In the calm of his room, Ivor paced anxiously, the rich decor becoming a hazy backdrop to his restless thoughts. He replays his meeting with Alpha Nerville, a nagging suspicion clawing at his thoughts, had the man betrayed Raul? If so, it was a reckless act, one Raul would never let slide without dire consequences. The evening's festivities loomed close, organized by Beta Aren, and Ivor knew it could be his only chance to find Zela.With resolve tightening within him, he activated the mind link with the Crown Prince.‘Ivor! Have you found her?’ Raul immediately asked with urgency.“I’m already in but haven’t seen Zela yet,” Ivor admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But listen to this. Alpha Jermain is marked and mated to a she-wolf named Chrissy. She doesn’t match Zela at all, and the bond they share feels genuine.”Raul’s confusion rippled through their connection. ‘What? Are you sure you’re not missing something? You need to be alert. Where could she be?’‘I’m
Standing in the garden, the cool night air did little to soothe the storm brewing in Ivor’s mind. Alpha Jermain’s request was a dangerous gamble, one that threatened everything.‘Damn! I’m already mated. How am I supposed to pull this off?’ raced through his mind.Each breath filled his lungs with a bittersweet longing as he thought of Lilias, the fierce witch waiting for him back in Human Town. They didn’t know each other for long, their bond was forged by Royal decree, but he already loved her deeply.‘No one but she can be my mate,’ he whispered to himself. The thought of her waiting, unaware of the chaos unfolding in Woodcrest, knotted his stomach with unease. He imagined her fiery spirit, her vibrant energy, the loyalty she had promised him.But Lilias wasn’t just anyone, she was a witch, gifted with the ability to see through deception like no other. If she ever found out that he had succumbed to the Alpha’s demand to seek a mate here, she wouldn’t hesitate to deal with him. Th
Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewThe night stretched before me like an open canvas, painted in shades of deep blue and shimmering silver.The lake mirrored the moon’s ethereal glow, each ripple carving hypnotic patterns in the stillness, an illusion of peace, mocking my inner turmoil. I had opted to stay behind while the Alpha and Chrissy attended the gaudy party at the packhouse. Parties were not for me at the moment, it would turn out to be a masquerade ball, where I’d be forced to don a mask of feigned joy while secretly scheming my escape.Here I was, a captive in Woodcrest, wrenched from my home, and every soul in that party was complicit in my captivity. No one would dare challenge Alpha Jermain, not even to spare me from his cruel scheme.As I stood on the shore, I tipped my chin toward the moon, my thoughts spiraled into a chaotic maelstrom.I had to act fast. My abduction had to be exposed before I became another pawn in Jermain’s twisted plans. But reaching out to my father
Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewWith an unstoppable drive burning within me like wildfire, I urged my wolf, Era, forward toward the packhouse. Amanda sprinted alongside me, her wolf’s fur glistening under the moonlight, the weight of our shared secrets heavy upon us. We were bound by an unspoken urgency, the kind that comes only when you know the ground beneath you is about to shift.As we reached her home, Amanda dashed ahead, her heart racing as she headed for her bedroom. I watched her dive into preparations, packing clothes into her suitcase with an intensity that conveyed her desire to escape, much like someone fleeing a gathering storm.But the grief in her eyes betrayed the fear of abandoning the only life she'd known. Leaving friends and family behind for an unknown future was the hardest decision a werewolf could ever make. I wanted to offer comfort, to promise we’d meet again in Silver Bow, but the words caught in my throat.“I can’t believe I’m actually doing this,” she m
As Alpha Jermain trailed a lingering kiss from the side of my face to the taut line of my jaw, a wave of disgust twisted in my stomach. He pressed his body against mine, ensuring I felt the hardness in his jeans.“Goddess, I’ve fantasized about this night for so long,” he murmured, his breath warm against my skin. “If the test results come out positive, I promise you, after tonight, you will only crave for my touch. You'll never want to leave my bed, no other man will have your attention and you’ll always yearning for the feeling of me deeply filling you. Babe, your scent is intoxicating.”Test results? The shock was immediate. Surely, he didn't mean... blood tests?Just then, the elevator doors opened, revealing the luxury of the living room before me. For a moment, I was taken aback by the extravagance that surrounded us.He scooped me up effortlessly and carried me to a sofa. Once he set me down, he slowly peeled off his dark coat, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that ignite
As our noses nearly touched, the Alpha tightened his grip in my hair.“Do you want to know what the big wheel is for?” he asked, a sinister gleam in his eye. My gaze darted past him to the old, rusted wheel hanging from a metal pole, seeming capable of spinning. Terrifying images from horror films flashed before my eyes, and I felt a chill creeping over me. Frightened, my eyes snapped back to the man before me.“No, you can’t possibly be planning to…,” I stammered.He chuckled, almost pleased with my reaction.“Don’t worry, it served a very different purpose,” he taunted me. “When the time comes, I will tell you all about it. After all, you will witness it for yourself.” I breathed a sigh of relief, unsure whether his words meant a stroke of luck or merely a delay in execution. One thing was now clear to me, behind the charismatic facade the Alpha presented, lay a true devil.He seized my wrist and pulled me back into the living room. He shoved me onto the sofa, where I collapsed like
