MasukAlpha Kael’s POVNight had long swallowed the estate by the time I finally left my study. The day had been unbearable with meetings, reports, territory disputes, guards begging for approval over matters they should have solved themselves and through all of it, through every conversation, every order, every distraction, my thoughts kept returning to Liora.I despised it.It was disgusting how she had somehow carved herself into my mind like a splinter I could not remove.Even now, as I walked through the dimly lit hallways with servants lowering their heads respectfully around me, I found myself irritated for reasons I refused to acknowledge.The estate was quieter at night, the candles burned lower and the air smelled of rain drifting through open stone arches somewhere far away.Usually, this was the hour I enjoyed most, when everyone feared disturbing me, but tonight my wolf felt restless beneath my skin, not hungry.For the first time in years, the endless gnawing hunger inside me
Liora’s POVI sat near the massive window with my knees drawn slightly to my chest beneath the thin blanket wrapped around me, staring blankly outside while sunlight spilled across the marble floor.The estate gardens stretched endlessly below. Women moved around the courtyard carrying baskets of flowers and folded laundry. Guards stood stationed near the gates with weapons at their sides. Somewhere farther away, I could hear faint laughter.Life continued like nothing had happened.My fingers tightened unconsciously around the blanket.I could still feel the rough hands of the dungeon guards. The way their eyes had changed the second my lip started bleeding and a shiver crawled down my spine.I squeezed my eyes shut immediately. I didn’t want to think about it but the memories refused to leave.Every time I closed my eyes, I remembered the panic, the terror, the feeling of losing control over my own body while they grabbed at me.My stomach twisted violently. I stood abruptly from th
Elena’s POVThe moment Fay disappeared around the corner, I felt my patience finally loosen enough for me to breathe properly again.That maid irritated me.I folded my arms slowly across my chest as my gaze settled fully on Tristan.He leaned lazily against the wall nearby, completely relaxed despite standing before the three highest-ranking women in the estate.Arrogant little thing.It was one of the many reasons I disliked him. The other reason was simpler. He belonged to Rio and anything connected to Rio eventually became a problem.Ruby clearly shared my irritation because her eyes narrowed sharply as she watched him.“Why are you smiling?” she asked coldly.Tristan’s smirk widened.“Because this already feels entertaining.”I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.Vesha remained quieter beside me, elegant as always in her gown, though I noticed the way her fingers toyed absently with one of her rings.Tristan straightened slightly.“Well? You dragged me into this dramatic little ga
Fay’s POVThe scent of soap, wet stone, and freshly cut flowers clung heavily to the morning air as I scrubbed the marble floor with aching hands.I dipped the rag back into the bucket and wrung it out harder than necessary, my jaw tight.My shoulders ached, my knees hurt and despite how exhausted I already was, my thoughts kept returning to Liora.I hated how worried I was becoming over that stubborn, reckless girl.A week ago, she had just been another problem dumped into the estate but now I couldn’t stop thinking about her.“Fay.”I looked up at the familiar voice.Nerise walked toward me carrying folded cloths in her arms, her brown curls tied messily beneath her headscarf. She was one of the few maids I tolerated enough to call a friend.She stopped beside me and frowned.“You look terrible.”I snorted softly.“Thank you.”“I mean it.” She lowered her voice. “You look like you haven’t slept.”I looked away.I hadn’t slept properly since Liora was dragged away.Nerise sighed befo
Elena’s POVThe porcelain vase shattered against the wall with a violent crack and one of my maids flinched so hard she nearly dropped the tray in her hands.“Get out!” I snapped.The girl immediately bowed her head and rushed from the room alongside the others, the door shutting quickly behind them.Silence followed byt it wasn't enough.My chest rose and fell sharply as I stood in the middle of my chambers, staring at the broken pieces scattered across the marble floor.I was furious. Everything about this situation made my skin crawl.Liora was supposed to be broken by now or dead. Instead, somehow, she was back in her room, alive and protected.“How the hell did this happen?” I hissed.Ruby remained seated elegantly on the velvet chair near the window, far calmer than I was. She lifted her wine glass slowly to her lips, her dark red gown spilling over her crossed legs.“You’re throwing another tantrum,” she murmured lazily.I turned toward her sharply.“Of course I’m throwing a fu
Alpha Kael’s POVShe went limp in my hands. One moment, she was glaring at me with that same infuriating defiance, her eyes burning, lips trembling but still stubbornly moving, and the next, her body gave out completely.If I hadn’t caught her, she would've landed hard on the ground but my arm moved before the thought even formed.I grabbed her then pulled her against me just before she could collapse to the ground. Her weight settled into my hold, light and annoyingly fragile.My jaw tightened as I looked down at her face.Her lashes rested against her cheeks, her breathing shallow, uneven. The faint bruise on her lip stood out more now, her skin pale in a way that didn’t sit right with me.For a second something unfamiliar twisted in my chest but I crushed it immediately.“She fainted?” Fay’s voice came out in a panicked whisper.I didn’t respond. I just stared at Liora, irritation simmering beneath my skin.“She’s exhausted,” Fay continued quickly, stepping closer despite herself.
Liora’s POVThe moment we stepped into the room, the door slammed shut behind us then a second later, I heard the heavy click of the lock.My chest tightened slightly as I turned, staring at the door like it might open again if I just looked hard enough but it painfully didn’t.“Unbelievable.”Fay’
Liora’s POVThe air rushed past me in a violent blur. My breath tore from my throat, a scream caught somewhere between panic and disbelief as the ground surged closer.The wind clawed at my skin, tore through my hair, wrapped around my body like invisible hands trying to drag me down faster.My hea
Liora’s POVI was going to lose my mind in this room. The silence wasn’t peaceful, it was suffocating.Every second that passed felt stretched, heavy, pressing against my chest like an invisible weight I couldn’t shake off. The walls were too perfect, too clean, too quiet, like they were hiding som
Kael’s POVThe council stood before me, their expressions carved from centuries of authority and control.My hand remained at the small of Liora’s back, firm and possessive. I could feel the subtle rise and fall of her breathing against me, uneven despite the way she held her chin high, trying to a







