m still traumatized.” He rolled his eyes yet again but didn’t get up. He peeked from behind the
Draven’s POVPresent day.“Oh dear, you haven’t changed one bit, Evangeline. You’re still the spoiled brat you always were.” I remarked, stepping out of the shadows and into the scene where the drama was unfolding."Beta Draven," everyone murmured in greeting as I approached. My eyes flicked to Davina for a moment, and I couldn’t help but scoff slightly. This girl was a magnet for trouble—every time I saw her, she was either being assaulted, bullied, or caught up in some kind of chaos.And every time, I knew she was only pretending to be weak, as if she couldn’t fight or defend herself. The reason? I didn’t know, and that was exactly what intrigued me. I wanted to uncover the truth, and I was determined to find out."Beta Draven!" Evangeline’s voice snapped my attention away from Davina. I frowned as my gaze landed on her, instantly assaulted by the blindingly bright pink she was wearing—or barely wearing, to be more precise. The color was so loud it could probably be seen from space.
Hades pov. “Moon Goddess.” The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them, and I froze, my eyes locked onto the woman before me. She was exactly as I remembered— unchanged, untouched by time. The same presence that had left everyone speechless that day, the same piercing eyes that seemed to strip away all privacy, as if she could read every thought in my mind. And that same knowing smile, the one she wore when she named me king instead of Thorne. It was all there. “Hades, my child… my favorite child.” Her smile widened as she gazed at me, an unsettling warmth in her eyes. My expression remained unreadable as I bowed my head in respect. There was only one being in this world that a king could bow to— only one deity worthy of such reverence. Not a mere person, but the Moon Goddess herself. The mother of all werewolves. “Greetings to the goddess,” I said, my voice cold. Almost immediately, I heard a light, amused chuckle. She lowered herself gracefully and sat onto the f
Hades pov.“Alpha Watson will be here shortly, my king. He apologizes for the delay, he wasn’t aware you would be arriving,” the man before me bowed his head respectfully. I waved him off nonchalantly, too preoccupied with the words that girl had said earlier in the car."With his hands, my king."I frowned, my fingers instinctively drumming against the chair— an unconscious habit whenever I needed to think.A kid had broken a wall that had remained unbroken for years? I didn’t need to think too deeply to know this was the same child Thorne was using to kill my Alphas. This wasn’t the first time I had heard whispers about him from survivors."He was merciless. He killed without blinking, he tore through people like they were nothing to him. But… he saved me. I don’t know why. He killed everyone but spared me.""He didn’t touch me. He told me to run and never look back. He spared most of the children, like me.""He was cruel, a monster. I can still remember how he tore the Alpha’s head
Hades pov.Despite keeping my eyes shut, I could still sense her gaze on me— stealing glances before quickly looking away in fear.The rhythmic drumming of my fingers against the seat came to an abrupt stop as my frown deepened. I opened my eyes, staring into the distance before shifting my gaze to the slave I had bought at the auction house.Earlier, when I stepped into the car, I was surprised to find the little slave crouched to the side, trembling. That was when I remembered her. I had told her to leave, to return to her pack, making it clear that I had no intention of taking her with me. But instead of leaving, she had fallen to her knees, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded— insisting that she had offended me. The desperation in her voice had genuinely taken me by surprise.“Go home to your family, you’ve been released,” I had told her back then, but her response was,“No, my king. I have no family to return to, and if I leave, I’ll only be captured again and forced int
Draven pov.“Your dinner is ready! Look, I made your favorite meal, Draven. Remember how much you used to love it when I cooked for you?”My mate— no, the woman before me spoke with a bright smile, placing the freshly cooked porridge on the table, her eyes filled with eagerness for me to try it.I stared at the porridge for a moment, my gaze cold, a tired frown tugging at my lips. With a slow shake of my head, I pushed the bowl away, my eyes flickering back to her.“You’re not real,” I repeated, for what felt like the hundredth time. “You are not my mate. You are not here. And this… this isn’t real.”Her smile faltered for a split second before she quickly masked it, forcing a cheerful expression back onto her face."Draven, please…" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, almost sounding rehearsed as she pushed the bowl back toward me. "Just try it. I made it just for you."I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening on my lap as I stared at her— at the woman who wore my mate's face,
