I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the elegant red dress that clung to my form. Read is the favourite colour that I thought I had always looked good at, but it was also the colour that Alexander had always adored me. The memory was bittersweet, my heart aching even as the fabric shimmered in the faint light. My eyes drifted to the dark circles just barely concealed by makeup, a testament to the sleepless nights filled with worries and longing. Sighing, I turned away from the mirror, trying to push thoughts of him aside. As I descended the stairs, the familiar chatter of Lidia and the twins filled the air. Lidia caught sight of me first. Her eyes widened slightly, and she smiled. "You look beautiful, Olivia," she said.Lidia had offered to stay behind and watch the kids. She told everyone that she was tired and didn’t feel like going, but I knew that the real reason was that she didn’t want to see Alpha Derek again. Before I could respond, Reed walked in. His entrance command
The party was just like all the others—extravagant, impeccably decorated, and filled with faces that barely felt familiar despite their familiarity. Chatter and laughter echoed through the grand hall, but none of it penetrated the fog of annoyance that clouded my senses. I glanced around, spotting Alexander standing in a corner, his intense gaze firmly locked on me. The heat of his stare was almost palpable, sending shivers down my spine despite my rising irritation. It wasn't the first time Alexander's presence had unsettled me, but tonight, his insistent attention felt more oppressive than usual. I took a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. This was supposed to be a night of distraction, yet I found myself spiralling into a pit of rage with each passing second. "Are you alright, Olivia?" Reed's voice broke through my haze, his concern evident. I forced a smile, not wanting to betray the storm brewing inside. "Just need a moment. I'll be right back." Excusing myself, I wea
My heart pounded in my chest. I was running out of time, and I wasn’t going to reach him in time. Victor reached for the drink; everything slowed down as he did. I was still so far away, pushing against the throngs of partygoers who remained blissfully unaware of the looming threat. "Move! Out of my way!" I yelled, shoving people aside, my vision narrowing on Victor's hand, inching closer to that fatal drink. Aura snarled within me; the urgency and the desperation fuelled my movements. Victor's fingers curled around the glass. My breath caught in my throat. I propelled myself forward with everything I had, my body a blur of motion driven by sheer will. The room seemed to shrink, tunnel vision setting in. Aura's strength surged through me, waves of power bolstering my legs. Just as Victor brought the drink to his mouth, I dove at him, knocking it from his hand. The glass shattered against the marble floor, the content spilling into a harmless puddle. "What the hell, Olivia?" Victo
“Olivia, what are you doing?” a voice came from behind me. Alexander. His presence was always hard to ignore, especially now when everything inside me was writhing with rage. But I didn’t turn around.I dropped Cassandra to the ground, watching as she gasped for air, clutching her bruised neck. "Stand in my way again, and I will end you. Permanently." I walked past Alexander, feeling his intense gaze boring into the back of my skull."Olivia, wait," he called out, his voice tinged with urgency.I didn't acknowledge him, storming out of the building and into the street. The rain was pouring down in heavy sheets, soaking me to the bone within seconds, but I barely felt it. My mind was fixed on one thing: getting to Liam and Sarah, my twins, my heart."Olivia, please!" Alexander's voice boomed over the drumming of the rain.I continued to walk, each step pulling me further into the tempest. I needed the cold. I needed the pain to distract me from the chaos inside my heart.Out of nowhere
Alexanders povI watched as Olivia walked away. Every step she took made my heart twist with regret and longing. The rain continued to pour, cold and relentless, mirroring the turmoil inside of me. I needed to find answers, to understand what my heart truly wanted. If I didn’t do that soon I feared that I never would.I knew what I had to do. Turning, I marched back inside, finding Cassandra where I had left her. Her eyes narrowed with rage as she saw me walking towards her."Alexander, what the hell was that?" she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "you abandon me here, then you run after her?"My heart raced as I closed the distance between us in an instant. Ignoring her words, I grabbed her, pressing my lips into hers. I needed to confirm something. The best way to confirm if you love someone is a kiss.At first, she resisted, her hands pushing against my soaked chest, but then she relented. The kiss was mechanical, devoid of the passion that used to ignite between them. It wasn
Cassandra's POVThe door to the hotel room clicked shut behind Alexander, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Finally," I muttered under my breath, the bitterness of his kiss still lingering in my mouth. I rushed to the bathroom, flicking on the harsh fluorescent light and glaring at my reflection. I could still taste him—a reminder of everything I loathed.Turning the faucet, I cupped my hands under the running water and shoved them into my mouth, swishing furiously. I spat the water out, watching as it spiralled down the drain, carrying away the remnants of my disappointment and growing hatred. Leaning against the sink, I stared into the mirror, my eyes dark and full of unspent fury. This wasn't over, far from it.Alexander's departure was my cue. He would be gone for a while. He had hardly changed since we were married. The only thing that was different was how much weaker and pathetic he was now. If I played my cards right, I would have time to go and meet up with my alpha,
