ScarPain flared in my throat as I swallowed, every breath a reminder of his grip around my neck. My hands trembled, but I forced myself to keep eating.If I stopped now, he would see it as rebellion, and I wasn’t in the mood to suffer more of his wrath.Dickson watched me like a predator, his golden eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction.Pathetic.Bile rose in my throat, and I set the bowl down, my stomach twisting violently. I needed to think, to find a way out of this.Running wasn’t an option, not yet. He was too strong, and with his rogue warriors surrounding the place, I wouldn’t make it past the gates.But I wouldn’t be his captive forever.I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Satisfied?” I asked, a smirk plastered on my face.His lips curled into a sneer before he spoke. “I think I prefer you like this, obedient.”I clenched my fists. Obedient? If he only knew how badly I wanted to rip him apart.“Get some rest,” he continued, rising to his feet.“Okay.”Dickson chuckled, brus
ScarlettThe wind howled across the training grounds, carrying the scent of damp earth and sweat.My muscles screamed in protest, my breaths coming in desperate, ragged gasps, but I refused, refused, to stop.I had always been weak in the past, trapped, humiliated, cast aside. But not anymore. Never again.Finn’s voice filled the air as he shouted, “Again.”I swallowed down my exhaustion and lunged forward, aiming at him.He dodged with infuriating grace, but those deep blue eyes gleamed with something I craved more than air—approval.“Faster,” he commanded. “Faster.”I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. I threw another punch, pouring my rage and pain into it, but he easily caught my hand in his.In the blink of an eye, Finn flipped me, landing a crushing blow to my belly before throwing me to the merciless ground.A scream tore from my throat, raw and primal, as I clutched my middle.“Are you okay, love?” he asked as he hurried to my side. “Honey.”I clenched my teeth so hard I thou
FinnThe early morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as I stood in the training grounds, watching my mate.Scarlett.She had come so far.When we first started training, she could barely hold her own against me. But now, she was a force to be reckoned with.Each strike she threw was sharper, her footwork more correct. She was pushing herself past exhaustion, beyond every limit her body screamed at her to stop at.And damn, if that didn’t make me proud.I watched her, my mate, the woman I loved, pour every ounce of herself into this fight.Her beautiful eyes shone with determination, and the sweat glistening on her skin only made her look fiercer.Oh my goddess, she is freaking hot right now.“Again,” I commanded, and she lunged at me.I sidestepped easily, my instincts kicking in before I even had to think. She was fast, but not fast enough. Not yet.“Faster, Scarlett.”She gritted her teeth, frustration clear in every fiber of her being. I could feel her an
FinnSince my wolf couldn’t help, I didn’t hesitate. I reached for her, wrapping my arms around her trembling form.The moment our skin touched, a shock of energy jolted through me, but I held on.“Scarlett,” I murmured, pressing my forehead to hers. “Come back to me, darling.”Her body convulsed once, twice, then she went completely still.The glow in her eyes flickered.Then, she collapsed.I caught her just in time.Her body was limp, her breathing shallow. I could feel her heart pounding too fast beneath my palm.Panic gripped me. She is dying.“Shit,” I muttered, scooping her into my arms. I ignored the pain in my ribs as I sprinted toward the pack healer’s house.“Luke!” I barked the moment I burst through the doors. “Help her!”Luke, the Crescent Pack’s head healer, rushed forward immediately. He took one look at Scarlett, and his eyes darkened.“Lay her down, Alpha,” he said.I did, placing her on the cot as Luke began working immediately. His hands hovered over her, his brows
ScarlettDarkness. Thick, endless, suffocating. I was drifting in it, weightless, lost. The last thing I remembered was the burning agony in my chest, my wolf’s anguished howl echoing inside me, the feeling of my body unraveling at the seams.Then nothing.But now, the darkness was shifting. Light seeped through the cracks, and with it came sensation. The warmth of a hand wrapped around mine. A soft whisper threading through the silence.“...love you, you know that? More than anything.”The voice was familiar, deep and soothing, wrapping around me like a lifeline. I fought my way toward it, through the fog clouding my mind, through the unfamiliar pulse of power thrumming beneath my skin.I gasped as my senses rushed back and my eyes flew open.Bright light assaulted my vision, and I winced, groaning as a dull ache spread through my skull. My body felt different - heavier and lighter all at once, as if I were made of both fire and air.“Scarlett.”Finn’s voice. My gaze flickered to the
FinnScarlett wasn’t Scarlett anymore.The thing standing before me wore her face, her body, but it wasn’t her. Not entirely.The flickering flames licking at her fingertips, the eerie glow in her eyes; one a burning crimson, the other a blue so unnatural it sent chills through me, told me everything I needed to know.Something else had taken her. Something old. Something dangerous. Something that needed to stay far away from my mate.And I had no idea how to stop it.I forced my feet to stay grounded despite the overwhelming urge to rush to her, to shake her until she snapped out of it. But the pain of the earlier attack still lingered.The crack of my bones breaking under her blows echoed in my mind. My wolf, Storm, whined, pacing restlessly inside me, torn between the instinct to fight and the desperate need to protect our mate.But this wasn’t a fight I could win with claws and teeth. Not against her. Not against this demon in my mate form.“Scarlett,” I called her name, voice ste
