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
Olivia’s povAfter coaxing the children to sleep, I stood up and took a long, silent breath. The evening had been draining, and my mind swirled with everything that had happened lately."Mummy, are you and Allen not going to be together anymore?" Sarah's small voice broke the silence, pulling me back to reality.I was shocked. Where had she heard this? "Why do you ask that, sweetheart?" I said, trying to keep my voice calm and soothing.She looked at me with big, innocent eyes. "I heard you and Allen talking, and you looked so sad."Liam stirred next to her, rubbing his eyes as he joined the conversation. "We love Allen, Mummy. Will he still visit us?"My heart ached. "Yes, darlings," I said, trying my best to sound reassuring, "No matter what happens between Allen and me, he will always be a part of your lives. He loves you very much."Sarah sniffled and slipped her tiny hand into mine. "Promise?" "I promise," I whispered, kissing their foreheads.Once they were finally asleep, I quie
I tossed and turned all night, sleep teasing me as the thought of our impending divorce felt both real and surreal. Dawn's early light started to seep through the curtains when I decided to get up. I made up my mind to face Allen again and discuss our next steps.Voices carried up from the kitchen, their tones hushed but earnest. My curiosity piqued, and I made my way downstairs to find Allen sitting at the table, a cup of steaming coffee in his hands.“Morning,” he said softly, managing a faint smile. His eyes betrayed the sleepless night he’d endured as well.“Morning,” I replied, taking a seat across from him. “I suppose we should talk about the trip?”“Yes,” he nodded, setting his cup down. “I think it would be good for the kids, and maybe it’ll give us some closure too."Closure. The word lingered in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions.“I’ve always wanted to visit that small town not far from here, right on the beach,” I said quietly, trying to shift the mood. The se
Alexanders povI had found nothing in the files of Cassandra's death. I don't know why I had even bothered; I had read them a million times before and never seen anything that stood out. The evidence, the witness and the logic all made sense. Sigh! I put down the documents and decided to leave these things behind. Maybe time would give me an answer one day. I made my way down the grand staircase, and as I got halfway down, Olivia's scent filled my nostrils. I looked up to see her standing by the door, a bag by her side. "Olivia," I began, taking the last few steps to reach her. "Alexander," she interrupted, her voice was peaceful and calm. "What are you doing here? " That was not a good sign, her peaceful expression let me feel she really decided to let her past go. It was obvious that I was the part of the past she gave up. That stung. I sighed, trying to collect my thoughts, feeling the walls closing in around me. "Olivia, I need to tell you something before I go." She looked
Olivia's POVI made my way to where I had told Allen I would meet him so we could leave for our holiday. My mind was still replaying the conversation I had just had with Alexander. I couldn't believe that he and Lidia had come up with a plan like that. It was no secret that Lidia didn't like me and blamed me for our father's death, but I never thought she would do something like that. As I came around the corner, I saw Victor and Lidia standing there with Allen and the twins. Liam called out. “Mummy”, and he ran towards me, wrapping his arms around my legs. “I'm so excited about our holiday. I've never seen the beach before.” “I can't wait either,” I said with a warm smile as I ruffled his hair.Allen came, taking my bag, and my eyes fell on Lidia, who looked sad for some reason. She stood with her shoulders slumped and an absent look in her eyes as if lost in her own world. "Lydia, are you alright?" I asked softly, stepping closer to her. She forced a weak smile, but it didn’t reac
The rain soon became too heavy, making it impossible for the driver to see properly. As we skidded around the muddy roads, the twins clung to me. The excitement we all once had was long gone and now replaced with fear. The crashes of thunder were deafening, and with each one, the twins cried out with fear. I kept calm, whispering sweet words to them, trying my best to take away their fear. The carriage came to a stop, and I looked out the window, trying to see where we were, but the night was too dark. The carriage door came open, and one of the guards stuck his head in. “There is a store here where we can seek shelter till the storm passes.” Allen nodded his head and went to follow the guard out of the carriage, but before he could, I grabbed his arm, stopping him. He turned to look at me with a confused look on his face. “Allen, are you sure this is a good idea?” I asked him, trying to keep my voice low so the twins wouldn't hear me. “We don't have a choice, Olivia. It is much t
My breath caught in my throat as Allen's eyes darkened, his stance shifting to one of readiness. The air in the store grew even tenser, like a taut string on the verge of snapping. The twins sensed the danger, too, their small hands clutching at my cloak, their eyes wide with fright."What's the meaning of this?" Allen demanded, his voice robust despite the tense situation. "What do you want from us?"The leader of the rogues, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered. "Justice, for one. Retribution, for another." He took a deliberate step closer, his followers mirroring his movements.Allen drew a deep breath. "These are innocent children. Leave them out of your vendetta.""Innocent?" the rogue hissed, his eyes gleaming with a malicious light. "Does innocence matter when our lives were torn apart by the very man you serve?"The tension was palpable, the storm outside forgotten amidst the brewing conflict within the store. I could feel the weight of each heartbeat, a drum
My body shook with fear as my eyes stayed glued on Sarah's fear-filled face. “Please don't hurt her. We will do as you ask,” I begged the man. “Grab the boy,” he ordered. I quickly ran to Liam and wanted to protect my child, but before I could, a man grabbed him, pulled him away, and held on to him tight. Liam fought, trying to get away from the man as he yelled at them. “Leave me alone. Let my sister go.” I looked around the room. All our guards lay dead, and Allen was on his knees. He was hurt badly but trying his best to hide it. “Take the children and beta here and lock them up.” My heart started to pound in my chest, and my mind raced a million miles an hour, trying to think of something to stop them from taking them away and getting us out of there. The leader turned back to me, his eyes locking onto mine. “And you will run back to Alpha Victor and tell him that we have his Beta and his children.” They started to take Allen and the twins out of the room. “Wait!” I called o