Olivia’s POV The morning light streamed through the curtains. I had barely slept, my thoughts a tangled mess of anger, sorrow, and exhaustion. Just as I managed to close my eyes, a knock on my door pulled me from the abyss of restless sleep.“Come in,” I called weakly, my voice betraying the weariness I felt.Lidia walked in, her eyes sharp and assessing. She leaned against the doorway with a smirk playing on her lips.“Well, good morning, Little Miss Sunshine,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “How was your night out in the rain with that handsome new toy of yours?”I rolled my eyes, sat up in bed, and pulled the covers closer to me for some semblance of comfort. “It was...complicated,” I said.“Complicated?” Lidia raised an eyebrow. “Do tell. I’m dying to know more.”Taking a deep breath, I began to recount what had happened. “I confronted Cassandra last night,” I started, feeling the lump form in my throat. “And Alexander came after me. We fought. Again, and he kissed me
Alexander's POVThe leather chair in the lobby had become a reluctant bed for the night. My legs were cramping, and my back was stiff from the uncomfortable position. Still, it was better than being anywhere near Cassandra. At first light, I forced myself up, groaning as my muscles protested. Sneaking into the room, I looked around, finding it empty. Good, I thought, mentally hoping she had wandered off and wouldn't return.After a quick shower and change of clothes, I headed towards the main hall, where today's elder meeting was scheduled. The room was abuzz with multiple alphas, all seated and engaged in hushed conversations. The gravity of the situation seemed to weigh heavily on everyone. But my mind was elsewhere. All I could think about was how I was going to get Olivia back and Cassandra out of the picture.Elder Marcus, a grizzled old wolf with eyes that seemed to peer into your soul, called the meeting to order. His voice carried a tone that instantly demanded respect and att
The gentle hum of the wind rustled through the castle gardens, carrying with it the scent of blooming jasmine and fresh earth. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting a golden hue over the kingdom, painting everything in warm, honeyed light. The Dragon Kingdom—our kingdom—was at peace.A week had passed since the final battle. A week since Nicholas had fallen, his tyrannical reign brought to an end. The scars of war still marked the land, but already, hope had begun to weave its way through the people, through the dragons, and through my own kingdom. Rebuilding had started, and with it, the promise of a future unshackled from fear and a united front between not only ours and their kingdom but also many others.And today… today was the day that I finally got to marry Alexander.The wedding had been a quiet affair, just as I had wanted—just those we loved, those who had stood beside us through the trials that had nearly torn us apart. The great hall had been filled with the laughter of
A bright glow surrounded me, cradling me like a guardian made manifest. It was the magic from deep within, awakened not by mere survival but by love—a force transcending the corporeal bounds defined by the fight.The descent slowed, the air holding me in a delicate dance with the elemental magic coursing through my veins. It whispered assurance and a promise returned in kind by the beating heart of the earth itself.As I alighted softly upon the weathered stones of the courtyard, strength and weariness meshed in a delicate balance. The energy wrapped around me, a cocoon of gentle power that ebbed almost tenderly, returning me to the ground with undeniable grace.The world righted itself, the battlefield, once a stage of cacophony and chaos, hushed into a stunned silence, witnessing the impossible shimmer into reality. A breath—my second chance drawn from the earth—and I stood, steady and whole.I looked up to see faces of disbelief switch to ones of hope. Alexander's strides carried h
Olivias povMy warning echoed in the air, but it was already too late. Behind Elijah, the king’s dragon surgeon moved with terrifying speed, its spear-like tail ready to strike. Everything seemed to slow as the scene unfolded—a cruel dance of shadow and flesh, friend and enemy caught in fate’s grip.Time froze as the dragon’s tail pierced Elijah’s back, ending the moment in brutal finality. Pain and realisation filled his face, his emerald eyes widening in shock. His body crumpled forward, silent in the tragedy he had become a part of."No!" The word tore from my throat, breaking the heavy silence that settled like a shroud. But through my horror, an undeniable truth took shape with each heartbeat—Nicholas’s greatest betrayal wasn’t just in his violence but in the cold decision to sacrifice his own son for power.As Elijah fell to his knees, Nicholas grinned—a wicked smile that could freeze the ocean. He waved the horn, the sound still ringing in my ears, and in that moment, his inten
