Chapter 104By late afternoon, the mansion was alive with voices.Guests had begun to arrive from different packs—carriages rolling up the long gravel drive, guards stationed at every corner, servants rushing with trays of wine and lanterns. The heavy doors at the entrance opened and closed constantly, letting in gusts of cool air mixed with the sound of hooves and chatter.Inside, the corridors were lined with soft golden light from the sconces. The walls, though grand, seemed smaller now with the number of people moving about—elders in long robes, warriors in fine armor, noblewomen with glittering hairpieces whispering behind their fans.Alycia walked through it all quietly.Her dress was simple. A pale fabric that fell softly against her body, nothing like the flashy gowns the maids had begged her to wear earlier. They had pleaded with her—insisted that this was the night she should look radiant, like a queen. But she couldn’t bear it. She wanted to feel like herself, not the image
Chapter 103Alycia woke with a scream.Rowen bolted upright beside her, heart hammering, the sharp sound cutting through the heavy silence of the chamber. Moonlight filtered through the half‑drawn curtains, casting pale streaks across her sweat‑dampened skin. Her chest heaved violently, hands clutching at her gown as though trying to hold herself together.“Hey,” Rowen’s voice cracked, raw from panic. He reached for her shoulders, steady but urgent. “What’s wrong?”Her lips trembled. Tears brimmed in her wide, terrified eyes.“My… chest,” she gasped, voice barely a whisper. “Am I dying?”The words cut straight through him like a blade.Rowen’s gut twisted painfully at the sight of her—small, fragile, shaking in fear. He didn’t think. He only held her tighter, willing his warmth into her trembling body.Before he could speak again, footsteps thundered into the room. Lucien.“What’s going on?” Lucien’s deep voice filled the space, tense and sharp.“Nightmare, I think,” Rowen muttered, t
Chapter 102"What happened between you and Aunt? I can tell those are hand prints on your cheeks," Rowen asked, his eyes narrowing at the faint red marks along Ravenna’s face.Ravenna rolled her eyes, not in the mood to explain herself. Her voice came out clipped.“Forget about that for now. When is Roselyn getting tried?” she asked instead, her tone turning sharp. “I heard she killed her mate too?”The room went still.She noticed Lucien stiffen at her words. His back straightened, his jaw locking so tightly she could almost hear his teeth grind.Rowen was the one who answered, his voice low. “Technically… she did. We had no idea they were even mates until it was too late.”Ravenna tilted her head slightly, studying him. She could see how the subject weighed on him—the way his shoulders sagged slightly, the way his voice dulled.“Calix didn’t deserve her,” Rowen muttered. “He didn’t deserve to die.”She swallowed. She didn’t know Calix that well—barely even remembered speaking to him
Chapter 101Lucien rubbed a hand over his own mark, saying nothing as he moved from her to perch on the edge of the desk.Rowen looked between them, “Alycia...”But she simply gave him a small smile, chuckling softly, “It’s me. Ravenna. I mean... Alycia. We’re the same, actually. Two halves, but we could be one.”Rowen blinked rapidly. His brows drew tight.Rowen blinked, “What do you mean? What are you saying?” he asked, voice low.She shrugged, gaze steady. “We’re the same. You should know that by now. But I feel more like her now. Her memories, her childhood and all that…” She breathed in deeply, as if grounding herself in the truth she’d just spoken.“Ra… Ravenna?” he stuttered, inching closer.“My King,” she whispered, smiling softly as she lifted both hands to the back of his neck.“It’s really you?” His voice shook. “How did it happen? Alycia—”“You don’t need to confuse yourself,” she cut him off gently. “I’m here now, and I’m not letting anyone walk away with trying to harm m
Chapter 100Rowen stood near the center of the courtroom, his voice low but firm as he spoke with two guards stationed beside the marble pillars. His instructions were clear, every detail regarding the upcoming coronation of the Lycan queen needed to be perfect, no matter the chaos unfolding around them.“Make sure the ceremonial guards are trained and ready. I don’t want surprises that day,” he said, nodding at one of the men. “Double the patrols on the west wing too. And keep eyes on the council members that visited weeks ago. If anyone spots even a whisper of them again, report to me immediately.”He didn't trust them one but, and he knew he was right to be wary. Pausing slightly, his jaw clenched. “And the wolf girl, Pearl. The one who caused a ruckus on that day... I need her located. No matter what it takes."Rowen knew that even if nothing could be done now, he had made Alycia a promise, and he intend to keep it.That, and the issue with the girls from her pack. Rowen ran a h
Chapter 99“Come on, go ahead and ‘flog’ me to death, Danika.”Ravenna could see how shocked lady Danika was on hearing her sprout those words. Her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets, her neck tightening, as she took in harsh breaths. Her lips were twisted tightly, but no words came out.“I knew it,” Ravenna muttered under her breath. “You’ve always hated me. Even back then.”Danika clenched her fists, and her eyes darted away for a second.Ravenna gave her a sharp look before stepping around her, brushing past her shoulder intentionally. Danika’s nostrils flared. She clenched her jaw, turned swiftly, and marched out, robes fluttering behind her as she disappeared into the corridor.Moments later, the cell doors creaked again, and this time, Ravenna walked in.Her heels clicked slowly on the cold floor, echoing with every step. Her chin was lifted, her gown sleek, her presence commanding. When she spotted Roselyn in chains, a slow smirk spread across her lips.“Well, well, we