Cecilia POV"Of course, I object!" I hadn't expected that on the very day Vahn Bollen returned, he would present such an audacious and preposterous proposal."I don't care if you object. I will still take Freeda Lawlor as my wife." Vahn tugged at his shirt collar, his voice growing increasingly impatient and sharp. The apologetic look on his face has also vanished. "Of course, you will remain the Luna of Thorn Pack—as long as you fulfill your duties and abide by the rules.""Even if I consent, what you propose is unlawful. No Alpha is permitted two wives—not even the Alpha King would dare such a thing." I met his gaze with icy defiance before settling back into my chair and pouring a cup of Cinnamon black tea. Some werewolves dallied with others even after finding their mate, but purely physically. Anyone caught marking multiple mates faced exile, relegated to the life of a Rogue. This fate spared no one, not even the Alpha King of Valdora."I won't mark her, so technically, it
Cecilia POVI stared into the mirror. My red curls cascaded around my shoulders, set off by the simplicity of the white suit dress that hugged my voluptuous curves with both sensuality and subtlety."Wear this tonight." Pearly offered a necklace with a lotus pendant crafted from rubies, draping it around my neck. The red lotus was emblematic of the Lotus Pack, once led by my father.Pearly was not only have inherited her mother's amazing cooking skills, but also possessed an unmatched discerning eye for. As a child, while I sparred and trained with my brothers in the woods, Pearly preferred dealing with all sorts of fabrics at home. Sometimes, she would create flowers out of cloth that were so real that one could barely tell they were made from fabric.Together, we made our way to the banquet hall. I swung the doors open and scanned the room, taking in the faces of Vahn's family and the 16 key members of the Thorn Pack seated at the long tables.During the era of Vahn's great-gran
Cecilia POVSome werewolves would have sex with other werewolves or humans even after they found their mates. However, they would usually close off the link between them and their mates before doing so. Otherwise, it was kind of sex live show to their mate, and it would also cause their mate intense pain. Clearly, Vahn was using this as a form of retaliation against me.Right now, even with a whole floor between us, I could hear the two of them moaning and groaning. Every thrust into her pussy was a stab to my chest. If I were an Omega or Beta, I would not have the ability to close off the link with my Alpha. I might even faint from the agony. Thankfully, my strong Alpha blood gave me the power to fight against Vahn.Once the bond was severed, Nana growled with a desire for revenge against Vahn. I didn't stop her this time. Following their scent, I stormed to their room and kicked the door open. Before they could react, I snapped photos of them with fervor."What are you doing?"
Cecilia POVBefore I moved to Thorn Pack, my mother, Aria Dunn, warned me about the challenges of being a Luna.With great power came great responsibility.The Alpha needed strength to command the pack's loyalty, while the Luna had to use her wits to earn their respect. Managing people was an art form. It required a keen understanding of who was trustworthy and who was not.Shortly after my arrival at the Thorn Pack, I had Pearly gather gossip from public places like the market and the bar about Vahn and his family. As an Omega, Pearly was better positioned to earn people's trust. Many in the pack were aware of Rosie's past actions of murdering the pregnant woman back then, but they were too fearful to speak openly."Backstabbing bitches!" Pearly exclaimed, stomping her foot in frustration. "What can we do now? Are we just supposed to watch as they get married?""Check the flights to Black Stone for tonight," I instructed, taking a bite of the apple pie Rosie had brought. It tast
Julian POV"Is the ceasefire agreement with the Rogues signed?" Hogan Grant, my father and the Alpha King of Valdora, asked, lifting his head from a stack of documents."It has been signed, but…" I hesitated. The situation surrounding the battle in the northwest felt off to me.All of the Western Wastelands belonged to the Rogue King's pack. They had been at war with us for over half a century. Their persistent conflict with us seemed driven by a desire for Valdora's natural resources. They had the upper hand the entire time we battled over Ashfall in the northwest, yet they were the first to suggest a ceasefire. "Julian, it's just the two of us here. Speak your mind.""After Vahn and Freeda's surprise attack, the enemy immediately proposed a ceasefire. Could this be a trap? They've won the last three battles." "Regardless, it's a relief that the war might be ending. No one wants to be in conflict."I nodded and handed him the signed agreement. "Forgive the intrusion, My Kin
