I woke up with a gasp, my heart pounding violently in my chest. Every detail of what had happened rushed back to me, slamming into my consciousness like a tidal wave. My hand instinctively flew to my neck, where I felt the sharp, stinging pain. I winced, my fingers trembling as they brushed over the tender spot."It hurts, right?"The voice came out of nowhere, echoing in my head and making my eyes snap open. I then realised I was not in my bedroom, I was back to that white place. Very familiar.The same endless white void where I first met that strange old woman—the one who had healed my eyes and told me things that surged my powers.I pushed myself up quickly, my legs unsteady beneath me. My eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice."Come. I'm waiting for you," the voice called again, calm yet commanding, echoing as though it came from everywhere and nowhere all at once.I swallowed hard, trying to gather myself, but I felt disoriented. My body still ached, the pain
Iris’s expression shifted, her mocking smile faltering as a shadow of sadness cast over her features. “Are you sure you want to know?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost gentle, yet tinged with sorrow that made my chest tighten. “The truth is always bitter, you know. It has a way of unravelling everything you thought you knew, leaving you with nothing but the cold sting of reality.”Her words hung in the air_ heavy, but I refused to back down. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I met her gaze, my own emotions a storm threatening to break free.“My life was built on lies, Iris,” I said, my voice trembling with the weight of my pain. “And it was far from sweet. So please…” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold her gaze. “Bless me with the bitterness.”For a long moment, Iris simply stared at me, her face unreadable. Then, slowly, she exhaled, “So be it,” she said, her voice no longer mocking or sad but steady. I braced myself for what Iris was about to reveal, but no
My heart clenched, disbelief roaring through my mind. “What?!” I gasped, taking a step back. “You… you dug out his heart?”.Iris let out a laugh that was hollow, twisted with grief. “After we left the prison, we tried to make a life together, staying in a small village, hidden from the world. I wanted to believe we could have peace. But then the news came. Mother had wiped out thousands of vampires—an entire generation—leaving only a handful who swore loyalty to her. The bloodline was decimated.“Alexander… he couldn’t take it. He snapped. Whatever control he had left unravelled that night. He went on a rampage, killing thousands in a single night—wolves, humans, and anything that crossed his path. He became the monster Mother feared, the very thing she cursed me to destroy.”Iris’s hands curled into fists, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. “At first, he tried to hide it from me. He played the part of the loving mate, whispering sweet words while his hands dripped with bloo
Everything replayed in my head like a relentless storm, crashing over me violently, the confrontation with Iris, the truth about Xander and her, the chilling revelation of my fate…Still crouched on my bed, I clutched my head tight as raw, anguished sobs tore through me.“I don’t know what to do,” I choked out, my voice thick with pain. “What do I do now?”The room felt smaller, suffocating. My thoughts spiralled out of control, dragging me down like a heavy brick was placed in my chest. The twisted love between Iris and Alexander, the torment they had inflicted upon each other—it was a cruel reflection of what I had with Ethan. A dangerous, consuming bond.My chest tightened, and a sharp sob escaped my lips.Ethan.His name alone sent a fresh wave of agony through me, merging with the searing pain in my neck. It was unbearable, a fire that burned from the inside out, a wound that refused to close. I curled my fingers into the sheets, gripping them as if they could help me ease the pa
The room felt eerily silent after Claudio vanished, his words lingering in the air like a haunting whisper. My heart clenched as I stared at the spot where he had stood moments ago.We all have a secret that’s hard to share, don’t we?Something was wrong with him. I knew it. The way he clutched his chest, the tension in his voice—he was in pain. And yet, he had chosen to hide it from me.A shiver ran down my spine, but before I could dwell on it further, the door creaked open once more.This time, it was Ruby.She stepped inside, a tray of pancakes in her hands, her bright eyes softening the moment she saw me. "My lady," she called gently before placing the tray on the small table beside my bed. Then, without hesitation, she ran into my arms, wrapping her small frame around me.I closed my eyes, sinking into her warmth. "How are you doing?" I asked, brushing my fingers through her soft curls."I'm good… better than yesterday," she said, pulling back slightly. Then, with a pout, she ad
Standing before Father’s office, I found myself hesitating, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. My heart pounded—not with fear, but with something raw, something I couldn’t name.Then I noticed Natalie. She stood just outside, her sharp gaze landing on my neck. A split second later, she dropped to her knees."Greetings, My Lady!"A heavy silence fell over us. The weight of her words made my chest tighten. Around us, the guards stiffened in confusion, their eyes darting between us. But I knew.Claudio’s warning echoed in my mind— ‘Hidden from all wolves, not other clans.’Shit. She saw it. She knows.Panic flared in my chest. I rushed forward, grabbing her arms and pulling her up. My grip was firm and desperate, but my voice was soft. "Don't do that again," I murmured, forcing a small, strained smile. "Address me normally, okay?"Her head remained lowered, but she answered, "I understand, my lady."I clenched my jaw. "Princess Selene," I corrected gently.She nodded.And then, h
