ALTHEA
One rough hand makes it way south, and I feel my entire body tighten in anticipation. But nothing could have prepared me for the feel of his thumb sliding over my swollen bud. I let out a gasp, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip to keep a lid on the effect he’s having on my body. His forehead meets mine, just as he pulls my trapped lower lip free with a thumb on my chin. His fingers expertly part my folds, a single one probing my entrance. My eyes flutter shut. “Look at me.” No woman on earth would be able to defy that command. And he holds my gaze, his face so close his nose touches mine as he sinks one thick digit inside me. I’m drenched, and it’s like a rock into water, my walls clenching around him just like my thighs. “Oh,” I breathe. It’s invasive and intense, but so, so good. “I’m going to add another, and you’ll take it like a good girl, won’t you?” The words aren’t even fully processed as I nod frantically. “Use your words.” The command is spoken with a buttery drawl. “I’ll take it like a good girl.” And there’s pressure, pressing against me and pushing past little resistance. My stomach tightens at the first bite of discomfort, but with every slow thrust and twist of his fingers, fire ignites in my core with a force I don’t think would ever be extinguished. “Please,” I cry, oblivious to what it is I even need. But one curl of his fingers upward, and I’m certain he’s known all along. The orgasm washes through me with a force that makes my entire body shudder around him. My mind is nothing but fog, blissfully suspended on cloud 9. I feel the loss of his body heat as he pulls away, and the clink and thwap of his belt being undone has that cooled heat resurging once again. It’s true. With a man like him, we’ve probably only just begun. I don’t know how much my body can take, but I’ve never been more eager to find out anything in my life. He strips bare, till he’s standing at the side of the bed like a monster of muscle and dangerous energy. I can’t think of anything better than being on the receiving end of it all. Each hand clamps around both my knees, pulling them apart once again as he comes down over me. I didn’t see it, but the weight of his erection pressing against my stomach fills my veins with desire. And worry. Because that thing, is going to fit inside me? His hand comes down over my head, sinking into my hair, “If you need me to stop, you say so.” His hand reaches down to grasp himself. The first press of his head against me has my fingers curling into the bed sheet. He drags the large tip back and forth over my clit, till I’m certain I could come again from just that alone. And when he levels himself at my entrance, holding my gaze, damn near daring me to look away, I’m not prepared for the stretch. The burn at the size of him. My hands find his shoulders, discomfort marring my expression. He’s attentive with the way he moves, watching my face for what feels better, and what tenses me more. And it takes effort… the tightness in his jaw, and the harsh slant of his brows tells me just how much he’s intentionally holding back. With his forehead against mine, our breaths entwine. With every slide and dark exhale absorbed into my skin, the ache turns into a desperate pulse. Till I’m pushing at him because it’s all too much. I come again, into a million little fractures with a desperate cry. His grunts fill the air, as he buries his face into my neck. The sensitivity of it all leaves me feeling like I’ve been rubbed raw with sandpaper. Goodness, me.ALTHEA When I open my eyes, it takes me a second to remember where I am. The bed feels too soft, the room too quiet. Slowly, the events of last night come back to me. I turn my head, expecting to see him, but the other side of the bed is empty. A strange mix of relief and irritation washes over me. Good. At least I don’t have to deal with the awkwardness of morning-after small talk. But then my gaze lands on the bedside table. There’s a bag sitting there, tied neatly with a thin cord. I pick it up and open it, and my heart sinks. Gold coins gleam inside, a sharp reminder of how much of a horrible mistake last night was. What was this supposed to be? Some sort of cheap pay? Anger bubbles up, hot and fierce. I shove the bag back onto the table, my fingers trembling. I won’t let a single night of foolishness define me. And the only upside to this is that I’ll never have to see him again. I dress quickly, my movements stiff with frustration. By the time I pull on my boots, I’ve
ALTHEAThe moment I see his face, every muscle inside of me seizes, my heart skipping a beat so sharply it almost hurts.My breath falters. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing.How could this… be?His green eyes widen slightly, just a flicker, as he stares at me. That flicker is all I need to know. He recognizes me too.The same shock I’m feeling is mirrored on his face. For a moment, the noise, the chatter, the grand hall itself, all of it fades away. The weight of our shared secret presses down on us like a suffocating blanket.I don’t know how long we stay like this, locked in a silent, frozen exchange. My hands tremble slightly, and I clench them into fists at my sides, willing myself to look calm.Eventually, he recovers His expression smooths, his face shifting into something unreadable. His gaze sweeps over the room, and then he moves forward, his steps measured and steady, like nothing has happened.He’s here. He’s the prince.Our eyes snap to the large door
