SELENA'S POV:As Tristan and the guards drag me away, I struggle and cry, begging and apologizing for my mistake. I promised never to do it again, but Tristan only gives me a wicked smile."I'm sorry Tristan, have mercy on me, it wasn't my intention to steal or disrespect you," I cried out."Shut up!" he yelled at me.We arrive at the center of the alpha's estate, and Tristan stands in the middle of the courtyard, looking down at me with cold eyes. My heart sinks as I realize that he's going to make an example out of me, and I don't know how I'm going to get out of this alive.I look around and see the other pack members staring at me with a mixture of fear and curiosity. They know what's coming next, and they know that they're powerless to stop it. I wasn't sure they wanted to stop it, they seemed to be delighted by it. This seems to be something that happens much too often as no one seemed to be shocked by it.Tristan stands at the center of the courtyard with a wicked smile on his
Selena’s POVAs I open my eyes, I'm immediately hit with a sharp pain in my head. I groan, wincing as I try to lift my arm to touch my head, only to find that it's bandaged up. Memories of the previous night come flooding back to me, and I wince at the thought of the humiliation and pain I endured in front of everyone. I feel a sense of regret and anger towards myself for not being more careful.But even as I lay here, battered and bruised, I can't bring myself to regret what I did. I know that there are so many people in our pack who are struggling to survive, and I can't just sit back and watch them suffer. It's not in my nature to turn a blind eye to those in need.I feel a twinge of pain in my chest as I think about the consequences of my actions. Tristan will never forgive me, and I'll forever be an outcast in this pack. But then again, I don't want to be part of a pack that condones such cruelty and injustice.As I look up at Roy's concerned face, I'm grateful for his kindness
Tristan’s POVI had thought I had everything under control the moment my father made me and not HIM his successor. But recently, I feel like I'm losing my grip on all the power I have acquired.There has never been a successful alpha without his fair and wise luna at his side, his mate, destined for him from birth. Mine had thrown the gift that was our mating bond at my feet and proceeded to reject me, subjecting me to the humiliation of a lifetime.As if that wasn't enough, fucking Zander is coming for me and that wild beast will not rest until my head is on a silver platter.I had to do something to get back my control before Zander comes to take my pack. That's why I'm headed to the outskirts of town to meet the famous witch. She has an extraordinary power to read the future, and I need to know what's going to happen.My mind is racing with thoughts of what could happen. Will Zander come to kill me? Will my pack turn on me and side with him? I can't let that happen. I need to know
Tristan’s POVLady Annika starts the seance, and I sit there, watching as she begins to speak in a language I couldn't understand. The hairs on my arms start to rise, and I feel a sense of unease in the pit of my stomach.Suddenly, she looks me dead in the eyes and then she tells me what she sees."I see two twin souls, both equal in energy and heading in the same direction," she said, her voice low and gravelly. "But one starts to burn brighter and faster than the other, overtaking them in speed and destination."Her words caused a chill to run down my spine. The image she was painting is unsettling, and I can't help but wonder what it means for me.I listen intently, hanging on her every word. But then, her tone changes, and she speaks of a darker path. "The bright soul meets an even brighter soul with purer energy on his way, but he consumes her, snuffs out her light, and continues on his way."I feel a sense of rage building inside of me. How dare she suggest that I would snuff o
ZANDER’S POVI received news that the house of Lady Annika, the renowned witch on the outskirts of our town, was burned down in a fit of rage by one of her customers.She had been a steady face when I was just a pup, and an important mother figure to me when I had lost my mother and she had also been the one to help me train my beast.She was a tough, no nonesense woman that refused to bow even to death… or so I thought as I walked into the clearing, my boots digging into the melted rubber and ashes, the sense of loss heavy in the air.My heart squeezed in my chest as I inspected her burned down home, the aching sense of loss festering in my bones.No. No. No. Not another one! I can't lose another person dear to me!I stand there, taking in the devastation that has been wrought upon Annika's home. I placed my hand to the ground, feeling the soil and sniffing the air. I froze when I found the scent of the arsonist.Of course. Who else could it be? The very person responsible for fuck
Zander’s POVI closed my eyes for a moment, lost in the memory of the day my mother took me and Tristan to see Annika. We were just kids then, barely old enough to understand the gravity of what was happening. But my mother was insistent - she wanted to know what the future held for her sons.I opened my eyes and looked at her, wondering if she remembered that day too. "Annika, do you remember when my mother brought us here for our first reading?" I asked, my voice tinged with nostalgia.Annika smiled softly, her eyes flickering with recognition. "Of course, Zander. You and your brother were such bright-eyed and curious children. I remember being hesitant to read your futures, though.""Why were you hesitant?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Well, when twins are born, it's often said that one will have a bright star and the other a dark star. And it's not always a good thing when both have dark stars."I frowned at the memory, feeling a sen
