The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light washing over the land like a shroud of ghostly white. It was quiet, eerily so, and all I could hear was the sound of my breathing as I moved through the woods. My feet hit the ground softly, each step deliberate, each breath shaky and strained. I wasn’t sure what I was running from anymore—was it the pack? Nicolai? Or was it something much worse: the truth? The night felt like it was closing in on me, the shadows pressing in from all sides, and my mind kept replaying everything that had happened—the stranger’s warning, his words heavy in my ears, his eyes haunting me. You have the power to decide what happens next. But did I? Could I really control my own destiny when everything I had known was falling apart? When Nicolai had made it clear that my very existence, my bond to him, was a curse in his eyes? When the pack had made me feel smaller than the dirt beneath their feet? I stopped to catch my breath, my pulse racing as I leaned agai
The city smelled different—no trees, no earth, just concrete, iron, and the faint scent of food wafting from the street vendors. It was both overwhelming and oddly comforting. I could walk these crowded streets without the constant pressure of eyes on me, without the weight of my past dragging me down. But the silence in my mind wasn’t the peaceful kind; it was a haunting silence, filled with echoes of a life I couldn’t seem to escape. My first few days in the human city passed in a blur of faces and strange noises. I tried to keep my head down, moving through the busy streets as if I were just like everyone else. But every time I looked into someone’s eyes, I couldn’t help but feel like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. The world of the Lycans, the pack, Nicolai—it was all still so fresh in my mind. Even in this place, this city of strangers, I couldn’t shake the memories of what I’d left behind. I had found a small, rundown apartment not far from the center of
The days in the human town had started to blur together in a rhythm of normalcy I hadn’t expected. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was able to breathe without the constant weight of the pack's judgment pressing down on me. No one here knew who I was. They didn’t know my past, my failures, or the pain that I carried. I was just another face in the crowd, a young woman trying to make a living and survive in a place that wasn’t bound by the rules of my pack. My routine had become comfortable—almost too comfortable. I woke up early, worked at the small café, and spent my evenings tending to the little apartment I’d rented. I hadn’t expected it to be easy to slip into this life, but somehow, it had become second nature. The simplicity of it all soothed something inside me. I no longer had to pretend to be something I wasn’t. No longer had to fight to be seen, or worse, to be invisible. Here, I could simply exist. But on that day, as I walked through the bustling streets o
The day had started just like any other. I was back at the diner, slipping into the familiar rhythm of my routine. The clink of plates, the murmur of conversation, the sizzling of food on the grill. It was comforting in a way. The town was still small enough that I could disappear into the background, becoming just another face in the crowd. No one here knew my past, and that was exactly how I liked it. But today, something felt off. I was standing by the counter, wiping down glasses, when I felt it again. The same pull, the same impossible sensation that had stopped me in my tracks the day before. My heart skipped a beat, and my senses sharpened, straining to detect the source of the feeling. I paused, setting the glass down with a slight tremor in my hand. My eyes scanned the diner, searching for any sign of the man I had seen the previous day. The man who had felt... important, even though I couldn’t make sense of it. But as I looked around, I saw nothing. No one was staring at
The quiet of the room settled around us like a thick, comforting blanket. My mind was reeling, yet somehow, a strange calm settled over me as I glanced between Grey and Blue. Everything that had happened seemed so surreal—finding mates, discovering that they were the Twin Princes of Lycans, and now, this… a marking. It felt like I was walking through a dream I hadn’t dared to imagine for myself. Grey must have noticed the lingering doubt in my expression because he gave me a reassuring smile. “You still look like you have questions, Amelia,” he said softly, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. The gentle touch sent a shiver down my spine, grounding me, yet stirring a warmth I hadn’t felt in so long. “I do,” I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady. “I… I don’t understand how this is even possible. I mean, for a werewolf to have Lycan mates… It’s rare, isn’t it? Or… is it even allowed?” Blue exchanged a glance with Grey before he answered. “Yes, it’s rare,
The evening air was thick with anticipation, and as I looked out at the city lights from the twin’s apartment, I could feel my world expanding with each new piece of information they shared. Grey and Blue had given me glimpses into a reality that I hadn’t even known existed—a world ruled by their family, the Lycan royals, who held sway over every werewolf pack, including my own. This revelation left me speechless. “So… you’re saying that even my old pack answers to your family?” I asked, trying to process the idea. Grey nodded, his gaze serious. “Yes. All werewolves answer to the Lycan royals, Amelia. While packs have their own hierarchy, they ultimately answer to us. That’s why we’re here. We may seem like we’re just… on vacation, but we’re never truly disconnected from our responsibilities.” I stared at them, struggling to grasp the magnitude of their world. The idea of such power and autonomy was staggering. “And Lycans don’t have packs?” I asked. “I always thought... well, I th
