LOGINISOLDEThe grand hall is filled with several guests, wine, salivating meals, and the expensive scent of cologne.Rich business moguls, investors, and Alphas—both humans and shifters—appear in the hall.I stare long at my reflection, memories suddenly bringing me to tears.The bitter experiences, the near-death situations, the impossible turns, and the endless love.Today I am going to be the queen of this country.A dream I never thought would ever happen.Drogo appears behind me, circling his arms around my waist.“My beautiful wife.” He pours kisses all over my face until I giggle hard. “We’ll leave early. I don’t want you or Reign stressed out.”“Okay, love.” I turn my head to kiss him.Mother steps in, Reign in her hold. “The ceremony has started.” She hands over the baby.“I’ll head there first.” Drogo kisses my lips again before leaving.“Reign is a good girl. Don’t get worried out there. The coronation won’t take more than three hours.” Mother comes close, gently stroking my ha
RIANAThe next morning, I’m in front of Bran’s door, fist clenched mid-air to knock.After a few seconds of contemplating, I finally do and wait for a response. When none comes, I knock again.Still no response.Frustration builds up quickly and I pound harder than intended. Where has he gone so early? Did he leave again?Did he run off aer everything?Just when I decide to try opening the door myself, I hear my name.“Riah?”I turn to Tristan, who blinks as his gaze goes between me and the door.“He is not in the room,” he answers my unspoken question.“Where has he gone?”“To your room.”I blink. How did we miss each other?I head back and freeze at the sight of Bran pacing at my doorstep. His blonde hair is messy, like he’d run his hand through it a thousand times.“Fuck,” he curses under his breath, pressing his forehead against the door, then turns and rests his back against it.I duck slightly into the corner before he can see me, then carefully peek at him.He is now staring at
RIANAMy breath pauses as I stare long at him, a pang of guilt and shock immediately striking my chest.He continues.“Morgan mentioned if I dared mark you. As a human, you might not be able to take every rut, and if you fall pregnant… you could die conceiving.”My chest heaves, head spinning at his words.So that was why he’d left. That was why he’d stayed away without calls, messages, or visits for seven months.And here I was thinking he’d left because I’m just a pathetic, lowly human.“Riah.” He rises from the chair, crouches before me, and gently caresses the back of my hand.“I’ll find a way to fix this. Don’t worry, things will return to the way they were for you. Then you can do whatever you want. Hmm?”I nod my head slowly, because that is the only thing I can do as I am lost for words. I had no idea the price to pay was this deep. And for him to ask Morgan about us means he never left on purpose.“But before that…” he whispers, visibly swallowing before meeting my eyes. “Giv
RIANA Standing in front of the mirror, my body shakes uncontrollably at the sight on my neck.A mark.A dark pattern sealed and curled into my skin. Unexpected. Unwanted.My fists curl until I hear them crack under the pressure. Felicia stays quiet behind me, and from my peripheral vision, I can see her through the mirror’s reflection, quietly watching with a worried, unsure expression.How could he?My chest heaves with the question.How could he do this?Then suddenly, I grab a shirt and shorts, put them on, and barge out.“Miss Riana,” Felicia follows, but she doesn’t overtake or try to touch me.I quietly head to his room, anger radiating off me.When his room is empty, I whip toward Felicia.“Where is he?”“Th… the Alpha’s suite, I think,” she stammers.I begin heading there immediately.“I know you are so pissed right now, but you shouldn’t be out of bed. You are still healing.”I had been too upset thinking about the mark. I had completely ignored the heavy aches all over me.
ISOLDE “Will she be alright?” My voice trembles at the edge, my second hand clutching the hem of my dress.“Only if she is truly in heat,” Morgan’s weak voice sounds from the other side.Mother is across from me, gently swaying little Reign in her arms so she will sleep deeper.She gives me an assuring look.“But humans don’t go into heat. And from what she has said about herself, it doesn’t look like she has any lineage of wolves.”Morgan coughs from the other end.“Sorry, Morgan. I should let you rest.”She sniffles. “It’s alright.” A sigh. “I’ll be fine. The herbs are just working slowly.”“Good health, I pray for you.”“Thank you, Luna, my queen.”I smile and then end the call. My mind is still troubled, my heart racing with worry.“Perhaps she is his mate.”I look up at my mother, who smiles back at me.“It is impossible.”“Then how do you explain the connection between them? You heard Felicia. Bran hasn’t touched a female since he left. And Riana… she changed a lot afterward.”
RIANAMy head is spinning with Isolde’s words. The more they repeat, the less they make sense.Never have I ever thought I would be in this state. Trembling, aching for a man’s touch.I am human. Biologically, I was never meant to go into heat.My parents were not werewolves. I knew them too well before they both passed. For as long as I can remember, they showed no supernatural signs.No shifting, no scenting each other, no heat or rut.They married in court like any normal human couple. My brother and I are biologically theirs, so tell me…How is it possible that I’m burning all over, aching everywhere. Especially between my legs where Bran’s tongue is working relentlessly?His large arms are wrapped around each of my thighs, muscles flexing as he devours me. Heavy moans spill from my lips as I shake uncontrollably, fingers digging into the sheets in ecstasy.Each graze of his teeth, each lap of his tongue, each sexy groan that vibrates through my nerves sends another wave of sensat
ISOLDEI wake up panting. My body is burning up like I’m being placed inside a burning furnace, sweat soaking every inch of me. My eyes crack open to a dark, silent space broken by my heavy breathing. I try to move, only to feel my hands and feets restrained.Panic ripples through me as memories f
ISOLDEI had my suspicions Drogo would ditch me and attend the charity event on his own. I knew the moment his temper flared after I flirted with his business partner. As infuriating as he is, I would still rather endure his presence than Vera’s stare boring straight through my soul.Since Drogo le
ISOLDEHis muscles are hard and thick against my palms. I feel my heart race so hard I fear it might burst.His mouth sucks, bites, and caresses mine until every bit of air is gone from my lungs. I whimper as he greedily takes my lips.I want to stop him, but my hands don’t listen. They pull him cl
As the words pour out of my mouth, for a second I regret them, hate them, and feel disgusted, because all my life I believed in loyalty, especially in marriage. But then I remind myself, my case is about survival. Drogo mess around with his mistress, so why can’t I, especially when my life is on t







