Olivia's Pov "Mummy, look what I draw." Liam held a picture in front of my face. I forced a smile, focusing my attention on the crayon scribbles. "That's wonderful, Liam. Is that a dragon?" "No, it's a dinosaur!" he giggled and ran back to his twin sister, Sarah, who was diligently stacking blocks taller than she was. I glanced at Sarah and marvelled at her focus, hiding the emotional storm brewing inside me. Ever since Alexander found out the truth about Cassandra, my mind had been clouded with guilt for ruining his cherished memories of her. The playroom was a sanctuary for the twins, filled with bright colours, plush toys, and the innocent laughter that echoed off the walls. Today, it felt more like a cage to me, trapping me with my thoughts. I tried to keep myself busy with mundane tasks, but the growing unease was impossible to shake off. A muffled conversation drifted through the half-open door. I paused, straining to listen. "You can't be in here," said one of the mai
Alexanders Pov My heart was aching; I never thought Olivia would actually reject me as her mate, but she had. The sting of her words echoed in my ears, and the image of her cold eyes still lingered in my mind. I could barely put one foot in front of the other as I walked through the palace halls, the pain that radiated through my body slowly crushing me. Reaching the top of the staircase, a cold voice called out my name. "Alexander," I looked up to see Allen coming towards me. "You need to leave this kingdom and never return," Allen hissed, his eyes burning with rage. "Get out of my way," I said to him, trying to push past him, but he blocked my path. Rage started to boil inside of me. "You have done enough damage already, Alexander. Olivia made her choice, and you—" he spat the words—"are not part of it. So leave my wife alone and get the hell out of this kingdom and never return." "You don't deserve to call her your wife." Allen let out a bitter laugh, the sound cutting
Victor's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in the corner. "Sorry?" he spat. "Your sorry isn't worth anything. Alexander. No wonder Olivia wants nothing to do with you." he turned to the guards holding on to me. "Get him out of my sight." The guards marched me out of there, their grip like iron shackles around my arms. Allen staggered alongside me, his eyes still burning with rage. When we entered, the air was thick with the smell of antiseptic and herbs. The doctor, an older man with a kind but weary face, turned his attention to us. Without a word, the guards shoved Allen and me onto cots across the room from each other. Allen's glare was unyielding, a mirror of my own tumultuous emotions. There we sat, inches apart, our bodies bruised and broken, but our spirits still locked in silent combat. Olivia burst through the door, her eyes wide with panic. My breath caught in my throat. For a second, I hoped she had come for me. But her gaze slid right past to Allen. "Allen, are you o
"Olivia, can we talk?" Allen asked as he entered the library. He looked nervous about something, which was strange for him as he had always been a confident man.I stood up from the table where I had been engrossed in a stack of books about healing people and walked toward him, trying to read the anxiety written across his face. "Of course," I said, concern weaving through my voice as I gestured for him to sit down.He hesitated for a moment, running a hand through his hair—a clear sign that something was troubling him. Finally, he cleared his throat. "I, um."My worry deepened. Allen rarely stumbled over his words unless something was genuinely troubling him. "Is everything okay? Is there something wrong with Victor?"Allen's eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head. "No, no, nothing's wrong with Victor. He's fine." He paused, shuffling his feet and averting his eyes. "I just, um, wanted to talk to you about us."A wave of relief washed over me, followed by a surge of curiosity. "
Allen had been avoiding me since telling me he was in love with me. Every time I saw him, he would look away. My heart ached for him, and a small part of me wished that I could give him what he wanted, but I couldn't. I couldn't force myself to feel the way he wanted me to, and even if I could, that wouldn't be fair to either of us.As I walked into the courtroom, the weight of the past few weeks seemed to press down on my shoulders even more heavily. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but there was no calming the whirlwind inside me. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on Allen.The moment he noticed me, his eyes darted away, his head bowing as if the sight of me was too much for him to bear. It felt like a dagger to my heart, sharp and unforgiving. I knew the guilt of hurting him would never truly leave me. His confession of love had been unexpected, overwhelming. But more than that, it had left a rift between us that seemed impossible to bridge.Forcing myself to
Before anyone could say another word, Alexander stepped forward. “Rebecca was good at covering her tracks using people that she knew were too scared to talk or ones that she killed off without too many questions being asked.” he paused, his eyes locking on to Rebeccas, who until now had kept the same scared face but as alexander stared at her her face changed. “The maid you paid to help kill Cassandra, you also tried to poison her, but this young woman was lucky enough to survive.”A gasp echoed through the courtroom, all eyes darting towards Rebecca. She visibly stiffened, her gaze flickering between Alexander and the maid who had just entered the room. My eyes followed hers, landing on the young maid, whose presence seemed to intensify Rebecca's fear.The maid’s appearance was timid, but her eyes held a glimmer of defiance. She stepped forward, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “It’s true,” she said, her voice shaking slightly but growing stronger with each word. “Rebecca pa
