MasukADELINEI was in the middle of washing clothes in the basement when a man in white robes appeared. He didn't say a word, just pointed toward the stairs. I knew he was one of the oracle’s disciples. My hands were raw from the powdery soap and the cold water, but I wiped them on my apron and followed him without asking questions. I knew better than to argue with a summon.The walk up to the high tower was long. My legs felt heavy, and my breath was shallow by the time we reached the top. I hadn't been eating much since they moved me to the servant wing, and the constant work was starting to drain me. I felt a slight dizziness as I stepped into the round room, but I forced myself to stand straight. I couldn't afford to look weak.The oracle was standing by a large silver mirror. He didn't turn around when I entered. He just stared into the glass, as though looking for something in it. "Come closer," he said, motioning forward."B-But Alpha Dominic said the ritual was stopped. Why am I h
DOMINICThe question hung in the air like a foul scent. “When is she leaving?” I finally looked up from the documents on my desk. My pen hovered over a trade agreement as I stared at Princess Vivian. She was leaning over my desk, her dress cut low enough to be deliberately provocative. She was beautiful, certainly, every bit the princess she should be. But as I looked at her, my wolf remained silent. There was no pull, no spark of recognition. I felt nothing but growing irritation.I knew I had to learn to change that. In just a short time, she would be my wife. I couldn’t snap at her on Adeline’s account. That wouldn’t be right. But for now, I was in the mood to entertain a“Princess Vivian,” I said. “I believe I told you to get settled and comfortable. I do not remember inviting you to audit my household staff or my guest list.”Vivian didn't flinch. If anything, she leaned closer, a small, confident smirk playing on her lips. “Oh, Your Majesty. We both know she isn't a guest.
VIVIAN “Send word across immediately if you need anything, alright?” “Yes Father, I will,” I spoke, trying not to roll my eyes again. This was the third time he was saying that and I was tired of responding, but I knew he meant well. Perks of being an only child, I guess. He pinched my cheeks and pulled me into a hug. “Your mother and I will miss your presence.”This time I actually rolled my eyes. “You’ve both seen me for years. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Plus, you’ll both be here for the wedding. It’s happening, right? You promised, Father. I don’t want to be embarrassed again.”I folded my arms and looked away. Every time I remembered that I was replaced by that stupid, pale. white haired Omega, my blood began to boil. Never in my life had I been faced with such humiliation. The whole kingdom laughed at me, gossiped about me, and spread the most ridiculous stories concerning me. I couldn’t even face my friends after it happened. After bragging for months about how I would be get
DOMINICThe air in my study was thick with silence and tension as I sat behind my desk, my hands clasped together. Across from me, Boris sat with his legs crossed, looking every bit the powerful Alpha he was. He was a man who valued tradition and strength above all else, and that was the very reason I had agreed to this in the first place.We were here to discuss the alliance. Our packs had been destined to join for years, a union of blood that would make our territories untouchable. But the accident of my mating bond with Adeline had thrown everything into chaos.“The preparations are moving forward, Alpha Boris,” I said. “My scouts have already mapped out the shared borders. The trade agreements are being drafted as we speak. This alliance is the future of our people, as we already discussed. It took a while to kick off, but I assure you that it is now in motion.”He nodded slowly, but his eyes remained sharp. He leaned forward, tapping a thick finger against the desk. “The trade ro
ADELINEI stood frozen at the door. I looked at Princess Vivian, and my breath caught in my throat. She was even more beautiful up close, but her amber eyes were filled with a dark anger that made my skin crawl.A heavy silence enveloped the room as she looked at the packed bags by the door and let out a cruel laugh. “So finally, the stray dog has been sent out,” she said, eyeing me with disgust. “I must say, I’m surprised the Lycan King even allowed you to sleep in the same room as him. A dirty, useless Omega laying in royal sheets? That’s disgusting. But it’s fine. I’ll have everything you touched burned and replaced when I move in.”My chest tightened. She was moving into Dominic’s room? That was…sudden. I tried not to think about it too much, but it wouldn’t leave my mind. My heart felt like it was being ripped into two. I gripped the hem of my shirt until my knuckles turned white. I felt weak and tired, but I forced myself to stand straight. I did not want her to see me trembl
ADELINEPrincess Vivian did not see me. She walked up the stone steps of the palace with her head held high, her dress billowing behind her. She moved with so much grace that it made my chest ache. The guards bowed low as she passed them, their faces full of respect. They didn't look at her with the disgust or the anger they usually showed me. To them, she was the true Luna. I stood there for a long time, frozen in place. My legs felt weak, and my heart was heavy. I told myself not to care. I told myself that I knew this would happen eventually. From the moment the bond formed, the elders had been screaming for her return. But knowing it and seeing it were two different things. Seeing her beauty and her confidence made me feel small. It made me feel like the mistake everyone said I was.Despite my attempts to stay strong, I felt the hot sting of tears in my eyes. I turned away from the entrance and hurried inside through a side door. I didn't want to run into the welcoming party.
ADELINE I had never been so restless in my entire life. Ever since I saw Alpha Dominic packing up to leave in the middle of the night, I hadn't been able to get a wink of sleep. The fact that I had no idea where he was going made me feel a hundred times worse.So many times during the night, I tr
ADELINEEven after hours of seeking out ways to distract myself, the heaviness in my chest did not go away. I floated through the palace listlessly, feeling more exhausted than I ever had. At some point, I entertained the idea of going to the clinic to check on Lisa, but I restrained myself from do
DOMINIC I was scanning through the pack files doing the monthly review when a knock sounded at the door. “Who is it?” I demanded, irritated by the interruption. “It's Grant, Alpha!”I closed the files. My Beta knew I had an extreme workload to sort through today, so if he was interrupting me, it
ADELINEI angrily wiped the tears from my eyes as I stormed out into the forest, unsure of where I was going. I was too tired to care and too upset to turn back. Right now I just needed some breathing space to process everything that had happened today. No matter how much I tried to think of somet