Davina pov.I gasped, my eyes snapping open as I stared up at the stark white ceiling, my heart pounding wildly against my chest, sweat trickling down my face.The room was eerily silent, except for the steady ticking of the clock. Yet, with each passing second, the sound grew louder, almost deafening, as if it were counting down to something— something unknown, something inevitable."Where am I?" I murmured to myself, blinking as I tried to recall what had happened. But it felt like something was blocking the memory—so close yet just out of reach.Clank!The sound of something shattering on the ground snapped my head in that direction, and I froze when I saw my mother's stunned expression, her eyes widening as she stared at me."Mother…" I murmured under my breath, my voice hoarse.In the blink of an eye, she ran toward me, pulling me into a tight embrace."Oh my goddess, Davina! Davina, you’re awake! You've been unconscious for a week now, and everyone was worried. I’m so glad you’r
Davina pov. My father always used to say that when you are close to death, your life flashes before your eyes in the form of a dream—like watching a movie. But this one shows everything: your past, your present, and the illusion of the future you long for. The future you would do everything to have. Maybe that explained why I was here—why they were all here. “Haha! You should have seen her face when she thought she could land a strike on me, only to end up flat on the ground.” I turned to my right, watching as my father laughed, clapping his hands in amusement, his eyes glistening with mischief. “Really, Dalton? Do you have to make fun of your daughter after knocking her down?” My mother shook her head in disapproval, shooting him a glare. “Hey, ‘knocking her down’ is a strong phrase. I was merely… training her, dear.” My father smirked before turning his gaze back to me. “Davina needs to learn how to fight and control her powers. She’s twenty-four—she needs to step up her game
Hades pov."I—I don't know where Thorne is, Your Majesty. Please believe me," he pleaded, his voice trembling with emotion.“Do you expect me to believe that?” I asked, my tone bored and empty as I released the bastard, letting him collapse to the ground with a soft thud. Without sparing him another glance, I walked to my seat, reached for the glass of wine, and took a slow sip. Resting my head on my hand, I narrowed my gaze at him.“Do you expect me to believe that you have no idea where you supply the women? Don’t take me for a fool, Valen. Or perhaps… you fear Thorne too much to speak the truth, hm?” I drawled, lazily twirling the wine in my glass, a cold smirk curving my lips.“N-no, Your Majesty. That is not true—”“Or let me guess,” I cut him off, my voice turning sharp. “You’re one of those fools who worship Thorne. Who believe he is your true king, your savior, your rightful ruler. Is that it? Do you think the Moon Goddess made a mistake choosing me? That I stole my brother’s
Hades pov. “It is an honor to have an audience with the Majesty.” Valen bowed as he stepped into the private room, his head dipped low in respect. I frowned the moment I saw him, irritation bubbling within me. Why was I angry? Perhaps it was because of this auction house. The auctioning business had existed for generations—packs trading slaves to the highest bidder to strengthen their resources. But not just anyone could own an auction house. There were crucial rules to follow. First, one had to obtain permission from the king. Second, and most importantly, the slaves had to be acquired legally—no kidnappings, no forced captures. Valen had obtained permission for the auction house from my father, the late king, while he was still alive. Since taking the throne, I hadn’t granted anyone new permissions—I had been too preoccupied with searching for Thorne, with no time for matters that weren’t urgent. But now, as I sat here, I realized I may have overlooked something
Hades pov.“We have item twenty, a eighteen–year-old she-wolf, molded to be the ideal companion. Trained to obey without question, shaped to submit without hesitation—flawless, disciplined, and utterly shattered. What more could a man possibly desire? let's start the bidding at thirty silver!”."Forty silver!""Sixty silver!"I watched as the girl stood on stage, her eyes downcast, her frail body trembling as she was auctioned off like a piece of meat in the marketplace.Men eagerly raised their signs, their hungry gazes already stripping the girl of her clothes. Women whispered among themselves, their voices laced with jealousy and disdain.My eyes narrowed on the man standing on the stage, his expression brightening with greed as the bids climbed higher.Valen— that was the name Felix had mentioned.The owner of the Veil Auction House. The man who possessed Lunaria’s Grace, a healing elixir strong enough to save Draven.It had been two days since I left the palace in search of the