Alexander's POV**The stark, empty corridors of the building echoed with my hurried footsteps. My mind whirred with strategic calculations as I made my way to Derek’s body. Every decision from here needed to be precise and meticulous—any slip-up could mean chaos for our already fragile peace.I reached the room and paused for a moment before entering. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door, the metallic tang of blood immediately hitting my nostrils. Derek's lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor, a pool of crimson spreading around him. Seeing him like this, despite knowing the circumstances, didn’t invoke any sorrow. Derek had been a cruel, ruthless wolf who thought he could take whatever he wanted without consequence. His end was inevitable and ultimately necessary for the safety of those I cared about.Still, practicalities demanded that I remove his body from here and put it somewhere no one would ever find it. I had to protect Olivia. The world could never know what she did
Alexander's POV**As I entered the hotel lobby. My mind was a storm of thoughts, each tinged with urgency. I had to make sure Olivia was alright, yet the haunting reminder of Derek's body weighed heavily on me. I climbed the stairs two at a time until I reached Olivia's floor.Pausing briefly at her door, I took a deep breath before knocking lightly. It swung open to reveal Olivia, Lydia, and Victor all seated in a circle, their faces a mix of concern and anticipation. Lydia's eyes were still red from crying, and Victor’s protective aura enveloped them both.Victor was the first to notice me. As our eyes met, he stood up and made his way toward me. His glance was layered with gratitude and an unspoken understanding.“Alexander,” he greeted softly, “can we talk outside?”Without a word, I followed him into the dimly lit hallway. The tension hung heavy. As soon as the door closed behind us, sealing Olivia and Lydia inside, Victor turned to me.“Thank you,” he began, his voice thick with
Olivia’s POV The night was an unbearable maze of restlessness and anxiety. Alexander stayed with me, watching over me. In the dim light of my room, he was a fortress of strength. I couldn’t remember when I’d last felt so vulnerable, so dependent on someone else's protection. His arms wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, warding off the relentless tidal waves of dread that kept crashing against my consciousness. Closing my eyes, I nestled closer into his chest, feeling the rhythmic beat of his heart—a calming counterpoint to my own erratic pulse. Despite the comfort his presence offered, an insidious worry gnawed at my insides. Could he really protect me? Not just from external threats, but from the demons of my own making? Alexander’s fingers traced gentle patterns on my back, and his breath was warm against my ear. "It's going to be alright, Olivia," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "I know," I whispered, though my voice quivered with uncertainty
Alexander's POV Two days had passed since Derek's demise, and I had been on high alert. Standing in the hall with all the alphas, I turned my head as someone walked in through the doors. My heart quickened as I realised it was Derek's Beta, Adam. He walked with a determined stride, his eyes scanning the room with an unwavering focus. I knew what he was here for, and it made my stomach twist into knots. I kept a discreet distance, listening carefully as Adam approached the elders. He exchanged nods with them before getting straight to the point. "Elders, we need to talk. Alpha Derek is missing, and I need your help to find him." The elders exchanged worried glances. One of them, a grizzled old wolf named Samuel, responded solemnly, "Very well, Adam. We'll bring everyone together and ask if anyone knows of his whereabouts." A surge of panic coursed through me. I couldn't let that happen. I turned on my heel and quickly made my way over to Victor, who was standing talking to Reed.
Olivia’s POV My heart pounded as we hurried to Lidia's room. We had little time to prepare for the confrontation that awaited us in the hall. I needed to be strong, not just for myself but also for Lidia. "Lidia," I called softly as I gently pushed open the door. She sat on the edge of her bed, looking like a fragile doll about to shatter. Her eyes, still red from crying, met mine. "Olivia," she whispered, her voice trembling. "We need to go. Now."Lidia sat there staring at me, her eyes wide with fear as she began to shake her head. “No, no, I can't face anyone. They’ll know that I had something to do with it.”Closing the distance between us, kneeling down in front of her, I took her hands in mine. “Listen to me, Lidia. You did nothing wrong, and I know you're not ready to face anyone, but we don’t have a choice.”She stared at me, her eyes still holding so much pain. “I don’t know if I can hold it together.”Standing up, I pulled her to her feet. “We don’t have a choice. But I
The air felt electric with tension as Victor’s words reverberated through the room. I could feel Lidia press closer to me, her trembling fingers digging into my arm. There were so many eyes on us, judgement and suspicion palpable in every glance. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, feeling the weight of the room shift onto me. “Victor is right. We need to remain focused,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady. “Lidia has been with me, and if anyone doubts that, I’m willing to swear on it.” Adam's eyes narrowed further. “And why should we believe you, Olivia? She is your sister, and of course, you would lie for her.” Adams's eyes burned into mine, but I refused to let him get to me. There was too much at stake here.Adam's voice took a darker turn. "Let's not pretend Lidia is innocent. Derek was pursuing her, and everyone knew it. Maybe she got tired of his advances and decided to—” “Enough!” I cut him off, my own voice surprising me with its strength. “Lidia has been with me th
