ANMELDEN๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐The Grand hall quickly filled with people. The elders took their seats while pack members gathered along the walls, whispering among themselves.Damien, Kai, and Rafe stood at the front of the hall, their faces tense with worry.Then the large doors opened.Nymeria stood quietly among the servants at the back of the room. She almost disappeared into the crowd as she watched four guards carry Viktor into the hall on a wooden litter.Her eyes widened.She covered her mouth in shock.Viktor looked nothing like the powerful Alpha she remembered.His face was thin and pale, his skin almost gray. Dark circles surrounded his sunken eyes, and every breath came slowly and painfully. Even lifting his head seemed to take all the strength he had left.His once-powerful Alpha aura was barely there. It flickered around him like a small flame about to go out.โFather!โ Damien rushed forward. โWhat are you doing here? You should be in bed. The healers said you need to rest
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐Elder Cassian leaned forward. "Your Majesty, forgive me, but I thought this meeting was arranged because you wanted to consider these alliances."Elara flicked her wrist dismissively. "I agreed to hear their little presentations. That doesn't mean I have to pretend to be impressed."Elder Cedric blinked. "But you invited them here."Elara's smile was sharp. "And I've now heard what they have to offer. Consider my curiosity satisfied."Marcus stared in disbelief. "Your Majesty, these are the most eligible Alpha daughters in the region!""Eligible for what? A pity contest?" Elara turned toward Seraphina. "Your daughter is skilled, I suppose. But she's too proud. A Luna who thinks she's already won before the battle begins is a liability, not an asset."Seraphina's face fell.Elara then looked at Celeste. "And your daughter is a talented healer, I'll give her that. But she lacks the experience required to carry the responsibility of being Luna of the Volkov Pac
๐ Chapter 22 ๐Thorne nodded. "Powerful alliances through marriage. It would strengthen your position, secure your borders, and protect the Volkov bloodline."Kai exchanged a look with Rafe. Rafe slowly shook his head."We already have our mate."Several Alphas exchanged surprised looks.Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Your mate?"Damien's eyes turned cold. "Yes."Thorne's lips curled into a mocking smile. "And is she an Alpha's daughter? A princess? Perhaps the daughter of a powerful bloodline?"Damien leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "She was a maid," he said calmly. "But she is no longer a maid."A few Alphas exchanged surprised looks.Thorne gave a short, amused laugh. "A maid?" His eyes swept over Damien with open disbelief. "So, after everything the Volkov Pack has built, you chose a servant to stand beside you?"Damien's jaw tightened. "She is our mate."Atlas, Damien's wolf, growled low in his chest. "I will tear his throat out if he speaks of her like that a
๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ ๐Elara folded the letter and sealed it with dark red wax. Then she called for her most trusted servant.A few moments later, the servant entered and bowed."You called for me, Your Majesty?"Elara handed him the sealed letter. "Take this to the Bloodmoon Pack."The servant looked at the letter, then back at her. "The Bloodmoon Pack?""Yes." Her voice turned cold. "And listen carefully. No one must see you carrying this letter.""Yes, Your Majesty.""If anyone stops you, tell them you are delivering a message to the border patrol."The servant swallowed nervously. "And if they ask what is inside?""Tell them nothing.""Yes, Your Majesty."Elara stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "Do you understand what will happen if this letter falls into the wrong hands?"The servant quickly nodded. "Yes. I understand.""Good." She turned away from him. "Then go."He hesitated."Now," Elara snapped.The servant hurried out of the room with the letter hidden beneath his cloak
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐The black veins suddenly stopped spreading.They froze across Damienโs skin as if something had forced the poison to stop.Nymeria stared at them, barely breathing. โWhatโs happening?โ one of the healers whispered.No one answered.Then the black veins slowly began to fade.The darkness pulled back from Damienโs chest, inch by inch. It moved up his neck and away from his face until the last trace of black disappeared beneath his skin.His breathing became steadier.The gray color in his face slowly faded, replaced by a healthy warmth.One of the healers stepped closer and checked his pulse.โHis heartbeat is getting stronger.โRafe stared at Damien in shock. โThatโs impossible,โ he whispered. โThe poison wasnโt responding to anything.โKai looked between Damien and Nymeria. โWhat did you do?โNymeria shook her head, completely confused.โIโฆ I donโt know.โThe healer checked Damien again, then looked at the others in disbelief.โThe poison is gone.โโWhat?โ K
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐Head Maid Gretchen appeared at the courtyard, looking annoyed by the sight of Nymeriaโs tears. She folded her arms across her chest and glared at her.โEnough of those tears, piglet,โ she snapped. โGo back to your room. The courtyard is clean enough for tonight. Tomorrow, youโll start cleaning the great hall.โNymeria quickly wiped her face and lowered her head. โYes, Head Maid.โShe forced herself to walk back to her small, cramped room. Her entire body ached from hours of hard work, and she felt completely drained, both physically and emotionally.ThenโBANG! BANG! BANG!Warning bells suddenly rang through the castle.Nymeria froze.The loud, piercing sound echoed through the stone walls, shaking her entire room.Her heart began pounding violently. โThat bellโฆโ she whispered, her voice trembling. โThat bell is only used for emergencies.โShe slowly pushed herself to her feet, but her legs suddenly gave out.She fell hard onto the floor and grabbed her head