Selena’s POVSomeone banging loudly on my door made my heart skip beats in fear.I looked at Ana who shared my cautious looks before I got out of bed. Ana followed me, and together we made our way to the door. As soon as Ana opened it, Karla stormed in without an invitation, her face twisted in annoyance."Karla, what's the matter?" I asked, trying to keep my voice even.Her response was a twisted grin. "Oh, nothing much, just that Laleh has invited you to a dinner party organised for all the women in Tristan's harem."This left a sour taste in my mouth. Laleh had been the reason I had been whipped to within an inch of my life the last time. Why would she invite me to dinner when she has never done so before?Ana stood in front of me, glaring at Karla. "Like HELL she would! Run back to that little cult of yours and tell them my mistress is not interested.""Your mistress is treated worse than a common dog in this house and your words hold no weight compared to Laleh's. If I were you,
Selena’s POVAs I walked into the grand dining room, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had never seen anything like it before. The room was massive, with high ceilings and ornate chandeliers hanging from above, casting a soft glow over the room. The walls were adorned with beautiful tapestries and paintings, and the table itself was a work of art. It was made of the finest wood and was adorned with silver plates and cutlery, and crystal glasses sparkled in the candlelight.But what really caught my attention were the people. Everyone was dressed to the nines, wearing the most expensive clothes and jewelry I had ever seen. I felt so out of place in my simple top and jeans, and I couldn't help but feel self-conscious about the scar on my face. Ana had styled my hair to cover it up, but I still felt like everyone was staring at me.Ana tried to boost my confidence as I left the room, but it wasn't enough. As I stepped into the dining room, I felt my confidence plummet to th
Zander's POV. I'd planned several times how I'd kill my brother. It's a sick thing to think about one's own twin, but I'd hated Tristan from the very moment we'd come out of my mother's womb together. I'd planned a slow death for him, I wanted him to watch as I took over the pack, I wanted him to see me take down every single thing he'd put in place, I wanted him to watch me make him obsolete once more. But I'd brushed all that away the moment Selena's body fell limply against mine. I could feel the few borders I'd kept up collapse in one instant and before Tristan had the chance to move I was on him, my hand was at his neck and my teeth were buried onto the other side. He screams under me, scratching at me, hitting in the eye nose and trying to break my teeth, but that barely worked on a regular wolf talkless of me, so undaunted by his little attacks I buy down and before he can react even further I rip a huge chunk of flesh out of his neck. His screams increase as I tear into his
Zander's POV. If not for the fact that her scent was everywhere. It wouldn't be the first time I'd dreamt of her, gliding into my office like that, saying that she has decided to forgive me, then she kisses me and I touch her and she moans and then I wake up. Sometimes I just dream of her walking into my office to talk to me, to laugh with me again, to slip her hand into mine and smile at me that bright way only she knows how to, I felt happy once again at peace and then I'd wake up… back to my miserable reality where she couldn't even look me in the eye. I hate it, I hate it. I hate not having her around, I hate having her so mad at me, I hate knowing I'm the reason she cried so pitifully that day. I miss her so fucking much.But in the midst of all the chaos happening in my mind, in the midst of all that turmoil and pain I was still planning, searching for ways to finally bring my brother down once and for all. While I knew Selena's current grudge with me was all on me I knew tha
Selena's POV. I was never a particularly cruel person. My mother raised me to be many things, strong, uncompromising when need be, tactical when making decisions, kind and many many other things that she crafted to make me the next great leader. But cruelty, I was unused to turning eyes away from people if they needed help, I was uneasy when it came to making decisions about execution or anything that had to do with murder and now even with everything I knew about him, I was still hesitating to make the decision that would get me the revenge that my family and I rightfully deserved. I had no trust for Tristan. Just because he suddenly woke up and told me about Zander's secrets doesn't mean we were suddenly friends. I wasn't stupid, telling me was more for his benefit, even though I wasn't sure how it was possible for me to kill a whole ass cursed Prince, getting Zander out of his way would benefit him a lot more than it would me. Two sides of me were conflicting here, one part of m
