Hades povI closed the file with a frustrated sigh, dropping it onto the table. Running a hand through my hair, I struggled to keep my thoughts in check, but with each passing second, my focus slipped further away.“Cyrus,” I called out, but silence greeted me.Again.A mocking sneer spread across my lips, and I scoffed, reaching for the glass of whiskey. I drowned it in seconds, feeling the burning taste in my throat.Cyrus, that bastard, had been ignoring me since yesterday. No matter how hard I tried to connect with him, he remained silent, completely cutting off our bond. I knew he was angry, but I didn't care. He would get over it eventually.He was a fool—one filled with useless emotions that held no importance. He was upset about what I had done to Davina last night, but he should be grateful I chose not to kill her. That should have been her punishment, yet I held back solely because of Cyrus. Killing my mate with my own hands would affect me me one way or the other and I was
Davina povI woke up earlier today—well, if you could categorize staying awake all night as waking up.Last night, I couldn't sleep no matter how hard I tried, so I gave up and decided to stay up instead, rethinking my plans. The mistakes I might have made, the gaps in the guards' rotation I could have overlooked, and the next pack I planned to visit in search of Sebastian filled my thoughts.Yet my plans seemed flawless, which was a good thing—at least I hoped so.Today marked the final part of the hunting game, and everyone would be busy, including Hades, the king. It presented the perfect opportunity to escape while they were distracted.I couldn't help but let my mind wander to Draven, a frown tugging at my lips as Eva's words from yesterday echoed in my mind. "Beta Draven is going to be executed tomorrow, at the conclusion of the hunting game. From what I've heard, his crime is betrayal against the king. It's a grave offense, Davina. I doubt the king will show mercy."I shook m
Hades povMy heart felt heavy, and I couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was because Draven’s execution was set for today or if it was something else entirely. Either way, I hated this feeling.It felt suffocating.“Alpha, you were saying something?” Felix’s voice snapped me out of my daze, and I blinked, realizing I had stopped speaking for a moment.I cleared my throat and narrowed my eyes before speaking, "After the hunting game is over, bring him out for execution. Don’t make any mistakes." My voice was low and gruff as I forced the words out.Felix nodded, his expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes as he disappeared to follow my orders.Running a hand through my hair, I leaned back in my seat, my mind wandering. I tried to focus on the ongoing, dull games, but I couldn't help it as my mind drifted away yet I should be grateful because today marked the last day of this game. To be honest, if it weren't for tra
Davina povI frowned, coming to an abrupt halt after walking for two hours nonstop. Dropping to my knees, I clumsily reached out for the ground, desperately hoping not to find the rock I had placed there an hour ago. But to my utter dismay, my hand brushed against it right where I'd left it."Fucking hell!" I groaned, running my hand through my hair in frustration as I sank onto the ground, trying not to break into tears.But how could I not? I was lost, hungry, and scared.I should've expected it to turn out this way, to be honest. Why? Because I was blind, and I didn't know this route well enough to navigate it easily. Hell, what was I even saying? The boundaries were vast and confusing. The last time I was here, I was just a kid—and I got lost with that boy.At least I wasn't alone then, but now I was in these eerie woods by myself. I wrapped my arms around myself, frowning as I stared into the blank whiteness that surrounded me.I should have at least agreed to eat the breakfast E
Davina povMy first thought that echoed in my mind was that I was going to die, and my initial instinct was to run—run as far away from here as possible. However, before I could move an inch, my body was roughly yanked and thrown to the ground.I groaned as I hit the ground, pain shooting through me like wildfire, but I couldn't dwell on it. Gritting my teeth, I immediately shot up to my feet, desperate to run. Yet again, I was held back, this time by the collar of my shirt.I gasped as the hand yanked me up, like I didn't weigh a thing. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't loosen the iron grip on my shirt. Desperate, I tried to slip out of the fabric to break free, but as if the person behind me anticipated it, an amused scoff echoed in the air.Before I could react, I was yanked back again and slammed to the ground for a second time.I gasped as my body hit the ground with a thud, darkness creeping at the edges of my vision. I struggled to stay awake—because if I lost consciou
Davina povI didn’t know how long I had been running, but by now, I was panting—barely able to breathe as I pushed forward toward the palace. I stumbled, tripping and falling along the way, but I didn’t stop. For some reason, I couldn’t.It took me about thirty minutes to reach the palace and when I did, I instantly froze when I heard sounds of footsteps and voices. Reacting quickly, I ran towards tree, hiding behind it before I could be seen.“Did you hear that the king's mate has gone missing and he ordered almost half of the guards to look for her” A gruff male voice said and I sucked in a breath as the voices drew nearer.Hades was looking for me?“Really? Even though since the king's mate, isn't she blind and wolfless. I still don't understand why he hasn't rejected her yet, if it was me I would have done that long ago, tsk”.“Shh. You better be careful and not let anyone hear you, or else you'd be in trouble but you are right, I agree. Though, I am a little jealous of those guar
Davina pov“Traitor! She’s a traitor! S-She poisoned the king’s drink with wolfsbane! I saw her do it!”My breath hitched painfully in my throat, and I struggled to breathe as confusion clouded my mind. My brain seemed to shut down, freezing me in place. I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I could only stand there, helpless, as she accused me. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me in horror, backing away as though I were some kind of virus.“No. I wasn't the traitor. I wasn't trying to poison the king.”That was what I had wanted to say, to tell them, but before I could utter a word, the first accusation came.“P-poison the king! Oh my goddess, she was trying to poison the king with wolfsbane!” someone from the crowd yelled, and others gasped.“No wonder she ran away! She did it to escape! She ran away to avoid getting caught!” another exclaimed.“Oh goddess, you're right. How could she do such a thing?”I staggered back as their words pierced my heart, ringing in my ears.Stop it. Stop it. I
Davina pov"Draven," I called out, the name leaving my lips before I could stop myself. Before I could react, I heard him groan and stagger, coughing as he collapsed toward the ground.I gasped and quickly reached out to catch him, but his weight sent me crashing down with him, his hard body pinning me against the floor. A sharp pain shot through me, making me groan.Fuck. Are these people made of steel?I blinked, reaching back to rub my aching lower back, but then froze as his low, deep voice cut through the air, making my breath hitch.“Davina…”His voice snapped me out of my daze, and I quickly reached out to steady him. But before I could say anything, he coughed again—hard.I stilled.Blood.He was coughing up blood.I stiffened as I felt the warm liquid on me. For a moment, I sat there like a fool, frozen in place, until he coughed again for the third time—that finally snapped me out of it.“Draven, are you okay? Draven?” I asked, reaching out to touch him but he caught my hand
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
Eva pov.My name is Eva. I am a slave, a lowborn who has spent her entire life working in the palace.Now, where did it all start?Where did the first chapter of my story truly begin?It wasn’t at my birth, nor in my childhood or teenage years. No, I would say it all began the moment I met him—Thorne, my mate.I had always despised my life as a servant, hated being the one who catered to others' needs. Deep down, I believed I was destined for more—that I was born to be a queen, to sit upon the throne.So I envied.I envied her late highness. I wished it had been me by the late king’s side, the one adorned in riches and power. I prayed desperately to the goddess, begged her to change my fate and make the king notice me. But the goddess never listened.She never did.Not even when I tried to seduce the late king.He never looked my way.He ignored the eighteen-year-old girl who was so much younger than his mate, the one who could have given him youth, devotion, and unwavering admiration
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