Emily's POV I stormed through the corridors of Galahad, my mind spiraling into dark, desperate plans. The further I went, the more the anger burned. Rosie had dared to come into my territory, spewing accusations and threats, tearing at the threads I’d so carefully woven into control. I couldn’t let her unravel everything. Not when I was so close to consolidating my power. Fayne was a loose end. One that Rosie would undoubtedly try to tug at until it snapped. I reached his door and shoved it open without bothering to knock. Fayne was awake, sitting up in bed, his eyes clouded with fatigue but brightening the moment he saw me. There was something too earnest, too genuine about his smile. “Emily.” My name sounded like a prayer on his lips. I hated it. Loved it. Needed it. “I need to talk to you.” I closed the door behind me, locking it with a flick of my wrist. The air between us thickened, the quiet humming with something sharp and urgent. Fayne’s gaze drifted over me, the
Emily’s POVThe hours passed in a restless blur. I prowled the corridors of Galahad like a caged animal, my mind tangled with thoughts of Fayne, Rosie, and the delicate balance I was struggling to maintain. I’d given Fayne his task, planted the seeds of deception. Now I had to wait for them to take root. But patience had never been my strong suit. Melissa found me in the training hall, my fists slamming into the padded target with punishing precision. The rhythmic thud of my strikes did little to ease the agitation clawing at me. “Emily.” Melissa’s voice was cautious, her steps light as she approached. “Is something troubling you?” “Everything,” I snapped, my fist crashing into the target one last time. “Rosie. Fayne. The constant need to keep everyone in line.” Melissa folded her arms, her gaze steady. “You’ve managed well so far. The pack is loyal to you.” “Only because I make them fear me more than they fear the unknown.” I wiped sweat from my brow, my breathing uneven.
Emily’s POVI couldn’t sleep that night. Fayne’s words echoed in my mind, tearing apart the carefully built walls I’d spent so long reinforcing. *You can’t keep pushing me away.* But I had to. I had to protect myself. To maintain control. Love was a weakness I couldn’t afford. And yet, my chest ached from the void his absence left behind. When dawn’s light spilled through the curtains, I forced myself to rise. There was work to be done. The pack to lead. The illusion of control to maintain. But as I walked through the corridors, I couldn’t ignore the way the pack members avoided my gaze. Whispers lingered on their tongues, doubt festering like an infection. They saw the tension between Fayne and me, the cracks in my authority. I wouldn’t let them see me falter. Not now. Not ever. Melissa found me in the dining hall, her face pale but composed. “Emily, we need to talk.” “What is it?” I snapped, my nerves frayed from a night of sleepless torment. “It’s Fayne.” She hesi
Emily’s POV We walked back in silence, the forest thick with the crisp bite of morning air. Fayne’s fingers never left mine, his grip steady, as if he feared I might slip away if he loosened it. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was still clinging to that old version of myself—untouchable, unbreakable. But his warmth seeped into me, a promise I hadn’t realized I’d been craving. Melissa was waiting at the pack house entrance, her brows drawn tight with worry. When she saw us approaching, her expression melted into relief. “Thank the stars.” She rushed over, eyes darting between us. “I was about to send a search party.” “I’m fine,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt. “Fayne’s fine. We’re…” I glanced at him, hesitating. “…we’re good.” His smile was small but genuine, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us. Melissa’s gaze narrowed, suspicion creeping in. “You sure you’re okay, Fayne? You look pale.” “I’m alright,” he replied, though I could see the fatigue etched i
Emily's POVStanding by the window pane in my blue dress, I took out my right hand and snaked my fingers through the rays of moonlight that beamed into the room.For a moment there, my fingers stiffened. My nails got darker and elongated till my claws were fully jutted out.It wasn't a full moon that night, but I hadn't gained total control over my wolf-self.Fancied, — as though I hadn't seen my claws a million times — I swung my hand and cleaved at the window, leaving four slash marks on the glass. I had to hold back, so I wouldn't have to start clearing up broken shards of glass, again.Then I heard a voice, a familiar voice…“Ugh… Seriously, Emily, you have to stop doing that.”I retracted my claws and turned my gaze away from the window. Standing at the other side of the bed, with a hand on her tapered waist, was my best friend, Lyla Dune, a beta like me. She was much stronger though.“You know we just got that window, right? If you break this one, we'll miss the party,” she adde
Emily's POVA dream was what I thought it was. Scratch that. A nightmare would have been more suitable.But it was neither of them. It was real. Real!I could tell it was real because of the pain I felt when Lyla slapped me on the cheek. It pushed my head sideways and I hit my temple against the door’s glass. It hurt. My head spun.The next thing I could remember was seeing her crawl towards the back and open the door. But I still had my weight resting on it, so I fell immediately when it opened.I struck my body against the concrete floor of the car park. I could have sworn to hear a few bone cracks.Then the jeep roared to life and drove out of the car park, feeding me with dust and smoke from its exhaust pipe.I was left battered and bruised, both physically, emotionally, and psychologically. It was probably still a couple of minutes to six that morning because the sun was barely out. The surroundings were still dark and bleak.I heaved a relieved sigh that it was still early. It w
