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
Olivia's povI slowly opened my eyes, the room spinning as I tried to focus. My head was pounding, and my vision was blurry. As my surroundings started to come into view, I saw Victor sitting next to my bed, his expression filled with worry."Victor," I croaked out, my voice raspy from sleep or maybe something more sinister.He jumped up at the sound of my voice, relief flooding his features. "Thank God you're awake. You scared me."Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to piece together what had happened. Why was I in this state? And why did Victor look so terrified?"What happened?" I managed to whisper, fear creeping into my heart as I tried to work out what had happened.Victor leant forward, taking my hand in his, his grasp tight and comforting. "You were attacked, Olivia. Do you remember anything?" he asked.I furrowed my brow, trying to recall the events that led me here, but my mind was blank. I shook my head slowly, feeling a sense of dread wash over me as I realised I couldn'
Olivia's POV"Olivia, please, rest a bit more," Alexander entreated gently, echoing the concern etched into every line of his face.I shook my head, feeling a vibrant energy coursing through me. "I can’t, Alexander. I’m fine. There’s something I need to tell everyone," I insisted, leaving no room for argument.He hesitated, the protector within him battling his respect for my strength and autonomy. He nodded finally, prioritising my needs, even as the remnants of his worry shimmered in the space between us. "Alright," he conceded, a soft smile breaking through the storm.With a sweep of the moment, new resolve firmed my steps as I dressed, each garment a shield of confidence and renewed purpose. As I moved with care not to wake the twins, the thrill of life seemed to pulse through my veins.Word of my rise had spread quicker than wildfire, and as I stepped out, taking in the warmth of the morning sun, I found a vast sea of faces waiting. Their collective expectation hummed in the air,
Olivia's povI watched as Selene turned to leave, her steps light and deliberate as though she floated. My heart clenched, a surge of questions and emotions compelling me to follow. “Wait, please! I still have so many things to ask you,” I called out, my voice catching in the chilly air.She paused, turning back toward me with a serene smile that held the weight of ages in its curves. "When we meet again, I will answer all that you have to ask, but I hope that is not for many more moons," Selene promised, her eyes twinkling with ancient wisdom.The promise in her words was comforting yet bittersweet. I nodded, grappling with the sense of finality that lingered in the moonlit air.“It’s time for you to go now. There are many hearts missing you dearly. Go celebrate your victory.” Selene said, bowing her head slightly.Before I could reply, she seemed to dissolve into the starlit sky, vanishing as if carried away by the winds of time. The scene around me darkened, the picturesque world s
Olivia's povMy gaze drifted over the shimmering expanse of the ocean, a melody of thoughts threading through my mind. Despite the beauty surrounding me, an invisible weight tugged at my soul, reminding me of the battles still to fight and the loved ones I needed to protect."what will happen next with those witches?" I asked, turning my head to meet Selene's serene eyes. "Will they continue to stir up trouble?"Her expression remained calm, yet there was a flicker of something—satisfaction, perhaps—in her gaze. "The witches have become prisoners of the moon," she replied, her voice a soothing lull yet imbued with undeniable authority. "Their struggle against you exhausted their magic, leaving them weak and confined."As Selene spoke, she gestured gracefully as if painting the air with her fingertips. With a subtle wave of her hand, the sand at our feet swirled upwards, cascading around us like a whirlwind. The scene shimmered into existence, vivid and real, enveloping us in a world s
Alexander's POVOlivia's fragility lying on the hospital bed. Her skin was pallor that seemed out of place for someone as vibrant as her. It felt as though she was caught between realms, her spirit elsewhere while her body remained beside me.Liam and Sarah refused to leave her, their small forms locked in, fighting off the claims of sleep as they nestled at her side. Their presence, though reassuring, brought an ache to my heart. How do you explain to a child the cruelty of the world that places their mother in such a vulnerable state?They were brave, our twins. Sarah clutched Olivia's hand tightly, refusing to let go, while Liam focused his will on staying awake, his eyes fixed on his mother more intensely than his years should allow. I had tried more than once to coax them back to the hotel with Allen, believing they needed rest, but their connection to Olivia was fierce and unyielding.Victor stepped into the room, his usual confident demeanour replaced by cautious hesitation. He
Olivia's POVThe vast expanse of sand stretched before me as I followed Selene's lead, each step further removing the haze between dreams and reality. The salty aroma of the ocean filled my senses, an intoxicating blend of freedom and nostalgia. We walked side by side, accompanied by the rhythmic lullaby of the waves, until we reached a large rock overlooking the infinite ocean.“Sit with me, Olivia,” Selene suggested, settling upon the ancient stone. Her presence brought solace. Her words whispered truths that calmed the storm within me.I lowered myself beside her, the cool rock grounding me in this surreal yet comforting world. Together, our gaze captured the horizon where the sea met the sky, a seamless union as eternal as the forces guiding me.For a while, the symphony of nature wrapped us in silence, a shared understanding passing unspoken between us. Finally, the question clawing at my heart found a voice. "Will I ever see my family again?"Selene turned her gaze upon me, the
Olivia's POVA blinding light penetrated my closed lids, and I instinctively squeezed them tighter to ward off its impertinence. The sound of waves mingled with my heartbeat, which thudded loudly against my ribs in question. Where was this place? I cautiously opened my eyes, squinting against the unfamiliar brightness. As I sat up, the world wobbled, and I blinked to clear my vision. My surroundings took on shape—the sand beneath me warm, the air tinged with salt and freedom, yet stark in its refusal to reveal any hints of familiarity. "Where am I?" I murmured, my voice lost amidst the symphony of crashing waves and whispering winds.A voice from behind me answered, gentle yet commanding, "Do not worry, my child; you are safe."My senses jolted to alertness, instincts primed for confrontation. I spun around, my heart a wild drum, only to lock eyes with the most ethereal figure I'd ever seen. A woman stood there, her silver hair cascading like moonlit waterfalls, her skin luminous, and
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