Elena’s POV“Father, please!” I fell to my knees, the cold stone of the throne room biting into my skin. My chains rattled with every movement, the sounds echoed through the walls of the throne room. I cried, but no one was there to help me. I was all alone.“You can’t do this to me. I’m your daughter!”My father, the great Vac Alderwood, alpha king of Winter Clove barely looked at me. My dearest father’s dark eyes were void of any compassion.He stood tall, proud, and entirely indifferent to the pain choking my voice.“You are not my daughter,” he said, his tone flat, almost bored.“You are a disgrace. An omega. You were rejected! What would the people say about the daughter of an alpha king being rejected? How would the people, your people, look at us? How would they respect us? How can you rule a kingdom after me, when you can’t even keep a man?!” His tone had gone from bored to angry in a matter of split seconds, and all that vile was directed at me.The words struck me like a p
Elena’s POVHe looked me in my eyes and gave me a small smile before turning away. Panic swelled in my chest. My father stood by the side of the door, watching it all. With teary eyes, I looked at him, the man whose blood rushed hot and brimming in my veins. Didn’t he care what this monster of a man was going to do to me? The heads of women hung from different walls of the Brimstone palace, alpha Salvatore's home. Did my father hate me so much that he was willing to condemn me to such a fate?“Father, please!” I cried, but my pleas fell on deaf ears, and soon, I was dragged out of the palace, thrown into a carriage and locked away on my way to Brimstone Castle.The guards didn’t seem to care that I was trembling, or that my wrists still bore the marks from the chains that had dragged me. Once the carriage stopped, I was hurled down to the ground.“Careful, Xandax.” One of the guards snapped at the man who held me.“She is the alpha’s property now. He’ll kill you if he sees so much as
Elena’s POVThe goddess couldn’t do this to me. Not again. Why was I cursed with such an ill fate?The moment I realised I was mated to alpha Salvatore, it was like the world stopped spinning, and all I could feel was the searing pain in my chest.What was supposed to be the most precious moment in my life—the moment I found the other half of my soul for the second time, turned into a curse.I stood frozen in the shadows, watching the other women skillfully take his rather huge cock into her mouth as her hands worked at the base. She made strange choking sounds, but the dreadful alpha paid no mind to her. His dark eyes remained on me, boring holes into my soul. He didn’t say a word, couldn’t feel the pain that squeezed in my chest as the woman took him in her mouth over and over.I couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. I just stood there, my legs weak and trembling beneath me. Why didn’t he feel it? Why didn’t he know? Wasn’t he supposed to feel the bond the way I did? Wasn’t he supposed to
First Person's Perspective ElenaThe guards held my arms tight as they dragged me down the cold hallway. Their grip was painful, their fingers digging into my skin like iron shackles. I didn’t fight them. There was no use. Fighting would only make things worse. My body ached from exhaustion, and my mind was too drained to resist. They shoved me into the small, dark room, and I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before I hit the cold stone floor. The heavy metal door slammed shut behind me, and the sharp sound of the key turning in the lock sent a shiver down my spine.I was alone again.I stood there for a moment, staring at the door, my breathing ragged. The silence in the room felt thick, pressing down on me like an invisible weight. My legs trembled as I sank to the floor, pressing my back against the freezing wall. A lump formed in my throat, and before I could stop it, hot tears streamed down my cheeks.I cried hard, my sobs shaking my whole body. My shoulders trembled as
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe next day was too quiet. The kind of quiet that made my skin crawl. I sat on the small, hard bed, gripping the rough blanket with trembling fingers. My whole body ached, my head felt too heavy for my neck, and my eyes burned from exhaustion. But I refused to close them.Every time I did, I saw him.The man in the black cloak.His glowing red eyes stared into mine, never blinking, never looking away. His voice slithered through the darkness like a snake, whispering words I didn’t understand, promising things I didn’t want to hear. His cold fingers brushed against my skin, sending icy shivers down my spine. But when I opened my eyes, he wasn’t there.I was too afraid to sleep.The first night was the worst. My body begged me to rest, but my fear kept me awake. I paced the small room over and over, my bare feet freezing against the stone floor. Every few minutes, my head drooped, my eyelids too heavy to hold up. I slapped my own face, hard, to shake of
First Person's PerspectiveElenaAfter Salvatore punished the maids because of me, everything changed.Before, they were quiet, careful, doing their jobs without looking at me too much. Now, their eyes were filled with hate. They didn’t say anything, but I could feel it. Every time they walked past me, I felt their stares burn into my skin. Every time they handed me food, their fingers would brush mine a little too roughly. Every time they cleaned the room, they would “accidentally” knock something over, making me clean it up myself.They couldn’t hit me. They couldn’t yell at me. But they found other ways to make me suffer.Small ways.Ways that looked like mistakes.The first time it happened, I was exhausted. My body ached from days without sleep, and all I wanted was a warm bath to wash away the sweat and fear. My muscles felt sore, my head heavy, and my thoughts slow. I just wanted a moment of peace.Lina, one of the maids, came in and ran the bath without saying a word. I didn’t
