Nina“Make sure you bring her back,” Lucas said, his voice dripping with warning. His eyes raked over me with barely concealed disgust, as if I were something he’d scraped off his boot. “If you fail—” He paused, letting the threat hang in the air. “I will make you regret what happened to Scar.”My hands clenched at my sides, rage burning in my chest. The audacity of this man, trying to blame me for his own cruelty toward his mistress. But I swallowed my anger, forced my lips into a demure smile. “Yes, master. I won’t disappoint you.”Today was the day. Finally, I would drag that privileged bitch from her Luna throne. If only Scarlett had done as she was told, if she’d just listened to Father and taken my place as Lucas’s plaything, none of this would have happened. I’d never known such suffering until Lucas broke me.“Don’t make me regret betting on your sister,” he said with a scoff, rising from his chair.I watched him approach, noting the predatory gleam in his eyes. Oh, Scarlett,
Nina. Rage boiled through my veins at his statement. I was his? Like hell! My emotions took control, and before I could think, I lunged forward and slammed my fist into his face. He staggered backward, shock flashing across his features. I stood frozen, heart thundering in my chest, each breath coming in short gasps as heat crept up my neck and burned across my cheeks. “How could you, bastard? I am your mate!” I yelled. “My mate?” The word dripped with contempt as he rubbed his reddening cheek. “Do I look like someone desperate enough to claim you?” Something shattered inside my chest like splintering glass. The pain ripped through me, white-hot and searing, his rejection striking deeper than any physical disaster could have. Each heartbeat sent fresh waves of agony coursing through my body, as if lightning had found its home in my veins. I felt the pain. I was overwhelmed by a mix of anger and sadness, my heart aching with the sting of his words. A cold emptiness settled in my ch
ScarlettA knock at the door broke through the afternoon quiet, drawing my attention to Alisha. “Luna?”“Who is it?” I called out.“It’s me,” came her familiar voice.“Come in.” The door creaked open as Snow entered, her head bowed respectfully. “What do you want, Snow?”“Luna,” she said, maintaining her deferential posture. “Someone is here for you.”I straightened myself before I rose on my feet, instantly alert. “Who?” Visitors were rare enough, but I had no one who would seek me out. “Name?”“Nina,” Snow replied softly. “She identified herself as your sister.”The name struck me like a punch. The last time I saw her was that night.My hands grew cold as memories flooded back - Nina’s cruel smirk, her vindictive pleasure in my pain, her part in the attempted kidnapping. She should be in Stone Ridge Pack, not here at my doorstep.“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice coming out sharper than intended.“At the pack border.”“Let her in and take her to the pack hall,” I instructed. “I w
Scarlett“Jack helped me escape,” she explained, gratitude evident in the way she looked at him. “He worked in the pack as a guard and risked everything to get me out. But if I go back home, our parents will just send me back to Lucas. They won’t believe me about what he’s really like. They never listen...”I studied her face intently, searching for any sign of deception. The old Nina had been a masterful manipulator, but this woman before me seemed stripped of all pretense. Her pain felt raw and real, radiating from her in waves that my wolf could sense. This wasn’t the step-sister who had tormented me - this was someone who had been broken and rebuilt herself from the shards.Without conscious thought, I found myself saying, “I forgive you.”Nina’s head snapped up, disbelief written across her features.“The past is the past,” I continued, surprised by how much I meant it. “No one deserves what you went through, Nina. No one.”“I... thank you,” she whispered, fresh tears spilling do
NinaI stood there, nervously fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve, feeling the weight of Jack’s piercing gaze on me. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced by frustration.His jaw was clenched, and his eyes burned with anger. The tension in the room was suffocating, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, betraying my calm exterior.“You knew all this time, Nina?” Jack’s voice was low, dangerously calm, but I could hear the underlying fury. “You knew your sister was the Luna of the Crescent Pack, and you never told me?”My throat felt dry, and the words stuck. The lie I’d told him earlier suddenly feeling like an impossible weight. How could I explain the fear that had kept me quiet?That deep-rooted fear of how he would react, how it could affect everything - especially with Lucas involved?“I... I didn’t know how to tell you, Jack,” I finally managed to speak, my voice shaky. I looked away from him, guilt pressing against my chest. “I was scared. Scared of how you’d rea
NinaIn the blink of an eye, he stripped me of my clothes. “I won’t get angry,” he said, pausing as his gaze locked onto mine. His eyes were filled with desire as he roughly grabbed my breasts. A low moan escaped me, primal and raw, as if I were a wolf in heat.“Because you dared to call me a guard to your sister,” he added.“Mmm.” I covered my mouth, embarrassed by the sounds I was making. I couldn’t believe I was moaning. Worse, I was beginning to love everything about his touch.“I own you. You’re my property, sunshine. My whore.”I could have been angry at his words, furious even, but instead, they fanned the flames of pleasure inside me. I gasped as his hand suddenly shoved inside my core.“This hole belongs to me.”Before I could react, I was thrown onto the bed. Jack approached me like a wounded wolf, his body and eyes shimmering with desire. I watched, unable to look away, as he undressed himself one after the other.He smirked as he caught me staring. “I know you love it,” he
NinaScarlett’s gifts felt like a searing poison on my skin. Each carefully selected item was a calculated insult - a reminder of her distinguished superiority, her attempt to reconcile me with expensive trinkets.My fingers traced the delicate silver bracelet, my nails digging into my palm, transforming the gesture of admiration into a silent show of rage.My body still ached from Jack’s brutal encounter, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the strategy taking shape in my mind.I dressed carefully, choosing a deep burgundy dress that concealed my bruises.When the maid knocked, interrupting my seething thoughts, I took a moment to compose myself. My reflection in the mirror showed a woman perfectly poised, betraying nothing of the volcanic fury churning beneath the surface.“Who?” I asked.“It’s me, ma’am,” Sarah, the maid who’d delivered Scarlett’s gifts, replied.“Enter,” I called, my voice smooth and gentle.“Is there something you need?” I asked, not bothering to look d
AlishaThe sight of Nina standing so close to Scarlett sent an uncontrollable wave of disgust rolling through me. I forced myself to stay composed, though every instinct screamed to rip her facade apart.Her sweet-talking words were insincere, like poison dripping from her lips.Scarlett, naive as ever, couldn’t see through the lies. I could, though. I had learned to recognize the venom of a viper in sheep’s clothing long ago.My fingers clenched into fists beneath the dining table as I watched Scarlett embrace her. It was the same embrace that once offered me solace during my darkest days. Now, it was wasted on someone like Nina. A schemer who thought she could worm her way into Scarlett’s trust and steal everything from her.“Sister," I called out sharply, my voice slicing through the air. Nina turned to me, her expression softening into a mask of false concern. I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. Did she really think I couldn’t see through her act?She started to speak, but I silenc
Alaric“Alaric, do you truly think this will work?” Elena asked, her fingers tracing lazy patterns across my chest.I couldn’t suppress a scornful laugh. How could it possibly fail when the Alpha King himself had shown such interest in Scarlett?If I had known she would turn out to be such an amazing asset, I wouldn’t have gifted her to Dickson. I would have given her directly to the King. By now, I could have been enjoying royal status.My eyes drifted to Elena, my beautiful yet simple-minded stupid Luna. Without the memory-altering potion clouding her mind, she wouldn’t be this gentle and kind.I remembered all too well her incessant complaints about Nina’s situation; her tears, her accusations, her demands that I intervene.I had no choice but to clear off her memories. The only memories left for her now were that Nina was living happily with Lucas.That was all I wanted her to know. I blocked all other news, especially the bitter truth about Nina’s suffering in their pack.That wo
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