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|Ethan POV“My lord, it is done. The distribution was a success,” Liam said, kneeling as he emerged from the shadows. He extended his hand, presenting the golden envelope sealed with a dragon emblem.“You're certain there were no mistakes this time?” I asked, my gaze narrowing into a glare as I took the envelope from him. The last time, there had been issues—a mistake that had nearly cost me my life.“Yes, my lord. The wolfsbane was distributed without incident, and all traces have been erased, including the rogues.” He replied, and I gave a small nod of approval.“Good, send the payment over to him,” I said, my tone cold as I opened the envelope. My eyes scanned the contents, and as I read further, my gaze darkened, narrowing in distaste.Dear Ethan,Ah, my favorite thorn in my side. It’s your beloved King Thorne here — in case you somehow forgot who I am. Do you miss me yet? Because I certainly miss you... like a lonely lover waiting by the door for you to grace me with your magnif
Thorne POV“Do I have to go? Do I really have to go? Can't I just make some excuse that I'm sick or something?” Hades whined, swinging my arm like a child. If you really thought about it, that’s exactly what he was—a fifteen-year-old brat with all the time in the world to be spoiled, childish, and downright ridiculous.I smiled, my eyes curving upward as I patted his head. “You need to go, Hades. It’s the werewolf gala, where all the packs will be attending, and your duty as the youngest son of the king is to be present.”Yet, this spoiled, childish, and stupid kid was stronger than me. Far stronger. This kid, who used to run away from training with the king, was more powerful than I ever was.“Pfft, we have a ton of events like this every day! All the packs are always there. Why does Dad have to go through all this trouble? I’m sure half of them don’t even want to be there!” He huffed, flinging his arms in the air dramatically, clearly fed up.“Well, it is necessary,” I replied, kee
Disclaimer: Intense sex scene.Thorne POVI ran my hand through the hair of the young girl in front of me, my fingers tangling in her soft strands as I gazed down at her. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, her small frame trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. She looked up at me, her lips quivering as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the courage.The corner of my lips curled into a wicked smirk as I leaned back, my gaze locked on her. She was the newest addition—a fresh, trembling piece of prey plucked from one of the captured packs. I had been too busy to indulge in my daily sessions, but tonight, my frustration demanded an outlet. And she—helpless, wide-eyed, and at my mercy—was the perfect target. "How old are you, girl?" I asked, my voice a low purr as my fingers brushed against her face, tracing her features like I was carving them into memory. She shivered under my touch, her eyes fluttering closed as a deep, shaky breath escaped her. My fingers paused at
Davina pov “No way! No way am I doing this!” I shook my head so hard, I was surprised it didn’t snap off with the amount of force I used. “You’re being dramatic, Davi. Just do it and stop acting like a coward,” Rylie chimed in, and I could practically feel the smug, mischievous grin stretching across his face. Eva clicked her tongue and I knew that she was shooting him a glare. “Stop talking to her like that! Don’t forget she’s now the king’s guest and—” “Yeah, yeah,” Rylie interrupted, “She’s the king’s guest, and I should be respectful. Blah, blah, blah. Can we drop the royal etiquette lesson and focus on what’s important here? Like convincing this drama queen to grow a spine.” Eva groaned. “You’re impossible.” “And you’re welcome.” Rylie gave her a mock bow, earning himself a swat on the back of the head. "Will you two stop arguing and listen to me for once?" I snapped, throwing my hands in the air. To my surprise, they actually stopped mid-bicker and turned their gazes to
Draven pov“Make sure everything is in order before the hunting game,” I instructed Felix, my eyes scanning the preparations being made around us. “Recheck the areas surrounding the boundaries, and ensure that all the guards are posted in their correct positions.” I glanced over at him, my tone unwavering. “And cross-check everyone's identity before they're allowed into the palace. The king's safety is important.”As we walked, my gaze locked onto the patrolling guards, making sure they were alert and doing their jobs. The air was tense since every detail mattered.I should pay attention because every detail mattered—it really did. But as I walked and examined things, my head was clouded with thoughts of her, distracting me from everything.Davina. I was thinking about the girl who belonged to the king. Damn it.These past few days, I had been trying to keep my focus, but it was becoming impossible. Every time I thought I had a handle on the situation, she slipped into my mind again.
