Novels by Duchess Pen

Chapter 35:GONERaphael’s POVSomething was wrong.I noticed it before the day had even ended.Every morning, without realizing it, my eyes searched for Evelyn.Usually, I found her quietly eating with the servants or walking through the courtyard with Clare.Sometimes she smiled. Sometimes she simply nodded when our eyes met.Today…Nothing.I told myself it didn’t matter. After all, I was the one who had pushed her away.She was probably avoiding me and that was good. That was for the best.Or at least…That was what I kept telling myself.The rest of the morning passed in meetings, reports from the traders, casualty numbers, and repairs to the northern border.I listened, I answered, and I signed whatever Damien placed before me.Yet, every few minutes, my attention wandered toward the office door.She wasn’t coming to see me, not after what I’d said.A dull ache settled somewhere beneath my ribs but I ignored it.By afternoon, I was standing in the training grounds.The warriors ha

Chapter 34 :LEAVING Evelyn’s POVI didn’t remember how I reached my room. My feet carried me there on their own.The moment the door closed behind me, my legs gave out.I slid down against the wood until I was sitting on the floor.Then… I cried.Not quietly, and not gracefully.The tears came in waves, each one stealing another piece of the hope I’d been holding onto.His words refused to leave me.“No one could ever love you.”I covered my face with both hands.How could someone say that? How could he say that?The man whose heartbeat I had listened to. The man who had sought me out.The man who had admitted, with his guard completely lowered, that he had missed me.Had all of it been a lie? Was I really nothing more than someone who calmed his wolf?An object? A convenience? Something useful?The thought hurt more than I could bear.A knock sounded at the door. I didn’t answer.A moment later, it opened anyway.“My lady?” Clare’s voice was gentle.When she saw me sitting on the f

Chapter 33 :UNCLAIMED Evelyn’s POVSunlight streamed gently through the curtains.For the first time in as long as I could remember, I woke with a strange warmth inside my chest.I blinked sleepily, staring at the ceiling.Everything felt… Different.I couldn’t explain it. It wasn’t something I could touch or see. It was simply there.A quiet certainty deep within my chest, almost instinctive.I slowly turned my head toward the other side of the bed.It was empty. Raphael was gone.The blanket where he had rested was already cold.“He left…”A small smile still found its way onto my face.Even if he had gone without waking me, I couldn’t stop remembering the night before.For the first time, Raphael had lowered every wall between us.The memories made my cheeks warm.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.“My lady?”Before I could answer, the door opened slightly, and Clare stepped inside carrying a folded stack of fresh linens.She looked exhausted.Her hair wasn’t as neatly arrang

Chapter 32 :LUSTRaphael stumbled past Evelyn the moment she stepped aside.He barely managed three steps before dropping onto the edge of her bed with a heavy sigh.The mattress dipped beneath his weight.For several long seconds, he simply sat there, staring at the floor.Evelyn quickly leaned into the hallway.She looked left, then right. The corridor was empty.Relief washed over her.If anyone saw the Alpha entering her room at this hour, the rumors would spread through the packhouse before sunrise.She quietly shut the door. The lock clicked into place.Turning back, she found Raphael rubbing a hand over his face.His movements were sluggish.His dark hair had fallen across his forehead, and his eyes struggled to stay open.She had never seen him this drunk.“Raphael,” she said gently.He hummed in response.“What are you doing here?” She asked.He looked up at her as though trying to remember why he’d come.“I don’t know.”His answer made her blink.“It’s already late.” She sa

Chapter 31 : The ALPHA RETURNSEvelyn’s POVEver since Raphael left Shadowfang, peace had abandoned me.No matter where I went, my thoughts always drifted back to him.Was he hurt? Had he eaten?Was he still standing?Or…?I immediately pushed the last thought away.“No.” I shook my head firmly as I walked along the winding garden path.“The Moon Goddess wouldn’t let that happen.”The evening breeze carried the scent of blooming flowers through the gardens, yet I barely noticed them.My hands remained clasped tightly together.Every few steps, I whispered another silent prayer.“Please…Protect him.Protect beta Damien. Protect every Shadowfang warrior. Bring them home.”The garden was unusually empty.Most of the servants had gathered near the front courtyard, anxiously waiting for any news from the battlefield.Even the birds seemed quieter today.The silence made waiting even harder.Then….A horn echoed through the air.My head snapped up.I froze.The sound rolled across the pack

Chapter 30 :ON THE BRINKRaphael’s POVKai’s body lay motionless beneath me.The forest fell eerily quiet.For several long seconds, the only sound I heard was my own ragged breathing.Blood dripped from my muzzle onto the fallen Alpha.I had won and Shadowfang had won.I should have felt relief. Instead…A wave of dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred around the edges.The cut across my cheek burned. The bruises from Kai’s relentless attacks throbbed beneath my fur.Even my lungs felt as though they were on fire. I had pushed myself too far.A low growl echoed through the trees, then another.My ears twitched.I turned sharply and saw two Icefall wolves emerged from the undergrowth.Their amber eyes fixed on Kai’s lifeless body. Then they shifted their attention to me.Hatred flashed across both of their faces.Neither hesitated. They knew exactly what had happened.Their Alpha was dead and they wanted revenge.I lowered myself into a defensive stance.My legs trembled. Not fro