Emily's POVI woke up to find myself alone in the woods, on the night of a full moon.“Ugh…” I rubbed my glabella as my head throbbed in pain. It was as though my brain had switched places with my heart. My skull felt heavy.It was as I tried to lessen the pain that my nose twitched at the smell of a nice, savory scent. Still rubbing my glabella with two fingers, I dropped my head to see a small lunch box at my feet. It had a note stuck on it.I leaned forward as I reached for the lunch box with my free hand. I peeled off the note and brought it under my weary gaze.Even without looking at the footnote, I could instantly tell that it was from Tyler. His handwriting was unique.Reading the note in his voice, it said:“I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I had no choice. I thought you were dead.“I had to take you out of the house after you collapsed and passed out. My dad was visiting. There's food in the flask. Please eat that to replenish your strength.“And don't try to come ov
Emily's POVMy life in the palace wasn't as quiet as I'd expected, ever since I started cleaning in the palace, I had the king's eye on me ever since I started my job. At first, it started out as a curious glance and I shook it off as he was just being cautious around her due to me being new. But after a while, he assigned me to clean his own room and since then his quiet stares had incessantly increased and I felt more uncomfortable around him. I didn't make any friends in the palace and definitely didn't want to become buddies with the king. I tried to avoid him as much as possible but he was actually very persistent and frankly, there was nothing I could do to avoid a king.Soon enough, he started to talk to me with lust in his eyes. I knew that look when I saw it and I was tired of such looks, I really didn't want to be mated to anyone or even want to talk to any man. I wanted to be on my own terms for now. It was already hard enough to live with the hollow in my heart, I don't
Emily’s POV We walked back in silence, the forest thick with the crisp bite of morning air. Fayne’s fingers never left mine, his grip steady, as if he feared I might slip away if he loosened it. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was still clinging to that old version of myself—untouchable, unbreakable. But his warmth seeped into me, a promise I hadn’t realized I’d been craving. Melissa was waiting at the pack house entrance, her brows drawn tight with worry. When she saw us approaching, her expression melted into relief. “Thank the stars.” She rushed over, eyes darting between us. “I was about to send a search party.” “I’m fine,” I said, my voice stronger than I felt. “Fayne’s fine. We’re…” I glanced at him, hesitating. “…we’re good.” His smile was small but genuine, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us. Melissa’s gaze narrowed, suspicion creeping in. “You sure you’re okay, Fayne? You look pale.” “I’m alright,” he replied, though I could see the fatigue etched i
Emily’s POVI couldn’t sleep that night. Fayne’s words echoed in my mind, tearing apart the carefully built walls I’d spent so long reinforcing. *You can’t keep pushing me away.* But I had to. I had to protect myself. To maintain control. Love was a weakness I couldn’t afford. And yet, my chest ached from the void his absence left behind. When dawn’s light spilled through the curtains, I forced myself to rise. There was work to be done. The pack to lead. The illusion of control to maintain. But as I walked through the corridors, I couldn’t ignore the way the pack members avoided my gaze. Whispers lingered on their tongues, doubt festering like an infection. They saw the tension between Fayne and me, the cracks in my authority. I wouldn’t let them see me falter. Not now. Not ever. Melissa found me in the dining hall, her face pale but composed. “Emily, we need to talk.” “What is it?” I snapped, my nerves frayed from a night of sleepless torment. “It’s Fayne.” She hesi
Emily’s POVThe hours passed in a restless blur. I prowled the corridors of Galahad like a caged animal, my mind tangled with thoughts of Fayne, Rosie, and the delicate balance I was struggling to maintain. I’d given Fayne his task, planted the seeds of deception. Now I had to wait for them to take root. But patience had never been my strong suit. Melissa found me in the training hall, my fists slamming into the padded target with punishing precision. The rhythmic thud of my strikes did little to ease the agitation clawing at me. “Emily.” Melissa’s voice was cautious, her steps light as she approached. “Is something troubling you?” “Everything,” I snapped, my fist crashing into the target one last time. “Rosie. Fayne. The constant need to keep everyone in line.” Melissa folded her arms, her gaze steady. “You’ve managed well so far. The pack is loyal to you.” “Only because I make them fear me more than they fear the unknown.” I wiped sweat from my brow, my breathing uneven.