Evangeline povSounds of grunts and heavy breathing filled the room. The air was thick with tension and something else—something far darker.Frustration.“Pull it tighter! I want my boobs to defy gravity, my stomach to disappear into another dimension, and my butt to look like it belongs in a museum!” I yelled, clutching the desk in front of me like my life depended on it as the exasperated attendants fumbled and yanked at the corset-like clasps on my dress.“Ugh! Ugh!" “Pull harder, harder, you useless lot! I need to look like the future queen! All eyes on me—do you hear? Unless you want your worthless heads rolling off your necks, PULL!” I tried to yell, but the words only came out as a breathless whisper. My bottom lip wobbled as I bit down on it, bracing myself and enduring the torture.Behind me, there were faint grunts and muttered complaints of “She’s going to split in half” and “Is she breathing?” but I didn’t care. Beauty required sacrifice, and apparently, so did my dignit
Hades povI closed the file and tossed it onto the table, rubbing the bridge of my nose in frustration.Leaning back in my seat, I shut my eyes in an attempt to relax, my fingers drumming rhythmically against the desk. The silence stretched endlessly, much like the pile of work that never seemed to stop growing.And the reason for this endless workload? The hunting game set to begin tomorrow. A competition where all the packs would showcase their strengths, tactics, and skills. It would stretch on for an entire week—seven days of utter stress, interruptions, and unwanted company.The three things I despised most.“Pfft, we have events like this every year! All the packs always show up. Why does Dad insist on going through all this trouble? I’m sure half of them don’t even want to be there!”The memory of those careless words I once said to him flashed through my mind, and my eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare. The air in the study thickened instantly, suffocating and heavy, as I un
Davina pov“Wake up, sleepyhead!” I groaned as Eva yanked the blanket off me, I could practically hear the happiness dripping from her voice as she shook me awake but all I wanted to do was bury myself back under the covers and drown out her annoyingly high-pitched voice, but her next words jolted me awake faster than a bucket of cold water.“Today is the hunting day, dearest madam, and guests from all the packs are already arriving!”The second those words left her mouth, I shot up so fast I nearly fell out of bed but Eva, ever the lifesaver, caught me before I hit the floor.Today is the hunting game! And I overslept.Panic surged through me as I whipped my head toward the spot where Hades had been sleeping last night, but the bed was empty. Of course, he’d gotten up early and left. This wasn’t the first time he’d come to my room, and it wasn’t the first time I’d overslept because of him.It was his scent—it lingered in my room and wrapped around me like a cocoon, chasing away the
Evangelina pov.“How could this be!?” I screamed at Liam, who immediately dropped to his knees, bowing his head in submission. His face remained expressionless, his silence only fueling my rage. But I wasn’t going to calm down—not this time.This time, I had messed up—really bad.“I told you to hire someone to scare her a little, to create a scandal so they’d be seen together in the changing room—not for someone to assault her like that!”“Please forgive me, madam,” Liam apologized again.My eyes narrowed into a glare, and I fought the urge to pick up something and throw it straight at him.Ugh! This is bad.So bad that, for the first time, I felt fear creeping into my chest.Earlier at the boutique, I had come up with a simple plan—to ruin that blind girl’s reputation by hiring a thug to sneak in, making it seem like she had been caught cheating on the king again. That was it.He wasn’t supposed to hurt her. He wasn’t even supposed to touch her.I shivered as the image of her unconsc
Kian pov.I felt restless. Uneasy. And—damn it—I felt scared.Fuck! What the hell was wrong with me? No, it had to be Caleb. That dumb wolf had to be the reason I was feeling this way.“Kian! How dare you agree to this? How dare you, after I warned you not to harm her?!” Caleb’s furious growl echoed in my head, and I felt him fight for control. This time, he was serious—dead set on taking over. His force was relentless, making it harder for me to resist.I kept my expression blank as Evangelina, Ethan’s daughter, spoke, clearly trying to divert Theo’s and my attention.“I love the new collection this season. It’s so pretty! I’m going to buy a lot of clothes from you this time, Theo.”Theo, a man with long black hair, simply offered a polite bow.“I’d be honored to have you do that, Lady Evangelina,” he said, the corner of his lips tilting into a smile.Almost instantly, Evangelina’s two friends blushed at the sight of the strikingly handsome man.I frowned, my hands clenching at my si
Davina pov. Disclaimer: Attempted mention of assault. "Scream, and you die." My body went deadly still, my heart pounding so hard against my chest that I could hear it. The stranger’s hand covered my mouth—my nose. I could barely breathe, but what terrified me even more was something else entirely. Eva had been outside when the stranger entered. Which meant the thud I had heard earlier… Had been her body hitting the ground. Eva… Was she okay? “Fuck… you’re really something. Your body is to die for,” the stranger murmured, and my eyes widened as I felt his hand on me. That’s when I realized—I was naked, only in my underwear. Shit. Shit. This was bad. Really bad. I groaned as his filthy hands roamed over me, touching everywhere—my waist, my butt. He was practically seizing me, taking his time. “Mmm—” I struggled, trying to move, but it was useless. He was twice my size, his grip unyielding, his strength undeniable. I knew, just from the way he had lifted me into the air earl