Julian POV"You want me to annul the marriage between Vahn and Freeda, don't you? Have a seat." Hogan gestured to the chair beside me.Cecilia looked at me in surprise, clearly taken aback. She seemed exceedingly shy and reserved, probably because she did not want to discuss her private matters before a stranger. "This is my son, Julian. He's just returned from the battlefield. Don't mind him; just speak your mind without hesitation," Hogan said before turning to Ben. "Have the servants bring her some coffee."Cecilia took a seat beside me. A subtle fragrance of lotus blossoms mixed with the scent of morning dew drifted my way. Describing a wolf's scent was always challenging; it was something best experienced firsthand. For werewolves, love often began with finding the other's scent appealing."You misunderstood me. I'm not here to stop their wedding. I am here to ask that you annul my mate bond with Vahn.""Annul your mate bond?" Hogan asked, clearly stunned by her request.B
Cecilia POVI had seen photos of Julian before on werewolf forums. His long black hair was typically swept back into a simple ponytail. His dark green eyes and beard made him appear more mature than his years. Unlike the glamorous and elegant princes of fairy tales, he looked more like a cold-hearted and fierce warrior.In a world where strength was prized, Julian was undoubtedly the ideal mate for many young werewolves.Seeing him in person, I realized he was even taller and more muscular than his photos suggested. He was at least 6 feet 2 with shoulders and a chest so broad that it looked like one could draw out the nation's map on them. As I stood next to him, I could detect a subtle scent of mint and ebony, which was surprisingly pleasant and refreshing.Despite his rough exterior, his voice was deep, gentle, and smooth, offering a calming and reassuring presence.I now understood why so many women were captivated by him.However, I hadn't expected to discuss my personal matt
Cecilia POVWhen I woke up the next morning, I pulled open the curtains to find the sun shining bright outside. My phone had run out of battery, and as I plugged it in to charge, I noticed it was already 10.00AM. I had several missed calls—five from Pearly and two from Vahn.I quickly messaged Pearly and then rushed to freshen up and get dressed. As I was about to leave, I bumped into a maid."Good morning, miss. Mr. Grant asked me to prepare a set of clean clothes for you," she said."There's no need. Where is he now?" I asked, intending to let him know I was leaving. This was my first night away since getting married, and I had no idea what kind of mess awaited me when I returned."He left early this morning for work. He also asked to be notified once you woke up."I realized I didn't have his phone number, so I asked the maid for a pen and some paper. 'Thank you for your help yesterday. I need to head home. Take care! From, Cecilia.'I folded the note into a paper crane and
Cecilia POV"She's no longer a prostitute, so she has moved out of the military brothel."Thus, I told Zara what happened that day."It's good that you want to help others. But Amy, she definitely is no angel!""I'm just helping her find a new job and giving her a chance." I calmed Zara down. "Just move to the room next to mine if you don't want to see her.""No way! I'm not interested in third-wheeling you and Julian!" Zara curled her lip.Zara also heard Amy and Ellie insult me at the bar a few nights ago. For that reason, she had been regarding Amy with disfavor. I could fathom Zara's hostility toward Amy. Still, since she had been helping the refugees these past few days and hadn't witnessed Ellie's tragic death, she didn't understand my desire to help Amy.If truth be told, I wasn't that noble. I simply wanted to do something within my power to make myself feel at ease.The days that followed were busy yet peaceful. Most importantly, I saw hope resurfacing on the faces o
Cecilia POV"Oh, thank you." Julian casually slid the cufflink into his pocket.I swiftly pulled a long face. In my mind, I pondered how Julian's cufflink ended up in Rhea's possession. Although a cufflink wasn't a particularly personal item, she couldn't get it without physical intimacy. In fact, I could smell her scent on the cufflink through the pocket."Have you and Rhea known each other for a long time?" I mind-linked Julian after walking out of the military prostitutes' barracks."Yeah, but don't get me wrong. Nothing is going on between me and her," Julian quickly explained."Like I care!" I quickened my place huffily and left him behind. Based on their conversation earlier, it sure sounded like something did happen between him and Rhea."Mario, take the three of them to a new barrack." Julian sent the others away. Then, he caught up to me and grabbed my arm. "Cecilia, are you angry?""No, I'm not." I pretended to respond calmly. In reality, a surge of rage came over me.
