FREDERICKOne year later.A month can feel like an eternity when you’re waiting, so what a year? It didn’t seem possible that the last time I had seen Tessa in my pack was twelve months ago.Since then I had buried myself in work, drowning in endless tasks just to keep from thinking of her. Grandma sent me regular reports on how they were living in Moonveil Pack, and though her words always reassured me that everything was going smoothly, they never eased the ache of distance.Tessa had been Luna Eris’s assistant since last year. Sometimes she was invited as an honored guest to the children’s school, to the hospital, even to Alpha Darius’ council meetings. Other times, she performed at festivals or lent her presence to the pack’s gatherings. One thing that I know, Tessa lives the best life there. There's only one thing I regret; I couldn't witness those moments directly.Every day, the need to see her was getting stronger.The urge to appear at her doorstep and confess everything I’d
TESSA“I’m back, girls.” Irene exclaimed as she stepped into the kitchen.“Where have you been?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. When Noah and I had returned from our short walk around the pack grounds earlier, she had already disappeared.I asked Velmara if she knew where Irene had gone, but she hadn’t had the faintest idea either. And now, after leaving us to worry, Irene strolled in as if nothing at all had happened. I was more than a little irritated.“Alpha Darius summoned me to his office.” She said with a small shrug. My frown deepened. “And what did he say?” I abandoned my soup on the counter and moved closer to her, unable to mask the unease in my chest.“Oh, drop that serious face, Tessa. Why are you always so frightened? I-” She stopped abruptly, her gaze darting as if she were searching for the right words. That pause said more than anything. If there truly was nothing to hide, why did she need to carefully shape her answer first? “Alpha Darius only wanted to
FREDERICK“Wait just a moment. I’ve called for her, she should be here soon,” Alpha Darius said, though the impatient tap of his foot against the floor betrayed his composure.I sat across from him in his office at his pack's border. This morning I had decided to visit Moonveil Pack. I told myself I would wait until Tessa had settled in fully before coming, but guess what? I couldn’t wait that long.Only Alpha Darius and Grandma knew of my arrival. I hadn’t told Tessa. I had no intention of confusing her with my presence or making her uneasy. For now, I think watching over her from a distance, through Grandma, was enough.“Oh, there she is,” Alpha Darius said when Grandma appeared in the doorway. “I’ll give you both some space. Enjoy your time, Alpha Frederick. If you need anything else, just call for my maid.” With that, he slipped out of the room.“What a surprise, son. I thought something bad had happened,” Grandma murmured as she pulled me into a brief embrace, her hand patting m
GABE“Get out of my room, you bitch!”I was in my office when Odette’s scream cut through the air, followed by the crash of plates shattering against hard surfaces. My heart jolted and without a second thought, I rushed toward her room.When I burst inside, the scene stopped me cold. Odette's face flushed red with anger, while Vanya, the Omega who worked under me, trembled in the corner like a frightened doe.My gaze swept over the scattered remains of the breakfast I had personally prepared, which I had entrusted Vanya to deliver. “What is this?” My voice thundered, sharp enough to snap Odette's attention toward me. “I don’t want to eat anything,” she snapped, “But she kept pressing me.”My anger deepened.Vanya’s wide eyes were still filled with shock at the sudden outburst, her hands shaking. I exhaled tightly, then gave her a gesture to leave us alone. The moment the door clicked shut, I seized Odette by the wrist and spun her to face me. Her eyes locked onto mine, “What?” She
ATLAS“You’ve been under a spell for the last twelve hours, sir,” The healer said.I stared at her, forgetting to swallow my healing potion for a second. This healer carried witch blood in her veins and had a seer gift from the Goddess. If anyone could recognize such a thing, it was her. “Are you serious?” I sputtered, nearly choking as the potion burned my throat. At least my voice was back again and I no longer sounded like some pitiful, squeaking duck. A spell? Someone had bewitched me? That sounds so impossible, absurd even. But there was no other explanation for what had happened to me last night.“Yes. It isn’t the kind of spell just any witch can cast. It’s complicated to learn it. Don’t worry, it isn’t meant to harm you.”It hadn’t harmed me, but it had shredded my pride into pieces in the most humiliating way possible. Whoever was behind this wouldn’t get away with it.“But I didn’t meet anyone capable of casting a spell yesterday. So how did it happen?”She folded her hand
TESSA“Oh no, dear, not now. You’ve only just begun to settle in. There’s no way I’ll let you start working for me already,” Alpha Darius' mate, Luna Eris, said gently. Her hand was resting reassuringly on my shoulder.This morning she and Alpha Darius had visited again and I had taken the chance to tell her when I could begin my duties as her assistant. Yes, after much thought, long nights spent weighing every possible risk and reward, I had finally accepted their offer to remain here. I realize the decision to stay with them was the safest choice for us right now.“For the time being, I want you to make yourself comfortable,” Luna Eris continued as she guided me back toward the house. “Get to know the pack, meet more of our wonderful members. You’ve barely seen anything yet.”“Noah’s already given me a tour,” I replied.Her expression brightened with curiosity. “Did he do a good job?”“Yes. He was very friendly.”“Good. Next time, you can ask him to take you out again.” Her gaze shi