Davina pov.“Oh my goddess! That dress looks so beautiful on you. You should definitely buy it, Evangelina. It makes your eyes pop.”One of Evangelina’s friends, Camille, squealed in delight as the sound of fabric slipping on and off their bodies reached my ears.“Anything looks good on Evangelina, but yes, that dress really suits you, babe. You should definitely get it.” The other one, Esther commented.“Oh really? Thank you, girls. You’re too nice, haha,” Evangelina said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.I sighed, resting my head on my hand as I sat uncomfortably on the couch, forced to listen to their mindless chatter.Eva stood not far from me, and I could tell she was just as uncomfortable, but she remained silent.I didn’t say anything either.For the past hour, Evangelina and her friends had ignored me as though I weren’t even there—which, honestly, was fine by me. But what wasn’t fine was them refusing to let me leave.When I brought up the idea of leaving, Evangelina,
Davina pov. “Oh, don’t say that. That’s mean. Anyone can shop here. Plus, she’s the king’s mate, right, Davina?” Silence. I could feel everyone’s gaze on me, especially both Sebastian and Theo. They were all waiting to see how I would respond, anticipating a reaction—waiting for a show. But I don’t give them the satisfaction. I’ve learned that the best way to keep your emotions and thoughts hidden is to remain unaffected by provocations, and so… “How could you—” “Good afternoon, Lady Evangelina. It’s lovely to see you here. And yes, I am shopping for clothes. I assume you are doing the same?” I smile, cutting Eva off while giving Evangelina a light bow, maintaining the poise of a dignified woman. I didn’t want any drama, especially in a place like this. According to Eva, this was where all the elites came to shop, and if I reacted or did something wrong, it wouldn’t just reflect badly on me but also on the king. I couldn't give them the satisfaction, couldn't let their words aff
Davina pov.The car came to a stop in front of the building, and almost instantly, I straightened up, my body going rigid. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing nerves, but it was easier said than done—especially when I knew I was about to get into trouble. No, not about to—I was going to be in trouble.Eva had told me that all kinds of people shopped here—Ministers, Alphas, Beta wives, and their children. That meant I had no right to step foot inside. Even if I had once been an Alpha’s daughter, that life was long gone. Now, I was nothing more than a slave—a slave who had to keep his identity a secret.“We’re here, madam,” Sebastian’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I took a deep, steady breath as the door beside me opened, and a hand stretched out toward me.I blinked, momentarily caught off guard, my gaze drifting downward in hesitation.“Davina, his hand…” Eva prompted, urging me to take it.Reluctantly, I reached out, my fingers brushing against Sebastian’s. Almost ins
Davina pov.Awkward.That was the only way to describe whatever was happening right now. As the car moved down the road, silence filled the air. No one spoke—not even Eva, who sat beside me, as if she could sense the tension radiating between me and Sebastian.I fiddled with the hem of my dress, biting my bottom lip, my head lowered in an attempt to distract myself. But it wasn’t working. Sebastian sat in the passenger seat, his gaze flickering back and forth from the rearview mirror. I could feel his eyes on me and it made me uncomfortable.Thinking about it, it actually felt like I had met him before. Now that I no longer associated him with my Sebastian, it was as if I had come to my senses and could finally see clearly (the irony).His voice and scent, especially, felt familiar. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't place them—where I had met him before or if I truly knew him.“We are almost at the boutique, madam. Should I park in front or at the back of the boutique?” The driver’s vo
Hades pov."The Lunaria grace is a flower known for its powerful healing properties. It is rumored to cure any disease, and some even claim it has the ability to bring the dead back to life. However, that last claim is likely baseless, given that the Lunaria’s Grace hasn’t been seen for centuries.""The flower is believed to be extinct, with no recorded sightings for years. However, if anyone were to possess it, it would be the Veil Auction House—the most influential auction house in the kingdom, known for acquiring rare and priceless artifacts. Still, the Lunaria’s Grace is so rare and powerful that I highly doubt they actually have it. The doctor may have simply mentioned it in a desperate attempt to save his life. That is my assessment of the matter, Your Majesty."My fingers paused as Felix fell silent, his head slightly bowed as he sat in the front seat of the car, his tone respectful yet cold.I had asked for his opinion on the Lunaria’s Grace—whether it was real and if it could
Davina pov.I sat on my bed, a light expression on my face as a smile tugged at my lips. The night had gone well—I had enjoyed myself, and for the first time in a while, I had celebrated my birthday with laughter, drinks, and cake. It was a rare moment of happiness."Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother, for coming back. You gave me the best present today," I murmured, setting aside all the gifts except for Eva’s and Rylie's, telling myself I would open them tomorrow.Remembering Eva’s gift was smaller, like a box, I reached for it. Carefully unwrapping the present, my fingers traced over the contents. A cold surface met my touch, and I instantly recognized it—a bracelet.A soft smile curled my lips as I held it up before slipping it onto my wrist, feeling a deep sense of gratitude.It must be beautiful. Such a shame I couldn’t see it.I reached for Rylie’s present, remembering how he had bragged about it earlier. He had insisted I would absolutely love it and even told me to thank hi