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
We met with the maid’s family. My heart ached for them as they mourned their daughter's death. I decided that I wasn't going to bring up that we thought she was involved with the attempted poisoning at the palace. They were hurting enough without me adding to that. I left Alexander in the village and made my way back to the palace, knowing that I would have to face Allen. Walking into the palace, my heart raced. I don't know why I was worried about talking to Allen. I hadn't done anything wrong.As I walked through the main doors, I could feel Allen's intense gaze on me before I even saw him. He was standing by the stairs, waiting for me. "Fay," Allen's voice was cold and stern as he approached me. "What were you doing with Alexander?"“I went to the village to talk to the maid's family, and while I was there, I ran into him.”His jaw tensed as he glared at me. "You know how dangerous he is. You can't be associating yourself with someone like him.""I have to go talk to Victor," I s
Alexander pov I was in the middle of reading when Lidia burst into my room, her eyes wide with panic. "Alexander, we have a problem," she said frantically.I set my book down and looked at her, concern etched on my face. "What's wrong?" I asked.She took a deep breath before speaking. "Fay caught me with Ethan," she confessed, her voice trembling. "If she tells Victor, everything could be ruined."I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "You need to be more careful," I scolded gently.Lidia let out a frustrated growl before glaring at me. "I don't know what you see in her," she muttered bitterly. "If you saw what she was hiding under her mask, you would be running for the hills."I didn't care what Fay was hiding under her mask. There was something about her that drew me in like a moth to a flame, and it was more than just our mated bond. "She reminds me of someone," I admitted quietly.”And when I'm around her, a part of me that has been missing feels complete."Lidia rolled her ey
As the doctor rushed Fay off to the emergency room, Allen turned to me with rage burning in his eyes. He grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against the wall, growling, "You did this."I felt a surge of rage coursing through me as I pushed him off and held him by the throat. "You should have been a better husband," I spat out, my own fury matching his. "She deserves someone so much better than you. And if she dies, I'll make you wish you were never born."“Enough!” Victor yelled, making us both turn to look at him. “My sister is in there fighting for her life. If you want to kill each other, go do it somewhere else.”Allen's hands clenched into fists, his eyes still burning with anger. "She wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for you," he seethed. He tried to push me off him, but I was much stronger than him.“I said that's enough, Allen”, victor yelled again. I let Allen go, stepping away from him taking a deep breath to try and calm myself but keeping my glare on him. “If y
alexanders povMy heart thundered painfully in my chest as I carried Olivia swiftly toward the healer’s chamber. The fear of losing her was an ice-cold grip on my soul, even as adrenaline urged my legs to move faster than ever before. Lidia rushed beside me, her face a mask of determination and disbelief, the same storm raging inside her, underscored by the urgency thrumming between us all.When we reached the healer's chamber, the air inside was thick with the mingled scents of herbs and sterile remedies. The healers moved with practised skill, immediately taking Olivia from my arms and gently setting her onto the bed. I lingered my body tense with a mix of dread and hope, torn by the need to be beside her and the haunting pull of helplessness.Olivia lay still, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. The sight twisted something inside me, a visceral ache that threatened to unleash my wolf's protective ire. I turned away for a moment, desperate to hold onto some semblance
Olivias pov Gasping, I focused on the beating of my heart, which seemed to drum a hasty rhythm as fear clawed at me. Aura’s voice wavered in my mind, her once bright presence dimming to a mere echo. A terrifying thought struck me: what if she faded entirely? The world tilted sharply, and I clung to the wall, desperate for anything solid to anchor me.“Olivia!” The voice was distant yet persistent, weaving through the haze that threatened to overwhelm me. Each breath became a labour, a battle against the suffocating pressure in my chest.I willed Aura to return, to guide me through the fog, but silence was my only answer. Panic twisted in my gut, and I squeezed my eyes closed, blocking out the churning room. When I opened them, Alexander's face hovered before me, his expression a mask of worried intensity.His words reached me as a blur, each syllable dipping in and out of clarity. Yet, it was the fear in his eyes that cut through the murk clouding my mind. I tried to speak, but my vo
Olivia's POVThe Elder’s building stood tall. My footsteps echoed softly as I entered, the grandeur of the place failing to settle the storm within my chest. I felt a twinge of weakness that I had to hide. There was no time to falter. The Elders would be awaiting an explanation, waiting to hear what had transpired and what we must do next.Inside, the air was thick with expectation. The Elders turned toward me as I approached, their wizened faces a tapestry of curiosity and caution. The Head Elder was the first to speak, his voice a rumble of authority. "Olivia, your feat today was extraordinary," he began, a note of admiration threading through his words. “Your power held the line, and for that, we are grateful.”I nodded, feeling a pull to sit but resisting. “Thank you, but there’s still much to do,” I replied, steadying my voice even as my heart fluttered with fatigue."The army Reed led," I began, glancing at Alexander beside me for strength. They were cursed and manipulated by d
