LOGINLiora's POVBy the time the car finally approached the estate, I wasn't sure whether I felt relieved or simply exhausted.My body felt like it belonged to someone else. My head was heavy, my eyes burned and every muscle in my body seemed to be begging me to stop moving.I leaned my head against the window. All I wanted was my bed.I wanted to crawl underneath the blankets, close my eyes, and forget about everything that had happened. Unfortunately, the moment the car passed through the enormous gates, I knew sleep wasn't going to come easily.I lifted my head. The estate was unusually bright, guards were stationed around the courtyard, more than usual.I frowned then I saw Rio and Tristan standing together in the courtyard.My eyebrows pulled together and I sat upright.Why wasn't Rio in the holding cell?He had been locked away under Alpha Kael's orders. So how was he standing in the middle of the courtyard like he owned the place?My stomach tightened as the car slowed. Elena's maid
Rio's POVI had never realized how much I would enjoy hearing people call me Alpha.The first time a guard approached me and bowed his head, saying, "Alpha Rio," I nearly smiled.Okay, not nearly. I actually smiled.There was something intoxicating about it, like just being called such a high ranking title could fuel you with enough power to make you feel you could do anything you wanted. For years, I had stood beneath my cousin's authority, letting him order and exile me as he dermed fit, but tonight, for the first time, the estate belonged to me.At least temporarily."Make sure to double check the eastern gates," I ordered.The guard immediately bowed."Yes, Alpha."I leaned back in the chair in the main hall."Have the patrol doubled around the northern wing" I ordered. "Yes, Alpha.""And nobody enters or leaves the estate without my permission" I added."Understood, Alpha."I couldn't help it so I smiled again. I could definitely get used to this.Tristan was standing nearby, w
Liora's POVI wanted to be alone, I didn't want to explain myself, I didn't want to hear Elena's insults, I didn't want to think about Alpha Kael's condition.And most of all, I didn't want to look at Daniel.Unfortunately, the universe seemed determined to make that impossible.A black car pulled up in front of the hospital entrance and one of the estate guards stepped out and opened the rear door."Lady Liora."I looked at him then nodded. At least I could finally go back. Then one of Elena's maids appeared."Lady Elena instructed me to accompany you" she said.I stared at her but she gave an awkward smile. I knew there was nothing I could do to change the situation so I let it be.Although it annoyed me that Elena couldn't resist controlling everything.Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind me."Liora."I briefly closed my eyes then slowly turned around to see Daniel walking toward us. I immediately felt my irritation return."What do you want?" I asked.He stopped."I w
Fay's POVI had known it.The moment I heard that Alpha Kael had been taken to the hospital, something inside me had told me that Rio would find a way out of that holding cell.I didn't know how, I didn't know when but I knew and that was exactly why I had dragged Tristan with me.Now, standing beneath the enormous entrance of the estate, I stared at the man walking toward us.My stomach tightened then I glanced at Tristan."I told you" I said. "I knew they would release him."He looked at me."You were right" he agreed.Rio didn't even seem particularly interested in us. He looked tired. His clothes were slightly wrinkled, and there was an exhaustion in his eyes that told me he'd spent far too long inside that cell.But somehow, he still managed to look completely unbothered.He walked past us but I stepped directly into his path."Where do you think you're going?" I demanded. Rio stopped, looked at me then sighed."To my room" he said."Well, you can't do that" I replied. His eyeb
Rio's POVThe holding cell had begun to feel like my entire world. Same stone walls, same iron bars, same uncomfortable bed, same guards standing outside as though I were some dangerous criminal instead of the Beta of this pack.I had lost track of how many hours I had spent staring at the ceiling. I hated being confined but what frustrated me most was knowing that something was happening outside these walls.I could feel it. The estate had been strangely restless tonight.Guards had rushed through the corridors several times, doors had opened and slammed. There had been distant shouting and yet nobody had bothered to tell me anything.I sat up on the edge of the narrow bed."What the hell is going on out there?" I asked. One of the guards glanced at me."Nothing you need to concern yourself with" he answered. I scoffed."That's convenient."The guard ignored me and I was about to demand answers again when I heard hurried footsteps approaching.I turned toward the corridor as Vesha
Alpha Kael's POVI didn't know why I had done it.One moment, Daniel had offered to take Liora back to the estate. The next, my hand was around her wrist, pulling her closer to me while the words left my mouth before I could stop them.The silence afterward had been almost deafening. Even I had been surprised by my own words.Why had I said that? Why had I reacted so strongly?I had no answer, at least, not one I was willing to admit. I stared down at Liora, she looked equally confused and somehow, that made my chest tighten even more.I had always hated sharing, perhaps it came from Daniel.Growing up, Daniel had a talent for taking things that belonged to me, even things I hadn't finished using and somehow, he always got away with it.Maybe that old irritation had followed us into adulthood. I hated that.I released her wrist slowly but Daniel was watching me and he was smiling.That smile irritated me immediately."What?" I demanded.He shrugged."Nothing.""Then stop smiling" I wa
Liora’s POV“She is dangerous.”Alpha Kael’s voice followed me like a shadow as the guards dragged me from the room.My feet barely touched the floor as they hauled me through the doorway, their grips iron-tight around my arms. The heavy doors slammed shut behind us with a thunderous boom that ech
Alpha Kael's POVThe fire’s warmth did nothing to chase the chill that had settled into my chest. She knelt there, slick with oil, the faint scent of jasmine clinging to her skin. The linen she wore was thin, clinging to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Every curve, every swell, ever
Liora's POVMy skin tingled as the maids’ hands glided over me, spreading oil down my shoulders, across the slope of my collarbone, over the curve of my breasts, down my ribs and over my waist. Their touch was careful, almost timid, as if I were a fragile artifact rather than a living woman.The s
I still remember the smell of smoke, thick and chocking, curling into my lungs, and the sound of my mother’s screams echoing through the house as she was slaughtered along with my father for trusting the wrong people.Though it has been a long time since that night, it is burned into me as if it ha







