MERIDA I pouted after he left, I was feeling a bit sad and angry. I wish I was able to shift just like every other wolf ,to just do your thing effortlessly without giving it much thought. Apart from Aunt Ophelia who once shifted when she was angry I really haven't seen anyone do that. Lukan's wolf was very beautiful, its brown fur was sprinkled with bits of golden hairs. I wonder what my own wolf will look like when I finally shift. Or if I would ever have my wolf back. The thought of it drove into my heart like a hot knife. If something isn't done quickly I will lose my wolf probably .Forever and just be like a normal human being. As I made my way back to the pack house , I kept wondering if I wasn't a hybrid perhaps that could explain the reason why I never had any connection with my wolf even before it was bound. The sun was almost going down on the horizon and the smell of dinner drifted into my nose making me salivate. I was beginning to feel bored here, maybe
LUKAN"What is the problem?" I asked softly.My tall frame hovering over her , watching the moment sleep left her face replaced by quiet awareness. She blinked ,her gaze shy as it met mine. She always looked at me like that—like she wasn't sure if she could trust the intensity between us. "Don't look away ."I whisper, my voice rough. She bit her lip and looked down, cheeks flushed as she nodded, her fingers nervously playing with the edge of the blanketShe was so gentle , so innocent and every part of me wanted to protect that. But there was another part of me, that primal part that wanted to make her mine in every possible wayI reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She stifled , just slightly but she didn't pull away instead her breath hitched, her chest rising and falling a little quicker.I could feel the magnetic pull between us, the way she flinched when my fingers brushed her cheeks. "Merida," I murmured her name like it was a secret I had no right
LUKAN The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and I stepped into the underground parking lot, my eyes on the rows of cars waiting for me. The sleek, powerful machines gleamed under the dull light,each one a testament to my success—extension of my power. Before I could signal to my driver, I heard feet running behind me I knew who it was already without turning around. But I didn't stop walking. "Alpha Lukan ."she greeted ,her voice dripping with that tone she always used when she wanted something."Your mother, Julietta wishes to see you." I didn't bother looking back , didn't give her the satisfaction of a pause."Tell her I'm busy." "But—" "I'm late for a meeting." My voice was cold and dismissive. Without waiting for her response, I got to one of the cars and signaled to my driver. The door to my car opened and I slid into the back seat, already barking orders before the door was fully closed. "Drive. Now." As the car pulled out of the parking lot , th
LUKAN The sound of the engine faded as I stepped out of the car. After the meeting with Beta Ronan, I figured that going back home was better than staying around. As I entered the private elevator avoiding the stairs , my thoughts were already racing back to the meeting with Beta Ronan.The proposal was absurd.Marriage? To one of his daughters? He thought he could bind me to his weak Pack with a pretty face and a name on paper. He didn't know me at all. Rules and foolish proposals weren't for me.The elevator opened directly into my penthouse. The silence was deafening. Beautiful expensive room stretched out before me and the silence.It was better, at least , I tried not to think of Merida often.But there was something else. She was waiting for me. I heard her before I saw her—the click of her heels on the marble floor.My mother, Julietta appeared at the door way."Lukan." She called." I know you will be here." She smiled.I said nothing and crossed the living room to the
LUKAN."You are going nowhere."Mother said but before she could say another word I bolted out of the room.Then my phone buzzed again in my pocket as I left the penthouse, cutting through my thoughts like a sharp blade. I didn't bother looking at the screen until I reached my car. Rosita. Again .I sighed , leaning against the door for a moment , staring at the sky wishing I could ignore it. But Rosita never called twice, unless it was something urgent. I swipe to answer , irritation already crawling up my spine. "What is it Rosita?"My tone was clipped sharper than usual. "Alpha you have guest at the pack house,"she said her voice steady with t the hint of unease. She has been with me since I was a child—she could always sense when I was in one of my moods. "Tell them to wait,"I said flatly."I have—""Its Claudia, Alpha,"she interrupted. I froze the name sticking in my mind like a splinter. Claudia? The name sounded so strange. "Its Beta Ronan's third daughter."she added quic
LEMUEL I watched from the hallway as Lucan brushed past Rosita and stormed towards the stairs. His icy presence filled the room and the air was thick with tension. Since we fought ,he had never spoken to me and I have never seen him like this before— a cold storm locked in his own world. Something was bothering him, I know but as usual he hates showing his emotions and someone will have to pay for his icy attitude soon enough. He collided with someone just as I was about to turn away. Merida. The tray she had been holding crashed to the floor, the sound of glass shattering against the floor echoing through the hall. My chest tightened when I saw her kneel quickly, her delicate hands already trying to gather the broken pieces. And Lukan ? He didn't flinch. He didn't say a word. Not even an apology. He simply... walked away. I could feel the weight of his indifference , a cold slap to anyone paying attention. Not even a glance back. For a moment I stood frozen w
