Chapter: Chapter 86: You want to quit?BEATRICESome cages don’t come with locks—they’re built with guilt, debt, and the sound of your name said like a burden.I don’t want to do this. Every cell in my body fights the words before I say them, but I’m already standing outside his office, hands damp with nerves, trying to steady my breathing. My shoulder throbs from yesterday’s double shift, and I’m still not fully recovered from collapsing last week. I can’t keep pretending my body’s invincible.I knock twice, gently, like I’m hoping he won’t answer.He does. “Come in, Beatrice.”His voice is always soft when he uses my name, like syrup coating poison.I step inside. His office smells like cigar smoke and old sugar. The windows are always closed, even when the kitchen feels like a furnace. He’s seated behind his desk, papers scattered in front of him, his tie half-loosened like he’s been so busy he didn’t have time to finish dressing this morning. It’s all part of the performance.He looks up, smiles like I’m his favorite em
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 85: She isn’t mineMAXWELLI’m buried in reports when Aria enters without knocking. She never knocks. Normally I’d snap at someone for that, but she’s not just anyone—and the look on her face makes me sit up straighter.“It’s Beatrice,” she says, dropping the name like a stone into still water.My pen stills mid-signature.“What happened?” My voice comes out lower than I mean it to, already threaded with the edge of something sharp. My wolf stirs, alert, pushing closer to the surface.“She fainted this morning,” Aria says. “At the bakery. Collapsed in front of the ovens. They said it took minutes to wake her.”Fainted?I push my chair back slowly, gripping the armrests to keep from exploding out of it. “Why wasn’t I told immediately?”“I came straight here,” she replies, calm. “But she was adamant you not be involved. Swore she was fine.”Of course she did.That woman would probably still insist she’s fine while dragging her own broken leg across a battlefield.My chest tightens. Not from anger. From som
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 84: I'm fineBEATRICEThe heat from the ovens isn’t what makes me dizzy—it’s the silence I’ve learned to endure just to survive.I’ve been up since before the sun. My knees ache from standing, kneeling, standing again. The dough is stubborn today—too dry, too dense—but I keep pushing through it like I always do. I lost count of how many trays I’ve filled, how many hours I’ve gone without water. Doesn’t matter. The real currency here isn’t time. It’s obedience.The bakery smells like cinnamon and melted butter and burnt sugar. The other workers keep their heads down. They don’t speak to me unless they have to. I’ve learned it’s better that way. Less chance for rumors to spread. Less chance they’ll notice how I wince every time I move my right shoulder.I’m on my knees again, elbows deep in flour, scraping dough off the floor because someone dropped a tray and blamed it on me. I don’t argue. I haven’t argued in months. I can’t afford the attention, and I sure as hell can’t afford to lose this job.My
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-16
Chapter: Chapter 83: Protect and collectBAILEYThey say I’m too small to protect anyone, but I know how it feels to need saving.The first time Leo asks me to walk him home, I think he’s joking. He’s a pudgy kid with a stutter and shaky hands, a few years younger than me, and practically screams “target” to the older wolves who hang around the academy gates. He says they’ve been following him, and he’s willing to pay. Actual coin. Not food scraps or favors—real silver-marked coin.I shouldn’t even think about it.But then I picture Mom at the bakery, sweat soaking through her apron, her hands raw from kneading dough until midnight. I remember the way she winced last week when she thought I wasn’t looking—pressing a hand to her lower back and whispering something under her breath like a prayer or a curse.I ask Leo how much. When he tells me, I nod and say sure, casually, like I’m not already planning how to hide it from her.It’s not like I’ll be fighting anyone. Just walking him home. Making sure no one corners him. I can d
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 82: ResolveMAXWELLThere’s a strange kind of silence that follows you when the world thinks it already knows what choice you’re going to make.The palace is quiet tonight, despite the chaos brewing beneath its marble floors. Staff bustle behind the scenes. Tailors rush in and out of chambers with bolts of crimson silk and polished gold buttons. Floral arrangements are inspected. Musicians rehearse in the west wing. Everything is being prepared for tomorrow’s formal announcement.A royal union.My royal union.Everyone assumes the Dragon Princess will be the one standing beside me.They see the way she moves through the court—regal, poised, already slipping into the role with terrifying ease. They see how well our territories would align. How her family’s magic could bolster Silverfang’s reach. How her beauty and strength match the image of a Luna Queen.They say it would be perfect.And maybe it would be.If I didn’t already belong to someone else.I walk the corridors of the palace alone, traili
