Romane von Lara

Aya’s POVThe silence in the castle was so loud that it was driving me insane. It had been two weeks since I woke up in this body.Two weeks since I realized I was no longer Aya Johnson, the discarded omega, the forgotten daughter, the girl who was betrayed by her mate and who was murdered by her sister.Now, I was Marie-Anne Rose Crown, the noble-born fiancée of the most feared man in the entire Lycan Kingdom.Asher King.Even his name sounded like a taboo, something that shouldn't be mentioned lightly. Rumor had it he didn’t smile, didn’t love, didn’t forgive. His enemies were buried in nameless graves, and his allies feared him just as much as they respected him.And soon, he would walk through that door.The thought alone sent my stomach flipping into knots. I stood in front of the same mirror that had betrayed me the day I saw her, this new version of me. I didn’t recognize her still. She had poise and elegance.A sudden, sharp knock came at the door and I jumped.“He’s here,” th

(Aya’s POV)The moment my feet hit the forest floor, I let out a sob so broken it didn't sound human. My wedding dress—once a dream, now a cruel joke—dragged on the damp earth as I ran, my vision blurred with tears. The trees stretched endlessly before me, their towering shadows swaying as if they were mourning with me. Mourning what exactly? Was it my relationship with Malakai or my life as a whole?How had everything gone so wrong?I clutched at my chest, gasping for air, but the pain wouldn’t reduce. It was as if Malakai had reached inside me and torn out my soul.My mate. My love.Had I been a fool all along?I collapsed against the rough bark of a tree, sinking to my knees. My fingers dug into the dirt, the cold sinking through my skin. A sob ripped from my throat, raw and desperate.“I hate you,” I whispered, tilting my face to the dark sky. “Moon Goddess, I hate you.”My voice broke on the last word. I had done everything right. I had endured. I had obeyed. I had suffered, all

(Aya’s POV)That night, I'd had my first kiss with Malakai. That night, I had been assured that he was the love of my life. And, for the past three months of being together, I had been assured I was set for the moment that is happening presently.My wedding day.The grand hall of the packhouse was adorned in gold and white. Candles flickered from every corner, casting a warm glow over the space. The scent of roses and pine filled the air, mixing with the faint aroma of roasted meats from the reception area. The entire Blue Moon Pack was present, along with delegates from Malakai’s Eclipse Pack.I stood at the altar, hands clutching the bouquet of white roses, my heart pounding wildly in my chest.I was getting married.I was becoming Malakai’s wife.He was my mate, my fated one, and despite everything—the years of suffering under my father’s roof, the cruelty of my stepmother and Jolene—Malakai had chosen me. He had loved me.He had promised me forever.I looked up at him, standing be

(Aya’s POV)I stumbled into my room, barely managing to shut the door before my legs gave out under me. My back hit the wood with a small thud, and I slid to the floor, burying my face in my hands. The laughter of my stepmother and Jolene still sounded in my ears, like a cruel sound meant to remind me of my place.A broken sob escaped my lips. No matter how much I tried to compose myself against their words, against their cruelty, it still hurt. Every day felt like a fresh wound, one that never had the chance to heal. I dug my fingers into the fabric of my worn dress, my nails pressing into my palms as if the slight sting could distract me from the deep ache in my chest.But then—something changed.A scent.It was faint at first, but undeniably there. A mix of lemon and something darker, something rich and intoxicating, like the first rain after a long dry season. It didn’t belong to the pack members who normally roamed the pack house. No, this was different. Foreign.I froze, my brea

(Aya’s POV)The scent of popping bacon filled the pack house kitchen, mixing with the natural aroma of brewed coffee and fresh bread. The dining hall buzzed with chatter as pack members gathered for breakfast, but I remained in the kitchen, my hands deep in a sink full of soapy water. The dishes from last night’s feast still needed scrubbing, and I knew better than to leave even a single plate not touched."Aya, hurry up with those dishes!" Jolene's sharp voice cut through the air, startling me instantly, making my hands move faster as I scrubbed the last of the greasy pots. "I need you to press my dress for the Alpha's meeting," she added, her tone mixed with impatience.I felt a familiar sense of resentment in my stomach, but I pushed it down, focusing on the task at hand. I rinsed the final pot and arranged it neatly on the drying rack, my movements quick and productive. "Yes, ma'am," I replied, my voice neutral as I dried my hands on the worn towel hanging from the hook.Jolene's

