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'
Alexanders povThe library was quiet, and the only sound was the soft rustling of pages as Ethan flipped through a book. I sat across from him, trying to focus on the words in front of me, but my mind kept drifting. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through me, causing me to double over in agony."Alpha? What's wrong?" Ethen asked, rushing around to me.Before I could answer, a scream pierced through my head, echoing loudly and making me wince in pain. My wolf growled, urgent and insistent. “Mate!” It whispered urgently inside my head. “She needs you.”I pushed myself up from the table, ignoring the protest of my muscles as I rushed towards the door. Fay's screams taking over every inch of the palace, each one sending shivers down my spine. I needed to get to her to make sure she was okay.But as I reached the door where her cries were coming from, two guards stopped me from going inside. They stood in my way, their expressions stoic and unwavering."Let me through," I growled, my voice lac
Victor's face softened slightly, a hint of sympathy flickering in his eyes. "She is alive," he said finally. "But she is not in a good way."I let out the breath I was holding, relief flooding through me at Victor's words. "Can I see her?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Victor's expression hardened once again as he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Alexander," he replied. "But I can't allow that. Fay will have no visitors until we know what is wrong with her and we find the person who attacked her.""What can I do to help?" I asked, desperation creeping into my tone.Victor's gaze bore into mine, his eyes cold and calculating. "Find the person responsible for this," he said firmly. "Bring them to me so they can be punished accordingly."I nodded, determination coursing through me as I stood up straighter. "Consider it done," I declared.I turned to Ethan, who was already at my side. "Find them," I instructed him. "And bring them to me."Ethan nodded in understanding before rushin
Reed’s POVThe forest was quiet, the only noises the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant calls of wildlife. My leg throbbed with every stride, the pain a consistent companion during my escape, but it fueled my resolve rather than diminished it. I leaned heavily on my makeshift crutch, every step deliberate, every breath a challenge overcome.How long had I been on the run now? Time was a shapeless blur, marking moments only by the exhaustion that weighed on my bones. The elders’ guards pursued me tirelessly, and Alexander’s as well, all seeking my head. I had played my cards poorly, underestimating the strength of my enemies and overreaching my ambition—or so they thought. Maybe there was truth in it. Perhaps I needed this moment, this fall, to truly measure the darkness within me and to harness it against those who wronged me.I knew Olivia had what I needed to rise again—her power, her essence. Once she recognised that we were meant to be, she would come around. I could almost f
Alexander’s POVThe grand palace gates opened before us, the magnificent structure standing as a testament to our return and the resilience we'd found within ourselves. As the carriage came to a stop, I watched as Olivia took in the scene. Her gaze was both wistful and hopeful, a blend of emotions she wore eloquently.“Daddy, can we go play?” Liam’s eager voice brought my attention back to our lively twins, who were practically vibrating with excitement.“Yes, but be careful,” I chuckled, unable to resist the buoyant energy only children possessed. "Stay within the gardens."With a flurry of giggles, they bolted off, leaving behind an iridescent trail of joy in their wake. Olivia stood beside me, a serene presence amidst the chaos. I watched her eyes follow the twins, a softness etching across her features.The warmth of the sun bathed us, the golden glow amplifying the sense of homecoming that swelled within my chest. “It feels so good to be home,” Olivia murmured, her head finding a
Alexander’s POVThe carriage rolled over the crest of the hill, unveiling the sprawling kingdom beneath us. My heart felt a gentle release, the homecoming marking the end of turmoil. Olivia sat beside me, her presence as comforting as the view before us. The twins, Liam and Sarah, bounced in their seats, their excitement contagious. After what felt like an eternity of darkness and trials, being home seemed like a new dawn.“We're home,” Olivia said softly, her voice like a soothing melody that wrapped around the world, infusing it with warmth and love.I looked over at her, my heart swelling with a gratitude I couldn’t quite express in words. Her smile was like the sun piercing through the overcast sky of our past struggles. “Yes, we are,” I replied, feeling the tensions of the past slowly slipping away.The twins burst out of the carriage the moment it came to a halt, their laughter echoing around us as they raced toward the palace. Their footfalls were light against the ground, a st
Reeds povI didn't know how long I had been trapped in that cave with the witches' burnt and rotting bodies. Everything was a blur, and my mind struggled to piece things together, only fragments passing through every now and again like echoes of a fading nightmare. I vaguely remembered their chants, the strange words resonating in a rhythm that seemed to align with the throbbing pain in my leg. Natasha lay nearby, her eyes open but unseeing, a haunting reminder of what happened when the moon's light came through that cursed cave.As the days passed, the fog obscuring my thoughts began to lift. My survival instincts took over, pushing me toward a gruelling reality: I needed to escape, to move before they found me.With grim determination, I dragged myself from the darkness of the cave, the memory of Natasha and the others burning in my mind. I felt disconnected from the world around me, hollowed out and raw from the loss of my leg. Pain lanced through me with each movement, a constant
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