‘Raul! I found her!’ Ivor’s voice exploded through the mind link, bursting with excitement again.‘Zela! She’s here in Woodcrest! I saw her, standing right in front of me, looking straight at me!’ Raul jolted upright in bed, adrenaline surging through the thick fog of sleeplessness that had plagued him for too many nights. Zela’s absence had been a relentless shadow, haunting him like a ghost, and now, a flicker of hope ignited in his chest, illuminating the darkness that had settled over him since she disappeared. ‘Did you talk to her? What did she say? Has she acknowledged I was her mate?’ Each word echoed with eagerness, a reflection of the desperation in his heart. ‘Bring her to the border. I’ll wait for you both there!’ ‘She left the ballroom with Jermain,’ Ivor replied, tension threading through his words like a taut bowstring ready to snap. ‘He confronted her when he caught her looking at me. She’s terrified of him, Raul. I’m certain he’s holding her against her will.’ I
Beta Aren immediately released Ivor, intending to go after Zela.With the Alpha occupied with... private matters, the responsibility for the second Luna now rested entirely on him. But before he could take a step, he was stopped by a force that far surpassed his own.Ivor.Aren barely had time to register the threat before Ivor seized him by the collar, his grip unnervingly strong. Shock flickered across the Beta’s face as he struggled against the man’s unrelenting hold, his disbelief apparent in his wide-eyed stare.He summoned his Beta strength, twisting violently in an effort to break free. He failed, for the second time. Before he could react, Ivor’s hand closed around his throat, slamming him against the wall. The impact stole the breath from his lungs.“Who... who are you? How do you possess such strength?” the Beta gasped, desperate for air.Ivor released just a fraction of his Lycan energy, allowing it to seep into the room. The moment it struck, Aren’s jaw sl
"Running into some trouble, Iwan?"The voice, laced with a hint of amusement, came from behind me, sending a jolt of pure adrenaline coursing through my veins. Every head turned towards the front door, where Beta Aren stood, his presence effortlessly dominating the space.He sauntered into the house of Arlette’s parents, with an aura of self-assuredness radiating from his every step and positioned himself with a casual air beside me. I craned my neck subtly, my gaze darting past his imposing frame, a silent search for Lilias. But she was nowhere in sight.Instinctively I pressed my hands deeper into my pockets, trying to maintain an impassive tone that belied the turmoil churning within."Something like that," I muttered, my gaze fixed on the floor for a moment. "Arlette’s parents don’t think I’m good enough for their daughter. Her father doubts the bond between us is real, and her mother has made it clear she wants me gone. Honestly, I can’t entirely blame them for feeling that way.
The moment we entered the house, Arlette’s voice, loud with excitement, cut through the air."Mother, Father, I've brought my mate!"Her happiness seemed blind, as if she hadn't heard a single word of caution I’d given her. She was set on this pretense, whether I liked it or not.I shoved my hands into my pockets, staying silent as a couple in their middle years, but clearly athletic, stood up from the couch, leaving behind the soap opera they were watching on the TV. They were fit and strong for their age, though their graying hair showed they weren't so young anymore.Their eyes moved over me, checking me out from head to toe. I could tell they were subtly sniffing the air, trying to figure out my rank.Like Arlette, they seemed obsessed with status, probably wanting a high-ranking mate to improve their family line. Why was this pack so obsessed with ancestry, pure bloodlines, and genetics? Did they want to take over the werewolf community, getting rid of anyone weak? They were snob
Royal Secretary Ivor’s Point of View stillWith a heavy heart, I watched the Beta lead my woman out of the living room. His hand rested possessively on her arm, a clear claim that sent a jolt of irritation through me.Lilias glanced back at me, almost venomously, before she and the Beta stepped through the front door. I couldn't miss the way she then engaged him in lighthearted conversation. They seemed to be getting along, and it bothered me deeply. The Beta's earlier suspicion of her seemed to have vanished completely."Come on, let me show you the pack lands," I overheard him say, and Lilias responded with a cheerful, almost eager, tone. A powerful wave of longing washed over me, a fierce desire to pull her close, to breathe in her unique scent after these agonizing days without her. It was astonishing how quickly and profoundly attached I had become to her. The thought of her with someone else... it was a knife twisting in my gut."Iwan, shall we go to my parents' house now?" Arle