First Person's Perspective ElenaThe next morning, when Lina brought my breakfast, I had already made up my mind. I couldn't take it anymore. I was tired of the cold eggs, the burnt toast, the way she looked at me with that smug expression like she enjoyed making me miserable.As soon as she placed the plate down, I reached out and grabbed her wrist before she could turn away. My fingers pressed into her skin, my hands shaking with frustration."You're doing this on purpose," I said, my voice unsteady.Lina raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."I tightened my grip. "The locked door. The boiling water. The freezing baths. All of it. You’re trying to torture me."She yanked her arm free and took a step back, rubbing her wrist. "So what if I am?" she said in a low voice, her eyes full of anger. "Because of you, I got punished. Because of you, we all live in fear now."I stood up so fast that my chair scraped loudly against the floor. "I tried to sto
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe next morning, the door creaked open andAres was there.He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes flicked toward me, cold and calculating, but he didn’t say a word.I swallowed hard. My hands trembled as I took a hesitant step forward. My instincts screamed at me to turn around, to retreat back into my room, but I forced myself to stay put. I had to face him.I had seen enough of Ares to know that he wasn’t the kind of man who appreciated people talking back to him. He wasn’t the kind of man who gave second chances.And yet, I had to try.“I... I wanted to thank you,” I said softly, forcing myself to keep my voice steady. “For helping me with the maids.”Ares didn’t move. He simply stared, his gaze piercing through me like a blade.For a moment, I thought he might ignore me completely. Then, with a small scoff, he pushed off the wall and started walking down the hall.“Hmph.” That was all he said.Heat rose
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe days after the big fight with Silas felt different. Everything in the pack house seemed quieter, slower, like the whole place was holding its breath. But the biggest change was Salvatore.Before, he was always distant, cold, like a shadow I could never reach. He was there, but he wasn’t really present. He barely spoke to me unless he had to, and even then, his words were short and sharp, like he didn’t want to waste time on me. But now, it was different. He was around more, and at first, I thought he was just keeping an eye on me because the pack still didn’t trust me. But little by little, I realized it wasn’t just that. He was watching me, yes, but not in the same way. His gaze was different. It wasn’t just cold observation—it was something else, something I didn’t quite understand.One morning, I was sitting by the window in my room, watching the trees sway in the wind, when the door opened without a knock. I turned, startled, and saw Salvatore
First Person's PerspectiveSalvatoreEverything in my mind finally made sense.The dead hunters we found in the woods, their throats ripped open like wild animals had attacked them. The poisoned well water that made even our strongest warriors sick, some of them vomiting for days. The mysterious fire that burned down the stables, killing two of our most prized stallions. The way my entire pack suddenly turned against Elena, treating her like an outsider, whispering about her as if she were a threat. It was all too perfect, too well thought out. Someone had carefully planned every little detail, making sure everything fell into place.And now, I finally understood why.I found Ares in the training yard just before the sun set. He was sitting on an old wooden bench, running a sharpening stone along the edge of his hunting knife. The rough scraping sound filled the air, grating against my nerves. My jaw clenched as I stood over him, waiting for him to acknowledge me."We have a big probl
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe trouble started with small things at first.One morning, the cooks woke up early, ready to start preparing breakfast for the pack. But when they unlocked the storeroom, they found it completely empty. Everything was gone. Every sack of grain, every barrel of salted meat, every jar of preserved fruits. The shelves were bare, as if the food had never been there in the first place.The strangest thing was that the heavy locks were still in place, and the doors showed no signs of being broken. There were no footprints, no signs that thieves or animals had forced their way in. It was as if the food had simply vanished into thin air.At first, people thought maybe it was a mistake. Maybe someone had moved the food somewhere else and forgotten to tell the others. But when they searched every inch of the storeroom, the kitchens, and the underground cellars, it was clear—the food was truly gone. And winter was approaching fast.Two days later, something eve
