KaiUnable to contain my shock, I blurted out, “Wait—what? Father-in-law?” The words hit me like a slap, my disbelief evident in my voice. My gaze darted to the Chairman.“What are you even talking about? I don’t remember marrying Laura.”The Chairman met my gaze calmly, though his expression carried the weight of authority. “Yes, Alpha Redwolf,” he replied, his voice steady but firm.“All marriage rights have been fulfilled by your family. Some were completed by your father, and others were carried out by your aunt on behalf of your family.”My blood ran cold, disbelief giving way to a simmering rage.“The mating and marking right is all that is left,” He continued “And the responsibility of fulfilling the mating right falls on you. The only remaining components are the consummation and claiming, which, based on your stance today, appear unlikely to happen anytime soon.”The room seemed to shrink around me as his words sank in.The implications churned in my mind, each revelation mor
Kai“Now that this is established, we have our demands,” Austin’s lawyer said, his voice calm but with an edge of arrogance that set my teeth on edge.My wolf stirred restlessly, urging me to retaliate, to put him and everyone behind him in their place. But I forced myself to remain seated, my fists clenched beneath the table.Losing control now would only play into their hands.“The Council is listening,” the Chairman said, his tone neutral, though his gaze flicked briefly toward me.The bastard lawyer stood, straightening his suit with practised ease before delivering his so-called demands.“First, we request a formal apology from the Regional Alpha for the pain and suffering the Westwood family has endured under his leadership.”His voice was steady, but I could hear the deliberate weight in his words, designed to needle and provoke.“And,” he continued, “we demand that Miss Westwood be reinstated to her rightful place as the Luna of both the South and East, as well as Alpha Malachi
Kai“No one is threatening you, Alpha,” the Chairman began, his voice calm but unyielding. “However, we must uphold our laws. Without them, we risk descending into the lawlessness we once endured under the rule of the Mad King—a tyrant whose words were law, who believed no one’s rights existed except his own.”His words were measured, a reminder of the Council’s authority, but they held no weight for me. I didn’t care about their comparisons or their subtle warnings.My patience was wearing thin, and my wolf bristled beneath the surface, the urge to break free growing stronger with each passing moment.“Since all rights have been performed,” the Chairman continued, his tone carefully neutral, “Laura will remain with you as yours. What you choose to do with her is entirely up to you. You may refuse to touch her—that is your prerogative. No one can force that. But as this document stands, she is rightfully the Luna of both the East and the South.”The room fell silent, the implications
Kai“What nonsense,” one of the councilors snapped, his voice carrying the weight of centuries-old tradition. “A widow or a mated wolf cannot serve as the Luna of a Regional Alpha. It is unacceptable, and I’m certain Alpha Redwolf knows this well.”The room stirred slightly, a few murmurs of agreement breaking through the silence. The Chairman raised his hand to quiet them before continuing, his tone measured but resolute.“However,” he said, his gaze fixed firmly on me, “there is no law against a Regional Alpha having a mistress—or several, for that matter. In some cases, mistresses are even favoured above the Luna. It falls to the Luna to win her husband’s heart, should she desire it. That is her burden to bear. As for the Council, we have instated Miss Westwood in her rightful place. We cannot, and will not, force her husband to favour her.”His words were final, yet they only seemed to add fuel to the fire. The Chairman turned his attention to Austin, his sharp eyes narrowing.“An
Kai As soon as the session ended, Darius and I left the building and headed back to Eldenberge. The weight of the day settled heavily on my shoulders as we drove. The South was a brewing storm, and I could feel the pressure mounting. But before I could fully gather my thoughts, my phone buzzed, interrupting the fragile silence. Lucian’s name flashed on the screen. I answered quickly, the tone of his voice catching me off guard before he even spoke. He was distraught, his words coming in halting bursts. “Lucian,” I said, my voice firm but steady, trying to ground him. “What’s the matter? Calm yourself and speak.” “There’s been trouble,” he finally managed, his voice cracking with emotion. “This morning, some men came and arrested May. They claimed it was in connection with Alpha Kevin’s wife.” His words hit me like a jolt. Alpha Kevin—Austin’s brother. The man, along with his mate and child, had been murdered in cold blood. And now May was being dragged into this? “Who sanctioned
Kai I inhaled deeply, fighting to keep my temper in check. “I want her released to me this instant,” I said, each word measured and filled with intent. “May has committed no crime. She’s not the daughter of the Mad King. Simply being a relative doesn’t give her the power to ascend the throne. She poses no threat to anyone.” My voice hardened as I leaned into the phone, my grip tightening. “This is an intrusion. It’s a challenge to my authority. Arresting someone under my protection without my consent is an insult I will not tolerate. Consider this my final word on the matter.” The silence on the other end of the line spoke volumes, but I didn’t care. They had crossed a line, and I intended to make sure they understood that. May wasn’t just a pawn in some political game—not anymore. I would see to it that no one dared disrespect my authority again. “I’ll pass on the message,” Edmond said cautiously. “I’m sure Abraham will release her to you, but you’ll need to make her available for