LEMUELI felt it was better if we got to sit at the rooftop garden. At least it will be a nice way for Merida to forget about what Lukan did.The warm evening air and the sound of rustling leaves below made it a perfect place and it wrapped around Merida and me like a comforting blanket. I glanced over at her sitting quietly beside me, her soft hair catching the light of the setting sun. I guess she was probably replaying the scene of what happened minutes ago over and over again in her head. But she looked better now and there were shadows under her eyes which looked like she was thinking about something else. "Do you like it up here?"I asked, hoping to ease her into a conversation. Her shyness made it hard for her to open up and I didn't want to push her too far ,too soon.Merida tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers brushing against her cheeks as if still feeling the sting of what had happened earlier. She hesitated, her voice barely a whisper when she finally res
MERIDA Zayna has been at it for the last twenty minutes, smugly talking about her upcoming bonding ceremony with Lemuel. She kept throwing little jabs at me probably thinking I was too weak to respond. Every time she mentioned the word 'mate', my stomach tightened but I refused to let her see me flinch."I'm thinking we will have a private dance just the two of us," Zayna said brushing her fingers over Lemuel's as if they were the perfect couple. Lemuel stood clearly uncomfortable, but he didn't pull away from her torch."Maybe we will even disappear for a little while after." She winked at him, her voice dripping with sweetness that made me sick. Julietta was standing across and was smiling ,her eyes flicking between Zayna and me as if this was some kind of entertainment. Zayna was clearly enjoying her little show too. She leaned closer to me , her lips curling into a smirk."I'm sure you get to watch the whole thing, Merida. From a nice, safe distance , of course."A pang of an
LUKANThe ballroom emptied in chaos,voices whispering and eyes watching as Merida and I made our way to the car. I kept my face blank, my emotion locked away. I had done what I wanted to do and now I felt at ease .Kara and Zayna were gone, their betrayal had been exposed, and the rest of the pack that weren't present would hear every detail by morning.The air inside the car felt heavy.Merida sat quietly beside me, her gaze fixed out the window. For amoment, I wanted to speak, to say something that would lighten the weight pressing on us. But what could I say? She was in shock, everyone was in shock.Behind us, Lemuel, Dean, and Julietta followed in another car.The convoy moved through the streets to the packhouse , the soft hum of the engine the only sound. My mind was far from the quiet road, replaying the night's events.In few minutes , we arrived at the Packhouse, the scene before us was shocking. The everywhere buzzed with activity. Guards whispered among themselves, and mai
LUKANThe atmosphere in the room felt so thick and stifling.Everything had happened so fast and sudden and the worst part was that Zayna was dead Her lifeless body lay sprawled on the icy, blood-soaked floor, her face calm in death was the stark reminder of the happiness she once had. The heavy weight of shock and grief hung heavily in every corner of the hall. Some women were already beginning to sob a d some were too scared to leave the hall.My wolf stirred restlessly within me, a mix of fury, sorrow, and an urgent desire for revenge, to have Beta Thedeus punished for all the nonsense he had caused. Something in me wanted to find the culprit myself and deal with them. They tried to kill me and because of that Zayna was dead even though she didn't deserve any of this.Even though I was feeling really angry, I knew I had to stay calm. There was a big problem coming, and it wasn't too far from where I was but I had to stop it.“You!” Beta Thaddeus's angry voice shattered the ten
LUKANThe ballroom felt heavy with the tension and everything I had revealed, no one could say a single word it felt like the world had suddenly come to an end . Beta Thedeus and his bastard son felt like vanishing together with every member of the council who had supported him.The chandeliers twinkled above, showing the tension that filled the hall. Everyone was waiting patiently for my words, their gazes filled with curiosity, suspicion, and a hint of fear. Glasses held half drunk in their hands, eyes casting dirty looks at Beta Thedeus and his daughter Zayna.In the crowd, Zayna's expression was one of forced composure, and her shaking hands showed how scared she was, she was never expecting any of this She was clearly weighing her options, her eyes flicking between me and the assembled pack members.I approached her slowly, the sound of my boots sending sounds on the marble floors that made her shiver . “Zayna,” I started, my tone firm and precise. “I have something to ask
