Chapter: Unfinished BusinessCHAPTER 14Avery’s POVThe door shut behind me and I sank onto the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under my weight.For a few minutes, I didn’t move, because even the four corners of this room couldn’t keep the courtyard out.I let out a long breath. I didn't know if it was relief that it had not been me or the heavier knowledge that this place was not finished with me.I told myself I had seen worse. Sunset Pack had never spared anyone, executions were not something new, and I had grown up watching punishments from the edge of the crowd while being told it was justice.But the memory that surfaced was from the darkest part of my mind I never want to ever open again.A girl in a brown dress standing in the crowd, someone's elbow digging into my side, and two figures made to kneel on a stump, a man and a woman. I remembered what the wood looked like, dark stains on it. I never saw when the blade fell. Someone had gripped me from behind and dragged me away. I only remembered the
Last Updated: 2026-10-05
Chapter: Could Have Been MeCHAPTER 13Avery's POVI was still pulling on the second boot when Nora started walking.“Hurry up. Don’t make me come back in,” she called back over her shoulder. I followed without even closing the door. The corridor that had been empty the night before was now full of servants and omegas moving quickly, heads down. Doors that had stood unguarded yesterday were now posted with warriors. Everyone seemed to know what was happening, but I was the only one still in the dark.I hurried my steps to keep up with her. “What is going on?”Nora didn’t bother looking back. “You’ll see. Just keep walking.”Helpful as always. Something about the way she said it made me walk faster.We stepped into the courtyard and my feet slowed at once.The wooden post I had seen from the window now stood upright in the center. Chains lay coiled on the ground. The small cart waited to one side. Guards circled the open space. The crowd was large, yet the silence was absolute. No one dared to shift without pu
Last Updated: 2026-10-05
Chapter: It Doesn’t Feel Like FreedomCHAPTER 12Avery’s POVMy legs would not move.The gate stood only a few paces away, open and unguarded in the way that mattered. I had walked all the way here, no guard had drawn a blade, no one had stopped me, so by every measure I should have kept going.Instead, I stood there like a plant rooted into the ground.A sudden flash of anger surged through my chest. I turned and looked back at the fortress, half expecting whatever illusion this was to break, guards running, someone shouting my name, the whole pack remembering I existed.Nothing happened.I had gotten what I wanted, the door had been unlocked and the guards had looked away, but I had never felt more like a fool in my entire life.Even gamblers got to keep their shoes.I looked down at my bare feet, dirty from the courtyard stones. I had no coin, no food, no clear plan or a slightest idea of how far the next village might be, or whether the northern roads would even let a lone wolfless woman pass. I had been brought here
Last Updated: 2026-10-05
Chapter: Run If You CanCHAPTER 11 Avery's POVSeveral days passed, and I lost count of how long I’d been stuck in this room. The only thing I could track was the passing of the dark.Meals arrived regularly alongside the medicine, brought by the same maid who had refused to say a single word the day I arrived. I hadn't seen Lena since then. The girl never fully stepped into the room; she would drop the tray several feet from the door and leave so quickly you'd think I was a ghost out to bite her. Sometimes I only woke up to find the tray already sitting there. It nagged at me. Why was she so terrified of me? Was she just another fear-ridden slave, treating everyone with the same quiet panic? Once, when I heard the lock turning, I stood near the doorway hoping to ask about Lena. The girl simply stared at me with wide eyes and bolted down the hall.Most days were spent sleeping heavily or taking warm baths that cut through the deep chill in my bones. My wound had finally healed, and the bleeding had stop
Last Updated: 2026-10-02
Chapter: A Warm MealCHAPTER 10Avery's POVI was still holding the pitcher.My knuckles turned white around the handle. Cold sweat trailed a line down my back. The pitcher was heavy and cold, but it was the only thing between me and the door.I thought it was him. I was sure it was him coming into the room.The door opened.It wasn't him.Two women walked in carrying trays. The first was about my age, maybe older, with honey-brown curls tied back, hazel eyes, and a green dress. Her tray sagged under the weight of a steaming bowl, bread, and a jug of water. Behind her trailed a girl—sixteen, maybe fourteen—with black hair and wide eyes that wouldn't stay still. She wore a dark blue dress, almost the same color as the rag they had given me earlier. She held a smaller tray with a brown bottle, her lips pressed into a tight line. For a long tense moment none of us moved.I stood there, holding the pitcher like a weapon. A stupid weapon. What was I going to do—throw water at them? I must have looked ridicu
Last Updated: 2026-10-02
Chapter: A Bedroom?CHAPTER 9Avery’s POVI didn’t care where they were taking me. Dungeon, kennel, closet—anything was better than standing there watching him wash blood off his hands like it was just another chore before dinner.Nora’s grip on my arm stayed tight as she pulled me through the corridors. The black walls swallowed the torchlight, stretching the shadows into long, thin shapes that moved when we did.My bare feet slapped against the cold floor. Every few steps my legs threatened to fold, but I forced them to keep moving. I could still feel the weight of his eyes on me, like a hand that hadn’t fully lifted from the back of my neck.At some point Nora loosened her hold when I couldn’t keep up. Maybe she decided I wasn’t going to collapse. Maybe she was in a hurry to do what he said—tell Natalia to report to him about that assignment, whoever she was. Either way, I didn’t wait for permission. I kept walking, faster than I should have been able to, as if speed alone could put distance between
Last Updated: 2026-10-01
Claimed and Sold at the Lycan King's Ball
Blurb
“I won’t be yours,” I whispered, heart pounding as the Lycan King’s massive frame caged me against the stone pillar.