Olivia's PovThe sky was painted in shades of crimson and smoke, and the battlefield lay beneath me, a chaotic tapestry of combat and valour. Riding Saphira, my trusted dragon, I felt an unprecedented harmony between us. Her thoughts intertwined with mine, weaving a tapestry of mutual understanding and unity. Together, we were a force of nature, an extension of one another as we dove and soared through the fray.Saphira’s roar resonated inside me, a declaration of war that echoed the battle’s ferocity. Her muscles coiled beneath my legs, and we twisted through the air, engaging our adversaries with a synergy that brought out the raw power within us. Each strike was fluid and precise—a dance of strength and strategy that blurred the lines between rider and dragon. Riding Saphira, I felt a strength I’d never known, as though every heartbeat was in sync with the rhythm of destiny itself.Through the din of clashing swords and bellows, Saphira's voice sizzled like lightning in my mind. *O
Alexander's POV The battlefield pulsed with chaos, a vast symphony of metal clashing and figures weaving through a smoky haze. I fought with a focused intensity that came from the core of my being. Each movement was purposeful, and each turn of my blade was meticulously calculated. This was more than a war of physicality; it was a contest of spirits fueled by love and vengeance. All around me, my pack surged forward like a tidal wave, wolves overcoming soldiers with primal ferocity. As I caught a glimpse of Olivia soaring overhead on a dragon's back, a wild joy lit me from within. Her presence was like a beacon, a promise that drove me onward, deeper into the heart of conflict. My attention was wrenched upward by the tumultuous struggle above. There, in the sky, dragons twisted and turned in an aerial ballet of might and desperation. King Nicholas and his son, Elijah, battled with a fury that seemed to rend the sky itself. Nicholas's dragon fought with savage intensity, every swi
Elijah's povThe clamour of the battlefield swelled around me, punctuated by cries and the clash of steel. My heart was a tempest, torn between my loyalty to my father and my love for Olivia. I had never intended to become a pawn in this war, but here I stood, bathed in conflict, with my mind spiralling around the impending chaos. As I left Olivia's side earlier, my frustration boiled over into the tense air. "Cease this madness!" I cried out to the guards, their movements a blur of aggression around me. "These people are not our enemies!" Laughter erupted in response, sardonic and cruel. "The King has spoken, not you, Prince Elijah. We fight until death unless he says otherwise." Disdain twisted within me—a serpent rearing its head. Their insolence, their mindless obedience to Nicholas's bloody decree, was galling. But I knew why they refused me. I wasn’t their king, merely a shadow cast by my father’s ambition, a prince wearing false armour. The world spun with futility. Seeking
The ground was approaching swiftly beneath me, a swirling mass racing to meet my descent. Every instinct screamed that this was a mistake and that the leap would surely be my undoing. But even as fear clenched my heart, the dragon's scale in my grip pulsed with a warmth that banished doubt. One hundred meters above the earth, however, a shadow loomed. The first dragon I had saved soared to my rescue, swooping beneath me with a grace that defied the chaos of my fall. Relief erupted within me as I landed on its broad back, a breathless gasp escaping my lips. Holding tight to the rough, warm scales, I murmured, "Thank you."The dragon's powerful wings flapped, beating a defiant cadence against the tumultuous winds. It rose into the sky, a guardian taking flight, and together, we soared, the kingdom unfurling beneath us as a tapestry of vibrant life and teetering conflict.As if in a dream borne aloft, hundreds more dragons began to appear, majestic and fierce, emerging from the shadows
Olivias povI raced through the tunnels with a sense of urgency so intense it felt like a physical force pushing me onward. My breaths were ragged, each inhalation a struggle as I navigated the labyrinthine passages beneath the kingdom. My mind was a whirlwind, and though my plan was half-formed at best, I knew the dragons were my destination—their strength would be paramount in the battle to come.As I emerged into the dragon chamber, the oppressive air filled my lungs, heavy with the scent of fear and confinement. I couldn’t afford to hesitate, even as my heart pounded with the weight of what I was about to do. There they were, magnificent creatures tethered by chains, their eyes pools of ancient wisdom and unfathomable pain.The sight of the three guards was like a cold splash of reality, snapping my senses into sharp relief. The lead guard shouted, “What are you doing here? You can’t be here!” His voice echoed menacingly through the chamber, but I was beyond fear.Panicking would
Alexanders povThe moment we scaled the wall, chaos erupted like a storm unleashed upon the city. The guards, mere specks below, shouted commands in a futile attempt to contain the inevitable. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar sliced through the pandemonium, and the dragons descended, dark silhouettes against the dawn sky. Each dragon was a testament to terror and power, their scales shimmering with malice as they perched above the city. Fire erupted from their jaws, slicing through the air like molten spears, incinerating everything in their path. The city seemed to collapse inward upon itself, screams of horror mingling with the crackling of flames. Yet, amidst the chaos, my objective remained clear. I needed to reach the palace and confront Nicholas, ensuring he could never threaten Olivia or Sarah again. Victor and the others would search for them, but I would end this once and for all. As we pushed forward, defenders surged toward us, their weapons drawn with the con