Just as the atmosphere threatened to fall into an uncomfortable awkwardness, Luna Chrissy burst into the room.Intense fury contorted her features, and upon sighting Lilias seated there, her eyes turned to slits of pure dislike. However, her purpose was likely to lie elsewhere, for she immediately turned her attention towards her mate."Jermain!" she shrieked, her voice carrying the shrillness of a market vendor in distress. "That female has fled, and you sent out warriors to get her back? For what reason? Permit her to go if that is her desire, we have no need of her presence here."The Alpha sprang from his seat and hastened towards the glowing Luna. He seized her upper arm as he gazed upon her with feigned tenderness."My Luna," he coaxed, his tone soothing yet possessing an underlying edge of calculation. "Do not agitate yourself. You bear my mark, I am yours. You are cognizant of the plan; it is for the collective welfare of us all. Allow me to have at least one son with her, the
Royal Secretary Ivor’s Point of View "Iwan, quite conveniently, during your visit, my beloved second Luna went missing. Is this all truly a coincidence, or is there a connection? And don’t try to sell me that story about collecting a reward, I stopped believing that a long time ago."The Alpha’s words underscored his deep-seated distrust of me. He had, in truth, always made it evident, but now events were conspiring to create a situation that was decidedly working against me. The Beta, during our brief confrontation, had already discerned that my strength surpassed that of an ordinary werewolf, exceeding even that of a high-ranking member such as himself. From his direction, too, I could feel the palpable threat coming.Lilias's presence had thrown me into a state of extreme vulnerability. The situation had become profoundly perilous, and I felt the walls closing in. Her arrival could not have been more ill-timed.My gaze remained fixed on her, the way
Within moments, we approached a grand yacht anchored a few miles offshore. As Lorainne maneuvered the small speedboat alongside it, an unexpected surge of excitement bubbled inside me despite the racing thoughts in my head. This was not just any yacht, it was a floating palace, obviously an exclusive design.Once aboard, Lorainne ushered me inside, her confidence wrapping around me like a warm blanket.“You’ll be safe here,” she assured as she led me into the lavish living room featuring plush furniture and expansive windows that overlooked the shimmering sea. “We’ll stay here for a month until it’s safe to go back wherever you want.”I blinked in disbelief. “A month? Why this long?”“Because,” she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall with a serious expression, “we need to ensure my brother-in-law isn’t on your trail. He really wants you back, there are about a hundred warriors on the lookout for you.”I inhaled sharply, allowing the lush surroundings to sink in, yet
Alpha Female Zela’s Point of ViewThe moment I realized I was being followed, a cold dread gripped my chest.The way the air in the forest shifted, sending small animals scattering for their lives, told me it wasn’t the Alpha or anyone from Woodcrest. Only someone with immense authority and terrifying strength could cause such a reaction.Raul.Even without the bond, his presence resonated through my spirit, sending a warmth that felt suffocating rather than comforting. It wrapped around me like a noose, tightening as I flew through the dense woods. Iwan, Ivor, Royal Secretary or whatever his name was, had said Raul was still in Human Town.Negative!My pulse thundered in my ears, impatience coursing through my veins. I had no clear path to safety, I was caught between the familiar threat of Woodcrest and the unknown dangers of the wilderness. Running from the Crown Prince was dangerous but staying in that pack meant surrender and surrender to be offered for my bloodline was never an
Crown Prince Raul’s Point of ViewI unleashed every ounce of my Lycan abilities to track Zela.At this moment, the mate bond offered me no assistance in any way, somehow, it was disabled on her end. I had to rely solely on my own strength. As the Lycan Crown Prince of the werewolves, I could, with Slade’s help, utilize the global mind link, but I knew it would demand a vast amount of my energy. I had to be sparing with it.Slade sniffed the air several times as we raced toward the river.If she reached that point, there would be no escape for her, I would have her cornered. Goddess, I have to persuade my woman of my good intentions this time, I truly do not want to hurt her. I needed to understand why she had left me that morning. We had shared something beautiful, it had been perfect. Had she stayed, we would have been fully mated and blissfully happy by now. I had so many dreams for us before we were ready to ascend the throne, now held by my father. Finally, after w
In the Woodland Forest … "Do you even realize what you've done?" Ivor roared in his mate's face. "Why do you keep chasing me? I don't have time to play with you."Furious, he glared at the woman as he dragged her toward the packhouse.There was no point in going after Zela anymore. His only hope was that Raul could catch her in time. He had been so close, if he had managed to follow Zela and convince her that Raul truly cared for her and was desperately searching, he would have already been on his way to Human Town, to Lilias.After the two had worked things out, they could all set off for the Kingdom.After this assignment was done, he and Lilias could finally hold their mating ceremony, a moment he had dreamt of endlessly these last days. He would mark her, binding her to him. She was his destiny, his impossible love turned real.The thought of holding her, of whispering his devotion against her naked skin, sent warmth flooding through him. He couldn't wait to have