Natalie’s knock was soft, almost timid. "Your Highness, Alpha Lucas summons you." Her voice pulled me from the wreckage of my thoughts. I stood slowly, my limbs aching, my mind a haze of guilt and regret. The room still reeked of her scent—faint now, like a ghost clinging to the edges of my soul. I opened the door, and Natalie stood there, her expression tight with worry. Her eyes darted to the blood on my sleeve—I had missed a spot. "Find Claudio," I said quietly. "Tell him to please check up on her." She gave a small nod and turned without a word. I shut the door and leaned against it for a second, exhaling shakily. My heart thudded dully against my ribs. I didn’t want to face him. I didn’t want to face anyone. Not when my hands had nearly taken everything from me. I dragged myself into the bathroom. The mirror above the sink was cracked—mocking me with jagged reflections. I couldn’t even look into my own eyes. I washed my face in silence, scrubbing harder than necessar
I clenched my fists so tight that my nails dug into my palms. The words came out in a low, jagged rasp, each one heavier than the last. "A force on par with the celestial realm. The maker of the mutated hybrids that terrorized our realm... and the human realm. The dark overlord." The weight of those words seemed to settle over the room, thickening the air, and I could feel my chest tightening as if the mere mention of that name might bring terror to it."Alexander the First," Alpha Lucas completed, his voice colder than usual. His expression matched the gravity of the situation, something I'd seen before—a reflection of deep worry masked by controlled composure.But then my gaze turned to Selene, and everything in me stilled. She was sitting there, poised as always, her fingers curled around her teacup with quiet elegance. There was no sign of shock, no flicker of fear, nothing that should've been there when faced with such a threat. She was... calm. Too calm.And then she smiled.It
The moment I swore those words, the air around us snapped—charged, alive. The wind stirred unnaturally, rustling the trees in a sudden gust. A strange pulse rippled through my chest like a silent drumbeat.Then came the burn.Subtle at first—like static crawling beneath my skin—but it quickly intensified. My breath caught. A pressure built inside me, raw and ancient, tightening around my lungs.But I didn’t let go of her.Not yet.I ground my teeth and forced myself to stay calm. I wouldn’t show weakness. Not in front of her. Not when she needed my strength.But I felt it—something inside me shifting. Unfurling. Watching.A presence that did not belong.I drew in a sharp breath and finally released her, rising to my feet. The earth trembled beneath me, only slightly, but I felt it. Power thrumming just beneath the surface of my skin. My hands were shaking, not from fear—but from the sheer force of what was clawing its way to the surface.“Selene...” I turned from her, holding out my h
I clenched my fists so tight that my nails dug into my palms. The words came out in a low, jagged rasp, each one heavier than the last. "A force on par with the celestial realm. The maker of the mutated hybrids that terrorized our realm... and the human realm. The dark overlord." The weight of those words seemed to settle over the room, thickening the air, and I could feel my chest tightening as if the mere mention of that name might bring terror to it."Alexander the First," Alpha Lucas completed, his voice colder than usual. His expression matched the gravity of the situation, something I'd seen before—a reflection of deep worry masked by controlled composure.But then my gaze turned to Selene, and everything in me stilled. She was sitting there, poised as always, her fingers curled around her teacup with quiet elegance. There was no sign of shock, no flicker of fear, nothing that should've been there when faced with such a threat. She was... calm. Too calm.And then she smiled.It
Natalie’s knock was soft, almost timid. "Your Highness, Alpha Lucas summons you." Her voice pulled me from the wreckage of my thoughts. I stood slowly, my limbs aching, my mind a haze of guilt and regret. The room still reeked of her scent—faint now, like a ghost clinging to the edges of my soul. I opened the door, and Natalie stood there, her expression tight with worry. Her eyes darted to the blood on my sleeve—I had missed a spot. "Find Claudio," I said quietly. "Tell him to please check up on her." She gave a small nod and turned without a word. I shut the door and leaned against it for a second, exhaling shakily. My heart thudded dully against my ribs. I didn’t want to face him. I didn’t want to face anyone. Not when my hands had nearly taken everything from me. I dragged myself into the bathroom. The mirror above the sink was cracked—mocking me with jagged reflections. I couldn’t even look into my own eyes. I washed my face in silence, scrubbing harder than necessar
