After talking with Lidia, it was clear to me that getting rid of Alexander was not going to be easy. I tried my best to avoid him at every turn, but it seemed like he was always one step ahead of me. Everywhere I went, there he was, his piercing gaze following me wherever I went.But what troubled me even more was the sudden change in Allen's behaviour. He had always been kind towards me in a friendly way since our marriage was not a romantic one at all. But lately, he had been surprisingly affectionate, showering me with attention and care whenever Alexander was around.As I made our way to dinner with the royal pack members and elders, I couldn't shake off the strange feeling that something wasn't right. And then I saw her—one of the maids talking to someone in a dark cloak. As I approached them, the mysterious figure quickly slipped away into the shadows."Who were you talking to?" I asked the maid, trying to keep my voice steady, not wanting to scare her."Oh, just a friend," she
I watch my twins playing with their toys in the playroom. Their laughter fills the room, momentarily distracting me from the events of last night. I can't get the image of that mysterious person talking to the maid. Who could it be? And what were they discussing? I've replayed it a million times in my head, trying to think of anything that I could have missed that might help identify that person, but no matter how much I tried, there was nothing.But as I sit here, watching my children's innocent joy, my thoughts drift to a different memory- the day I gave birth to them. The fear and anxiety that consumed me as I lay in the hospital bed, waiting for them to arrive. All I could think about was how Cassandra had died in childbirth.I remember the pain and uncertainty of those hours, wondering if history would repeat itself. But they entered the world healthy and perfect. The relief and overwhelming love that flooded my heart are feelings I will never forget. I had done it all on my own
"I think Rebecca might have had something to do with what happened last night."Victor raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my accusation. "What makes you say that, Olivia?"I took a deep breath before continuing. "Rebecca has always had a thing for Alexander. I know that she is the one that framed me for Cassandra's death, and I now believe that she had something to do with that.”Victor's expression darkened as he processed my words. "I will have someone contact Rebecca's family to find out her whereabouts. We need to get to the bottom of this."I nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Victor. I just want justice for what happened to Lidia and Cassandra as well.""We are doing everything we can," Victor assured me. "We were unable to find the maid who gave Lidia the wine last night, but our search is ongoing. I promise you, Olivia, we will not rest until we have answers."As I turned to leave, Victor called out to me. "Olivia, wait." I paused, turning back to face him."I know last n
Alexanders pov. I couldn't shake the image of Fay's fully healed hand from my mind as I made my way to Victor's office. I had never seen anything like it before. We healed fast, but not like that, and the fact that there was no scarring when there should have been left me with so many questions. If Wolfban was in the wine she spilt on herself last night, then her hand would take longer than normal to heal, and it would have left scaling behind. And the fact that she had children as well had my mind going crazy.As I entered Victor's office, he motioned for me to take a seat. His stern expression told me that this meeting was not going to be pleasant."Alpha Alexander," Victor began, his voice cold and authoritative. "Beta Allen has informed me that you were in a part of the palace where you are not allowed. If you ever disobey my orders again, I will have no choice but to remove you from my kingdom.""I'm sorry, Victor. It was just a misunderstanding. I got lost and ran into Fay. I a
Alexanders povBut I knew better than to disobey Fay's wishes. There was a reason she kept her face hidden, and I needed to respect that I couldn't let my wolf take over here even if I did want to see her face and had come so close to seeing it already today. So, instead, I shielded her from the view of the others while she fixed her mask."Are you okay?" I asked softly as she stood back up, readjusting her mask.She nodded, a hint of gratitude in her eyes as she glanced at me. "Thank you."Before I could reply, my attention was drawn to the guard getting up off the ground. Anger boiled within me as I marched towards him, grabbing him by the throat and pinning him against a tree."How dare you lay a hand on the princess and accuse her of such things!" I growled menacingly, my voice filled with fury.The guard sputtered and struggled against my grip, fear in his eyes. But I held firm, unwilling to let him go. Every inch of me wanted to rip his head clean from his shoulder for what he h
Olivia's povAllen led me away from the garden. I could feel my inner wolf, Aura, whispering in my head. "Our mate saved us," she repeated over and over. But I pushed the thoughts away. As soon as we were away from everyone, Allen turned to me. “I don't want you near Alexander again”, he stated firmly with a hint of jealousy in his voice.I raised my eyebrows at him, unsure of where this was coming from. “I don't want him near me, but if it wasn't for him, then I would have been attacked by that guard.”“Well, if you'd just done what you meant to and kept your nose out of things that don't concern you, then he never would have had to save you.”I felt a surge of anger rising within me at his words. How dare he speak to me in such a way. Allen had never talked to me like this before, and I wasn't about to stand for it now.I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “Excuse me?” I spat, my voice laced with defiance. “This does concern me. It's my family's business, and I'm just