His golden eyes burned with centuries of hunger. “You already are.”
••••••
Ava Moonveil never wanted to attend the Lycan King’s infamous Mating Ball. Fresh from a devastating breakup and done with love, she is dragged there by her stepmother, who sees her as a ticket to overnight riches.
But when the King’s eyes lock on her across the crowded ballroom, his wolf roars to claim her as his fated mate. Before she can run, she is publicly claimed… and then coldly sold by her own stepmother in a contract signed for wealth and power.
Now trapped in the King’s possessive world, Ava battles the magnetic pull of the bond while his ruthless brother offers her a way out, an escape that hides deadly ambition. As enemies close in and the King nearly dies protecting her, Ava faces the ultimate choice: stay and become Queen, or run with the man who promises freedom but plans her mate’s downfall.
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Chapter: The Sister Beneath the Smile 2CHAPTER 97SELENE'S POVBut the conversation in the charity hall was proof that our lines were shrinking. Ava was recovering. Whatever temporary draught Madame Lira had concocted days back, it was working well enough to bring the Luna back down to the administrative floors.Draken was staying close, guarding her wing like a dragon over gold. Kael had returned from his border inspections, introducing an unpredictable piece to the board, and Thorne... Thorne, where has he gone?The High Commander’s sudden disappearance from the checkpoint registries felt like a cold draft sliding beneath my door. Something had changed in the palace while I was busy folding blankets for orphans. The poison hadn't finished its job fast enough. If Ava recovered her full health before the foreign houses arrived for the Spring Court, every single strategy Kael and I had carefully woven would become harder to execute.My thoughts immediately locked onto Kael. He was inside the fortress walls right now, but we
Last Updated: 2026-09-22
Chapter: The Sister Beneath the SmileCHAPTER 96SELENE’S POVI leaned my back against the dark wood of my doors, my chest heaving as the freezing air of the room rushed in to erase the lingering warmth of the galleries. My hands were still shaking against the handles.I stood flat against the wood, my breathing shallow as her scratchy voice continued to replay behind my eyelids like a broken music box. Thank you for the berry tea. I’m glad we’re not standing on opposite sides anymore.Ava had looked at me with absolute gratitude, and now she sat on her grand bed, completely unaware that I had planted something, destroying her core, and she still called me. The utter innocence of her trust wasn't sweet; it was an insult to my intelligence. She moved through life with a blind carelessness, entirely protected by a crown she hadn't even fought for, while I had to calculate every single step just to breathe inside this fortress.A blinding surge of rage flared behind my ribs. My fingers clenched into fists as I whirled toward
Last Updated: 2026-09-22
Chapter: The Sister I Almost HadCHAPTER 95 SELENE’S POVThe rafters of the palace charity hall vibrated with the laughter of three dozen orphan children. It was one of the Luna's primary administrative duties to oversee the distribution of winter supplies. For the past two hours, I had been deep in the trenches of this tedious work gracefully folding thick wool blankets and handing down small sacks of winter grain to the pack caretakers."You have been an absolute blessing to these children, Lady Selene," Lady Geneveive murmured, offering a deep, respectful nod as she adjusted her shawl. Several other court matrons stood nearby, nodding in agreement. "To step into the Luna's role so seamlessly while she fought that terrible sickness... the territory is incredibly fortunate to have your dedication.""I am merely doing what family requires, my ladies," I replied, offering a soft, humble smile that crinkled the corners of my eyes.They looked at me with pure admiration. They didn't see a threat; they saw a selfless s
Last Updated: 2026-09-22