ALTHEADays have passed since the strawberry incident, and I am alive. Barely. The burning in my throat is gone, the rashes have faded, and my strength has returned. But one thing hasn’t changed. The hatred for Prince Asher. If anything, it has only grown. I can still see the cold indifference in his eyes as he watched me struggle, my throat closing, my body betraying me. He didn’t lift a finger. Didn’t care if I lived or died.I push away thoughts of him from my mind, because right now, I have bigger problems.I clench my fists as I stand in the grand hall with the other contestants, waiting for whatever ridiculous challenge they’ve planned for us next. The air is heavy with tension, and my pulse thrums in my ears. The king, dressed in his dark robes, sits casual and disinterested on his throne, sipping from a jeweled goblet. His gaze sweeps over us like we are pawns on a chessboard, disposable and unimportant.“As you all know,” the king begins, his deep voice echoing through the ha
ALTHEA The bear’s growl rumbles through my chest, deep and angry. My body locks up in fear, but my mind screams at me to not stop running. “Asher,” I whisper, though my voice barely comes out. He doesn’t need my warning. He’s already raising his gun, his arm steady as he aims it at the bear. The bear snarls, ears pinned back, eyes locked on us. It’s bigger than I expected. Much bigger. Its fur is a deep, thick brown, and its black claws look sharp enough to tear through flesh like paper. I’m still not over the fact that the king lied to us. This bear isn’t dead. It was never dead. Then it charges. “Asher, run!” I scream, spinning around so fast I nearly trip over my own feet. My heart slams against my ribs. The ground is uneven, roots twist up from the dirt, and every step feels like I’m about to fall. A loud gunshot cracks through the air. Then another. I glance back just in time to see the bullets barely slow the bear down. It flinches but doesn’t stop. It doesn’t
ALTHEA I shift slightly on the branch, trying to get a better look at where the bear went. The forest below is dark, shadows stretching between the trees, making it impossible to see anything clearly. But I can still hear the screams in the distance. Someone else is in trouble. I lean forward just a little— The branch beneath me cracks. My stomach drops. Before I can react, the bark snaps, and suddenly I’m falling. The world tilts. Air rushes past me. My arms flail, trying to grab something, anything, but my fingers only scrape against rough bark. Then I hit the ground. A sharp pain explodes up my leg. I gasp, curling forward as agony flares through my ankle. My vision blurs for a second. It feels like my bones are on fire. “Althea!” Asher’s voice is sharp, alarmed. I hear him moving, branches rustling above me. A few seconds later, he drops down beside me, landing with a rough thud. His face is pale, his injured arm hanging stiffly at his side. “You good?” he asks
ALTHEA The next morning, I wake to a soft knock at my door. I barely have time to register it before the door creaks open, and two young women step inside. They move efficiently, as if they’ve done this routine a hundred times before. One of them carries fresh towels and a tray of food, while the other sets out neatly folded clothes on a chair near the window. Their uniforms are pristine, their movements graceful, but I don’t miss the way their eyes flick toward me, filled with quiet curiosity. I sit stiffly on the edge of my bed, feeling strangely out of place in the silk nightdress I was given. The palace’s luxury still unsettles me, and somehow it still feels like this is a world I’ll never fit in. The events at the woods yesterday has only made me even more certain of that. My ankle is wrapped tightly beneath the sheets, a dull ache pulsing with each movement. My body is sore, but it’s the memories that weigh the heaviest. The bed beneath me is too soft. I feel like I’m si
ALTHEADawn arrives far too quickly, dragging me from the few restless hours of sleep I managed to steal. I blink against the faint golden light creeping through the heavy curtains, but my exhaustion lingers like a stubborn weight on my body. It takes every bit of willpower to push myself up, forcing my limbs to move, though my mind still lags behind.Before I know it, I’m in the grand hall, standing in a line with the other contestants. The room is filled with the quiet murmur of voices, but a hush settles the moment the royal family enters. They take their seats on an elevated platform, their expressions unreadable as they look down on us. The game officials flank them, standing tall and stiff in their elaborate uniforms.I keep my head high, unwilling to show weakness, but my stomach twists as the king begins to speak. His voice carries effortlessly through the hall, deep and commanding.“Today, you will not be fighting or hunting,” he announces, his gaze sweeping across us. “Inste