First Person's PerspectiveSalvatoreThe smell of death hit me before I even saw the bodies. It was thick in the air, heavy like the weight pressing on my chest. It was the kind of smell that stuck to your skin, crawled into your lungs, and refused to leave.Seven bodies. Seven of my people. My pack members. They were thrown onto the frozen ground in the middle of the town square, their throats ripped open. Their eyes were still open, still filled with terror.The sound of crying filled my ears. Women sobbed as they clung to the lifeless bodies of their loved ones. Men growled in anger, their fists slamming into the dirt. Children stood behind their mothers, too small to understand, but old enough to feel the fear creeping in.I stepped forward, my boots sinking into the frozen mud. The crunch of ice under my feet was sharp in the heavy silence. "Enough!" I shouted. My voice echoed through the square.No one listened. They were lost in their pain, their grief, their rage. A man grabbe
Chapter Forty TwoFirst Person's PerspectiveElenaI was sitting by my bedroom window, watching the bright orange and pink colors of the sunset spread across the sky. The sun was slowly sinking behind the tall stone walls of the castle, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The cool evening air brushed against my skin, sending a small shiver down my spine as I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders. My mind wandered, lost in thought, when suddenly, the door opened without warning.My heart jumped in surprise. I quickly turned my head and saw Salvatore standing there. His tall, broad figure filled the doorway completely, making the room feel smaller. His dark eyes locked onto mine, sharp and unreadable. As always, his presence was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe."You are needed," he said in his deep, rough voice. His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument.I stood up slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. My hands smoothed the wrinkles from my simple blue dress
First Person's PerspectiveElenaHermione walked back and forth in the dimly lit room, her expensive dress brushing against the floor with every step. Her heels made a soft clicking sound, and her movements were fast, filled with frustration. She had her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and her fingers dug into her skin. Her nails, painted a deep red, pressed hard into her palms as she clenched her fists. Her breathing was uneven, her lips pressed together in a firm line. Her face, usually composed and elegant, was twisted in pure anger.Ares stood near the wall, watching her with cold, expressionless eyes. He was relaxed, but his posture held an edge of danger. His arms were crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze never leaving Hermione. The dim light in the room made the shadows on his face look darker, giving him a more intimidating presence."I cannot take this anymore," Hermione said sharply, her voice filled with bitterness. "That human girl walks around this place like she o
Chapter FortyFirst Person's PerspectivePercyHot tears rolled down my face as I sat curled up on my bed, hugging my knees tightly to my chest. My heart ached so much it felt like someone had reached inside me and squeezed it with their bare hands. The beautiful white wedding dress I had been so excited to wear just hours ago now lay in a messy pile in the corner of the room. The soft fabric was stained with dirt from when I had fallen earlier and splattered with spilled wine from the awful wedding reception. It was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. But instead, it felt like the end of everything.I used to think my father loved me. I really believed it. He would smile whenever I walked into a room, buy me expensive dresses and pretty jewelry, call me his "precious princess." But now I understood the truth. A painful, horrible truth.Love didn't matter to him. I didn't matter to him. The only thing he cared about was power. The only thing he wanted was to make sure people i
First Person's PerspectiveElenaI found Marta in the big kitchen of the castle. She was standing by a wooden table, pressing and folding dough with her wrinkled hands. The warm smell of fresh bread filled the air, making my stomach rumble. The fire crackled in the old stone oven, casting a soft golden light across the room. I stood in the doorway, watching her for a moment. Marta had been with Salvatore since he was a baby. If anyone knew about his past, it was her.Marta noticed me and smiled, her face gentle and warm. "Child, you are up early. What is on your mind?" Her voice was calm, but I saw the curiosity in her eyes.I stepped inside, my bare feet touching the cold stone floor. The kitchen was quiet except for the occasional crackle from the fire. I hesitated, then sat down at the long wooden table. My fingers twisted together in my lap. "Marta, can we talk?" I asked softly.Marta dusted the flour from her hands onto her apron and nodded. "Of course. Tell me what troubles you.
First Person's PerspectiveElenaThe dream swallowed me whole.One moment, I was in my bed. The next, I was standing in a dark forest. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over everything. The air was cold, damp, and heavy with the scent of pine. A small fire flickered in the middle of a clearing, barely strong enough to push away the darkness. Two teenage boys sat close to the flames, their identical faces lit by the soft orange glow.Salvatore and his twin.I recognized them immediately. They had the same sharp jawline, the same dark eyes that reflected the firelight. But while Salvatore sat stiff, his shoulders hunched and his expression tense, his twin seemed more relaxed. He leaned back on his elbows, tossing small acorns into the fire, watching them sizzle and pop."Stop worrying," the twin said with a small grin, nudging Salvatore’s knee playfully. "They won't find us out here."Salvatore didn’t return the smile. He kept his gaze fixed on the shadows beyond the fir