Standing before Father’s office, I found myself hesitating, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. My heart pounded—not with fear, but with something raw, something I couldn’t name.Then I noticed Natalie. She stood just outside, her sharp gaze landing on my neck. A split second later, she dropped to her knees."Greetings, My Lady!"A heavy silence fell over us. The weight of her words made my chest tighten. Around us, the guards stiffened in confusion, their eyes darting between us. But I knew.Claudio’s warning echoed in my mind— ‘Hidden from all wolves, not other clans.’Shit. She saw it. She knows.Panic flared in my chest. I rushed forward, grabbing her arms and pulling her up. My grip was firm and desperate, but my voice was soft. "Don't do that again," I murmured, forcing a small, strained smile. "Address me normally, okay?"Her head remained lowered, but she answered, "I understand, my lady."I clenched my jaw. "Princess Selene," I corrected gently.She nodded.And then, h
The room felt eerily silent after Claudio vanished, his words lingering in the air like a haunting whisper. My heart clenched as I stared at the spot where he had stood moments ago.We all have a secret that’s hard to share, don’t we?Something was wrong with him. I knew it. The way he clutched his chest, the tension in his voice—he was in pain. And yet, he had chosen to hide it from me.A shiver ran down my spine, but before I could dwell on it further, the door creaked open once more.This time, it was Ruby.She stepped inside, a tray of pancakes in her hands, her bright eyes softening the moment she saw me. "My lady," she called gently before placing the tray on the small table beside my bed. Then, without hesitation, she ran into my arms, wrapping her small frame around me.I closed my eyes, sinking into her warmth. "How are you doing?" I asked, brushing my fingers through her soft curls."I'm good… better than yesterday," she said, pulling back slightly. Then, with a pout, she ad
Everything replayed in my head like a relentless storm, crashing over me violently, the confrontation with Iris, the truth about Xander and her, the chilling revelation of my fate…Still crouched on my bed, I clutched my head tight as raw, anguished sobs tore through me.“I don’t know what to do,” I choked out, my voice thick with pain. “What do I do now?”The room felt smaller, suffocating. My thoughts spiralled out of control, dragging me down like a heavy brick was placed in my chest. The twisted love between Iris and Alexander, the torment they had inflicted upon each other—it was a cruel reflection of what I had with Ethan. A dangerous, consuming bond.My chest tightened, and a sharp sob escaped my lips.Ethan.His name alone sent a fresh wave of agony through me, merging with the searing pain in my neck. It was unbearable, a fire that burned from the inside out, a wound that refused to close. I curled my fingers into the sheets, gripping them as if they could help me ease the pa
My heart clenched, disbelief roaring through my mind. “What?!” I gasped, taking a step back. “You… you dug out his heart?”.Iris let out a laugh that was hollow, twisted with grief. “After we left the prison, we tried to make a life together, staying in a small village, hidden from the world. I wanted to believe we could have peace. But then the news came. Mother had wiped out thousands of vampires—an entire generation—leaving only a handful who swore loyalty to her. The bloodline was decimated.“Alexander… he couldn’t take it. He snapped. Whatever control he had left unravelled that night. He went on a rampage, killing thousands in a single night—wolves, humans, and anything that crossed his path. He became the monster Mother feared, the very thing she cursed me to destroy.”Iris’s hands curled into fists, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. “At first, he tried to hide it from me. He played the part of the loving mate, whispering sweet words while his hands dripped with bloo
Iris’s expression shifted, her mocking smile faltering as a shadow of sadness cast over her features. “Are you sure you want to know?” she asked, her voice quieter now, almost gentle, yet tinged with sorrow that made my chest tighten. “The truth is always bitter, you know. It has a way of unravelling everything you thought you knew, leaving you with nothing but the cold sting of reality.”Her words hung in the air_ heavy, but I refused to back down. My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I met her gaze, my own emotions a storm threatening to break free.“My life was built on lies, Iris,” I said, my voice trembling with the weight of my pain. “And it was far from sweet. So please…” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to hold her gaze. “Bless me with the bitterness.”For a long moment, Iris simply stared at me, her face unreadable. Then, slowly, she exhaled, “So be it,” she said, her voice no longer mocking or sad but steady. I braced myself for what Iris was about to reveal, but no
I woke up with a gasp, my heart pounding violently in my chest. Every detail of what had happened rushed back to me, slamming into my consciousness like a tidal wave. My hand instinctively flew to my neck, where I felt the sharp, stinging pain. I winced, my fingers trembling as they brushed over the tender spot."It hurts, right?"The voice came out of nowhere, echoing in my head and making my eyes snap open. I then realised I was not in my bedroom, I was back to that white place. Very familiar.The same endless white void where I first met that strange old woman—the one who had healed my eyes and told me things that surged my powers.I pushed myself up quickly, my legs unsteady beneath me. My eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice."Come. I'm waiting for you," the voice called again, calm yet commanding, echoing as though it came from everywhere and nowhere all at once.I swallowed hard, trying to gather myself, but I felt disoriented. My body still ached, the pain