Returning to Wood Mist Pack was surreal, like stepping into an old dream—or maybe a nightmare. The pack’s territory came into view, stretching out beneath a canopy of trees that held so many memories. I had expected some sense of closure, or maybe just a rush of nervous energy. But with Grey and Blue beside me, it was as if everything around us was holding its breath. As we crossed into familiar territory, heads turned. My old packmates—people I’d grown up with, worked alongside, laughed with—were staring, their faces a mix of shock, confusion, and something else that almost looked like… respect? It was strange, unsettling. I could hear the hushed whispers as we passed, each voice trying to piece together why I’d returned, and especially why I was flanked by the Lycan princes. “Is that… Amelia? But she left months ago. Didn’t they say she was rogue?” “Why is she here? And with them?” “She looks… different, doesn’t she?” The last comment made me glance down, wondering if there was
Sitting on the familiar bed in my old room, I took a deep breath, trying to let the comforting memories settle over me. It was strange being back here. So much had changed, but the room still had all the little details I remembered—the faint scent of pine drifting through the window, the scratches on the wood floor, the worn quilt my mother had made years ago. I ran my fingers along its faded edges, feeling the small sense of belonging I thought I’d lost when I’d left the pack. The twins had escorted me to the cabin and helped me settle in, but duty had called them away. Grey had gently held my hand, his cool touch a grounding comfort, while Blue had squeezed my shoulder with a reassuring smile, promising they’d be back soon. I watched them disappear into the woods, feeling the strange pull in my heart already missing them. I could feel their presence even from afar, a soft warmth inside me, steady and anchoring. With them gone, I had time to sit with my thoughts and take in my surr
The morning light filtered softly through my window, illuminating the delicate necklace in my hand—the necklace Alpha Cedric had given me. The simple silver chain was adorned with a small, ruby pendant that caught the light with a subtle glow, reminding me of the mystery that still shrouded my past. I wondered if wearing it at the coronation would be a mistake. It might spark questions from the court, raise eyebrows, stir fears… but maybe, in a strange way, that was what I wanted. Maybe it was time for the truth, for others to acknowledge that I was different—and that I was proud of it.I ran my fingers over the pendant, lost in thought. I felt a deep longing for answers, for some connection to my family that went beyond whispers and cautionary tales. So many people feared what I was without even knowing me, and the thought of spending my life under that shadow felt like a
The palace buzzed with a tense but lively energy as preparations for my coronation resumed. It felt surreal to think that I was just a few days away from becoming a true princess, and, soon after, the bride of Grey and Blue. The weeks since Darius’s disappearance had left me unsettled, but as my training resumed, I found myself oddly grateful for everything he’d taught me. He may have left with more questions than answers, but his lessons had stuck with me in ways I didn’t expect.Each morning began with a rigorous schedule designed to refine every aspect of my future role. Every step, every tilt of my head, every word I spoke was carefully scrutinized by the royal teachers. But this time, I didn’t falter or feel overwhelmed. I moved with a confidence that I hadn’t felt before, and I knew, deep down, it was because of Darius. I silently thanked him every time I f
Days had slipped by since Darius had vanished, his absence like a shadow that clung to every corner of my life. I’d been growing accustomed to our lessons, to his sharp wit, his guidance, and even to the way he always seemed to know the exact moment my mind began to wander. He was more than a teacher; he was becoming an anchor. So, when he disappeared without a word, I couldn’t ignore the pang of betrayal that settled in my chest.In the days that followed, I found myself making excuses for him. Perhaps he’d been sent on an urgent mission or called away by a family matter. But each passing day without a single word from him chipped away at my hope. In desperation, I turned to Lea, asking her to look into his whereabouts quietly. Her return brought news that felt like a punch to the gut.“Lady Amelia,” sh
The palace gardens were like a hidden world, their beauty nearly stealing my breath every time I wandered there. Today, sunlight danced on the dewdrops resting on the flowers, casting a soft glow on the neatly trimmed hedges and winding paths. It was a relief to be outside after so many tense days within the palace walls, where whispers followed me and the weight of judgment lingered in every room. With Lea by my side, I felt I could finally breathe again, at least for a moment.“Lea, do you ever feel like this place is almost too perfect?” I asked as we walked slowly through the garden, taking in the floral aromas that floated in the warm air. “Like it’s hiding something?”Lea chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Every place has its secrets, Lady Amelia. And some gardens can be dangerous, too. Beautiful, but thorny.”