AdashaThe knot in my stomach refused to loosen, no matter how many calming breaths I took. I had been restless all day, caught between the dread of the council’s summons and the fragile hope that it wouldn’t end everything—not just yet.Rationally, I knew better. My relationship with Kai had always been walking a tightrope, strung too thin by circumstances I couldn’t control.There was no future for us; I understood that.Yet a selfish part of me wished for just a little more time. Time before Randy tracked me down, or before I’d have to vanish for the safety of Eldenberge.Mirabel, ever observant, must have noticed my unease. She coaxed me outside for a walk through the garden, her gentle persistence impossible to refuse.The scene was lovely—vivid blooms swayed in the afternoon breeze, their colors a riot of life against the manicured greenery.Yet the beauty did little to soothe my turmoil. The world felt like a painting behind glass, unreachable and distant.“What’s the matter, m
AdashaThe evening breeze was a cool, soothing balm against the heat of my thoughts.The night was beautiful in its simplicity—the full moon hung high, casting a silver glow over everything, while the stars scattered across the sky like a thousand tiny promises.It was the kind of night made for companionship, for shared laughter, or quiet moments spent in someone’s arms. But I was alone, and the ache of that solitude weighed heavily on my chest.A soft click from the door startled me, pulling me from my reverie. The faint creak as it opened made my heart skip, and then his scent reached me—woodsy, warm, and unmistakably him.My pulse quickened, a reaction so natural and involuntary it betrayed every effort to keep my emotions guarded.I set the brush down with trembling fingers and turned from the balcony’s edge. There he was, standing in the doorway, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight.Kai’s presence filled the space effortlessly, and I couldn’t help but drink in the sight of him.
KaiMay’s recounting of those events had left me angry and bitter, and now, that anger was bleeding into the room.These men wanted to cling to old fears and twisted truths, but I wasn’t going to let them use those lies to justify another injustice. If they wanted to push the matter, they’d have to go through me—and they all knew what that would mean.“Kevin broke a rule. Had he followed the law, that menace wouldn’t have been unleashed on him and his family. It’s Kevin’s fault,” Linus said sharply, his tone dismissive.His words barely had a moment to settle before Randy growled, the sound low and menacing.“This is a very stupid and time-wasting meeting,” Randy said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.“I support Malachi on this one. This woman isn’t a direct descendant. She’s his people, and he has the right to decide what to do with her. This relentless hunting of Moonchild descendants is nothing but cruelty.”He leaned forward, his expression dark, his passion evi
Kai"Coming to the second subject matter," Abraham continued, his tone taking on a sharp, accusatory edge as he fixed his gaze on me."This one ties directly to you, Alpha Malachi. It concerns your blatant disregard for an agreement made by the Twelve to ensure the safety of our people."I stiffened, already anticipating where this was headed."You have a moonchild in your employ," Abraham said, his voice heavy with judgment. "And you refuse to allow us to carry out justice as agreed."The room grew tense. Randy shifted in his seat, his entire demeanour changing. For someone who had remained uninterested during most of the meeting, he suddenly seemed unnervingly alert.His eyes darted to me, and I could feel the intensity of his gaze, his interest in this subject palpable."A Moonchild in your employ?" Randy asked, his voice laced with curiosity and suspicion.His sudden engagement struck me as odd, considering he had barely spoken about the rotation issue earlier. I glanced at him, w
Kai"Thank you, Alpha Bouras, for receiving us on such short notice," Abraham continued, his tone measured but with a weight that demanded attention. "I won’t waste time getting to the matter at hand.There are two issues we need to address: the original issue that brought us here and a new one that arose two days ago."He paused for a moment, letting the room settle into silence before continuing. "The original issue is one we’ve discussed quietly for some time—the fact that leadership remains concentrated among only three families.Suggestions have been made to rotate leadership among all the families to create a balance of power."Murmurs rippled through the hall immediately, discontent brewing in hushed tones. Before anyone else could speak, Draco was on his feet, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade."And have lazy, unfit alphas ruling regions in the name of equality?" Draco scoffed, his disdain clear.He leaned forward, his presence filling the room. "Leadership has