I slowly made my way down the stairs, each step feeling like a hammer to my head. The pounding in my temples was relentless.As I reached the bottom of the staircase, Victor appeared before me, his face etched with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.I forced a weak smile and nodded. "Just a headache," I muttered, rubbing my temples in an attempt to ease the pain. "They seem to be getting worse and lasting longer than normal.”Victor's expression softened as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about anything today," he said gently. "Just go rest in your room and rest. I'll send the doctor in to check on you."Before I could respond, Alexander approached us with Lidia by his side. As he drew nearer, something strange happened - my headache began to go away as if his presence had some soothing effect on me."Are you alright?" Alexander asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.I stood there dumbfounded, unable to tear my gaze away fro
My heart started to race in my chest as I looked up at Alexander's eyes boring into me. I gasped in surprise at his sudden appearance. He studied me intently, his expression unreadable."Fay," he said softly, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "What are you doing here all alone?"I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "I could ask you the same thing," I replied. "Are you following me?"Alexander's lips quirked up into a small smile. "Following you? No, Fay. I just happened to be in the area."I narrowed my eyes at him. "And what about Lidia? Shouldn't you be out at the lake with her right now?"He chuckled softly, taking a step closer to me. My heart skipped a beat as he did. I could never forgive him for what he did to me, but it was hard not to feel something when he was around for so many reasons, the main one being that he was my mate. "Why are you so concerned about where I should be, Fay?" he asked teasingly.I swallowed hard, feeling my cheeks flush with em
Olivia's povA foreboding chill crept into my bones as Reed’s pack vanished behind us, the vast wilderness stretching ahead. My mind was a whirlwind, thoughts flitting like moths around a flame, settling briefly before being cast aside by another pressing concern. Derek’s pack was our destination; saving them demanded urgency that no distraction could deter.The carriage was silent except for the rhythmic clatter of wheels against uneven ground. Alexander sat beside me, his presence comforting but our peace tinged with a palpable tension. Every piece of me ached to reach those in need.As we drew closer, the air shifted, the sweet scent of forest mingling with something acrid and metallic—an unmistakable prelude to the chaos awaiting us. Blood. I inhaled deeply, my senses sharpening, a familiar heat flaring through my veins as we approached the hallowed ground of Derek’s realm. I know longer cared what Reed may have told Derek's pack about me all I wanted to do was help them.In a sud
Reed's PovThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees as I paced the clearing, my thoughts consumed with plans that only I could comprehend. The breeze swept through the whispering birches, making melodies in the leaves, but my mind was deaf to it. I had called a meeting with the pack; each pack member was summoned to our usual rendezvous.When they had all gathered, a mixture of young and battle-worn faces encircled me. I could see their concern, their uncertainty reflected back, shadows of doubt clouding their eyes. "Listen up," I began, feeling their attention zag toward me. "There have been sightings of the dark rogues getting close to us, and I believe tonight they will come."I paused, letting the words sink in. The air grew tense as if holding its breath along with them. A few murmurs erupted, soft as the rustle of leaves, but I raised my hand, silencing them once more. Their loyalty was commendable, but their faith in me needed shoring up."You've heard whispers about the sp
Olivias povThe road was filled with a tense quietness as the carriage bounced over rugged terrain. The scent of pine mingled with the crisp chill in the air, an intoxicating reminder of the mountain's nosebleed peaks and swathes of woodland stretching endlessly beneath the sky. Alexander and I remained silent. Our focus aligned on the journey to the packs that needed us. The horses' hooves pounded rhythmically against the ground, a steady heartbeat pushing us onward."We'll be there soon," Alexander said softly, breaking the delicate bubble of contemplation enveloping us. His voice was a soothing balm against the trepidation I felt, but I knew better than to dwell on them. Before I could reply, Reed's pack came into view as we cleared another slope, and my heart clenched momentarily—as my mind drifted back to all the horrible things that Reed had done, Cassandra’s face flashing before my eyes. I shook my head, pushing the thought out of my head as fast as it came. His town sprawled
