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
I tossed and turned in bed, my mind racing from everything that had happened. The room seemed unbearably hot, even with the cool night air drifting through the open window. Lydia's venomous words echoed relentlessly in my head, painting devastating images of Alexander with her. I couldn't shake the sour taste of betrayal that clung to my thoughts. Tomorrow, he would be gone forever if Victor had his way. And to make things even worse, the doctor had no answers on what could be wrong with the twins. When he came to see them, the scale-like marks were no longer there. With a frustrated sigh, I threw off the covers and sat up, running a hand through my tangled hair. The moonlight filtering through the window cast silvery shadows across the room. I glanced over at the silent form of my children, sleeping peacefully in my bed next to me. I hated letting them out of my site these days.Leaning over, I gently place a kiss on both of their heads. Liam stirred a little, his eyes fluttering op
"Victor, do you know anything more about Mother?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual, even though my heart pounded in anticipation. He looked at me thoughtfully, his gaze seeming to pierce through memories long locked away. "Not much that would make sense without further context. Father was always protective of her mysteries. But there was something... something about the day they met." "Tell me," I prompted, urging him gently but firmly. I needed to know. Victor stood there silent for a second as if he was trying to remember every part of the story. "Father met Mother in the forest. She was... different, mysterious. Her origins were somewhat unclear, but he recognised something in her, something that made him realise she was his mate. That's what he told me." I nodded, encouraging him to continue, the tension between us thickening. "They fell in love quickly," Victor said, a wistful look crossing his face that contrasted sharply with the pain I suspected he was hiding. "But
Alexander pov Standing at the palace gates, my heart was heavy. The last thing I wanted was to leave Olivia, but I knew that I had to. If I stayed, it would only make things worse. I should have left hours ago, but I couldn't leave without seeing her, so I've just been standing here waiting in hopes that she will come to say goodbye. Ethan had chosen to leave last night. He didn't see the point in staying any longer since Victor wouldn't let him ever see Lidia again. Guilt has been eating away at me from bringing him into this and maybe wrecking his chance at love and happiness. “Alpha Alexander, we really should get going.” the coach driver called to me, snapping me out of my head. “Soon, “I said, holding up my hand as I scanned the courtyard one more time for her. Just as I was about to give up and turn around to get into the carriage, I spotted her out of the corner of my eye, walking towards me. My heart began to pound in my chest with excitement. “Olivia,” I couldn't bri
Victor's POV The soft morning light filtered through my office window, casting a warm glow over the wooden furniture. I sat behind my desk, fingers drumming anxiously on the oak surface as I awaited Lydia’s arrival. The weight of the conversation I was about to have with her had been pressing on my mind. The door creaked open, and Lydia stepped in, her eyes guarded but curious. “Victor, you wanted to see me?” she asked. I nodded, gesturing for her to take a seat. “Yes, Lydia. There’s something important we need to talk about.” She moved cautiously, sitting down across from me. It had always pained me to see the rift between them, a rift that I knew stemmed from misunderstandings and old grudges. Today, I intended to set things right. “Lydia,” I began, taking a deep breath, “I want to talk about our past, about our father.” Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms defensively. “What about him?” I could hear the bitterness in her voice, the same bitterness that had spoiled her
Olivia’s POV As I stood there, watching Alexander bond with Liam and Sarah, a whirlpool of emotions churned within me. My heart was full. I thought of the path that led us here—a journey punctuated by heartbreak and healing. Seeing Alexander with the children was a new beginning, one I’d longed for. Alexander glanced over at me, his eyes filled with unspoken gratitude and a depth of emotion words couldn’t capture. For a brief moment, our souls intertwined through that look. Tears prickled my eyes with tears of happiness. "Olivia, do you want to join us?" Alexander's voice seemed to pull me back to the present. The children glanced at me, their innocent eyes filled with curiosity and welcoming warmth. I smiled, walking over to sit beside them. Sarah immediately handed me another doll while Liam resumed his focus on his puzzle. "Mummy," Liam began, his eyes wide and curious, "Are you okay?” I took a deep breath and nodded, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "Yes, darling. I'm more
Alexander pov As I made my way down the corridors, my heart pounded in my chest. I had faced countless battles and perilous situations, but nothing compared to the nerves fluttering within me now. I was about to meet my children—Liam and Sarah—two souls I had longed for yet had never met. My palms felt clammy, and I could feel my pulse drumming in my ears. When I reached the hallway, Olivia was already there, pacing slightly. She turned as soon as she heard my footsteps and walked over to me, taking my hand without a word. Her touch was comforting, helping to steady my racing mind. I wanted to meet my children so badly, but Olivia's desire to do it so fast caught me off guard. We reached the door, and she paused, looking at me with a smile that held the weight of so much unsaid. "Are you ready?" she asked softly. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my beating heart. "As ready as I'll ever be," I responded, my voice barely above a whisper. Olivia opened the door and led me in
