Olivia's POVI stood my ground, my senses hyper-focused on the figure advancing toward me. The forest was eerily silent. The only sound was the crunch of leaves under the approaching creature’s paws. As it emerged from the shadows, its form became clear—a wolf, its eyes shining with predatory hunger and its fur bristling in anticipation.Refusing to show fear, I made a quick decision, darting to the right just as the wolf lunged. It missed me by a hair, its claws swiping through the empty air where I had just been. Without hesitation, I took off running, confident in my speed and agility. I knew the wolf had little chance of catching up with me.As I weaved through the dense canopy of trees, my thoughts raced, and I reached out to Alexander with my mind. I needed to warn him about the threat. *There are wolves after me,* I projected urgently.His response came almost instantly, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. *I know, Olivia. This is part of your training.*Understanding hit
Olivia's POVAs Alexander and I approached the towering gates of our palace, One of the palace guards hurried towards us. His steps were quick and purposeful, and as he reached us, his face showed more than just the usual seriousness. “Alpha,” he began, bowing his head. “Catherine Miller is here. She wishes to speak with both of you.”I saw Alexander’s shoulders tense. He let out a heavy sigh, opening his mouth to speak. But I gently placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. “I’ll talk to her,” I said softly.Alexander hesitated, his eyes searching mine for a moment before nodding. “Go and see the children,” I continued, squeezing his arm for reassurance. “I’ll handle this.”“She’s already seen her daughter,” Alexander said, his voice weary.“I know,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “But it’s hard to turn your back on your own blood. It’s not Catherine's fault that Cassandra did all those horrible things.”Alexander gave a resigned nod and turned to make his way to the children’s playroom.
**Cassandra’s POV**Chains clanked as I adjusted, the cold metal biting into my wrists. The dungeon's darkness pressed down on me like a suffocating weight, but even in this despair, I held onto a sliver of hope—Reed would come for me. Each footstep down the corridor made my heart race, anticipation gripping my soul, but they had always led to disappointment. The resolve in me was slowly eroding.Suddenly, a different sound echoed through the stone chamber—footsteps I couldn't mistake. My heart lifted briefly, but it sank just as quickly when I saw the familiar figure before me. It wasn’t Reed. It was my mother."Mum?" My voice cracked with the strain of days of disuse."Cassandra," she breathed, rushing to my side. Her appearance stunned me. It hadn't been long since I last saw her, but she looked like she had aged years in mere days. Her usually bright eyes were clouded with worry and exhaustion. I hated that I was the one coursing all of her pain, and for the first time, I wished t
Cassandra’s povI took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I had to say. I knew this was my last chance, and if Alexander didn't hear me out or believe me, I would never get another. "Alexander," I began, my voice wavering slightly, "I know I've made terrible mistakes. But my parents... they love me, and I've hurt them enough. I need to make things right."His eyes flickered with a mix of scepticism and something else—maybe a sliver of curiosity. "And why should that matter to me?"I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. "Because I have information that could help you. If you promise to show some leniency during my trial, I’ll tell you everything."Alexander's lips curled into a mocking smile. "I don’t make deals with people like you."I took a deep breath, knowing that everything hinged on what I was about to say. "Alexander, I understand your mistrust. I've done terrible things, but there are things you don’t know. Reed," I paused, trying to gather my courage, "Reed is my
**Alexander's POV**I stood there in sheer disbelief, ice gripping my heart as I watched Cassandra convulse on the ground, blood pouring from her nose, mouth, and ears. Her screams of agony cut through the silence, echoing in my ears with a haunting resonance."Guards!" I bellowed, my voice cracking with urgency. "Get the healer! Now!"Cassandra’s body arched with another spasm, her face contorted with unimaginable pain. The room seemed to spin, darkening as I tried to make sense of her sudden collapse. My thoughts hammered relentlessly, circling back to our last conversation.She had just been telling me that Reed was her mate, and then this—I couldn't help but feel a mix of anger and helplessness bubble inside me. The name "Reed" reverberated through my mind, tinged with bitter loathing. What had he done to her?In the distance, swift footsteps heralded Olivia's arrival. She burst into the room, her eyes landing on Cassandra with horror. "Alexander, what happened?" she asked, her vo
**Olivia’s POV**Catherine clung to me as if holding on to the last fragment of hope she had. She was shaking, her tears soaking through my shirt. I held her tighter, my heart breaking for her. No one should ever have to feel the pain she was experiencing, the unbearable sorrow of losing a child, regardless of the mistakes they made.“Olivia,” Catherine sobbed, her voice barely a whisper. “Why did this happen? How could she die like this?”I had no answers. All I could do was give her the comfort of my presence. “I’m so sorry, Catherine. We’ll find out what happened, I promise.”The healer waved for the guards to help him take Cassandra’s body away. They handled her with great care as if hoping it would ease the pain of Catherine watching her daughter’s lifeless form being taken from her. The healer mentioned he needed to examine the body to understand what caused such a sudden, violent death. It was the least we could do for Catherine to ensure that Cassandra’s death was not in vain.
**Alexander’s POV**The morning of the trial arrived, and it felt like the weight of the entire world pressed down on my shoulders. I hadn't slept at all last night. Cassandra's death kept replaying in my mind, the look of fear and pain on her lifeless face haunting my every thought. Despite the restless night, I knew I had to push through. Today, Rebecca's trial would come to an end, and I needed to focus.Walking into the grand hall, I was greeted by the solemn faces of pack members. Rebecca’s father stood at the front, waiting with a few others. I took my seat, feeling the tension in the air grow as Rebecca was brought into the room, her wrists bound with chains.Her father stepped forward, a desperate edge to his voice. “Alpha Alexander, my daughter is not guilty of killing Cassandra. She has been through enough. Please, show her mercy.”I glanced between Rebecca and her father, the weight of my responsibilities crashing down on me. “Rebecca had every intention of killing Cassandr
**Olivia's POV**I stood there in shock, Alexander’s words echoing in my mind. "Luna Queen." He hadn’t discussed this with me beforehand; the announcement had taken me completely by surprise. I looked down at Liam and Sarah, who were beaming with joy. Their father’s announcement had evidently filled them with pride and happiness.Alexander, sensing the mix of emotions radiating from me, gently excused us and began leading the way back into the palace. With each step, the crowd's buzz slowly faded into a distant hum, swallowed by the palace walls.Once inside, the grandeur and quiet of the palace offered a contrast to the frenzy outside. I turned to Alexander, my brows furrowed in both confusion and concern. “Alexander, you didn’t have to do that,” I admonished, my voice gentle but firm.Alexander turned to me, his eyes softening as they met mine. “Yes, I did, Olivia,” he said tenderly, taking my hands in his. “You’ve been my strength and the heart of this pack, even when you didn’t ho