I took a seat outside and tried to steady my beating heart. The past few weeks had all been a lot for me to handle. As I sat there, I started to realise I hadn't healed from the trauma in my past; I had just pushed it down deep and prayed it would go away. But it was becoming apparent that I needed to heal. I needed closure for the things that had happened to me so I would be able to move forward with my life and be the strong person my children needed me to be.I heard the door creak open behind me and turned slightly to see Victor stepping out. His eyes immediately found mine, full of concern and warmth."Olivia, are you okay?" he asked softly, taking a step closer.I hesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts. "I'm fine, Victor. I've just realised that I'm not healed from my past like I thought I was," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.He took another step closer. "You're strong, Olivia. You will get through this," he assured me, his voice steady and sure. "If there's
Alexander's povI left the room after deciding to send Rebecca back to my kingdom to meet her fate, one I already knew all too well. My steps felt heavy as I walked out of the courtroom and into the courtyard. The soft murmur of voices caught my attention, and my eyes automatically searched for Olivia. She was there, sitting on a bench, talking to Victor. My heart clenched at the sight of her, but it was the sight of Allen approaching that filled me with a burning jealousy. Despite the distance, I could almost feel the emotions between them. Their conversation seemed personal, loaded with weighty undertones. I wanted to step closer, to hear every word, but I knew I couldn't risk being caught. When Allen leaned in and kissed Olivia gently on the forehead, the tender gesture felt like a dagger through my heart. My fists clenched involuntarily, the tips of my knuckles turning white. I felt like I was on the outside looking into a world that used to be mine.Unable to endure any more, I t
Reed's povThe chamber was dimly lit, the air infused with damp stone and dread. I sat at my makeshift throne, my mind a restless sea of ambition and impatience. I was waiting, waiting for the inevitable news to reach me. Around me, shadows danced on the stone walls, much like my own thoughts danced on the edges of regret and desire.Minutes crept by until the sound of footsteps echoed from the hall. The guard's arrival was bathed in urgency, his face a mask of tension. "Alpha Reed," he said, voice clipped with news he had been instructed to deliver."What is it?" I asked, trying not to betray the flicker of eagerness beneath my calm veneer. The fingers of power curled through my veins, urging me forward into a crescendo that hummed within."The battle, Alpha," the guard began, shifting uneasily from one foot to the other. "High casualties. Many injured."I nodded in silence, following my understanding. A moment of hesitation stretched between us, and then the guard continued, "Ava, Z
Alexander’s POVChaos stretched out before me, a tapestry of destruction and hopelessness, as we led the injured toward Olivia and her healing light. My heart was heavy with anger, a pointed blade digging into my chest as each step echoed with the groans of the wounded. I needed to channel this rage into something productive, into saving lives, something larger than myself.Carrying a young man, his legs limp and useless, I noticed a woman on the ground ahead. Her hair was matted with dirt, and her body lay unnaturally still among the silent, grim company of the dead. A shiver traced down my spine. No one should find themselves alone in death.I was about to move past her when her hand twitched. My heart jumped in recognition. “No—” I whispered, rooted to the spot. It couldn’t be. She was supposed to be dead. But there she lay, breathing in jagged, shallow gasps.“Hold on. Olivia can heal you,” I told her, my voice a lifeline thrown out into the abyss. As I gently cradled her in my ar
Olivia's povA foreboding chill crept into my bones as Reed’s pack vanished behind us, the vast wilderness stretching ahead. My mind was a whirlwind, thoughts flitting like moths around a flame, settling briefly before being cast aside by another pressing concern. Derek’s pack was our destination; saving them demanded urgency that no distraction could deter.The carriage was silent except for the rhythmic clatter of wheels against uneven ground. Alexander sat beside me, his presence comforting but our peace tinged with a palpable tension. Every piece of me ached to reach those in need.As we drew closer, the air shifted, the sweet scent of forest mingling with something acrid and metallic—an unmistakable prelude to the chaos awaiting us. Blood. I inhaled deeply, my senses sharpening, a familiar heat flaring through my veins as we approached the hallowed ground of Derek’s realm. I know longer cared what Reed may have told Derek's pack about me all I wanted to do was help them.In a sud