ALTHEAI hurry back to my room, my breath uneven. My hands clutch at the torn fabric of my dress, fingers trembling as I try to smooth the jagged edges. It’s no use. The rip is too big, running straight down the side, exposing way more skin than I’m willing to show on live broadcast.Panic squeezes my chest. I’m supposed to be on stage in minutes, answering questions, pretending I actually want to be here. And now, I look like a disaster.I swallow hard, trying to force back the tears burning behind my eyes.Not now. Not over this.I squeeze my eyes shut and take a slow breath, but then—“Elena! Be careful, or you’ll—”The door bursts open.Elena stumbles in, nearly dropping a sewing kit, her dark curls bouncing with the movement. Mira follows behind her, arms crossed, a knowing look on her face.Elena’s eyes widen when she sees me. “Althea, we saw what happened?”“It’s ruined,” I say, defeated. “And I don’t have time to fix it.”Mira hums, unimpressed. “Well, good thing we came prepa
ALTHEAThere are eight of us left now.Only eight.And still, I feel like I’m unraveling.I sit on the edge of my bed, fingers tangled in the thick blanket, staring at nothing. Before we were dismissed to our rooms, I and the other girls had been in the grand hall, whispering about who made it and who didn’t. Now alone, I’m somewhere else.Back in the maze.Back in front of that mirror, where my father looked up at me with eyes that weren’t his—cold, sharp, disappointed. You betrayed us. The words echo, even though he never said them aloud. Even though it was just an illusion.But it didn’t feel like a lie.What if he’s right?What if I have betrayed them—my family, my people, myself?By being here?By surviving?By letting the king turn me into one of his toys?I tell myself I don’t want the crown. I don’t want power. That I’m here to survive. To find out the truth. To stay alive long enough to make something right.But the mirror didn’t lie. It showed me things I never wanted to adm
ALTHEAThe gates creak open at dusk and all of us make our way out. We’d been woken up from our sleeps less than an hour ago, and told that the king had a new task for us. He wanted us to conquer the maze of mirrors. The maze stands before us like something torn from a nightmare—tall walls of glass and mirror, reflecting the fading light in a thousand twisting, fractured ways. The guards usher us forward with unreadable faces. The king’s voice cuts above the silence.“Make it out before dawn,” he says. “Or don’t make it out at all.”No one laughs. We all know he isn’t joking about it. And if anything, he’s proven to us that he could care less about any of us.I step through the archway last. The air inside the maze is cool and still, and every surface gleams like ice. I catch glimpses of myself in the mirrors on either side—tired eyes, tight jaw, hands clenched at my sides.The path splits into three directions. Each one looks exactly the same.I take the left.At first, it’s quiet.
ALTHEAIt’s been hours since the photoshoot ended.I’ve been pacing my room ever since, the soft rug muffling my footsteps. The dress is long gone—stuffed into the corner like it wronged me personally. My hair’s a mess, my hands won’t stop shaking, and my stomach’s been in knots the entire time.Asher didn’t come back.He left with the soldier, heading straight to wherever they were keeping the captured revolutionary. And now he’s either still with him… interrogating him. Or worse. Torturing him.Or maybe, maybe it’s already over. Maybe the interrogation happened quickly, and now they know everything. Maybe Asher already knows that I used to run messages for Aaron. That I knew about the safehouses. That I knew this attack was part of the plan. That I was one of them.Maybe they’re just waiting for the right moment to barge in. Drag me out in chains. Or worse.I sit on the edge of the bed, gripping the bedsheets tight enough that my knuckles go white. The sun outside fades slowly into
ALTHEAI give my head a tiny shake and will myself to focus.I can feel the weight of every eye on me as I take the first step forward. My hands are clammy, so I rub them against the fabric of my dress before gathering it in my fists. The silk is soft, slippery. I walk slowly, careful not to trip or step on the hem. Every step feels louder than it should.Asher’s standing where all the girls before me met him—by the center of the garden hall, right in front of the rose arch. The gold buttons on his suit catch the sun. His dark hair is slicked back, but a small strand has come loose near his temple. He doesn’t fix it. He just stands there, posture straight, unreadable expression in place.But as I approach him, his gaze lifts to mine. His eyes meet mine directly.And… I don’t know if I imagine it, but his jaw tightens. Just a little.“Gray,” he mutters when I finally sit on the bench beside him.I roll my eyes. “Don’t even start,” I warn, and cross my arms.Even though he tries to stay
