Olivia's POVA year had passed since the defeat of the dark rogues and Reed, and the relief that had settled over us still lingered. But with that relief came a new wave of growth and change. Ethan and Lidia had taken over Reed’s pack, transforming it into something strong and thriving. Watching them lead with such grace and determination was a joy, and the pack had flourished under their leadership.Allen had also proven himself as the new Alpha of Derek’s pack, breathing new life into a pack that had been steeped in fear for too long. He brought them hope, strength, and a future, and it made my heart swell to see him step into this new role so effortlessly. Not only had Allen given Derek’s pack a fresh start, but he had also found love. Grace, his beautiful mate, had filled his life with joy, and they were expecting their first child together. It made me smile, thinking about how much had changed in such a short time, how much life had blossomed around us.I was sitting in the garde
Olivia’s POVThe joy of the celebration continued to fill the air as everyone gathered. The laughter of children and the conversations of friends and family blended together into a perfect harmony that felt like music to my ears. It was a sight to behold—my family, my people, all of us united in love and strength. And as I held little Fay in my arms, a sense of peace washed over me, knowing that, despite all the challenges we had faced, we had come through it stronger than ever.Victor and Claire had just arrived, Victor walking proudly beside Claire, who was nearing the end of her pregnancy. The two of them looked so happy and content, their love for each other glowing brighter than ever. It had been a while since I had seen them, and I was thrilled to have this moment to catch up.I embraced them both tightly, my heart full. "I’ve missed you both so much," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "It feels like forever since we’ve all been together."Victor smiled, his gaze soft and affe
Alexander pov I couldn't bear the thought of Olivia loving someone else. After seeing the way she fussed over Allen, my heart felt heavy. The palace walls felt like a prison, tightening around me with each passing second. Needing an escape, I decided to make my way to one of the Taverns in the village. The streets were alive with nighttime chatter and laughter, but I moved through the crowd like a ghost, my mind consumed by the image of Olivia's smile directed at another man. The Tavern's wooden sign creaked above me as I pushed through the door, greeted by the warm, muggy air mixed with the scent of ale and roasted meat. I slid onto a stool at the bar and ordered a drink, hoping the burn of liquor would drown out the ache in my chest. The first sip did nothing but fuel my desperation, so I drank more—another mug, then another. Faces around me blurred, muffled conversations swirled into an unintelligible hum. "Another?" the bartender asked, eyeing me with a mix of curiosity and co
Alexanders povMy head was pounding as I opened my eyes. Last night was a blur in my mind. As I rolled over, I saw Lidia asleep next to me. My heart started to pound in my chest. Had I messed up and taken Lidia to bed with me last night? "Lidia, wake up," I whispered urgently, giving her shoulder a gentle shake. "Lidia! Wake up, now!" Her eyes fluttered open. Confusion was evident as she quickly took in her surroundings. "Oh god," she muttered, sitting up abruptly. I can't believe I fell asleep. If anyone sees me leaving this room..." "Lidia, did we...?" She jumped up, smoothing down the creases in her wrinkled dress. "No, Alexander," she cut me off, clearly reading the panic on my face. "You were drunk, wanting to declare your love to Olivia, so I stopped you. And stupid me fell asleep." A wave of relief washed through me, but it quickly turned into embarrassment. "Oh god, Olivia," I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "What was I thinking?" Lidia sighed, her shoulders slumpi
Sitting in the garden, soaking up the sunlight, I let the warmth seep into my skin, allowing myself a rare moment of relaxation. The soft hum of bees drifted through the air, mingling with the floral perfumes that surrounded me. Out of the corner of my eye, movement on the palace's ivory walls caught my attention. My heart skipped a beat as I recognised the figure of Lidia, who was clambering down the side of the building still wearing the same dress she was yesterday. I looked up and saw Alexander standing in the window. A million questions raced through my head. Did she spend a night with Alexander? My heart ached at the thought. Why did I still feel something for him? Stop being painful. Please let my heart return to peace. I had already decided to let him go, right? He should have nothing to do with my life. That should be so. All I have wanted over the years is a peaceful life. I adjusted my feelings, taking a deep breath to calm down. "Lidia!" I said louder than I intended.
