~ELOWEN'S POV~The maid hummed softly as she sorted through the folded fabrics in the wardrobe few hours after I was fine from the earlier faint. On the bed lay the off-shoulder white dress... smooth, flawless, and elegant which Sylion had chosen himself.I sat in front of the vanity, the makeup artist brushing carefully across my cheekbones. A faint scent of roses and powder clung every corner in the room."You're so lucky," the maid said suddenly, turning with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. "Do you know how many she-wolves would give their tails just to spend one night with Alpha Sylion? He's the dream of the entire pack!"The makeup artist chuckled as she leaned closer to adjust the liner around my eyes. "Not just this pack. I've been to the city festivals and even outsiders whisper about him. Cold, untouchable, never looking at any lady twice. And now look..." she gestured toward me with her brush, "...he can't take his eyes off you."I let out a soft chuckle, low, con
~ALARIC'S POV~My arm was wrapped around Tazira as we sat on the wide couch. She leaned into me, her hair spilling over her shoulders, and for the first time in a long while, I felt… content.I couldn't stop staring at her face. Every curve, every line which was strange.Even my wolf, who had always hated her scent, now howled with joy inside me. 'Hold her tighter,' he rumbled. 'She belongs to us.'Tazira shifted under my gaze, her cheeks flushing. "Why are you staring at me like that?""I don't even know." I smiled faintly. "I can't explain it... I just… want to be with you, forever."Her lips parted in surprise. For a heartbeat, there was silence between us. Then, a slow smile curled her mouth."You're not serious.""I am." My thumb brushed her arm. "I've never felt this before, not like this."She blinked rapidly, clearly not expecting my words. Then she tilted her head, teasing. "Is this because of what just happened?"I chuckled, "Maybe, or I finally realized what I want."Her ey
Drezova City...The Vampires council chamber was tense, heavy with voices clashing against one another.“We waste too much time!” one elder snapped, his pale hand slamming against the oak table. “Every moon cycle we sit here speaking, while the werewolves spread their claws deeper into our territory.”Across from him, another vampire leaned back, lips curling. “And what do you propose? Rush into the dark with no direction? The Relic is not a trinket to stumble upon. Even the wolves have not found it.”At the head of the table sat Valerian, his crimson eyes calm, but terrifying. He looked younger than all of them, early thirties in appearance, but no one dared forget his centuries of power. The air bent subtly around him and silence always fell when he chose to speak. But tonight, he did not. He let them argue.The female at his right, Bethany, leaned forward with quiet poise. Her long fingers tapped once against the table, drawing attention. “The Relic cannot fall to the wolves,” s
~ALARIC'S POV~The last drop of coffee slid down my throat.I leaned back into the leather chair, exhaling slowly, but instead of calm, a strange fire rolled through my veins but I ignored it.Tazira sat across from me, her hands folded on her lap, her face carrying that familiar innocence that always made me pause."When will I finally move into your place? I am carrying your child, Alaric. Shouldn't I be by your side now?"I didn't answer right away as my fingers tightened around the cup I just placed back down on the tray,Suddenly, heat spread from my chest, curling down my arms, tightening across my skin like unseen chains. My wolf stirred instantly, recklessly.'What is this? Why does the air burn?' he growled inside me.I pressed my fingers to my temple. "Why is it so hot in here?" My voice came rough, uneven.Across from me, Tazira tilted her head. Her face was smooth, calm. "Hot? I don't feel anything, Alaric. The room feels normal."Normal? My body screamed otherwise. My thr
~ELOWEN'S POV~A few minutes earlier...After the physician and the maid left, my lashes parted just a little, only enough to catch a blur of movement through the narrow slit. Sylion's broad back stood by the door, his shoulders tensed. For a moment, I wondered if he could hear how fast my heart was beating.I should have shifted, sat up, or said something but instead, I closed my eyes again, sinking deeper into the pillow. Instinct told me to stay still, listen, and watch him without being seen.He turned, and I quickly shut my eyes. Slowly, he dragged a chair and set it beside me. The sound of wood scraping against the floor echoed faintly as I kept my breathing steady, even, feigning unconsciousness.His voice, low and restrained, said, "Elowen… I won't let anyone hurt you. Not Alaric, the council or even yourself."His words brushed against something in me, a place I had tried to bury. For a fleeting second, my heart stirred, an ache spreading through me at the sincerity laced in
~SYLION'S POV~The car barely stopped before I was out of it. My shoes hit the stone steps of the mansion with a loud thud, and the guards standing on both sides froze, their gazes following me. I didn't even spare them a glance. The moment the call had ended, my heart had sunk like a stone into water, dragging everything with it... reason, calm, pride. All gone. Only fear remained, raw and gnawing.Inside the mansion, chaos reigned. Guards paced in agitation, voices overlapping as healers rushed through the corridor carrying baskets of herbs and silver cases of medical tools. The scent of crushed leaves and bitter roots was everywhere, clashing with the usual faint fragrance of polished wood."Alpha..." one of the guards stepped forward."Where is she?" My voice was sharper than I intended. The air shifted, thick with my aura. He swallowed and bowed his head immediately."In her chamber, Alpha. The physician is with her."My chest tightened. Without another word, I strode down th