The next morning, Zarek and Zade came downstairs for breakfast. The long dining table was already set, and the maids moved around after briefly greeting the both of them and trying to make sure everything was set to perfection. Zarek glanced around the moment he sat down, he noticed Astrid was absent and a frowned settled on his face. He was in no mood for small talk, so he turned to the head maid and inquired, “Where is Astrid?”The head maid turned towards him and bowed slightly before she replied, “She's still in her bedroom. Hasn't stepped out since yesterday. I have no idea what's wrong with her." She said with a smirk, her happiness was that this time, the twin would definitely punish Astrid for her absence.The bitch always felt she was higher than them all just because she was named the personal maid to the Alphas.‘let’s see how she gets away with this one,’ she thought and released a thin smile, a barely noticeable one.Zarek's jaw tensed, but before he could say anything,
_Astrid’s POV_I lay in my bedroom, fear clawing at my senses as Zarek's words replayed in my mind. Entertaining their guest. With the ache all over my body, I doubted I’d even be able to move, let alone entertain their guest.What was I supposed to do?I couldn't ask any of the maids because none of them seemed to like me. They all had the same look on their faces every time they saw me.This was going to be harder than I thought.My gaze remained fixed outside my small window as I watched the day fade into night, and darkness settled in.A sharp knock echoed through my small room after a while, making my heart slam against my ribs. Before I could even react, the door burst open with a deafening bang.Esme and a few other maids walked in carrying a lot of makeup equipment. A few of them came with boxes that resembled that of a designer dress.“Get up, we need to doll you up for tonight," Esme said, her gaze filled with a burning hatred for me.I swallowed hard, slowly pulling myself
_Astrid’s POV_The moment I stepped into the grand hall, I felt fear coil in the pit of my stomach. The scent of wine, expensive cologne, and something primal loitered in the air. I forced myself to keep my steps steady as I descended the staircase, slowly moving to join the other maids who were already moving gracefully between the guests, serving drinks.The dress I wore clung too tightly to me, Oriana had told me that Esme chose that dress particularly forme. That witch. I clenched my fist, inhaling deeply and trying to steady my nerves.I scanned the room, counting the number of people present. At least six men, their conversations reeking of the power and influence they possessed. But my eyes were particularly drawn to the long table at the far end of the hall.A man sat at the center, dressed in a well tailored black and gold coat, his dark hair perfectly styled. He was relaxed and even leaning back in his chair, one hand holding a wine glass. That had to be the Lycan King.
The room was too quiet, too still, except for the presence of the three most powerful men in it. Zarek, Zade, and Valerian. Valerian’s proposal lingered in the air like a blade ready to come down. A perfume company? Her own business? Freedom?And yet, Astrid hesitated.A part of her was willing to accept his proposal, it wasn't something that could come by easily. This was her chance to better her life and get away from this messed up world she had found herself in.But…She couldn't do it.Something also told her that Valerian had more to him. He had other plans. She could never believe that he suddenly developed an interest in her just after seeing her once.Like, how could anyone just offer their property to just anybody? And that too to a mere human?Astrid gave up the idea of following him. She knew Zarek might never allow it.She parted her lips, ready to say no and reject his offer outright.But before the word could leave her mouth, another voice cut through the air.“Are y
“I hope you know the seriousness of what you both have done, Alphas?” Gideon, Alpha Zarek, and Alpha Zade's Beta asked as he stared at the two men seated in front of him.One of them had a nonchalant look on his face as if he never cared about things like this. The other one had an excited look on his face as he kept going through the papers in his hand.“Yes, I know the gravity, but look at this," Zarek's excited voice filled the air as he turned the papers towards Gideon. “Valerian finally signed these goddamn papers after so many years. It’s all worth it, don’t you think?" "I beg to disagree, Alpha. You just put everyone in danger, and all you care about is a worthless deal?” Gideon knew how important this deal was to Zarek, but he couldn't believe that the twins had actually backstabbed the Lycan King just after he helped them.And that too for a worthless human.Goddess, help him.“It’s not worthless." Zarek deadpanned, his expression turning serious. But Gideon knew it was all
_Astrid’s POV_“Get some rest," Zarek turned around and left the room, leaving me alone to gather my thoughts. After I told him about my earlier decision towards Alpha Valerian's offer, he had been silent for a long time before he cleared his throat and nodded.Then he stood up to leave. I could see the surprise in his eyes and a part of me was happy to witness it. I knew what I had to do if I wanted to survive in this cut-throat world.And for the first time in my life, I had a plan. My uncle stole everything from me—my trust fund, my future, and my freedom. They all saw me as a weak little girl that couldn't fight for herself. And of course, they were right. But not anymore.I have to do what I have to do to survive.And to do that, I had to gain the trust of the Alpha Twins of this pack. Zarek and Zade.It wouldn't be easy. They were both powerful rulers and non-humans. They weren’t stupid. But I had one advantage—despite everything, they wanted me here.Zarek didn't want me to