Victor's POV The atmosphere in the hall was charged as the split second before lightning struck. I could see the strain on Olivia’s face, the fear in Lidia’s eyes, and Alexander’s towering form, a rampart guarding them both. But my own frustration surged like a raging inferno. I could not allow Beta Adam to speak about my family this way. Stepping forward, I injected all the authority I could muster into my voice. “Elders, esteemed pack members, you know me as a leader who values fairness and justice above all. If we descend into accusations and violence, we risk everything. We’ve already lost one leader. Let’s not lose our unity.” Adam snarled, looking like he might leap at me, but Samuel interjected again. “Victor speaks with wisdom. We must approach this with clear heads.”“Wisdom?” Adam sneered. “Or cowardice? Hiding behind words while the truth is buried in lies.” “Adam,” I growled. “This is not about cowardice. It's about keeping our pack whole. If you believe so fervently
Olivia’s POV As we left the hall, my heart pounded in my chest as I relived killing Derek over and over again in my head, and the same question played on replay in my head: could I have done it differently and not killed him?The fresh air hit my face, washing a calming feeling over me, but I knew that I needed time to myself. “I'm going to go for a walk,” I said to Victor and Lidia, who both looked at me with wide eyes.“With everything going on, I don’t think you should go anywhere alone, Olivia,” Victor said.“I'll be okay. I just need some time alone.”Victor stood there for a second, thinking, before finally nodding and taking Lidia's hand in his. I stood there, watching them walk away before turning and heading the other way.As I walked away from the hall, intending to find some peace, the tension from inside still clung to me like a second skin. The night air should have been a balm to my frayed nerves, but it was thick with unease. As I took a few steps further, another pr
The gentle hum of the wind rustled through the castle gardens, carrying with it the scent of blooming jasmine and fresh earth. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the kingdom, painting everything in warm, honeyed light. The Dragon Kingdom—our kingdom—was at peace.A week had passed since the final battle. A week since Nicholas had fallen, his tyrannical reign brought to an end. The scars of war still marked the land, but already, hope had begun to weave its way through the people, through the dragons, and through my own kingdom. Rebuilding had started, and with it, the promise of a future unshackled from fear and a united front between not only ours and their kingdom but also many others.And today… today was the day that I finally got to marry Alexander.The wedding had been a quiet affair, just as I had wanted—just those we loved, those who had stood beside us through the trials that had nearly torn us apart. The great hall had been filled with the laughter of
A bright glow surrounded me, cradling me like a guardian made manifest. It was the magic from deep within, awakened not by mere survival but by love—a force transcending the corporeal bounds defined by the fight.The descent slowed, the air holding me in a delicate dance with the elemental magic coursing through my veins. It whispered assurance and a promise returned in kind by the beating heart of the earth itself.As I alighted softly upon the weathered stones of the courtyard, strength and weariness meshed in a delicate balance. The energy wrapped around me, a cocoon of gentle power that ebbed almost tenderly, returning me to the ground with undeniable grace.The world righted itself, the battlefield, once a stage of cacophony and chaos, hushed into a stunned silence, witnessing the impossible shimmer into reality. A breath—my second chance drawn from the earth—and I stood, steady and whole.I looked up to see faces of disbelief switch to ones of hope. Alexander's strides carried h
Olivias povMy warning echoed in the air, but it was already too late. Behind Elijah, the king’s dragon surgeon moved with terrifying speed, its spear-like tail ready to strike. Everything seemed to slow as the scene unfolded—a cruel dance of shadow and flesh, friend and enemy caught in fate’s grip.Time froze as the dragon’s tail pierced Elijah’s back, ending the moment in brutal finality. Pain and realisation filled his face, his emerald eyes widening in shock. His body crumpled forward, silent in the tragedy he had become a part of."No!" The word tore from my throat, breaking the heavy silence that settled like a shroud. But through my horror, an undeniable truth took shape with each heartbeat—Nicholas’s greatest betrayal wasn’t just in his violence but in the cold decision to sacrifice his own son for power.As Elijah fell to his knees, Nicholas grinned—a wicked smile that could freeze the ocean. He waved the horn, the sound still ringing in my ears, and in that moment, his inten