Emily's POV I stormed through the corridors of Galahad, my mind spiraling into dark, desperate plans. The further I went, the more the anger burned. Rosie had dared to come into my territory, spewing accusations and threats, tearing at the threads I’d so carefully woven into control. I couldn’t let her unravel everything. Not when I was so close to consolidating my power. Fayne was a loose end. One that Rosie would undoubtedly try to tug at until it snapped. I reached his door and shoved it open without bothering to knock. Fayne was awake, sitting up in bed, his eyes clouded with fatigue but brightening the moment he saw me. There was something too earnest, too genuine about his smile. “Emily.” My name sounded like a prayer on his lips. I hated it. Loved it. Needed it. “I need to talk to you.” I closed the door behind me, locking it with a flick of my wrist. The air between us thickened, the quiet humming with something sharp and urgent. Fayne’s gaze drifted over me, the
Emily's POVI stormed down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. Everything about Fayne rattled me. His persistence, his unwavering devotion—it was infuriating. But most of all, it was terrifying. I couldn’t allow myself to be weak. Not when I had everything I’d ever wanted finally within my grasp. Jacob’s power. His pack. And yet… Fayne’s gaze haunted me more than Jacob’s corpse ever could. “Emily.” Melissa’s voice cut through the whirlwind of my thoughts. I hadn’t even noticed her approaching. She looked at me like she had something important to say, her eyes unusually bright. “What is it, Melissa?” I snapped, too wound up to entertain whatever nonsense she’d come to me with. “There’s… news.” Her voice wavered, something close to fear in her eyes. “What kind of news?” “Rosie. She’s returned.” I felt my breath hitch, a cold chill slipping down my spine. Alpha Rosie of the Thorns Pack wasn’t the kind of woman to back down easily. If she’d come back to Galahad,
Emily’s POVThe fire had nearly burned itself out by the time I allowed myself to sit. My legs trembled as if my own fury had drained me. It was definitely not easy being Alpha at all. I sighed as I walked.Fayne’s words echoed in my mind, relentless and maddening. “What if I never leave, Emily?” How could he be so certain? How could he look at me like… like I was something precious? Something worth fighting for. I wasn’t precious. I was *ruthless*. Everything I had, I took. Jacob’s power, his allies, his pack—I claimed them all. Even Fayne. I’d poisoned the only man who had power over me and buried him in a coffin like a secret to be forgotten. No one questioned my claim as Alpha. No one dared. But Fayne? He questioned me with every look, every word, and still, he stayed. That loyalty should’ve made me feel triumphant. Instead, it rattled me to my core. I needed control. Over him. Over everything. A knock at the door. I straightened, wiping the frustration from my face
Emily's POV Rosie was a problem. Fayne was a problem. Neither could be ignored. I exhaled sharply, rolling my shoulders back. Think, Emily. If Rosie kept pushing, I’d have to deal with her. But killing her too soon would bring chaos. I needed to manipulate her, draw her in, make her believe I wasn’t her enemy. As for Fayne… I still didn’t understand how he had hidden so much of himself from me. He had always been powerful, but the energy I felt when he blocked my path earlier—it was something else . Something more . I needed to test him again. Push him. See where his limits were. I turned away from the map, my decision made. First, I would handle Rosie. Then, I would handle Fayne. Fayne’s Room I entered his room without knocking. Fayne was still in bed, his face paler than usual, but his eyes snapped to mine the moment I stepped inside. He had recovered faster than I expected. “I thought you’d stay away longer,” he murmured. I walked toward him, my e
Emily’s POV I narrowed my eyes at Fayne as he stared at me with that ridiculous, dreamy expression. He was still weak from his wounds, but there was a strange certainty in his eyes that unsettled me. I needed to be sure. “Do you know who I am?” I asked, my voice steady. Fayne smiled, as if the answer was obvious. “Of course,” he said. “You’re my wife.” The moment the words left his lips, he reached for me. Before I could react, he pulled me forward and kissed me. My entire body tensed. His lips were warm, gentle even, but the shock hit me harder than anything else. I wasn’t expecting this. I shouldn’t have let this happen. A rush of emotions surged through me—ones I didn’t want to name, ones I didn’t have time to deal with. My instincts kicked in before my thoughts could catch up, and I shoved him back with enough force to put space between us. Fayne looked at me in confusion, his brows drawing together. “What’s wrong?” I turned my face away, composing myself. “It’s
Emily's POV For a moment, I didn’t move. My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at him, unmoving. He was out cold. Damn it. I couldn’t afford anyone seeing this—seeing *us.* Not yet. If anyone found me tending to him, questions would arise. Suspicion would grow. I exhaled sharply before making a quick decision. Melissa. I left the room swiftly, moving through the halls without drawing attention. When I found her, she was already lounging in her new quarters, basking in the luxury I had granted her. “Melissa,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. “I need a bowl of water, a towel, and any fever medication you can find. Now.” She blinked, surprised by my urgency, but she didn’t question me. She simply nodded and hurried to gather what I needed. Minutes later, she returned with the supplies, following me back to Fayne’s room. The moment she stepped inside and saw his unconscious form, she let out a low whistle. “Looks like your pet is broken,” she mused.