When the black SUV rolled to a stop at the luxurious golf course, all eyes turned toward it, already knowing who had arrived.The moment Zarek and Zade stepped out, the murmurs began. Whispers filled the air and they were all of respect, curiosity, and even fear. But the real murmurs began when Astrid followed.A human.The silence that settled immediately they caught sight of her was suffocating. Stares bore into her, some shocked, others amused. Astrid knew why. In this part of the world, humans didn’t belong, not in the presence of Lycans, Alphas, and the highest ranks of werewolf society. And yet, here she was, stepping onto their sacred grounds as if she had a right to exist among them.Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to walk with her gaze lowered. If she was going to survive in this world, she had to act respectful because this people couple snap her neck in one go, ending her miserable life anytime they wanted.She didn't even care if the Alphas were with her. They
After the news from Gideon had been successfully delivered to Zarek and Zade, they all decided to head back to the packhouse.Zarek already knew it would come to this, he knew Valerian wouldn't let things go easily. In their office back at the packhouse, Zade carefully moved to sit on a chair, arms crossed, but frustration was clear on his face, while Zarek began to pace the room like a caged beast.His mind raced as he searched for ways to come out of this mess with Valerian.Gideon, who was standing by the door just stared at him with an angry look. “Pacing won't fix this." He chided, already tired of watching Zarek move from one place to another.“Well, at least it helps me think. So shut the hell up and let me." Zarek snapped in return and resumed pacing.A heavy silence descended for a while before Zarek finally exhaled.He turned to Zade, who just sat there quietly, his gaze fixed outside the window. Without being told, he knew his brother was also thinking of a way out. “What
Zarek's arms were soaked in blood. Astrid's blood. Her body was limp, her skin pale, and every shallow breath she took made something tighten in his chest, and that of his brother. They hadn't even known her for long—but the sight of her broken like this made their vision burn red. To think that Zade was even affected when he was also the same person to protest against Astrid's entry into their lives. He had told Zarek that he shouldn't have bought her off at the auction because she was human. And now, he was looking disheveled because of that same human. Zade stalked behind Zarek, his fist clenched and his jaw locked as they made their way through the halls of Crimson Dusk Packhouse. The moment they arrived at the living room, Zade moved fast before anyone could predict his movement, he grabbed Valerian by his shirt collar and slammed him on the wall again, just the way Zarek did. Valerian was tired of the both of them at this point. "Didn't you say she was safe?" Zade growled l
The moment their feet crossed into The Crimson Dusk Pack, the only thing Zarek wanted to do at that moment was burn the place to the ground.The air was filled with the smell of lies. This disgusting pack. The guards who stood at the pack’s entrance all went pale at the sight of not just them but Cassia. They all knew who she was and where she came from. The Lycan’s King Lucian's sister was the only reason they never attacked Zarek, Zade, and Gideon on sight.One of the guards scrambled inside and towards the packhouse, to report that the Alphas of Obsidian Fang Pack had arrived with someone who made them untouchable. “Alpha, the Alphas of The Obsidian Fang Pack are here." The guard informed Valerian, who sat lazily in his chair as he listened to the other men in the meeting room.The moment the words registered in his mind, a small smile curled at the sides of his lips.“Really?" He chuckled. “Took them long enough. What are you all waiting for then?" He asked, petting his disfigu
_Astrid’s POV_I watched as guards trooped into the bedroom and bowed before Valerian. His gaze remained unreadable as he ordered, “Take this bitch and punish her in the worst way ever." He paused, his gaze darkening as he added, “She dared to spit on my face." Without a second thought, the guards rushed towards me and yanked me from the bed while I winced in pain.The bandages that were used to wrap my wounds were forcefully ripped open, leaving the cold air hitting my wounds.“Please…” I begged as one of the guards pulled me by my hair and dragged me out of the room. It was extremely difficult to match his pace as I clutched his arm on my hair, trying to peel his finger's grip away.I knew without a doubt that he would end up pulling a few strands off. They pulled me directly to what seemed to be the dungeon. I could tell it was a dungeon because this part of the mansion was dark and reeked of something disgusting. Probably blood or rotten meat.I was pushed to the ground, hard,