KaiDraco was already seated at the venue when we arrived, so there was no need for formalities or separate greetings.The space was set with the Twelve in mind—a show of hierarchy and exclusivity.Twelve high-backed chairs loomed over the rest of the room, reserved for the leaders of each family. Below them, simpler chairs were arranged for the betas accompanying us, a stark reminder of the power dynamic in play.This wasn’t a gathering for outsiders. Even those who had brought their lunas were required to leave them behind—either at the hotel or in the private rooms Draco had prepared. This meeting was as exclusive as it was intense.Abraham was present, as expected. His family’s long-standing place within the Twelve made his attendance inevitable.He wasn’t just a member—he was the chairman of the council, a figurehead whose presence commanded respect, whether or not you liked him. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his aura calm but unyielding, like a predator patiently observing it
Kai“What would you do if he decided to surrender, Kai?” Darius asked, his voice steady, probing. We had just checked into the hotel suite. I met his gaze, unsure of where he was going with this.“If he chooses to relinquish, what then? You know as well as I do, it’s a crime to go after his life once he surrenders. But that look in your eyes every time his name comes up—it's pure hatred. Murder.” His words hung in the air like a challenge, forcing me to confront the truth. He wasn’t wrong.The rage inside me felt like a living thing, twisting and coiling every time I thought of Randy. Every time I thought of the marks he left on Adasha.“He marked her in the most painful way,” I said, my voice low, raw. The weight of those words was suffocating. Every scar, every tear she had shed, was etched into my mind. Randy hadn’t just hurt her physically; he’d carved his cruelty into her very soul.Darius stepped closer, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.“And you will heal her heart, Kai,” he
KaiLeaving Adasha behind to head north felt like wrenching a part of myself away.I wished more than anything she could have come along, but the stakes were too high, and Randy’s presence meant I needed to figure out the situation before making any move. It wasn’t just the uncertainty that gnawed at me—it was the fact that we were heading straight into Draco’s territory.That alone was a storm waiting to happen. I had to make sure she stayed safe, far from the chaos of the Twelve. With May and Mirabel by her side, I could breathe a little easier, but not much.Gabriel was left in charge, and I trusted him to keep her secure—especially with Ingrid in the house, lurking like a shadow in the dark. Magnus, on the other hand, was a gamble. He’d already let me down once, and while I was giving him another shot, my faith in him was thin. Too thin.The drive north was endless, a slow grind through open stretches of nothingness. The thought of returning the same day felt laughable, especially
AdashaMay sighed deeply, the sound heavy with unspoken thoughts. I could tell she had something important to say, so I stayed silent, giving her the space she needed to speak. I knew her well enough by now to understand that if I pushed, she might retreat into herself.After what felt like an eternity, she finally broke the silence.“I need to discuss something with you, Miss,” she said, her voice tinged with urgency.Her words immediately grabbed my attention, but it was what followed that made my stomach twist uneasily.“In fact, this is the only reason I’m glad to be back,” she continued, her tone edged with resignation. “Even though I know… the situation is temporary. I might be arrested again.”My chest tightened at her words.She had piqued my curiosity, yes, but she’d also sparked a flicker of worry.May had always been kind to me, but she had never crossed the line into something personal.Her manner had always been one of quiet professionalism, her kindness warm but distant.
AdashaIt hadn’t been long since I’d returned to my room after a long day of sightseeing with Mirabel when a gentle knock sounded on the door. The soft rap was hesitant, almost uncertain.It couldn’t be Kai—this was his room, and he could enter anytime without needing permission. I doubted it was Mirabel; she rarely knocked unless it was something urgent. And it certainly wasn’t Laura, not while she was locked up.Ingrid was another possibility, but after this morning’s debacle at breakfast, I couldn’t imagine her approaching me so soon.“Come in,” I called out, curiosity tingling at the edges of my thoughts.The door opened slowly, and to my surprise, May stepped in. She looked freshly showered, her hair still damp and falling softly around her shoulders.Her uniform was crisp, and her posture was composed, but her presence felt lighter—like someone who had just cast off a heavy burden.I blinked in surprise. “May, you’re back,” I said, my voice tinged with excitement. I hadn’t expec
Kai “That night…” May began, her voice barely audible, weighed down with grief and hesitation. “Families came to check the baby, to see for themselves if she was truly gone.” She spoke with a wariness that hinted at the pain these memories carried, her words slow and deliberate. “She was blue in her cot, unmoving. They were satisfied. They believed she was dead, and so they left.” May’s hands trembled slightly as she clasped them in her lap. “I was given the duty of burying her,” she said, her tone thick with sorrow. “Emmanuel Westwood didn’t take it well. He couldn’t even bear to look at her. He would have protected his granddaughter if there had been any hope, but to him… she was gone.” She paused, taking a shaky breath before continuing. “Austin refused to touch the… the body. He was devastated. So, Emmanuel tasked me with the burial. It fell to me to lay her to rest.” Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes, the tears falling freely now. “She was such an innocent baby. S