LUKANThe grand hall shone brightly under the golden chandeliers, their illumination dancing across polished marble floors and beautifully carved columns. This event was more than a mere ball—it was a display of deception organized by those eager to alter the legacy of my lineage, give my position to someone else.Laughter rose and fell through the hall, deceptively light and the sound of hushed chatters and the clicking of glasses filled the air. Council members raised their glasses in feigned joy,excited to have me discarded or so they thought.At the heart of the gathering was Beta Thaddeus, exuding his usual calm authority. His voice was measured and forceful as he addressed the assembly. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight marks an important moment for our pack. We have long awaited the return of order. This evening, we will crown a new Alpha.” His words hung in the air like a noose tightening around me. My prolonged absence had given them thus them, feeding their ego and stupidi
MERIDAIt was late evening as my personal maids got me ready for the moon meeting and at the same time I felt fear and anxiety surge through me. It was the night of the moon meeting, a significant event, but this one felt particularly heavy. I couldn't have attended if I had a say, going to the moon meeting — a meeting where some old men will have him replaced.I felt angry and at the same time as if I was betraying him. The council would be deliberating a possible successor for Lukan while he was in coma and I wished I could tell Lemuel that there was no need going for the Moon meeting.I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, feeling rather disoriented as a maid worked on my hair, styling it into a sleek twist that flowed gracefully down my back. Another maid stepped into the room, her face serious,very serious.“My Lady .” she said gently. “I need to inform you that Clara is unwell. She’s had a fever all day and hasn’t spoken to anyone. " She looked around her, at the maids
MERIDAThe next day was bright and full of hope,hope that soon everything would be fine.I wore a bright yellow, knee length dress and had my hair curled up, I was even planning on going to the beach today. I had told Lemuel and Dean had wanted to come with us.It was my first time of going to the beach, but I didn't tell Lemuel this, he would probably laugh at me. I smiled at the thought as I settled into the chair opposite Dean .Just as lunch started, one of the maids approached timidly, whispering to Julietta who reached out for a wine flute."Ma'am, your phone… It's an urgent call."Julietta answered the phone, her face shifting to a more serious expression. She spoke quietly, but her body language suggested trouble. "This can't be happening..."A pause.A long one." You can't possibly do this....it's outrageous!"Her grip on the phone tightened, and her knuckles turned white as though each word she heard drained the life from her.Lemuel looked up at her and I wondered what wa
The night was very quiet, like everything was waiting for something to happen. Lemuel and I stood on the balcony, looking down at the garden below and up at the blurry stars. I still thought about what I had told him and it was the best thing I ever did. At least I wasn't alone.My mind and heart were filled with thoughts and feelings, hoping that Lukan could still hear me and a miracle of some sort will happen and he will just wake up.I held onto the chilly metal railing, noticing how it dug into my hands. Helping me to keep calm.“I never… I never told him, Lemuel,” I whispered, struggling to speak. “I never told him how much he meant to me. And now, I fear I might never have that chance.”Lemuel turned to me, his eyes mirroring my pain. “Merida, you know he cared about you deeply. Lukan always felt things intensely, especially about you. He can be arrogant some times but he loves you."Tears flowed down my face as I shook my head. “But I never said it. Not once. I..."I stopped
MERIDAAs soon as I got home , I made a mad dash to thr bathroom and on the shower at full force allowing the hot water wash down me, it felt soothing and refreshing and I welcomed it.I had left my phone with it's broken screen on the bed and no matter how hard I try to gather my thoughts, they kept spiraling.For now I needed to be alone, to gather my thoughts.I glanced at he cracked screen, it reminded me of how my life was falling apart. I exhaled and wrapped my arms around me, suddenly feeling cold."Good evening, My lady." Someone knocked on the door and I knew it was one of the maids"What's it?""Dinner is served." She replied" I'll be downstairs soon." I said dismissing her before she could finish.I quickly changed into something cozy and joined Julietta and the rest at the dinning hall, thankfully they didn't seem to notice my late arrival as they chatted away. Truthfully I didn't feel like having anything to eat. I only wanted to be in the comfort of my room but then t
MERIDAAs the investigator walked out of the café, his figure slowly disappeared among the patrons. He seemed to be in a hurry and I wondered what just happened.I remained there, frozen , feeling puzzled and full of questions in my mind. His face showed me that there was an important piece of information he was keeping to himself. Something he didn't want to tell me.It was at that moment he was going to tell me more about my twin sister, a call interrupted us. He could have just spilled it out anyway before leaving.I wasn't seeing or hearing things, was I ?I clearly saw the name "Zayna" flash on his screen. I felt my heart race. Why was Zayna calling him? I felt a strong feeling of fear that made me uneasy and upset at the same time.I tried to calm myself down, taking short deep breath, but the worry kept getting stronger. There was something off, something I couldn't place my fingers on. I tried to relax, telling myself it was all a coincidence, that Zayna was the Beta's daug