Selena's POV. Not even Ana's arms around me can comfort me at this point. I'm beyond distraught. The only thing going through my mind is an image of Zander standing over my mother, covered in blood smiling that same unhinged smile that was on his face when he came to rescue me that day in the woods. He was a monster, a violent bastard. He'd not only killed everyone I'd cared about he had the guts to fuck me afterwards and touch me with the very same hands he'd used to tear into my pack mates. These are the types of thoughts that are constantly making rounds about my brain. The majority of them were curses thrown in Zander's direction, others were shards of glass piercing into me as punishment for sleeping with the man that had killed my family. I was stupid, very stupid I'd let lust and infatuation drive me into the arms of a monster. Why? All because he'd shown me a little bit of kindness while I suffered in this pack. A nagging part of my brain feeds me with the thought that may
Laleh's POV. I could only laugh. Watching Selena in a state of clear turmoil might be one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life. Prompting Tristan to tell her about what really happened to her family was the right choice after all.I can't say I was surprised to find out Zander was behind it, though we'd chosen to rule their death as suicide it was obviously not. Their bodies were ripped about brutally and purposely and savagely enough that even I was disgusted. Digging into their deaths though was more for curiously reasons than anything else, a creature that could easily murder a whole pack of healers like needed to be assessed, I needed to know if I had a friend or a foe on my hands and guess what, the fee sources that I'd had all painted back to Zander, a little while before he made his return known he'd slaughtered every last person in that pack.Of course the information was secret and extremely hard to gather, but there was nothing a couple of charms and a good han
Zander's POV. Fucking Tristan. I shift back and tug on a pair of trousers as fast as possible, ignoring the pointed stares that are tossed my way as I run up the stairs in search of my mate. I can't even imagine the state Selena is in and only the goddess knows what he told her. I burst into her room to see her on the floor, her hair is a mess, one side of her face is swollen and very bruised, and her eyes are distant. Horror rushes through me as I remember her last encounter with Tristan, the way she'd pushed me away and shut me out for weeks, she'd barely eaten and was just a teary mess, all because he'd spoken to her, I wonder what he'd said now.I kneel in front of her trying to get her eyes to follow me. But it remains fixed on something very far away, cold and closed off to me. Second only to the time she was kidnapped I've never been so scared in my life. "Selena, Selena please talk to me," I say stroking her face and trying to get her eyes to settle on me.She blinks and
Selena's POV. The first few days since I woke up were odd, I spent them walking about the mansion in a haze and trying to regain my bearings, obviously that took a lot of time and Zander was there through it all, holding my hand and muttering encouraging words to me as I sweated out the last of the drugs. But even with my torturously slow recovery I wasn't blind or dumb or weak, I still noticed everything, for example the clear absence of Naz and Callum, Zander's distracted nature and the tension radiating from everyone in the pack I'm guessing it's because the time for the coup was drawing nearer but I don't understand Zander's sudden tension with his friends, not that he'd answer me if I'd asked him about it, rather he'd dodge the question and disappear for hours to 'work', I wasn't buying it I knew something was wrong but I was much too tired to even fight him on this. Instead I bent to his prodding and his gentle touches, I basked in the feelings and sparks that danced about us
Zander's POV. I've never felt such a deep sense of relief before. Watching Selena's eyes flutter open must have been the most comforting thing I've ever seen, because I could have melted at the sight of those lovely brown yes meeting mine again, yes they were hazy, but I'll settle for that after watching her just drop to the floor in a dead faint in that forest and after haring Naz say that she was drugged heavily and make might not wake up for weeks. That was five days ago and she was awake now. I could feel the relief in my bones, even Aziel was calm for the first time in weeks, he was the main reason I wasn't able to fall asleep really. When Naz would pry me away from her bedside and forcee to get some rest all I could har was Aziel's voice in my ear screaming at me to do something or he would himself, and honestly I was much too tired to control him so for once I bent to his will and actually do something. I went to the dungeons and hit that rogue as many times as I could, I tor
Selena's POV. This time I woke up in my room to the sound of people speaking in hused tones about something that sounded extremely important, in the sleepy haze I was in recognized Zander's voice, tight and commanding as he spoke to who I assumed was Callum, my limbs feel heavy and my tongue is limp in my mouth, but at last this time I woke up on a soft bed instead of the cold hard floor.I struggle to open my eyes and when I do it's barely a crack. I squint at the brightness of the room around me, used to opening my eyes to a piercing darkness for the past few days. My head isn't pounding this time but the glare of the light is working up a headache low-key. The voices around me come into more of a focus now and I can hear the distress in Zander's tone. I hold my breath for a minute to enjoy the smooth, easy baritone of his voice. I never thought I'd miss the sound of someone's voice this much, I shift and try to lift myself up but my limbs are too weak and my head is much too heav