Alexanders povThe morning had barely begun, yet the weight of the world pressed heavily on our shoulders as Olivia and I walked down to the triplet alphas' office. The hallway was alive with murmurs, everyone eager to thank Olivia. Each gesture of gratitude was a vital reminder of just how much we owed her. The warmth in their eyes contrasted sharply with the shadow of worry that clung stubbornly to her face."Olivia," a young omega called, offering a shy smile as we passed. "Thank you for saving us."Olivia nodded, though her eyes betrayed her restlessness. I could feel her tension like an electric current between us. The dream she had last night weighed on her like lead, and I understood her fear—it was the fear that gnawed at me, too. Our thoughts were locked on our children, Liam and Sarah, who were miles away in the city, possibly at the mercy of dark rogues.As we entered the office, the room was already buzzing with discussions on our next move. The triplet alphas—Cole, Casper
Olivia's povI found a spot overlooking the pack grounds, where I could see the far horizon painted with hues of twilight. Sitting down, exhaustion overwhelmed me. My body ached from the turmoil of the past days, and my eyelids were heavy, struggling to remain open. Despite knowing I should stay alert, sleep tugged at me with relentless persistence. Just a moment, I told myself, my eyes slipping shut as I drifted off.In an instant, I was home, laughter echoing around me. Liam and Sarah, my joyful twins, ran ahead, their giggles a balm to my weary soul. Chasing after them, I called out, the evening's gentle glow transforming suddenly as the sky turned an ominous shade of black."Time to come inside!" I shouted, but only their laughter answered. Confusion churned in my gut as I searched the darkening landscape. The shadows around swirled, their movements taunting and elusive. Panic flared sharply as the twins' laughter ceased, replaced by silence."Liam! Sarah!" I yelled, desperation c
Olivia's povWith my heart drumming loudly in my ears, I watched Victor. He lay still, his breathing shallow as the Glass warmth kissed his lips. My hands lingered close, trembling with uncertainty. "Drink, Victor, please," I urged softly, my voice barely above a whisper, a prayer wrapped in hope.I held my breath, time moving languidly, stretching uneasily around us. The weight of the moment pressed heavily upon my shoulders. Each heartbeat felt like an endless echo, my pulse a desperate chorus in the quiet room. And just when doubt threatened to choke me, Victor’s lips parted softly. His throat moved, taking in the liquid, a small sip at first, then another. Relief washed over me, the tension slowly uncoiling as I watched the colour gradually begin to return to his cheeks. With every drop he swallowed, I felt the oppressive heat that had wrapped around him like chains begin to diminish.I didn’t allow myself to get too hopeful, not yet—not until I was sure. But the change was undeni
Olivias povI turned sharply, and the chill that ran down my spine got colder when I saw what the panic in Alexander's eyes was about. On the floor lay Victor, my brother, motionless. Alexander was kneeling beside him, urgently checking his pulse."Victor!" I cried out, racing to his side. My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out any other noise. Kneeling down, I reached for his hand. It was cold and clammy, a stark contrast to the fever emanating all around us. A knot tightened in my stomach."He collapsed just now," Alexander explained, urgency bleeding into his tone. His hand was on Victor's chest, listening to the shallow rise and fall of his breath. "He must have tried to hide how he was feeling to help the others."A heavy, suffocating wave of fear threatened to pull me under. Victor was always the strongest, the rock of our family, alongside our shared purpose to protect. Seeing him so vulnerable was a blow I wasn't prepared for.At that moment, only one thought pulsed th
Olivias pov"What's happening, Victor?" I asked, my voice steady despite the fear and panic swirling inside of me.He hesitated, eyes flickering with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher—worry, seriousness. "It's the pack," he finally said, each word carrying the gravity of bad news. "Many of them are very sick—and it's spreading fast."My heart thudded, a drum pounding within my chest. "Sick? How?" I pressed, urgency soaring through every syllable."It started an hour ago with the members who were near the fire, inhaling the smoke. We just thought that it was from breathing in too much of that toxic smoke and would go away once they got some fresh air and rest," Victor explained, his eyes briefly meeting mine, filled with uncharacteristic vulnerability. "But now it's spreading wider, reaching even those who were not directly affected."Panic began its insidious climb within me. "We need to see them," Alexander interjected, his voice a steady beacon of purpose.Victor nodded, leading
Olivia's povI stood on the balcony, watching the grey clouds climb higher—the leftover ashes of the dark burning up. The sharp smell filled the air, making it hard to breathe, yet it was a burden we had to carry. As much as I wanted to rest, a nagging feeling kept me awake. The rogues haunted us, their threats hiding in every shadow, reminding us of the danger we faced.The night quickly draped around us, its shadows reaching out like curious hands, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the sight of the smoke rising into the evening sky. Frustration threatened to overflow; I was exhausted beyond words, yet adrenaline kept me tied to what lay below. Each heartbeat carried the hope that this would be the end of it.A soft sound broke the silence, and I turned to see Alexander standing there, concern softly marking his face. His presence was warmth against the cold pressing in, and I fought the urge to collapse into his arms."You should be asleep, Olivia," he said, his voice gentle.I s