Alexander's POV The moment I saw Olivia standing at the edge of the ballroom, it felt like time itself paused. The red dress she wore seemed almost like a mirage, a whisper of the past conjured into the present. Memories of nights long gone surged through my mind—her laughter, our kiss that night. I froze, mesmerised by her beauty, when she turned around to look at me, a smile played on her lips, and her eyes bored into mine. The air seemed to crackle with unspoken words and bottled emotions. I could feel my heartbeat echoing in my ears as I watched her from across the room. She looked like a dream, a vision I had conjured up during sleepless nights spent longing for her. Slowly, I began to walk towards her as if drawn by some unseen force. Each step felt heavy with the weight of our shared past. Our eyes stayed locked together. The crowd around us buzzed with conversation and laughter, but all I could hear was the sound of my own breathing, punctuated by the rapid thump of my hear
Olivia's POV Standing in front of the mirror, I took in my reflection. The red dress clung to my frame. It was very similar to the dress I had worn before I ran away from Alexander's kingdom. I brushed a tendril of hair away from my face, a smile spreading across my lips as butterflies swirled inside me. This night was important; I wanted Alexander to see me. My heart beat fast and unevenly as I fastened the delicate clasp of my necklace and took one last look at myself. The smile that graced my lips felt genuinely hopeful as I made my way out of the room and down the staircase. The air was charged with anticipation, and the gentle murmur of guests echoed through the grand hallways. As the ballroom doors swung open, I stood there for a second, scanning the room, taking it all in. My eyes landed on Victor and Lidia standing over, talking to some people. I made my way over to greet them, the excitement building within me, anxious to find Alexander. "Olivia, you look stunning," Victo
Olivia's POV I spent the night tangled in my sheets, thoughts of Allen and Alexander colliding in a restless tumult. My mind was a storm of worry and fear. I'd given instructions to one of the palace maids to notify me the second Allen was seen. I had to be prepared. I needed to steel myself for the conversation, imagine what I'd say, how I'd react—anything to avoid being caught off guard. Morning broke with the usual palace bustle, and I pushed my scrambled nerves aside as I dressed for breakfast. I didn't take in much of what was going on around me; everything felt muted compared to the anxiety gripping my heart. Just as the last fork clattered down onto a plate, the maid hurried in, her face painted with urgency. "Princess Olivia, Allen is here. He’s looking for you," she said breathlessly. My heart dropped into my stomach. The moment I had dreaded was here. Nodding to the maid, I rose from my seat, feeling a cold shiver run through my spine. I made my way to the front of the p
Olivia's POV I hadn't been able to stop thinking about what happened between Alexander and me. My feelings for him had grown stronger than I ever thought possible. Every moment we spent together, I felt them growing stronger. But wanting to be with him scared me. I could see that he had changed from the cruel man he once was, but what if it didn't last? And how was I going to handle things with Allen? The last thing I wanted was to hurt him. The kingdom bustled with excitement as preparations for the victory ball got underway. Victor had decided to let Alexander stay on for the celebration, a gesture that filled me with both hope and fear. I found peace in the twins' room, watching them play, their laughter soothing my troubled thoughts, and I didn't want to let them out of my sight, not after fearing that I would never get to see them again. "Mommy, look! I'm a bird!" exclaimed Liam, running around with makeshift wings strapped to his back. "Me too, me too!" cried Sarah, gigglin
Olivia's POV Seeing Victor was a relief. I hadn't allowed myself to think too much about him while we were in the snow forest, and I couldn't. I looked over to Lidia, who was standing behind him and stepping around Victor. I throw my arms around Lidia, catching her off guard. “It's so good to see you, Lidia. Thank you so much for looking after the twins.” Lidia stood frozen for a moment before awkwardly patting my back. “It's nothing,” she murmured, her terse tone showing her discomfort. She pulled away quickly, a forced smile on her face. “I’m just glad you’re… both okay.” I gave her a warm smile before turning back to Victor. "Victor, I need to tell you something," I said. Victor’s eyes narrowed with concern as he held my gaze. "What is it, Olivia?" I took a deep breath, the memory of the mysterious woman resurfacing in my mind. "Alexander and I... we fell from a cliff and ended up in the Snow Forest," I started, my voice steady but low. I told him everything besides what I had
Victor's POV My body screamed at me with pain as I slowly opened my eyes. Each blink felt like lifting a mountain. Groggily, I took in my surroundings, I was back in the palace. Immediately, my gaze fell upon Lidia. She was slouched in a chair by my bedside, her eyes red-rimmed and worn. She looked up as she heard me stirring, and relief flooded her face. "Oh, thank God you're awake!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of joy and exhaustion. "Victor, you had us all so worried." "Lidia," I croaked, my throat raw and dry. "What happened? How did I get here?" My mind struggled to piece together the fragmented memories—the rogues, their menacing grins, the fight ... "You were attacked," Lidia explained, her voice trembling slightly. She leaned closer, taking my hand in hers to offer some comfort. "Rogues surrounded you. But you fought them off. The guards found you passed out and badly injured, trying to make your way back to where Olivia was tending to the wounded. You've been uncon