All Chapters of The Alpha's Burning Heart: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Raina's POVTears streamed down my face as I clung to the bars, the silver scorching my hands. "I beg you. Please, believe me. I didn't do it. There has to be another explanation." I pleaded."Your family will starve and will only be given food after Natasha is well," Tristan said, his voice cold and unyielding. The weight of his words crashed down on me like a heavy boulder, and tears welled up in my eyes."Starve me instead; please leave them out of it…" I managed to choke out between sobs, my heart breaking at the thought of my siblings suffering because of me. But Tristan shook his head, his expression unmoved."Please, Alpha, I have served you faithfully since you returned; I never made an attempt on your life. Please. I am being set up," I pleaded, desperation lacing my words."Tell me why anyone would set you up. What would be the baker's gain, and what would be the gain of the witnesses? What would be Natasha's gain for attempting to kill herself?" Tristan's voice was stern, hi

Raina's POVTristan chuckled as if I had said something funny. "Would you have asked for forgiveness if I was still a rejected prince with nothing?" he asked, and I wondered why his mind would go there."Do you think you can switch between brothers just to fulfil your desire for power and comfort?" he asked, and I knew where he was driving."No, I am not asking you to forgive me and take me back. I have nothing to offer you. I am empty, damaged, and barren; my will is broken. I am not apologising because I want you to take me back. I am telling you to forgive me because I am sorry. Every day since then, I have hoped for a chance to seek your forgiveness," I said, and he did not respond. It was as if I hadn't said anything worth responding to."I have accepted everything, Tristan; I am ruined. I can never find love, be happy, settle, and have children. I have no future. That should be enough for you, yet you want to kill my siblings, too. What did Alisia and Peter do to you? What is th

Tristan POVAfter speaking to Raina in the cell, I became convinced she hadn't poisoned the pastries. I needed to identify the real culprit, and my thoughts turned to the baker; perhaps she was a loyalist to Dean. There were many such individuals lurking around, feigning submission to me. My mission was to root them out. I extracted the truth from the baker using extreme methods. Though her confession exonerated Raina as I had hoped, she refused to name her accomplice, claiming she acted alone. I knew this couldn't be true. One nagging detail was why Natasha requested pastries that morning. Either she was involved, or the baker seized an unexpected opportunity to target me. I might have suspected Natasha, but her near-death experience after eating the cookies ruled that out. I realised I needed to be extremely cautious. As much as I hated to admit it, the safest option was to eat only what Raina prepared. I called Jared, one of the men who helped me take over the pack. He was my tru

Tristan's POVMy head hurt. It felt like I had been hit and suffered a concussion. I tried to recollect what happened to me. I was on my way back from hunting when I was attacked by six men. Thinking I could take the attackers, I decided to fight, but they had come prepared. They didn't even shift. They had masks on, so I couldn't see their faces. I didn't know who had attacked me until I was stabbed with a silver knife. It was Jason the brute. I could smell him. I had to pretend to be dead. They ran away.Since I took back the Ironclaw Region, some Dean supporters have been trying to get me out of the picture, just as always.While I recollected the incident, I realised I had linked Raina, and she was the one who tended to me. I gradually sat in bed and realised I was in the pack house. Getting off the bed, I stepped on something on the floor, and the whimper let me know it was someone.I didn't need to guess who it was. Even though she rejected me, our bond still lingered because

Raina's POVSoon, we arrived at the shelter. It was close to the Alpha's compound. Alighting, I awaited my orders. Tristan did not say anything, so I just followed him. When we got to the settlement, I was surprised that the place had more people than the last time I visited, a year ago, with Dean's mother. I had come here as their future Luna; today, Tristan has brought me as a slave. "What are you doing just standing there? Get to work," Tristan said, and I had no clue what he wanted me to do. "Speak to them and find out about their needs. Make sure you do not miss any detail, am I clear?" he said, and I nodded. That was Natasha's duty, not mine, but I dared not argue with him. "Luna Raina," a little girl said, and I became rigid. Tristan turned to look at me, and I wanted to jump out of my skin. The girl rushed at me and hugged my legs. "I missed you. You promised you'd bring me chocolate, but you never came back," she said, and I squatted immediately. "I am sorry, littl