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 81: DaliaBEATRICEThere’s a certain numbness that comes after heartbreak—not the kind that breaks you open, but the kind that seals you shut.That’s where I am now. Sealed. Shut. Tired.After Maxwell pulled away—again—something inside me finally snapped. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just a quiet sort of closing. A door creaking shut in the dark.I get up before the sun. I teach. I train. I help Bailey with her schoolwork. I keep my hands busy, my days full, my thoughts clean of anything that sounds like him.It’s easier this way.Easier to pretend that Maxwell was just a phase. That those near-kisses, those lingering looks, that soft way he used to say my name—it was nothing. Easier to believe that the ache in my chest is just exhaustion and not… loss.But the thing about burying feelings is that they always find their way back to the surface—especially when your daughter is as perceptive as mine.“You don’t laugh anymore,” Bailey says one night while we’re clearing dishes.I glance at her. “I laugh
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-13
Chapter: Chapter 21: The Ties That BurnVALRIK’S POV“Spread out,” I barked, pushing through the branches that snagged at my cloak. Warriors flanked me on either side; some held torches and others had already shifted into their wolf form, noses buried into the ground as they searched for her.Lyra. We had been looking for over two hours, no sign of her yet. “Igor, try to contact her wolf again,” I said through gritted teeth.‘I am,’ he growled back. ‘I still can't get to her. Something’s in the way…I don’t know.’Fuck. My gut twisted.What had happened to them?The Misty Forest grew denser the farther in we went. The fog rolled low and the forest itself reeked of rot and damp moss. It was harder to scent anything in this mess. Harder to track. Still, we kept moving.The deeper we went, the more I knew—we were approaching the swamp.I remembered the reports over the years. Old ones. Most people had dismissed them. Not me. The swamp was the most treacherous part of this forest. The terrain was unpredictable, with sudden dr
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-09
Chapter: Chapter 20: The Hunt BeginsJOAZ’S POVThe throne room slowly emptied. I stayed where I was, slouched lazily against a pillar, watching it all with hooded eyes.Valrik’s rage had practically scorched the walls. He’d stormed out already, heading straight for the Misty Forest with half the palace guards at his heels.Good. Let him tear through the trees like a madman.Seeing as he had purposely left me out of the hunt, I had other plans.Once the hall was empty and silence fully settled in, I pushed off the pillar, hands stuffed deep into the pockets of my black coat, and wandered toward the guest wing.I knew where she’d be. I knew because rats always returned to the same holes.The corridor was deserted as I walked through and when I found the right door, I didn’t hesitate.I turned the handle slowly, slipped inside, and shut it behind me with a soft click.The room was dark, only faint moonlight bleeding through the thin curtains.She wasn't around. So I would wait. I leaned casually against the wall beside th
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-26
Chapter: Chapter 19: MissingVALRIK’S POV“Where is Lyra!?” I yelled, asking for the umpteenth time. Having summoned an emergency meeting, I sat on my throne, and kneeling in front of me were the palace maids, soldiers, even a few Queen Luna candidates, their foreheads pressed to the ground. Some of the maids were on the verge of tears. A few soldiers could barely keep their bodies from collapsing completely.Only Joaz wasn't kneeling, lounging lazily against a pillar with his arms crossed over his chest. Fucking bastard. He should be on his knees too.Lyra had been missing for hours. Hours.I’d already torn the entire palace apart looking for her. And still—nothing.Igor roared inside me, thrashing against my control, nearly snapping free.It took everything I had to keep him chained down. Because if he came out in this state, he'd tear everyone apart. “M-My King,” one of the palace maids whispered from where she kneeled, “This morning, Miss Lyra went to look for Miss Mabel in her room. But Miss Mabel wasn’t
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-26