Chapter: The Crown I DeserveCHAPTER 94 KAEL’S POVThe reports from the palace infirmary reached my desk shortly after midday, delivered by a quiet maid whose loyalty had been bought with gold. I leaned against the window, turning the small piece of parchment over in my fingers.Ava was improving.Instead of the satisfaction a protective brother should have felt, a weight settled behind my ribs. The temporary medicine Madame Lira had brewed was creating a serious problem for my timeline. If the Southern girl recovered completely, Draken’s internal stability would return tenfold.The fated bond would inevitably strengthen again, and the High Council would lose their most potent weapon against his leadership. The ticking clock was no longer working in my favor. I had to speed up the process.As for Selene, our alliance wasn't built on a single shred of affection or shared loyalty; it was a cold transaction between two wolves who understood how to use leverage.Her hatred toward her stepsister was personal and visce
Last Updated: 2026-09-10
Chapter: The Second SonCHAPTER 93 KAEL’S POVThe doors of my bedchamber clicked shut. The moment the wood separated us, the warm, reassuring smile on my face didn't just fade; it evaporated. The gentle brother who had just offered a sick woman reassuring words vanished into the dark stone of the corridor.I adjusted the fur collar of my cloak and walked toward the western wing, my boots making no sound against the floorboards. My mind remained anchored to the room I had just left. Ava looked too pale under the candlelight, but the gratitude in her eyes had been entirely real. She had trusted me without a single hesitation. It was satisfying to know how deeply my kindness had rooted itself into her memories over these past months, but her vulnerability was a certainty. She was a fading anchor, and a fading anchor could not hold a king's crown for long.By the time I reached the threshold of my private solar, the light of the hearth was throwing long shadows across my desk. I poured a glass of spiced plum wi
Last Updated: 2026-09-10
Chapter: The Brother's ReturnCHAPTER 92 AVA’S POV "Let him in, Maya," I said softly, sliding my hand out of Draken's grip so I could sit up a bit straighter against the pillows. Draken didn't move immediately. His eyes remained fixed on the door, his jaw tightly locked as his massive frame radiated a cold, protective warmth. I reached out, pressing my hand against his forearm until I felt the stiffness in his muscles begin to yield. "He just returned from the borders, Draken," I murmured, keeping my voice low and easy. "He is your brother. Go review the guard rotations with the vanguard. I will be fine." With a heavy exhale, Draken rose from the edge of the mattress. He didn't look pleased, but he respected my boundaries. He offered a tight nod to Maya, threw his mantle over his shoulder, and strode out of the room. The door groaned shut behind him just as Kael stepped through the side threshold. The Alpha tension left the room with my husband, replaced by the scent of frost and pine needles that clung to
Last Updated: 2026-09-07
Chapter: A Picture Worth Killing ForChapter 15The executive elevator came to a stop at the top floor at exactly 8:48 AM. When the doors opened, Damien Reines stepped out and the whole damn floor pretended they suddenly had urgent work that required perfect posture. Some junior guy nearly choked on his coffee trying to set the mug down fast enough. Damien didn’t even glance at them. He’d seen it a thousand times. Fear had a smell in these hallways, and today it mixed with the bitter edge of his own mood.Anita fell into step beside him, tablet in hand, fingers flying across the screen like always. "Morning, sir. Board meeting at nine. Singapore investors at eleven. Legal review right after lunch." She lowered her voice as they passed the glass cubicles. "Nathaniel wants thirty minutes. Says the background sweep came back."Damien’s jaw eased a bit. Anita was one of the few people he actually trusted in this building. She’d been with him since the early days, before the empire felt like chains. "Route him through the s
Last Updated: 2026-07-05
Chapter: AtlasChapter 14Sitting on the back of the stone bench, less than two feet away from her face, was a majestic bird. A pair of huge, piercing amber eyes stared right back into hers with an expression of predatory judgment.The silence stretched for three agonizing seconds, then."Ahhhhh!" Emily screamed, scrambling backward so fast she nearly tripped over her own slippers.Within a seconds, the sound of rushing footsteps shattered the garden. The double glass doors burst open. Damien lunged into the room first, his hand instinctively reaching toward his waistband, followed by Walter and a highly alerted Desmond.Damien’s gaze swept the room for an assassin, only to find Emily pressed flat against a giant fern, pointing a trembling finger at the stone bench.Damien's posture relaxed as he realized the exact nature of the emergency. He looked from Emily to the bird."Atlas," Damien said, his voice a calm, commanding tone.The giant owl let out a soft hoot, spread its wings, and glided through
