10 years agoDavina pov“Help! Help me!” I screamed, clutching the tree branch as if my life depended on it. And, well, if you think about it, it really did. Because once I let go of this branch, I'd either fall to my doom or take a nasty tumble that would probably involve some broken bones and a very bruised ego. My breath was coming in panicked gasps, my heart was beating a little faster than necessary, and I was starting to question how I ended up in such a ridiculous situation.“I hate you for luring me into this trap!” I hissed, glaring at the bird in my hand, which I had somehow named Shelly—yes, Shelly. I don’t know why, I just did. Shelly, the bird who led me up this towering tree that I was now precariously clinging to, barely holding on for dear life.How did I end up here? How did a ten-year-old even climb this tree without being completely ridiculous?Well, it all started innocently enough. I was walking along with the maids and my utterly annoying, spoiled four-year-old y
10 years agoHades povEverything was supposed to be boring today. That was why I had escaped from the hunting game to sneak in some sleep. But as I looked at the girl groaning while trying to sit up on the ground, I couldn’t help but feel amused—and a little intrigued.Usually, people would fawn over me and bend to my every whim, eager to please and let me have whatever I desired. At first, it was thrilling—having everything handed to me without question. But over time, it grew tiresome, predictable, and unbearably dull.Then, when I was named the next in line to be the Lycan King, it only got worse. Suddenly, the world’s eyes were on me, every move scrutinized, every word echoed back like gospel. It was suffocating, maddening—a constant pressure that left no room to breathe, let alone be myself."Are you crazy?!" the girl snapped, her eyes narrowing into a sharp glare as she shot up so quickly I could hear the sound of her bones cracking. She froze at the noise, her mouth opening an
Davina pov"The winner of today's match will now advance to the competition!" the announcer's voice boomed over the crowd. "All packs are invited to head to the palace. The king has graciously prepared a small celebration for everyone."The crowd erupted into cheers as people began making their way back to the palace, their excited chatter filling the air. I kept my head bowed, my face burning hot. If my cheeks got any redder, I might as well have been mistaken for a ripe tomato."Did you hear it last night?" someone whispered, their voice carrying just enough for me to catch."The screams? Oh, everyone heard it. Trust me," another replied, their tone laced with amusement."Turns out the Lycan King isn’t just a beast on the battlefield but in the bedroom too," they giggled as they passed by.Kill me. This day was already turning into a nightmare.“Davina, let’s go,” Eva whispered behind me, breaking me out of my thoughts. I nodded numbly, my feet dragging as we made our way toward th
Davina povSomething was horribly wrong.I couldn't pinpoint when it started, or how it all began, but I knew something was off. It started when a maid had approached Eva. She mentioned that her brother, Emmanuel, was looking for her. Eva had hesitated, reluctant to leave me alone, but Rylie assured her he would stay by my side. That was until he received an emergency call from the pack’s clinic and had to rush out.He didn’t want to leave, but I reassured him. I wasn’t a child. I could stay right where I was. After that, everything became a blur. Someone—no, Stella—had come up to me with a tray, offering a drink. I didn’t want to take anything from her, not especially after she had bullied me, but she insisted, saying that the king had noticed I hadn’t been drinking and asked her to bring me orange juice. Reluctantly, I took the drink, trusting that it was harmless.But only a few minutes after drinking it, my body began to react. A heat spread through me, intense and burning, as if
Draven pov “Beta Draven,” a voice interrupted the conversation I was having, breaking my train of thought. I turned my head toward the sound and saw Marie standing before me, her head bowed in submission. My lips tugged into a frown as I watched her closely. This girl, along with another, had always bullied Davina. They were also the same ones caught spying on her that day. The only reason I let them walk away alive then was to avoid creating any unnecessary drama that might draw the king’s attention. And now, as I stood here, a reminder of my reckless moment with Davina haunted me. Almost kissing the king’s woman was a crime, one that could easily lead to my death if discovered. “What do you want? I hope you know this better be important for you to interrupt me—otherwise...” I asked coldly, my voice void of patience as her mere presence seemed to irritate me. “B-Beta Draven, it’s about the madam, I saw—” Her words faltered as I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. “You saw what
Hades pov “Do you remember that girl from the past, the one we found hanging from the tree when you sneaked out?” Cyrus suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts as I held the glass of wine near my lips. I didn’t answer right away, my gaze sharpening on some invisible point as I blocked out the surrounding noise, the music fading into the background. The girl hanging from the tree—the little monkey. I remembered her, how could I forget? I had nearly lost my life trying to protect her. I met her years ago, the day I had snuck away from the ongoing hunting games, desperate for a break from everything and everyone. That day, she had offered me a kind of comfort, though she hadn’t even realized it. She was not like anyone else— she was unique and, most importantly, she didn't fawn over me or cower in fear like the others. She was… different. She was something I desperately needed that day and that was what intrigued me about her. But she was already dead. She had died the sam