Chapter: Chapter 18: His Wolf's DemandVALRIK’S POVMy wolf snarled inside me, pacing, snapping his teeth, restless as hell.‘Claim her. Take her. Mark her.’ The words never left me. Day and night, Igor made sure they pounded through my skull like war drums, louder, more urgent with every hour that passed.But I couldn't.I wouldn't.Not while Sybil was still alive. I slammed my fist into the stone wall beside my bed, cracking it down the center.Still, it wasn’t enough to quiet the beast.Two fucking days. Two days of nothing but madness, so much I could barely think straight.And no matter how hard I tried to fight it, I could still feel her.That girl.Her scent, her voice, her taste in the back of my throat.Goddess help me, I was losing control.I dragged a hand through my hair and barked out a sharp order through the mind-link to my Beta.“Bring me someone. Now. Anyone. Attractive. Willing. I don't care.”If Igor wouldn’t calm the fuck down, I’d find a way to force him to.I sat on the edge of the bed, shirtless, l
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-26
Chapter: Chapter 17: No Way OutLYRA'S POVThe moment I saw Brenna standing above me, smirking with her arms folded across her chest, it hit me.This was a trap.I glared up at her through the pain clouding my vision. But the anger bubbling inside me burned hotter than the agony.“You planned this,” I spat, “You set me up!”Brenna didn’t even blink at the accusation. She just laughed. Her friends, clustered around her like a pack of hyenas, chuckled along. None of them looked remotely surprised to see me bleeding and broken at the bottom of a pit.Brenna leaned casually against the trunk of a nearby tree, “Don’t bother yelling,” she said with a shrug, “I tricked the border guards into leaving their posts. No one’s coming to save you.”Her smile widened, “You’re either gonna starve down there… or get torn apart by something worse.”“Where’s Mabel?” I gritted my teeth, “She wasn’t in her room this morning. What did you do to her?”“You don’t get to ask questions,” she snapped, “Worry about yourself, slut.”And witho
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-26
Chapter: Chapter 16: Into the TrapLYRA’S POVI woke up the next morning excited to find Mabel, to see if she was still up for training together like we promised.After freshening up, I stopped by her room first, knocking lightly. When no answer came, I tried the handle—unlocked. I poked my head inside, but the room was empty. No sign of her anywhere.A maid walked by, balancing a basket of clean towels on her hip.I caught her attention. “Excuse me,” I said. “Have you seen Mabel?”The maid blinked, then smiled. “Miss Mabel went for a run in the forest this morning,” she said kindly. “If you’re looking for her, you might want to check there.”“Thank you,” I said quickly and hurried down the hallway and slipped outside. I made my way into the forests and after a while, I started to call out for her. “Mabel?” I called out, cupping my hands around my mouth. “It’s Lyra! Are you out here?”Only birds answered me. I frowned but pressed deeper in. Maybe she’d run further than I thought. I wonder why she had decided to tak
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-26
Chapter: Chapter 60: CeasefireLiam's POVAs Iris and I are eating breakfast one morning, a warrior suddenly walks into the room, stone-faced with a letter in hand. “This was just delivered from the Moongrove pack,” the warriors says gravely. At the mention of the Moongrove pack, sheer rage boils in the bit of my stomach. I bare my teeth in distaste. This whole debacle with William Ashford was the last straw–not only did Jasper refuse my exchange offer, he had the nerve to threaten me with a full Werewolf Council investigation. And despite complying with his demands, Cora still isn’t in my hands. Iris is dying. I need to save her. I need to fix this. “Bring me a letter opener,” I demand. Iris looks up at me over the table, eyes sad, but she doesn’t say anything. Once the letter and small blade have been placed before me, I slice the envelope open in a single smooth motion. My hands tremble with rage as I expect to see yet another foolish demand from Alpha Jasper, but when I see Cora’s elegant looping cursive
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Chapter: Chapter 59: RunawayCora's POVThere’s a small path near the edge of the Moongrove pack’s territory, close to the forest. I capture its location in my mind, planning out my route. The path will lead out towards the eastern continent–a land filled with untouched mountains, lakes, and rivers. There aren’t a lot of packs living out that way–and even the ones that do won’t know who I am. Maybe it’s the fresh start I need. I stand in the center of my room and ponder my plan. There’s going to be a small dinner this evening–just me, Jasper, Felicity, Gamma Rogers, and Beta Smith. I’ll find a way to slip away quietly and head back to my room early, then regroup there. I stack a bundle of clothes as well as some rations and tools in the corner of my wardrobe, then cover them with dirty laundry to keep them hidden and avoid suspicion. I’m sure there’s stuff I’m forgetting. I’m sure there’s lots more I need. But right now, the most important thing is that I get away from here. That evening, I sit with everyon