The atmosphere in the office was suffocating. Cassia sat in the leather chair, one leg crossed over the other, eyes sharp as daggers as she studied the twins. “So, let me get this straight—you need my help to take down Valerian or make peace with Valerian, not just to protect your pack, but because you have someone to rescue?”Zarek remained silent, arms crossed, his expression impassive. Zade, however, let out a sharp exhale, already irritated. “That’s what we said, isn’t it?”Cassia tilted her head, lips curving into a smirk. “Who is it?”Zade’s jaw clenched. Zarek didn’t even blink.Her smirk widened seeing the indifference. “You wouldn’t go this far for just anyone. So who is it?”Silence.Then Gideon, standing off to the side, answered with a bored drawl, “Their favorite servant.”Cassia’s smirk vanished. Her fingers tightened on the armrest as she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief, “You’re doing all this… for a servant?”Zarek’s gaze darkened. “We’re doing it for the pac
“I swear to the name of the goddess, I didn't hand her over to Valerian,” Gideon explained for the one-millionth time to Zarek and Zade.This time, Zarek had stopped pacing, and in his place was Zade. Gideon didn't know Zade also had a thing for Astrid considering his nonchalant behavior towards her. Seeing him all worked up now, he realized he had gone and made a big mistake. The twins cared for Astrid, and it was shocking. They had never cared for anyone, ever. Not even when Cassia had been abducted back when they were together with her. They cared, but not to the extent of getting all worked up like this.“Then explain how the hell Valerian has her and why!” Zade snapped, rage burning like lava in his dark eyes.Zarek had his fist clenched as he glared intensely at Gideon.“Fucking hell! I just took her close to the highway and told her to leave, she ran off on her own without looking back. How would I have known that she would run into Valerian?" Gideon yelled back, frustrated.
The clock on the office wall ticked steadily, but with every passing second, Alpha Zarek’s patience thinned. He drummed his fingers against the desk, his gaze flickering to the door. Still nothing.Gideon had been gone for a very long time already.At first, neither he nor Zade had thought much of it. Gideon was always handling something, maybe he was looking for a way out of this mess, one that didn't involve Cassia. But this time, something felt very off.Zade, sitting across from him, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Where the hell is he?” His tone was sharp, irritated. “He should’ve been back by now. He possibly can't stay angry forever.”Zarek exhaled slowly, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “He’ll come. The spawn always does.”But even as he said it, a nagging feeling settled in his gut.Then, a knock at the door.Before either of them could respond, the door swung open, and a pack guard stepped in. His face was pale, his breathing uneven—like he had debate
_Astrid’s POV_Something wasn't right, I knew it deep in my bones.Beta Gideon, as I had come to know from the way the maids gawked at him and talked about him, had been glaring at me with such resentment that left me wondering what I had done to him. He had been distant, and never saying a word to me. Unlike Alpha Zarek and Alpha Zade, who controlled everything around here and the things I did, Gideon seemed angry about my presence at the packhouse.And now out of nowhere, he was telling me to follow him?Every instinct screamed at me to say no.And yet, I found myself skipping into the car when he instructed me to, my hands gripping the seatbelt tightly as he started the car.He drove off from the packhouse and I wanted to ask again where he was taking me. But I went against the idea when I saw the way his hands clenched around the steering wheel.If he wrapped through hands around my neck, he would never hesitate to snap my neck on the spot and kill me off.But what exactly did I d
After the news from Gideon had been successfully delivered to Zarek and Zade, they all decided to head back to the packhouse.Zarek already knew it would come to this, he knew Valerian wouldn't let things go easily. In their office back at the packhouse, Zade carefully moved to sit on a chair, arms crossed, but frustration was clear on his face, while Zarek began to pace the room like a caged beast.His mind raced as he searched for ways to come out of this mess with Valerian.Gideon, who was standing by the door just stared at him with an angry look. “Pacing won't fix this." He chided, already tired of watching Zarek move from one place to another.“Well, at least it helps me think. So shut the hell up and let me." Zarek snapped in return and resumed pacing.A heavy silence descended for a while before Zarek finally exhaled.He turned to Zade, who just sat there quietly, his gaze fixed outside the window. Without being told, he knew his brother was also thinking of a way out. “What
When the black SUV rolled to a stop at the luxurious golf course, all eyes turned toward it, already knowing who had arrived.The moment Zarek and Zade stepped out, the murmurs began. Whispers filled the air and they were all of respect, curiosity, and even fear. But the real murmurs began when Astrid followed.A human.The silence that settled immediately they caught sight of her was suffocating. Stares bore into her, some shocked, others amused. Astrid knew why. In this part of the world, humans didn’t belong, not in the presence of Lycans, Alphas, and the highest ranks of werewolf society. And yet, here she was, stepping onto their sacred grounds as if she had a right to exist among them.Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to walk with her gaze lowered. If she was going to survive in this world, she had to act respectful because this people couple snap her neck in one go, ending her miserable life anytime they wanted.She didn't even care if the Alphas were with her. They