Davina pov“What. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing. With. My. Mate?”Before I knew what was happening, Draven was yanked away from me, and the sound of fists meeting flesh echoed through the room. I gasped, landing on the ground with a soft thud, my head turning toward the commotion.“How dare you! How dare you touch her, you bastard!” Hades roared, the sickening crack of bones shattering slicing through the tense air.My shaky hands moved to my ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sounds, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape them. My body felt unnaturally hot—burning, unbearable, and the crystal tattoo on my chest flared with heat, as if reacting to whatever was happening to me.What was happening to me? The drink... It must have been the drink. I clutched my chest in pain, gasping for air, struggling to think clearly through the haze clouding my mind.“King, please stop…” My voice barely rose above a whisper as I called out, but he didn’t hear me. The sound of H
Hades pov“Please stop.” Those two words froze me in place. Before I knew it, my fist had halted just inches away from her head, the air thick with tension.My eyes narrowed, and my frown deepened as I watched her stand in front of that bastard, her arms spread out and her eyes closed, as if she was willing to take the hit for him. A growl rumbled from deep within me, my lips curling into a wicked smirk before I even realized it.Without thinking, I gripped her hand and yanked her toward me, her body crashing against mine, startling her in the process.“Hades...” she blurted out in shock, hissing as my grip on her tightened.“You must really have a death wish, don't you?” I asked, my voice surprisingly calm despite the storm raging within me. I held her firmly against me. “First, you betray me, and then you shield him. What is it? Do you love him? Do you wish he was your mate instead?” I added with a cold chuckle, our faces only inches apart.Damn it, I was barely holding myself toge
Thorne POV“This is it. I’ve finally figured it out,” I muttered under my breath with a twisted smile, my gaze fixed on the boy before me. “After years of trying, I’ve finally created a wolfsbane strong enough to kill a Lycan King!”Kian's eyes widened at my statement as he stared at the bottle in front of him, disbelief etched across his face.A dark chuckle escaped my lips as I tilted my head to the side, a teasing smile curling at the edges. I raised my brows and set the glass of wine down on the table.I knew exactly why he found it hard to believe—why wouldn't I? I had spent years trying to create a wolfsbane potent enough to kill Hades. That bastard was practically unkillable. Whether it was because the Moon Goddess had personally chosen or blessed him, I didn't know. But he was not only ridiculously strong—he was immune to every version of wolfsbane I had concocted.“I've tried for years, Kian. Years and years to create a wolfsbane powerful enough to kill Hades,” I muttered, my
Kian POV“Where are you, Sebastian?”I opened my eyes, a frown forming on my lips as I stared into the distance for a brief moment, trying to control my racing heart. But no matter how hard I tried, the unease lingered.“What was that?” I muttered under my breath, my brow furrowing. It wasn’t one of those blurry nightmares I usually had. No, this time it was different — like a desperate voice whispering to me. And for some reason, it left me restless, and made my heart ache inexplicably.“Boss.” Liam’s voice snapped me back to the present, and I raised a brow, glancing to my right. He was crouched on a branch beside me, his expression cold as he bowed slightly.Running a hand through my hair, I sat up straighter on the tree branch, taking my time to yawn. "What is it this time? This better be important because you know I don’t like being disturbed during my break." My gaze locked onto his, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of my lips. "You know what happens if it isn't, right?" My to
Davina povI groaned, my body aching so much it felt as if I could barely move. A whimper escaped my lips as I tried to sit up, but the pain was overwhelming, making every movement excruciating. My head swam, and I fought to steady myself, gripping the bedframe for support. The world around me seemed to spin, and I couldn't help but close my eyes, hoping the pain would subside.I clutched my head and tried to remember what happened last night. Everything seemed fuzzy, and I couldn't think straight.“What do you think you are doing with my mate?“King, please stop…”“Do you love that bastard? Is that why you were so eager to act like a whore for him? Or is it that you don’t give a damn who it is—so long as they’re willing to fuck you”I gasped as memories from last night flooded my mind. Every word, every thrust, every cry of pleasure and pain echoed in my ears, and my body trembled as I recalled what Hades had done. I remembered the harsh words he had thrown at me, and yet, despite i