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Chapter: Chapter 58: The Only OptionCora's POV“He’s no longer of any use to us. Execute him.”Jasper’s words echo through my mind relentlessly as I make my way back to the pack house with everyone else, and I can’t help but worry about what they mean. The interrogation is over now–there’s nothing more we can get from William Ashford. And now, according to the deal, Jasper is supposed to hand me over to Liam. Jasper had told me before that he was still thinking it over, but I have no idea whether he’s truly lost in thought or if he’s already made up his mind. The decision to dispose of Ashford so permanently certainly indicates that he knows what he’s going to do. But what? As much as it pains me, I have absolutely no idea what Jasper’s true intentions are. “No doubt it’s been a trying day for everyone,” Jasper says. “I’ve had the maids prepare us a feast in the dining hall. Please, enjoy.” I walk down the hallways with everyone else, heading to the dining hall and wishing I could pull my thoughts out of this doom
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Chapter: Chapter 57: Always HopeCora's POVAs we step out of the dungeon, I’m still rattled by everything I’ve just seen. “That was… I say slowly, glancing over at Jasper. He nods. “You okay?”“Yeah,” I reply. “We did what was necessary. I just… I’ve never been through anything like that before.” “I understand,” Jasper says. I hadn’t expected Jasper’s infamous reputation to be more effective than me stabbing the guy. Once Jasper had stepped in, though, the interrogation went by like it was nothing. It had gone surprisingly smoothly after that. William Ashford had spilled everything–his accomplices, their secret codes, the locations of their operations…All of it. When I found out that Liam truly hadn’t been involved with any of the terrible things Teresa had been put through, I was surprised by the wave of relief that washed over me. I’m still trying to figure out what it means. Why do I care if he’s a good person or not? Why do I still want to think the best of him, despite everything that’s happened? Maybe…
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Chapter: Chapter 56: TortureCora's POVI wait for Jasper to argue with me, but he doesn’t seem to have an intention of stopping me. The three of us rush to the dungeon. I’ve never been down here before, but there’s something haunting about the way the torchlight flickers along the stone walls, the distant sounds of rattling chains. Shivers run down my spine as we head down a long spiral flight of stairs. By the time we make our way to William’s cell, Teresa and her parents are already waiting for us, and Gamma Roger stands stiffly to the side. As soon as Gamma Roger sees us, he makes his way towards Jasper. “Kept this bastard all up,” he says, nodding towards the figure curled up in the cell. “I’d say he’s damn near close to dropping from exhaustion.”Jasper nods. “Excellent work, Gamma.” “He’s all yours,” Gamma Roger says. “I’m off to run morning drills with the warriors.” With that, he walks off into the distance, leaving the rest of us to stare at the prisoner in wait. I can’t help but be impressed by h
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Chapter: Chapter 55: UsedCora's POVI can’t even begin to fathom how much of a jerk Jasper really is. “Give me a kiss and I’ll tell you,” he’d said. So I kiss him. I lean in close and press my lips against his and wrap my arms around his shoulders. The kiss feels like it burns, an undeniable passion for better or for worse. He grabs my waist and pins me against the desk possessively, and I can feel it in how he touches me, in how he holds me–Jasper knows I’m his. He’s just toying with me at this point. But once I break the kiss, I look up at him with wide, expectant eyes. “Tell me your decision,” I demand. Jasper smirks, pulling away and leaving me sitting on the desk. “I don’t think so,” he replies.“Tell me,” I snap, blood beginning to boil. What could he possibly stand to gain by batting me around like this? “I’m not telling you anything,” Jasper says.Somehow, that’s the last straw. Frustrated and angry enough to do something I’d otherwise regret, I leap off the desk and make my way towards the
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-06-04
Masuk