ALTHEA “Who was the founding werewolf of the Silver Crescent pack?” Lady Ivanna quizzes. I freeze, eyes flicking to the ornate gold trim on the floor-length curtains. I don’t know this one. I try not to look guilty, but my shoulders tense and my gaze drops, praying she doesn’t call on me. A soft shuffle to my left. Elise’s hand shoots up, confident as ever. “Alaric Stormclaw,” she answers. Lady Ivanna nods approvingly. “Correct. Alaric Stormclaw was the first werewolf to invade these lands and fight against the humans.” We’re seated in the Great Room again. The long polished table gleams beneath the morning light that filters in from the high arched windows. Paintings of past rulers line the walls. Most of them are men with cold eyes and stiff posture. All of us girls—contestants, as the kingdom so kindly calls us—are gathered here at the start of the week for another lesson. Lady Ivanna’s lessons aren’t the worst part of being here, but they are a reminder. A reminder that
ALTHEAI don’t know what I expected when Elise told me she had a secret, but it wasn’t that.Asher kissed her.I sit there, still and stiff, trying to keep my face calm, but my stomach twists like a knot being pulled tighter and tighter.Why does it bother me so much?I shouldn’t care. I don’t care. He can kiss whoever he wants. Elise is sweet and kind. He probably sees her as someone safe. Someone who fits in this palace life.Unlike me.I force my lips into a smile and nod, pretending her words didn’t just cut through me like a blade. Before I can say anything else, a familiar voice breaks into our little corner.“What did you guys do on your date?”I blink, turning toward the voice.Sophie.She’s standing right in front of us, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised like she already knows the answer.“Hi, Sophie,” Elise says with a polite smile.“Oh hush,” Sophie snaps, waving her off without looking at her. Her sharp gaze locks onto me instead. “Come on, Althea. Spill.”“What are you tal
ALTHEAI wake up slower than usual. My eyes feel heavy, my body heavier. Every inch of me aches from yesterday—from the hunt, the fear, the cruel discovery in the garden, and the dream that refused to let me go.The memory of it still clings to my skin like frost.Asher. The white wolf.I sit up slowly, pressing my palm against my side where the black wolf bit me in the dream. There’s no wound there, but it still feels sore.I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. The entire idea of the mate games—it’s based on the legend of the white wolf. The perfect mate. The protector. The rare and destined bond. Everyone talks about it like it’s some beautiful fairytale.But I’ve been dreaming about him.And now that I know Asher is the white wolf… I have more questions than answers.Because there were two wolves in the dream.The black one—the one that always attacks. The one I always run from.If Asher is the white wolf, then who’s the other? What does it mean that they always fight? And why do
ALTHEAThe sun is higher now, casting soft gold across the palace walls, but there’s no warmth in it. I sit on the cold stone steps, my breath steady but shallow. My body hurts. My mind even more.One by one, the other girls arrive from the forest. Most of them limping, bleeding, dirty. But alive.I count them. Over and over.Only two never return.Mira and one of the betas.The ache in my chest grows heavy when I realize it’s true. They didn’t make it.Not everyone survived.Unfortunately, Caroline did.She walks in with a smug smile, a scratch on her cheek like it’s some kind of trophy. Her eyes flick to me—quick and sharp—but I look away. If I meet her stare, I might do something I regret.A guard steps forward, clearing his throat. He holds out his hand. I place the Bloodlight Flower in his palm.It’s still warm. Still glowing faintly. Still smells like copper and ash.He turns and brings it to the king, who stands watching from the edge of the courtyard.King Theron doesn’t even
ALTHEAI yank at the vines choking my legs, the flower still clutched in my fist. My heart pounds so loud I can barely hear anything else, but the forest won’t let me go. It wants me to suffer.The roots tighten. Thorns prick my skin. I scream—raw, frustrated. Then I grab my knife and hack at the vines until they loosen. My arms shake. My lungs burn.Finally, I’m free.I scramble to my feet and run again, holding the Bloodlight Flower like it’s my last breath.The forest is a nightmare. Trees twist into wrong shapes. The path keeps shifting. The whispers are louder now—screaming instead of speaking. I don’t know what’s real anymore. My thoughts feel slippery, like I can’t hold onto them for more than a second.Then I see someone up ahead.Another girl.She stumbles out from between two trees—her cloak torn, blood on her hands. It’s Maria. One of the quiet ones. The smart ones.Her eyes go wide when she sees what I’m holding.“The flower,” she says, voice hoarse. “You found it.”I take