Hades pov“Please stop.” Those two words froze me in place. Before I knew it, my fist had halted just inches away from her head, the air thick with tension.My eyes narrowed, and my frown deepened as I watched her stand in front of that bastard, her arms spread out and her eyes closed, as if she was willing to take the hit for him. A growl rumbled from deep within me, my lips curling into a wicked smirk before I even realized it.Without thinking, I gripped her hand and yanked her toward me, her body crashing against mine, startling her in the process.“Hades...” she blurted out in shock, hissing as my grip on her tightened.“You must really have a death wish, don't you?” I asked, my voice surprisingly calm despite the storm raging within me. I held her firmly against me. “First, you betray me, and then you shield him. What is it? Do you love him? Do you wish he was your mate instead?” I added with a cold chuckle, our faces only inches apart.Damn it, I was barely holding myself toge
Davina pov“What. Do. You. Think. You. Are. Doing. With. My. Mate?”Before I knew what was happening, Draven was yanked away from me, and the sound of fists meeting flesh echoed through the room. I gasped, landing on the ground with a soft thud, my head turning toward the commotion.“How dare you! How dare you touch her, you bastard!” Hades roared, the sickening crack of bones shattering slicing through the tense air.My shaky hands moved to my ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sounds, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't escape them. My body felt unnaturally hot—burning, unbearable, and the crystal tattoo on my chest flared with heat, as if reacting to whatever was happening to me.What was happening to me? The drink... It must have been the drink. I clutched my chest in pain, gasping for air, struggling to think clearly through the haze clouding my mind.“King, please stop…” My voice barely rose above a whisper as I called out, but he didn’t hear me. The sound of H
Hades pov “Do you remember that girl from the past, the one we found hanging from the tree when you sneaked out?” Cyrus suddenly asked, snapping me out of my thoughts as I held the glass of wine near my lips. I didn’t answer right away, my gaze sharpening on some invisible point as I blocked out the surrounding noise, the music fading into the background. The girl hanging from the tree—the little monkey. I remembered her, how could I forget? I had nearly lost my life trying to protect her. I met her years ago, the day I had snuck away from the ongoing hunting games, desperate for a break from everything and everyone. That day, she had offered me a kind of comfort, though she hadn’t even realized it. She was not like anyone else— she was unique and, most importantly, she didn't fawn over me or cower in fear like the others. She was… different. She was something I desperately needed that day and that was what intrigued me about her. But she was already dead. She had died the sam
Draven pov “Beta Draven,” a voice interrupted the conversation I was having, breaking my train of thought. I turned my head toward the sound and saw Marie standing before me, her head bowed in submission. My lips tugged into a frown as I watched her closely. This girl, along with another, had always bullied Davina. They were also the same ones caught spying on her that day. The only reason I let them walk away alive then was to avoid creating any unnecessary drama that might draw the king’s attention. And now, as I stood here, a reminder of my reckless moment with Davina haunted me. Almost kissing the king’s woman was a crime, one that could easily lead to my death if discovered. “What do you want? I hope you know this better be important for you to interrupt me—otherwise...” I asked coldly, my voice void of patience as her mere presence seemed to irritate me. “B-Beta Draven, it’s about the madam, I saw—” Her words faltered as I narrowed my eyes, stepping closer. “You saw what
Davina povSomething was horribly wrong.I couldn't pinpoint when it started, or how it all began, but I knew something was off. It started when a maid had approached Eva. She mentioned that her brother, Emmanuel, was looking for her. Eva had hesitated, reluctant to leave me alone, but Rylie assured her he would stay by my side. That was until he received an emergency call from the pack’s clinic and had to rush out.He didn’t want to leave, but I reassured him. I wasn’t a child. I could stay right where I was. After that, everything became a blur. Someone—no, Stella—had come up to me with a tray, offering a drink. I didn’t want to take anything from her, not especially after she had bullied me, but she insisted, saying that the king had noticed I hadn’t been drinking and asked her to bring me orange juice. Reluctantly, I took the drink, trusting that it was harmless.But only a few minutes after drinking it, my body began to react. A heat spread through me, intense and burning, as if
Davina pov"The winner of today's match will now advance to the competition!" the announcer's voice boomed over the crowd. "All packs are invited to head to the palace. The king has graciously prepared a small celebration for everyone."The crowd erupted into cheers as people began making their way back to the palace, their excited chatter filling the air. I kept my head bowed, my face burning hot. If my cheeks got any redder, I might as well have been mistaken for a ripe tomato."Did you hear it last night?" someone whispered, their voice carrying just enough for me to catch."The screams? Oh, everyone heard it. Trust me," another replied, their tone laced with amusement."Turns out the Lycan King isn’t just a beast on the battlefield but in the bedroom too," they giggled as they passed by.Kill me. This day was already turning into a nightmare.“Davina, let’s go,” Eva whispered behind me, breaking me out of my thoughts. I nodded numbly, my feet dragging as we made our way toward th