~ Harper’s POV ~I woke up with the kind of headache that usually followed a night of heavy drinking, except I hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol. It was a desire-hangover. My skin still felt hypersensitive, humming with the ghostly memory of Damon’s hands roaming over me in the dining hall. My core throbbed with a dull, unsatisfied ache that made me want to scream into my pillow.God, I’m pathetic, I thought, staring at the ceiling.I had been ready to let him take me right there on the floor like an animal. I, Harper Matias, who prided myself on being untouchable and strong-willed, had been reduced to a puddle of need by a man who was essentially my captor and my stepbrother. The shame was a bitter pill to swallow. I had set out to seduce him as a weapon of revenge, but last night, it felt like the weapon had recoiled and hit me square in the chest.I rolled out of bed, my feet hitting the cold floor. I needed to get my head back in the game. Seducing Damon wasn’t about pleasure; it w

Harper's POVMy heart almost jumped out of my mouth as I whipped my head around to face my father. His eyes were narrowed as they flickered between Damon and me. I could see the suspicion etched into his face. Damon's hand was still on my thigh, with his grip firm and not moving. I could feel the warmth from his palm searing through my jeans, but right now, that was the last thing I needed. The heat that had spread across my face was not only because of Damon's touch but also from the rage boiling inside me. Everyone at this table had a hand in my mother's death. They killed her. But I decided to play along with Damon, I needed him to believe that we had mutual feelings, that was my best option for now.I forced a light and fake laugh, shoving Damon's hand away discreetly under the tablecloth. "Father, we're just talking about the Lunar Festival coming up. You know, the big one next month? I was asking Damon what his plans are for the pack during it. Right, Alpha?"Damon leaned back

Harper's POV I burst through the treeline and shifted back to human form, my clothes ripping slightly from the force of it. My chest heaved as I stumbled toward the pack house, legs burning from the run. Rage pulsed through me like poison–Dad lit the torch himself. Taylor stood there smiling. They killed her. For power. For the pack. And now they wanted to do the same to me.But I couldn't let it show. Not yet. One wrong move, one slip, and I'd be the next one on that altar. I had to play smart. Tread carefully. Smile when I wanted to scream. I had to plan ny revenge in the shadows. But nothing was going to stop me from my avenging my mother, even if it was the last thing I would do.I slipped into the side entrance, avoiding the main hall where pack members were probably gathering for dinner. My room was upstairs. I was safe. For now."Harper? That you?"Glynn's voice echoed from the hallway. Shit. I plastered a neutral expression on my face and turned as she rounded the corner, he

Harper's POV I needed answers first. Real ones. And I knew where I could get them.Aunt Sylvia. My mom's sister. My aunt who had cut ties with the pack after the "fire" that killed my mom. She lived on the outskirts, in a rundown cabin far from MoonShine territory. Father never talked about her, and the pack treated her like a ghost. If anyone knew the truth, it was her.I shifted mid-run once I hit the woods, fur rippling over my skin as I tore through the trees. The wind whipped past, but it couldn't cool the fire building inside me. Sacrificed. The word echoed in my head, fueling every stride I took.By the time I reached Sylvia's cabin, I was human again, panting at her door. I banged on it hard, knuckles aching."Who's there?" Sylvia's soft voice called from inside."It's Harper. Open up, please."The door creaked open, and there she was– tall, with the same brown wavy hair as me and Mom's, but hers was now streaked with gray. Her eyes widened in shock. "Harper? What are you do

Harper's POV I woke up to my phone buzzing on the nightstand, it was my alarm. I grabbed the phone and quickly swiped to turn off the annoying alarm and that's when I saw the text I had received one hour ago.It was from my father. 'Harper, get to my office. Now.' Collins Matias, summoning me like I was one of his pack lackeys. No hello, no good morning, no how are you. Typical Father.I sat up, rubbing my eyes. What's this about? Why does he need to see me?I tossed the phone aside, muttering curses under my breath. Fine. Whatever. I threw on jeans and a hoodie, not bothering with anything else. The pack house was quiet as I slipped down the halls. I reached his office door and my hand hovered over the knob when I heard voices inside, I stopped cold.They were heated, angry voices. Father's and... Taylor's? Damon's mother. What the hell were they doing yelling at each other so early in the morning?"You think I'm blind, Collins?" Taylor's voice hissed, it was sharp as a blade. "

Harper's POV I shoved him back, wiping my mouth like I could erase the taste. "Dream on. Now get out. If anyone finds out about... this, we're both dead."He straightened, that cold mask slipping back into place. "Our secret, remember? Cross me, and it all comes out.""Threats again?" I rolled my eyes, hiding the fear twisting inside me. "You're predictable, Alpha."He opened the door but paused. "Predict this, I'll be back. And next time, you won't push me away."I slammed the door after him, leaning against it as my legs shook. What the hell was I doing? Hating him, wanting him–it was tearing me apart. But damn, that spark... I couldn't deny it anymore.The next morning, I avoided the pack house like the plague, heading to the training grounds to blow off steam. Punching bags didn't judge, and I needed to punch something. Glynn found me there, mid-spar with a dummy."Harper, you okay? You vanished last night," she said, tossing me a water bottle.I caught it, gulping down. "I'm fin