ScarlettDarkness.That was all I had known.I had screamed, I had clawed, I had begged, but the monster inside me had laughed. It had worn my body like a second skin, moved my limbs as if they were its own, twisted my voice into something sinister and cruel.I had watched helplessly as it used me to hurt the people I cared about. Watched as Finn stood before me, unwavering, even as I burned him. Even as I tried to hurt and break him.But he never fought back.He had spoken to me - not to the monster, not to the entity that had taken over, but to me. The part of me that was drowning, slipping away. His voice had been a lifeline, and I had grasped it with everything I had left.And now…I was back.I barely registered the trembling of my limbs as Finn held me against his chest. My body felt like it had been through a war, every muscle aching, my skin raw from the flames I had wielded.The scent of scorched earth lingered in the air, but I could feel something else now—warmth, solid and
Scarlett“Here you are, Alpha,” someone said, breaking the spell and making me push him away.“Ha,” David breathed out, his eyes darting around nervously. He looked at me before focusing on Finn, his gaze held both apology and discomfort.I was red; red with embarrassment that burned through my entire body. I nearly wanted to dig a hole and hide inside, mortification making my skin tingle.“Why are you here, Beta?” Finn asked through gritted teeth. He was burning with rage, his jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscles working beneath his skin. “What you needed to say must be important for you to come here at this point… at this time.”“I’m sorry,” David pleaded, his voice strained with genuine regret. “I didn’t know that…” He trailed off, sneaking a peep at me. I blushed harder, trying to hide my face behind a shroud of hair. “You were in the middle of something important, Alpha.”A loud roar vibrated in Finn’s chest as he spoke. “Go straight to the point, Beta.”“Alpha, we have
LeonardoEverything changed when I grew. I got stronger. Strong enough to protect myself. Strong enough to step over their blood towards the throne.Strong enough to tear out the hearts of those who crossed me. Strong enough to eliminate anyone who threatened what was mine.I had sworn never to show weakness again. To maintain power, I needed to be merciless. The bodies of treacherous women who had approached me with hidden daggers and poisoned smiles littered my past.Throughout my life, only my mother had ever shown me genuine love. Everyone else came with agendas—assassins sent by enemies or manipulators seeking to exploit my position.“Leonardo,” a voice called, soft as silk against my consciousness. “Are you with us?”I tried to open my eyes, but they were heavy.“My king,” another voice penetrated the darkness. “Can you hear me?”With tremendous effort, I forced my eyes open. The world swam in a blur, but the voices reached me with perfect clarity.“Is he responding?” someone as
LeonardoAs darkness enveloped me, memories of my mother, Rose, flooded my mind in vivid flashes. These were not distant recollections, but raw wounds that reopened with each heartbeat.She had been my anchor, the only source of kindness in this world. She would whisper reassurances that I was deserving of love, despite my father’s constant assertions to the contrary.But now, all I could see was her bloodied body, her once-radiant life extinguished by the man who should have protected her above all others—my father, Alexander.My mother was the epitome of beauty, not just in her looks - her golden hair and piercing eyes made her the envy of all women in the kingdom - but also in the radiant glow of her spirit.She was the rightful Queen, the beloved daughter of King Hunter and Queen Mia, adored by everyone who knew her, except for the one who had promised to cherish her.My father never cared about her royal lineage. He resented her status, power, and the adoration people had for her
Leonardo“But...” I let my gaze drift around the room as if concerned about being overheard. “Don’t you think she will suspect I was behind it?”He waved his hand dismissively. “No, we won’t make it obvious. I will perfect everything. I have done this before, and I can do it again, my King. I will do anything to see you happy with the woman you love.”“Really?” I couldn’t keep the excitement from my voice.Now there was no need to reveal that I already had Scarlett imprisoned in my palace. I could use this greedy fool to eliminate her mate while keeping my own hands clean in her eyes.“Yes, my King.” His voice grew animated with bloodlust. “All I need to do is plant some treason papers in his pack. Then you can order the palace guards to search his territory. They’ll capture him and rip his head off right there...”He trailed off, his excited eyes meeting mine, seeking approval. “Then we can destroy his pack to eliminate any future problems. You just have to leave everything to me. I