Last Updated: 2026-07-04
Chapter: Morning LightChapter 13 The quiet peace of 6:00 AM filled the room. She rolled onto her side, letting out a long, slow yawn that stretched right down to her toes.A sudden, aggressive sound echoed loudly in the bedroom. Emily froze, her hand drifting down to the curve beneath her cream-colored silk pyjamas. "Okay... okay, easy there," she murmured, her voice still raspy from sleep.The second protest was even louder than the first. Emily let out a dramatic sigh, sinking back into the soft pillows. "You two are absolutely impossible."A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. Despite the memory of yesterday's terrifying news broadcast and Damien's help lingering at the edges of her mind, the protective warmth blooming in her chest washed it away. They were growing. They were hungry. And right now, that was the only thing that mattered. Realizing she needed to secure sustenance before her own brain could spiral back into a panic, Emily slipped out of the bed.She threw on a soft, oversized k
Last Updated: 2026-07-04
Chapter: StayChapter 12 The Matte-black Maybach rolled to a halt at exactly 8:45 PM in the underground VIP garage of Elysian Heights. Walter stepped out of the driver’s seat pulling the rear door open.Damien Reines stepped out into the chilly air of the Seattle night, adjusting the collar of his tailored coat. The security at the lobby greeted him. He didn't say a word, he just nodded at them and strode toward the elevator that led directly to the penthouse. When the doors slid open, the quiet warmth of the penthouse greeted him, along with Rose's warm smile."Good evening, Mr. Reines. Dinner is set when you're ready." She said, taking off his heavy coat. "Don't Mr. Reines me, Rose," Damien muttered, shrugging out of the weight. "That's for people I don't let take my coat off." He headed straight to his master bedroom. Stripping off his jacket, he tossed it onto an armchair and began undoing the top buttons of his shirt with a slow, weary movement rolling the sleeves up his forearms. He poure
Last Updated: 2026-07-03
Chapter: Nowhere left to runChapter 11Three days after Damien Reines had pinned her against the bed. He walked out of her life. He hadn't stepped his foot back into the suite. He had given her space but his presence still lingered. Every morning, the prenatal vitamins sat on a silver tray. Every afternoon, a fresh arrangement of pastel-colored flowers appeared on her balcony table. And every time of the day, she could hear the disciplined shift of the security team stationed across the penthouse. Emily stood in front of the dressing mirror. wearing a soft, sleeveless cream dress that Rose had left for her. The feverish pale look had disappeared from her skin, it was now replaced by a healthy glow. Her body was changing over time. After three days of rest, the morning sickness had eased, replaced by a sudden appetite that made her finish every single crumb of the rich food brought up.She turned to the side, her hand drifting down to rest against her lower abdomen.Her fingers went still. Beneath her silk dres
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
Chapter: You're just like himChapter 10Mrs. Rose glanced at the breakfast tray still untouched. The ricotta and honey pancakes had gone cold, the ginger-lemon tea had long since gone lukewarm, and the foil around the prenatal vitamins remained unbroken. She had worked for the Reines family for years, but informing Damien that Emily had refused every instruction somehow made her palms damp."She hasn't touched a single bite, Damien," Rose said, her eyebrows pulled together, clasping her hands in front of her. "She won't take the prenatal vitamins Dr. Reynolds left. She won't even let the maids carry her backpack to the new suite."Damien didn't look up from his tablet, but the muscle in his jaw twitched. "Leave the tray, Rose. I'll handle it." Two minutes later, he walked into the private elevator using his keycard. His reflection stared back at him from the steel doors, jaw tight enough to ache. The doors to the medical suite slid open as he entered with Walter trailing at his back. Emily laid curled up in h
Last Updated: 2026-06-30
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