I spent the days after the trial in a strange, muted haze. Everything I had learned in the court gnawed at me, refusing to leave me in peace. I tried to find solace in my room, hiding from the curious gazes of the palace staff, but it didn’t help. The truth was, I didn’t know where I belonged anymore. Being here in the kingdom felt like a betrayal of everything I’d been through, and yet, returning to Wood Mist Pack seemed impossible now.Lea was my constant companion, her quiet presence a balm to my aching soul. She sat with me for hours, talking softly, trying to distract me with stories from her own life. She even brought books from the palace library and offered to teach me about Lycan history, though the thought of it only twisted the knife in my heart. History, after all, was what had condemned my family and left me with nothing but questions.
Sitting in the dim light of my chambers, I couldn’t escape the thoughts that had plagued me since that awful duel with Astrid. Accepting her challenge had been a terrible mistake; revealing my Lycan form in front of everyone had been even worse. Now, it seemed my every action had consequences, rippling out far beyond what I’d intended. I thought about Alpha Cedric’s warnings and how he’d tried to protect me, telling me to tread carefully, not to let my emotions rule me. And yet, one bitter taunt from Astrid had been enough to send me into a blind rage.My hands trembled, and I wrapped them tightly around myself, trying to stave off the creeping chill of regret. Somewhere deep down, Astrid’s words had wormed their way into my mind, infecting me with self-doubt. Could it be that she was right? That my mother’s death, my struggles, all the pain—had it al
The first few days of training were like stepping into a dream—and a nightmare. The palace teachers, with their strict postures and watchful eyes, observed my every move, correcting even the slightest misstep. They drilled me in all the finer points of royal etiquette: how to stand, how to hold a teacup, how to speak with an air of calm authority. Every gesture, every word, had to be perfectly measured. I fumbled at first, feeling clumsy and out of place. But as the hours wore on, something strange began to happen. Movements I thought would feel foreign instead came naturally, almost instinctively, as if some hidden part of me had always known how to move with elegance and grace.A few times, I heard whispers as the teachers glanced at each other, nodding with satisfaction. “She’s a natural,” one of them said quietly, as if marveling at something unexpected. A warmth b
Settling into the palace was surreal. I had a spacious room, luxuriously furnished and positioned just a few doors down from Blue and Grey’s quarters. Every piece of furniture gleamed with polished wood and metal accents, while soft, heavy curtains framed windows that overlooked a lush garden below. It was strange to think that this place, so far from everything I’d known, was to become my new home.The first morning, a gentle knock sounded at my door. I opened it to find a young woman with a warm smile and an air of quiet strength. Her hair was braided back, and she wore a simple but elegant dress that matched her unassuming nature. She bowed slightly, then introduced herself. “Good morning, Miss Amelia. I’m Lea, your personal assistant. I’ll be helping you with anything you need during your time here in the palace.”
As we stepped into the kingdom, a peculiar silence settled over the streets. Everything looked normal, yet my senses tingled with a mix of nervousness and awe. People whispered among themselves, some pointing our way as we passed by, their eyes shifting from the twins, Blue and Grey, to me. I knew most of these people weren't entirely human; there was a palpable aura of power around them. And beyond that, a feeling in the air, almost instinctive, told me that most of these onlookers were Lycans. It was overwhelming. I could feel my pulse quicken, and my fingers dug into Blue's arm, seeking some form of reassurance. Blue turned his head slightly, his gaze soft and comforting. "How are you holding up, Amelia?" he murmured, so only I could hear. I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. "Honestly? I’m terrified," I admitted. "It feels like everyone is watching… judging." Grey’s voice came from my other side, smooth and steady. "You’ll be okay," he said, offering me a quick, reassuring s