Olivia's PovThe sky was painted in shades of crimson and smoke, and the battlefield lay beneath me, a chaotic tapestry of combat and valour. Riding Saphira, my trusted dragon, I felt an unprecedented harmony between us. Her thoughts intertwined with mine, weaving a tapestry of mutual understanding and unity. Together, we were a force of nature, an extension of one another as we dove and soared through the fray.Saphira’s roar resonated inside me, a declaration of war that echoed the battle’s ferocity. Her muscles coiled beneath my legs, and we twisted through the air, engaging our adversaries with a synergy that brought out the raw power within us. Each strike was fluid and precise—a dance of strength and strategy that blurred the lines between rider and dragon. Riding Saphira, I felt a strength I’d never known, as though every heartbeat was in sync with the rhythm of destiny itself.Through the din of clashing swords and bellows, Saphira's voice sizzled like lightning in my mind. *O
Alexander's POV The battlefield pulsed with chaos, a vast symphony of metal clashing and figures weaving through a smoky haze. I fought with a focused intensity that came from the core of my being. Each movement was purposeful, and each turn of my blade was meticulously calculated. This was more than a war of physicality; it was a contest of spirits fueled by love and vengeance. All around me, my pack surged forward like a tidal wave, wolves overcoming soldiers with primal ferocity. As I caught a glimpse of Olivia soaring overhead on a dragon's back, a wild joy lit me from within. Her presence was like a beacon, a promise that drove me onward, deeper into the heart of conflict. My attention was wrenched upward by the tumultuous struggle above. There, in the sky, dragons twisted and turned in an aerial ballet of might and desperation. King Nicholas and his son, Elijah, battled with a fury that seemed to rend the sky itself. Nicholas's dragon fought with savage intensity, every swi
Elijah's povThe clamour of the battlefield swelled around me, punctuated by cries and the clash of steel. My heart was a tempest, torn between my loyalty to my father and my love for Olivia. I had never intended to become a pawn in this war, but here I stood, bathed in conflict, with my mind spiralling around the impending chaos. As I left Olivia's side earlier, my frustration boiled over into the tense air. "Cease this madness!" I cried out to the guards, their movements a blur of aggression around me. "These people are not our enemies!" Laughter erupted in response, sardonic and cruel. "The King has spoken, not you, Prince Elijah. We fight until death unless he says otherwise." Disdain twisted within me—a serpent rearing its head. Their insolence, their mindless obedience to Nicholas's bloody decree, was galling. But I knew why they refused me. I wasn’t their king, merely a shadow cast by my father’s ambition, a prince wearing false armour. The world spun with futility. Seeking
The ground was approaching swiftly beneath me, a swirling mass racing to meet my descent. Every instinct screamed that this was a mistake and that the leap would surely be my undoing. But even as fear clenched my heart, the dragon's scale in my grip pulsed with a warmth that banished doubt. One hundred meters above the earth, however, a shadow loomed. The first dragon I had saved soared to my rescue, swooping beneath me with a grace that defied the chaos of my fall. Relief erupted within me as I landed on its broad back, a breathless gasp escaping my lips. Holding tight to the rough, warm scales, I murmured, "Thank you."The dragon's powerful wings flapped, beating a defiant cadence against the tumultuous winds. It rose into the sky, a guardian taking flight, and together, we soared, the kingdom unfurling beneath us as a tapestry of vibrant life and teetering conflict.As if in a dream borne aloft, hundreds more dragons began to appear, majestic and fierce, emerging from the shadows
Olivias povI raced through the tunnels with a sense of urgency so intense it felt like a physical force pushing me onward. My breaths were ragged, each inhalation a struggle as I navigated the labyrinthine passages beneath the kingdom. My mind was a whirlwind, and though my plan was half-formed at best, I knew the dragons were my destination—their strength would be paramount in the battle to come.As I emerged into the dragon chamber, the oppressive air filled my lungs, heavy with the scent of fear and confinement. I couldn’t afford to hesitate, even as my heart pounded with the weight of what I was about to do. There they were, magnificent creatures tethered by chains, their eyes pools of ancient wisdom and unfathomable pain.The sight of the three guards was like a cold splash of reality, snapping my senses into sharp relief. The lead guard shouted, “What are you doing here? You can’t be here!” His voice echoed menacingly through the chamber, but I was beyond fear.Panicking would
Alexanders povThe moment we scaled the wall, chaos erupted like a storm unleashed upon the city. The guards, mere specks below, shouted commands in a futile attempt to contain the inevitable. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar sliced through the pandemonium, and the dragons descended, dark silhouettes against the dawn sky. Each dragon was a testament to terror and power, their scales shimmering with malice as they perched above the city. Fire erupted from their jaws, slicing through the air like molten spears, incinerating everything in their path. The city seemed to collapse inward upon itself, screams of horror mingling with the crackling of flames. Yet, amidst the chaos, my objective remained clear. I needed to reach the palace and confront Nicholas, ensuring he could never threaten Olivia or Sarah again. Victor and the others would search for them, but I would end this once and for all. As we pushed forward, defenders surged toward us, their weapons drawn with the con