LeonardoEverything is getting interesting. The look on Scarlett’s face as I departed made everything crystallize; it clicked the final piece of the puzzle that had been nagging at me for weeks.She and her father were never close—not from the start, according to my spies. And with the way things stand now, everything is working in my favour.I turned around and left with my Beta.“Where is he?” I asked, walking as fast as my legs could carry me.“In the throne palace,” Giovanni replied, struggling slightly to match my frantic pace.“Good.” We walked in tense silence, the corridor stretching before us like the path to my victory.Upon reaching the throne palace, the guards snapped to attention, their eyes lowered in deference and fear—exactly as they should be.“Here comes the King,” they announced in perfect unison.The massive doors swung open, and I stepped inside, my eyes immediately finding him.Alaric BlackstoneMy soon-to-be father-in-law.He immediately rose to his feet. I cou
Leonardo“This is interesting.”My body went into shock. I flinched violently, my blood turning to ice in my veins. That voice—I would recognize it anywhere, even in the depths of hell itself.My Scarlett.I turned around slowly, composing my features into what I hoped was a charming smile, though my heart hammered against my ribs like a war drum.“Having sex with a whore in the hallway. What a king you are.” Her words dripped with venom.“Who do we have here?” I asked with feigned innocence, desperately trying to salvage what little dignity remained. “My love.”The endearment felt hollow on my tongue as I forcefully pulled Mira’s hand away from me. Disgust radiated through me at the contact I had sought moments before.“My king,” Mira whimpered, her voice small and fearful.I turned back to her, my gaze hardening to steel. Without a single word, I made my message crystal clear: make Scarlett unhappy, and I’ll end your miserable life.Mira’s mouth snapped shut, terror blooming in her
LeonardoThe thought of her consumed me, burning through my veins like molten gold. I didn’t know what to do to make her happy—to make her mine entirely. Scarlett.Even her name tasted like fire on my tongue. She was beautiful, yes, but more than that—she was powerful, radiating a strength that called to me like nothing before. A woman truly fitted to be my queen.My chest ached watching her tears flow for another. Love? What feeble excuse. If I were in her position, I would choose power over love without hesitation.Being powerful means everyone fears you, respects you, worships you. Even those who claim not to love you have no choice but to bend the knee and pretend. Power rules over everything—it always has.“King, I don’t think you should go this far,” Giovanni’s voice cut through my thoughts, laced with an anxiety he rarely showed.I turned to face him, jaw tight with barely contained rage. My Beta—the one man who knew my mind better than anyone—was choosing now to act the fool?
Scarlett“Enough!” I roared, my voice cracking with desperate fury as I thrust myself between the two men. “Enough of all this!”I turned to face Finn, my heart splintering at the sight of his ravaged expression. “Please, Alpha, accept my rejection.”“Why?” Finn’s eyes were wet with tears. “Why did you choose to betray me?”“I didn’t,” I replied with a completed smugness that made me sick to my core. “I was blind before to see my worth, but I know better now. I know who deserves me.” I approached Leonardo with a seductive step.I ran my fingers across his chest in a possessive caress that made my skin crawl with revulsion. “Only Leonardo deserves me. I am powerful.” My eyes fixed on Finn, willing him to see through the lie even as I prayed he wouldn’t. “Beautiful, and I deserve to be the queen.”“Only I deserve to be your mate,” Leonardo muttered, seizing the opportunity to claim me before Finn’s eyes. Without warning, he captured my lips in a kiss so invasive it felt like an assault.
ScarlettI scoffed, shaking his hand off me violently. My skin crawled from his touch, as if contaminated by something vile. “As if I wanted this."“You don’t have a choice, honey,” he said with a smirk that made rage bubble in my chest. Without warning, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me against him.The possessive gesture made my stomach roil with disgust. He used his free hand to smooth my hair before pressing his lips to my forehead.“You look so beautiful,” he smirked. “You’re finally mine, honey.”“Let me go,” I uttered, my voice tight with barely controlled fury as I stretched my hand out demandingly. “Let me have the cure.”Every second in his arms felt like an eternity in hell.His gaze met mine, holding me in place. “Don’t push it.”“What else do you want?” I snapped. “Tell me.”“Nothing,” he groaned, forging an innocent face as if I was the one bullying him. He stared at me for a while before turning away.When he turned back, he held a bottle identical to the o
Scarlett“My queen,” he spoke, his eyes glittering with cold amusement that sent shivers racing down my spine.I watched, paralyzed, as he slowly licked the corner of his lips. “You’re so sweet.”“What!” I gasped, my eyes flying open in shock.Before I could even draw another breath, he moved closer—too close—and snatched my hand in his. The touch of his skin against mine burned like fire.In one fluid motion, he wrapped his arm around my waist, crushing me against him as he buried his face in the crook of my neck. My body went rigid with revulsion and fear.“Hmm,” he sniffed deeply, inhaling my scent as though savoring a delicacy. “You smell so good.”His voice was a husky whisper that raised goosebumps on my body.“Let go of me,” I snapped.Instead of releasing me, he dragged his tongue slowly across my skin.“If I were you, my queen,” he said, his fingers digging into my waist with possessiveness, “I would try to stay on my best behavior.”He raised his head, his piercing eyes capt