Victor's POV As I walked through the palace, the morning sun streamed through the tall windows, casting intricate patterns on the marble floor. I rounded a corner, and there she was—Olivia, standing in the hallway with a distant look in her eyes. Her face bore an expression of sorrow that twisted my heart in ways I couldn't explain. "Olivia," I called out gently, stepping closer. "Is everything alright?" She seemed startled, as if my voice had pulled her from a dark place. She quickly wiped at her eyes, forcing a weak smile. "It's nothing, Victor. Just... a moment of weakness," she murmured, already turning away from me. "But Olivia—" I began, reaching out a hand to stop her, but she was already walking down the corridor, her steps swift and determined. I stood there, watching her retreating form, a sense of foreboding tightening in my chest. Something was very wrong, and the fact that she wouldn't open up to me only made it worse. Unable to ignore the gnawing worry that gripped
Alexander pov"Alexander!" Lidia's frantic voice echoed through the grand hall, her footsteps hurrying towards me. Panic was clear in her movements and voice. "Victor knows. He knows everything, and he is removing you and Ethan from the kingdom!"My breath caught in my throat. "What do you mean, Lidia? What have you done?""There’s no time for explanations!" Her hands gripped my arms tightly, her fingers digging into my skin. "I need to tell you something."I took a deep breath and met Lidia’s desperate gaze. Her wide eyes were filled with a terror that made me shiver. "Tell me, Lidia. What do I need to know?"She hesitated for a moment, her lips quivering as she tried to form the words. "It's about Olivia's c—-"Before she could continue, the sound of heavy footsteps reverberated through the hallway. We both turned to see Victor striding towards us with an air of authority that made the walls seem to narrow around him. His dark eyes pierced through Lidia. "Lidia, go to your room. I w
Olivia's povEverything that was going on made my mind go crazy. I knew that Lidia had some feelings for Alexander, but I did not realise they went as deep as they did. I never expected to catch her coming out of his room. But the thing that played on my mind the most was why she was with Alexander if she was saying she was in love with Ethan. I made my way to the twins' playroom, wanting to be with them so they could calm my chaotic mind. Liam greeted me at the door with a warm smile, throwing his arms around my leg. “Mummy, I missed you so much.”“I missed you,” I said as I picked him up and walked further into the room. Where's your sister?” I scanned the room, trying to see if I could see her hiding somewhere. “We're playing a game. She's the princess, and I'm the knight who comes to save her.” he wiggled, signalling for me to put him down before he rushed off into the other room. A few seconds later, he came back and dragged his sister in by the hand. “Mummy!” Sarah yelled, ru
King Nicholas povSeated on the throne, I watched Sarah play, the golden light of dusk casting a warm glow around the throne room. As she moved, her laughter filled the air, a melody that I was reluctantly coming to cherish. She was a bright, brave little girl, spirited and innocent—qualities that stood on precarious grounds in my world. Sarah toddled toward me, her tiny hands closing around a toy dragon, its wings chipped from wear. Every part of me wished for Olivia to finally accept my son, Elijah, for the wedding to occur, intertwining our destinies and stabilising my empire before those insubordinate wolves could rally their pitiful excuse for an army. True, they were no match for my dragon legion, which was the pride of my reign, but quashing their rebellion would be another needle in my side—a distraction I could ill afford amid rising tensions. anyone with dragon blood belonged here not out there tanted by the rest of the world. As if summoned by my thoughts, the heavy oak d
The witch's words hung in the crisp night air, a prophecy unravelling as energy surged through me. I struggled, ensnared by the torrent of power and pain cascading through my body. My wolf howled within, caught between elation and rage, always yearning for control."You betrayed us!" I roared my voice a mixture of fury and fear as I attempted to lurch toward her, my limbs betraying me. The forest spun around me, dizziness mixing with agony, every muscle clenched in a relentless vice."Stop it," I demanded, collapsing onto my back, the ground cold and merciless beneath me. The witch remained silent, her gaze a paradox of detachment and unwavering resolve. My breath was coming in sharp and painful as if I were breathing in fire. My heart was pounding in my chest like at any second it would explode.As the world faded to darkness, echoes of my past life surfaced like spectral wraiths. My father's face hovered before me, eyes, once so fiercely resolute, now filled with regret. I remembere
Alexanders povI sat cross-legged on the cold earth, eyes shut tight as a battle raged in my mind. Days had slipped away, each one filled with the witch's strange lessons on meditation that left me hollow and irritable. This was not the training I'd imagined. I needed to be fighting, using my strength to prepare for the inevitable clash with King Nicholas that would save Olivia and Sarah, not sitting still like a stone.My resolve slipped, and frustration bubbled over. "This is useless!" I snapped, eyes flying open. "The power will never come."Nearby, the witch remained calm, her voice a gentle breeze against the storm within me. "You keep letting your wolf overtake you, Alexander.""My wolf is strong! It is what will kill the bastard who took my daughter and mate!" I retorted, the growl of my words echoing in the stillness."Again," she instructed, ignoring my outburst. Her unyielding patience stung like salt in the wound of my anger.I glared at her, but desperation won over pride.