Reed's PovThe afternoon sun filtered through the trees as I paced the clearing, my thoughts consumed with plans that only I could comprehend. The breeze swept through the whispering birches, making melodies in the leaves, but my mind was deaf to it. I had called a meeting with the pack; each pack member was summoned to our usual rendezvous.When they had all gathered, a mixture of young and battle-worn faces encircled me. I could see their concern, their uncertainty reflected back, shadows of doubt clouding their eyes. "Listen up," I began, feeling their attention zag toward me. "There have been sightings of the dark rogues getting close to us, and I believe tonight they will come."I paused, letting the words sink in. The air grew tense as if holding its breath along with them. A few murmurs erupted, soft as the rustle of leaves, but I raised my hand, silencing them once more. Their loyalty was commendable, but their faith in me needed shoring up."You've heard whispers about the sp
Olivias povThe road was filled with a tense quietness as the carriage bounced over rugged terrain. The scent of pine mingled with the crisp chill in the air, an intoxicating reminder of the mountain's nosebleed peaks and swathes of woodland stretching endlessly beneath the sky. Alexander and I remained silent. Our focus aligned on the journey to the packs that needed us. The horses' hooves pounded rhythmically against the ground, a steady heartbeat pushing us onward."We'll be there soon," Alexander said softly, breaking the delicate bubble of contemplation enveloping us. His voice was a soothing balm against the trepidation I felt, but I knew better than to dwell on them. Before I could reply, Reed's pack came into view as we cleared another slope, and my heart clenched momentarily—as my mind drifted back to all the horrible things that Reed had done, Cassandra’s face flashing before my eyes. I shook my head, pushing the thought out of my head as fast as it came. His town sprawled
Alexanders povThe morning had barely begun, yet the weight of the world pressed heavily on our shoulders as Olivia and I walked down to the triplet alphas' office. The hallway was alive with murmurs, everyone eager to thank Olivia. Each gesture of gratitude was a vital reminder of just how much we owed her. The warmth in their eyes contrasted sharply with the shadow of worry that clung stubbornly to her face."Olivia," a young omega called, offering a shy smile as we passed. "Thank you for saving us."Olivia nodded, though her eyes betrayed her restlessness. I could feel her tension like an electric current between us. The dream she had last night weighed on her like lead, and I understood her fear—it was the fear that gnawed at me, too. Our thoughts were locked on our children, Liam and Sarah, who were miles away in the city, possibly at the mercy of dark rogues.As we entered the office, the room was already buzzing with discussions on our next move. The triplet alphas—Cole, Casper
Olivia's povI found a spot overlooking the pack grounds, where I could see the far horizon painted with hues of twilight. Sitting down, exhaustion overwhelmed me. My body ached from the turmoil of the past days, and my eyelids were heavy, struggling to remain open. Despite knowing I should stay alert, sleep tugged at me with relentless persistence. Just a moment, I told myself, my eyes slipping shut as I drifted off.In an instant, I was home, laughter echoing around me. Liam and Sarah, my joyful twins, ran ahead, their giggles a balm to my weary soul. Chasing after them, I called out, the evening's gentle glow transforming suddenly as the sky turned an ominous shade of black."Time to come inside!" I shouted, but only their laughter answered. Confusion churned in my gut as I searched the darkening landscape. The shadows around swirled, their movements taunting and elusive. Panic flared sharply as the twins' laughter ceased, replaced by silence."Liam! Sarah!" I yelled, desperation c
Olivia's povWith my heart drumming loudly in my ears, I watched Victor. He lay still, his breathing shallow as the Glass warmth kissed his lips. My hands lingered close, trembling with uncertainty. "Drink, Victor, please," I urged softly, my voice barely above a whisper, a prayer wrapped in hope.I held my breath, time moving languidly, stretching uneasily around us. The weight of the moment pressed heavily upon my shoulders. Each heartbeat felt like an endless echo, my pulse a desperate chorus in the quiet room. And just when doubt threatened to choke me, Victor’s lips parted softly. His throat moved, taking in the liquid, a small sip at first, then another. Relief washed over me, the tension slowly uncoiling as I watched the colour gradually begin to return to his cheeks. With every drop he swallowed, I felt the oppressive heat that had wrapped around him like chains begin to diminish.I didn’t allow myself to get too hopeful, not yet—not until I was sure. But the change was undeni
Olivias povI turned sharply, and the chill that ran down my spine got colder when I saw what the panic in Alexander's eyes was about. On the floor lay Victor, my brother, motionless. Alexander was kneeling beside him, urgently checking his pulse."Victor!" I cried out, racing to his side. My heart pounded so loudly that it drowned out any other noise. Kneeling down, I reached for his hand. It was cold and clammy, a stark contrast to the fever emanating all around us. A knot tightened in my stomach."He collapsed just now," Alexander explained, urgency bleeding into his tone. His hand was on Victor's chest, listening to the shallow rise and fall of his breath. "He must have tried to hide how he was feeling to help the others."A heavy, suffocating wave of fear threatened to pull me under. Victor was always the strongest, the rock of our family, alongside our shared purpose to protect. Seeing him so vulnerable was a blow I wasn't prepared for.At that moment, only one thought pulsed th