Cecilia POVEllie's body was quickly sent for cremation after Alex was executed.I saw Layla and Ellie get tortured in my dream for two nights in a row. They were staring at me with wide eyes. It was as if they were begging for a helping hand that I couldn't give. In the end, the scene in my dream changed, and I became the one getting chained and whipped.I woke up with a start, and my body was drenched in sweat. For a moment, the torture I felt in my nightmare seemed to be real.Nonetheless, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this nightmare wasn't just my brain playing tricks on me. Instead, it served as a warning and a reminder."Julian, how many military prostitutes are there in the camp?" I rushed to Julian's office after getting up."I'm not sure. Why do you suddenly ask about this?" Julian put down the document in his hand, walked to me, kissed my forehead, and calmed my emotions."18," replied Mario, who stood on the side. "Oh, wait. It's 17 now.""I think we should a
Julian POVAmy was so frightened that she hid behind me and held my arm tightly, refusing to let go. For her safety, I decided not to push her away.Then, I gave Vahn a look, signaling him to cuff Alex.Cecilia stood beside me. She had a cold expression on her face as she looked down at Alex with her arms crossed.As for Alex, he showed no sign of fear. His fierce and flickering eyes shifted back and forth between us. It was as if he was already aware of his fate, considering he didn't even try to defend himself."Did you kill Ellie?""So what if I did? What are you going to do about it?""You think you can just walk off after taking someone's life?" I growled."She's just a prostitute!" he retorted and spat on the ground."Alex, you truly are beyond redemption. There was no point in me thinking so highly of you before!" Even Vahn couldn't help but chastise Alex."For your information, you seem never good at judging one's character." Cecilia rolled her eyes at Vahn before ask
Julian POV"Alex? Is he Freeda's subordinate?" I frowned. "He hasn't returned since last night?""That's right." Mario nodded. "We haven't been able to reach him. Do you want me to bring Freeda over for questioning?""Her again? How much trouble will she and her subordinates cause?" I slammed the table in anger. "Who are the other two? Investigate them as well.""One is under Alpha Cecilia's command, and the other is Alpha Ethan's subordinate," Mario explained while glancing at me and Ethan."Let me see which brat it is! I'll teach him a lesson!" Ethan rolled up his sleeves and was furious. Then, he assured me, "Don't worry, Prince Julian. I won't show any favoritism. If it turns out that one of my men is guilty, it's because I failed to discipline him. I'll take responsibility and accept the punishment."On the other hand, Cecilia didn't seem concerned about the other two. Instead, she walked over to Amy, who was sitting in the corner, and asked, "Amy, do you know Alex?""Yes
Julian POV"Doctor, can you estimate the time of death?" I asked."Judging by the body temperature and its condition, she must be dead for about 5 to 6 hours. Since it's now 9.30am., she likely died between 3am and 4am." Then, the doctor pressed on the body and showed us the livor mortis."See? The marks disappear quickly, which means the body is still fresh.""If that's the case, Cecilia definitely has nothing to do with it. I finished work with Mario around 1 A.M. last night and returned to rest." I cleared my throat and looked at Cecilia. "I was with her last night. She couldn't be involved in this."Cecilia looked at me in shock. Then, she mind-linked me and said, "Why did you lie? We weren't together last night. This has nothing to do with me. Yet, you're making it look like you're covering for a suspect. If this lie is exposed, it'll only make me look more suspicious."Before I could respond, Amy quietly questioned, "But she could've snuck out while you were asleep...""We
Julian POVAs Amy took me to the location of the body, I mind-linked Mario to tell him to bring the camp's doctor along.The body was in an abandoned warehouse next to the camp. It was less than 30 meters from the camp gate. When I arrived at the scene, I realized it was far more horrifying than I had imagined."She was injected with a large amount of wolfsbane and hallucinogens. The fatal injury might have been the tearing of her lower body, internal organ damage, and excessive bleeding," the doctor said with a sigh. Then, he continued, "This is just pure sadistic murder. However, there's no sign of semen in her body, nor any fingerprints on her. The killer is a professional one."Shortly after, a scout was assigned to investigate the case. Alas, he also found no clues after examining the body for a while."What were you and Ellie doing last night? Who did Ellie meet before she was killed?" I asked Amy."Ellie and I went to the bar together. I returned to the camp early becaus
Julian POVIn just three short days, Cecilia managed to gather a total of 300 million, and the amount kept growing."She's really helped us out once again. If she hadn't organized the fundraiser, we'd be facing some serious financial difficulties." Hogan's voice sounded cheerful over the phone."Yes, she's an impressive Alpha. Brave, intelligent, and responsible—""Enough about that. When are you coming back to Black Stone? Your mother misses you dearly." Hogan cut me off before I could finish listing Cecilia's strengths."I need to stay here to coordinate the rebuilding efforts in Ashfall. I can't leave just yet.""I'll send the experts myself if that's all it takes. There's no reason for you to—" Hogan's tone turned stern. "I know you're staying for her. She's doing well, but don't think that means she'll become the Luna of Valdora. I'm giving you one month to wrap things up and return!""All right."After ending the call, I let out a breath of relief. It wouldn't be easy to
Cecilia POVI stared at him, a hint of disbelief flashing in my eyes. "You mean to say you can't help at all? If it weren't for Freeda, your dear wife, these people wouldn't even be refugees in the first place! Don't you think you owe them some compensation?"Freeda interrupted sharply, "This isn't about refugees. This is about you playing the hero and trying to make yourself look good. Just because you have money and influence now doesn't mean others can throw money around recklessly."I blinked, taken aback by the malice in her tone. "This isn't about showing off. It's about saving lives, about helping people who have lost everything in the war. This isn't some competition."She stood, crossing her arms, her eyes narrowing as she faced me. "Oh, isn't it? You're here, putting on this grand fundraiser, expecting everyone to line up and donate. It's nothing more than emotional blackmail."My heart pounded, and a surge of anger rose within me. "It's not blackmail. No one is being fo