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my fingers gently tracing the intricate patterns of the golden and white dress. The dress shimmered in the light, its elegance speaking of a world I had yet to fully comprehend. A soft knock interrupted the thoughts that swirled in my mind. "Come in," I called as I stood up and smoothed the fabric of my dress, anticipation twisting in my stomach. Elijah stepped into the room, his presence an unexpected comfort. He paused, eyes lingering over the dress before meeting mine. "You look beautiful," he said softly, the sincerity in his voice wrapping around me. "Thank you," I replied, a flutter of unexpected warmth unfurling in my chest. We left the room together, walking through the halls of the palace in silence before stepping out into the kingdom—a place still shrouded in mysteries I longed to uncover as we wandered through the bustling streets. Yesterday, it had been nothing more than glimpses, but today, I made sure to take in everything around me, s
The tension in the room was clear as Elijah planted himself firmly before me, creating a barrier between me and the king I so desperately loathed. He was unwavering, his presence a silent vow of protection. Our roles seemed to reverse as he, the supposed pawn of his father, became my shield. “Move, Elijah,” King Nicholas commanded, his voice a rumble of irritation and disbelief. The air crackled with the intensity of his order, the authority behind it a palpable force. “No,” Elijah replied, his tone tempered with a surprising strength and calm. “This is no way to get her to agree to our marriage.” Nicholas glared down at me, eyes simmering with disdain. “I don’t care if she agrees or not. She will marry you either way,” he declared, each word a testament to the unwavering grip he held over what he considered his kingdom. “Father,” Elijah countered, his voice rising with urgency. “She would be more useful to you if she does so of her own accord. Imagine what could happen if people
Olivias PovReturning to my room after the night’s expedition into the tunnels, my thoughts churned like waves in a storm. I needed to internalise the pathways, the routes that could one day be our salvation, weaving a silent rebellion against King Nicholas. Each curve and corner etched into my memory was a thread in a tapestry of freedom I would one day unravel with Sarah. My pulse still quickened at the echo of his voice in those dark hollows, Nicholas's tyranny seeping through the kingdom like a poison. Now, seated on my bed, I awaited the morning routine of a guard bringing breakfast—a charade of civility amidst captivity, one I had to manipulate to my advantage. The heavy door creaked open, and a guard entered, his face a mask of indifference as he carried a tray. I rose, determination tightening my spine. "I need to speak with Elijah. Immediately." My demand was clear and unwavering. His silence was the falling of a gauntlet, and he moved as if I were invisible, stepping arou
The night hung heavy in the air, wrapping me in a cocoon of silence that accentuated my solitude. The portal had vanished, leaving the forest serene yet eerily empty. I turned in a slow circle, the towering trees surrounding me like silent sentinels guarding ancient secrets.All around me, shadows danced, cast by the ethereal glow of the moonlight filtering through the underbrush. I shifted uneasily, my heightened senses picking up the subtle rustling of leaves and the whisper of unseen creatures moving in the dark. I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation as if the very air was charged with energy waiting to be unleashed.Then, a voice broke through the silence, clear and resonant, calling my name. "Alexander."I whirled around, my heart leaping in my chest as a figure stepped gracefully into a shaft of moonlight. Her hooded cloak flowed like water around her, and with a slow movement, she reached up and pulled the hood back. The sight of her sent a shock through me—a woman w
The soft crunch of leaves underfoot marked our journey through the dense forest. The symphony of chirping crickets and the faint rustle of nocturnal creatures created a haunting yet soothing backdrop. But my thoughts were far from the serenity surrounding us, caught instead in a relentless loop of urgency and frustration.Hours had slipped by since we began this trek, each passing hour a new knot of tension coiling within me. The sense of time slipping through my fingers like grains of sand was maddening. I cast a glance at Tinsley, her expression unreadable as she navigated the underbrush as though it understood her silent command.“Just a little further,” she murmured, her voice a gentle reassurance that erased none of my impatience. It wasn't enough. The thought of Olivia and our children, their lives tethered to the whims of a tyrant, burned in my mind like a branding iron.“Tinsley,” I barked, the restraint in my voice unravelling. “If I shift into my wolf form, I can carry you.
Alexander's POV The sun hung low as I approached the palace gates, an ominous silence filling the air. There, waiting with a posture that promised a steadfast determination, stood Tinsley. Her silver hair caught the fading light, a beacon against the encroaching dusk. “Are you ready to make this journey to the magical land?” she asked, her voice both soothing and filled with the gravity of the impending quest. Her words resonated with the weight of destiny and the urgency of our plight. I nodded, the resolve firm within me, though uncertainty lingered like a shadow at the edge of my thoughts. Just as we began to move forward, a familiar voice shattered the fragile calm. “Daddy, wait!” Liam’s voice reached me like a lifeline, pulling me back from the precipice. I spun around to see my son running toward me, his little legs moving with desperate urgency. My heart clenched painfully, each beat echoing with his cries. Lidia trailed behind, her voice gentle but firm as she called, “Li