Alexander's POVI lunged at Reed, every ounce of my strength focused on finally putting an end to this treachery. Yet, Reed danced out of reach, dodging my swings masterfully. His slippery nature frustrated me to no end, but I couldn't afford to let that irritate my concentration.The sound of battle echoed around us, our pack and Reed's army falling into a chaotic rhythm. Then, a sudden light illuminated the battlefield, casting a warm, golden glow that seemed to wrap everything in a serene embrace. The fighting ceased momentarily, everyone's attention drawn to the source of the spectacle.There atop the wall stood Olivia, radiant and ethereal. Her eyes glowed with unearthly light, and rays of energy slipped from her body, cascading out like the sun's benevolent touch. Even in the midst of chaos, she was a goddess untouched by the grime and madness of battle.Reed's cocky composure faltered, disbelief evident in his voice as he muttered, "What the hell...?"His awe at Olivia's transf
Olivia's POVStanding at the highest point of the wall, everything before me faded into the distance. I focused on the dark sea of Reed's army, their presence like a lingering storm threatening to wash away everything we held dear. The wind whipped around me, carrying whispers of courage and fear, memories of battles fought and won.“Aura,” I murmured, feeling the powerful connection with my spirit guide envelop me like a comforting embrace. Her presence was a beacon of light in the uncertainty, a reminder of the destiny that had led me here."Olivia," her familiar and soothing voice echoed in my mind. You hold the power to end this. Feel it, embrace it. The light within you is enough to shatter the shadows around Reed, break the spell he holds on these poor souls, and leave him exposed and weak."Inhaling deeply, I closed my eyes, envisioning the glowing light that pulsed within my core. It spread gradually, filling every part of me with warmth and purpose. As I opened myself to the
Alexander's POVI watched Olivia walk away, caught in a brief moment of vulnerability mixed with pride. Her courage was remarkable, her presence as powerful as any warrior. But the situation demanded my focus. I turned back to the battle below, glaring down at Reed with a searing intensity.Standing on the edge of the wall, the scene unfolded before me like a dark, twisted tapestry. Reed's army battered against our shield—an invisible wall of protection woven by Olivia's magic.Victor's voice pulled me back. "Alexander, what are you doing?" he asked, apprehension evident in his tone.I tightened my grip on the sword, feeling the weight of the decision in my bones. "I'm going to end this, Victor," I replied, eyes fixed on my foe. "I'm going to crush him like the bug he is."Before he could respond, I leapt from the wall, landing with the grace and ferocity of a wolf in the midst of prey. The barrier parted for me, Olivia's magic recognising its keeper, allowing my passage like an old f
Olivia's pov My heart pounded as I reached the top of the wall, my eyes scanning the horizon. Below, Reed and his army came to a halt, their presence a dark blot against the vibrant tapestry of the landscape. Reed stood at the forefront, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on me. He raised his voice, the words slicing through the tension like a blade. "Last chance, Olivia! Join me or meet the same fate as the rest of these pitiful creatures!"I locked eyes with Reed, feeling the weight of his words settle over me like a heavy blanket. The army behind him seemed to shift and ripple, restless and foreboding. But I felt no fear—only a fierce, unyielding resolve.Taking a deep breath, I stepped to the edge of the wall, letting the brisk air clear my thoughts. I knew what was at stake. This wasn’t just a battle for survival; it was a fight for everything I held dear—my family, my pack, my future."Reed," I called out, my voice steady and unwavering. "You know nothing of true strength. You hide b
Olivia's POVI stood on the balcony of our quarters, looking out across the city where others went about their duties with a determined energy, everyone having felt the pinch of uncertainty. The sun crested the horizon, casting a golden glow over the land."Feeling anxious?" Victor’s voice broke my trance. He joined me, leaning against the railing, his gaze following mine across the bustling scene below."A bit," I admitted, the admission almost a relief. "I keep wondering what he's planning next. Reed won’t stay hidden for long."Victor nodded, his expression thoughtful. "No, he won't. But remember, we’ve outmaneuvered him before, and we can do it again."The tension in my chest eased a fraction at his words. Family was my cornerstone, and Victor’s presence reminded me that I wasn’t alone. "Thank you," I said sincerely, grateful for the bond that had always pulled us through. The calmness seemed unreal, given the turmoil that lingered just beyond the city's boundaries. Standing besid
Natasha's POVUpon reaching the camp, I found Reed pacing like a caged beast, his eyes blazing with a mixture of rage and desperation. He reminded me of a wolf with its paw caught in a trap—dangerous yet vulnerable."Natasha," he barked the moment he saw me, a demand evident in the sharpness of his tone. "I need that potion you promised. The one that will make me invincible."I paused, letting anticipation sharpen the moment. "I've crafted something special," I replied smoothly, drawing a small vial from my cloak. Its contents shimmered ominously in the dim light. "But be warned, Reed, this kind of power isn't to be taken lightly."He reached for it with greedy hands, his eyes alight with the lust for control. I could have laughed at how eagerly he fell for it, yet I kept my expression neutral."Give it to me!" he insisted.Holding my ground, I added, "Remember, this will unleash unimaginable strength. It's a game of trust with the forces of the unknown.""Enough of your warnings, Nat