Olivias povI nodded, feeling the sting of defeat mingled with the knowledge that retreat was our only choice. The angry pack began to encircle us, their cries a painful melody of grief and accusation. My heart twisted with each shout, each demand for answers drowned by their pain."Go! Leave the pack!" a voice boomed angrily from within the throng. The words hit like stones, heavy with finality. "And never come back! If we see any of you again, we'll kill you!"My voice cracked as I tried to reason with them once more. "But what if the dark rogues—" I started, my plea hanging unfinished in the air as another shout rose up."Get out!" they barked collectively, their judgment as unwavering as a mountain standing strong against a storm.A deep sense of anguish clawed at my insides, tainting the relief of survival with the bitterness of misunderstanding. Despite my actions being necessary for their safety, I had become the villain in their story, my intentions overshadowed by the stark r
Olivias pov Victor had just been telling me everything he had heard while at reeds pack meeting and how he had followed reed and heard him talking to a woman when alexander appeared holding the hand of a boy who looked so scared and skinny it made my heart ache.Zack's eyes were wide and frightened, darting around as if searching for danger in every shadow. Despite the chaos, Alexander kept a firm but gentle grip on him, guiding him toward us with a reassuring presence that only he could project. "We need to get him to the elders. Now." Alexander said, his voice steady but edged with urgency.I nodded, my resolve hardening. "Victor," I said, turning to my brother, "tell everyone we're leaving. We need to move quickly. But don't let them know too much until we're out of Derek's pack."Victor's gaze met mine, worry flickering momentarily before he masked it with determination. "I'll take care of it," he promised, turning to rally the others. Despite the chaos around us, I knew Victor
Alexanders povThe morning light seeped into the horizon, but I felt none of it. I left the others to the thankless task of dealing with the bodies. Weariness clung to me like a shroud, but it was overshadowed by a gnawing thought I couldn't shake: the woman and her son.She had died in my arms, a testament to the horrors Reed had unleashed. Her final words, a plea for her boy's safety, echoed in my mind. I had to find him. I moved swiftly through the palace. My footsteps carried me deeper within, drawn inexorably toward the dungeons. It struck me as odd that no guards patrolled the stairs, an eerie silence enveloping this bastion of oppression. As I descended, faint cries reached my ears.The sobbing beckoned me, tugging at my conscience. I followed, my senses alert for any sign of hostility. I arrived at a dilapidated door, the wood barely holding against the rot of time. No guards stood watch—a negligence that whispered of cunning intent. My grip tightened around the doorknob, musc
Olivias povNight unfurled like a shadowy banner overhead, cloaking the clearing in hues of inky blue and silver. I stood amidst the soldiers, their scents mingling with the forest's earthy aroma. My senses tingled with anticipation; the air crackled, heavy with a promise of impending conflict. Despite my efforts to focus, my thoughts drifted to Victor. He should've returned by now, yet the woods swallowed secrets, leaving only whispers of worry in its wake. Still, I could let nothing shake my resolve. The dark rogues were coming, drawn by an unseen force that tugged at my very spirit.I shook off the icy grip of dread. My task was clear—protect the pack and ensure no more lives flickered out under the harsh hand of fate. Each breath was a solemn vow, each heartbeat, a promise forged in defiance. I was ready to face them, those shadowed figures who dared to threaten our home. Around me, the pack’s warriors stood—a formidable wall, backlit by the fire of their collective will to surviv
Victors povThe moment was tense. Anticipation hung like a charged mist in the air, as I followed the pack into the clearing. The mass moved with a sombre, muted energy, hearts heavy with mourning and uncertainty. I kept my head low, shoulders hunched, adopting shadows as my allies. Among the crowd, I blended seamlessly, a wolf among wolves. Yet, beneath this silent facade, fury simmered, its heat almost palpable against my skin.Reed’s voice pierced the subdued atmosphere, his tone poised and reassuring—a mask for the venom I knew lay beneath. I glanced up briefly, eyes narrowing as he spoke words of sympathy and solidarity. His charisma was undeniable, words like honey to the ears of those who stood listening. My insides turned, the force of my hatred threatening to overwhelm the composure I clung to."But I assure you," Reed declared, his voice carrying over the throng, "the future of our pack is secure. With young Zack, Ava’s brave son, I will ensure he is trained to become the le
Olivia's pov As I moved from one pack member to another, I kept my gaze sharp on Alexander. He stood a little ways off, his jaw tense, eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of trouble. He might have been the Alpha King, but even leaders have limits. The weight of this conflict was taking its toll on him, and I could see it eating away at his resolve.As my fingers worked their magic on the injured, I engaged them in conversation, a tactic both to calm their fears and to uncover the deeper narrative of why these civilians were on the battlefield. "Tell me about Ava's son," I whispered to a middle-aged man whose arm lay wounded and bleeding."Zack,” he panted, eyes clouded by pain but softening at the name. "Ava's son, he is Derek’s rightful heir."The revelation stunned me into a brief silence, my hands hesitating over his injuries. An heir? This was news not even whispers had brought to us.Another voice chimed in, a young woman smoothing back her bruised hair. "It was Reed's idea
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