Serena's POV“Run Serena!!”, is all I hear my mom scream as a black wolf lunges at her slicing through her chest.I scream and run towards her, even when my wolf yells at me to run away. I shake her repeatedly trying to bring her back, but she just lays there lifeless, heart ripped out of her chest. Another scream leaves my lips but is drowned by the chaos and destruction around me. Houses set on fire, screams of agony in the air as black lethal wolves drag out my pack mercilessly murdering them without giving them a chance to beg for mercy.I never could have seen this coming, and now my whole family is dead, brutally murdered. I collapse on my mother's lifeless body, too weak to keep on crying.“There’s still someone out here”, I hear one of the wolves cry out, and soon, I hear them running towards me. They surround me, but at this point I have no willpower or strength to fight back. So I just lay there lifeless.I think back to how it all started. This morning began like every o
Serena's POV "Just kill me, please." The words slip from my lips before I can stop them. My voice is hoarse, barely louder than a whisper. I hear gasps, but I could not care less. I have lost everything, my family, my home, my dignity. Death would be a mercy. The soldier holding me hesitates, his grip on my arms tightening. His blade hovers at my throat, close enough that I feel it bite against my skin. “Wait”, a voice shouts, it is a young soldier running towards us. “The General says we should not kill anyone till we get to the stronghold”. The cloaked figure waves his hands, and the soldier lowers his blade. I sigh in defeat, wondering why it is so hard to die. “Assemble every slave, we leave at dusk”, I hear him order and as soon as he says this, things become busy. Some soldiers transform into their wolves running to God knows where, while the others round up the slaves. My wrists burn where the silver chain bites into my skin. The Nythera wolves march me and the
Serena.The air in the chamber is heavy with sorrow and fear. The great Alpha of Nythera lay on his bed, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. Warriors, advisors, and nobles stand around him in silence, their faces tight with unease.I stand at the farthest corner of the room, my fists clenched at my sides. I should not be here. I should not be forced to witness the final moments of the Alpha responsible for my family’s slaughter.Then, a murmur passes through the gathered wolves.“Bring him in.”The doors burst open, and my breath stops in my throat.A healer is shoved into the chamber. A powerful one, and not just any healer, the healer of my pack.His wrists are bound, his once elegant robes tattered and stained with blood. His face, though bruised, still holds the dignity of a man who has spent his life saving others.“Fix him,” one of the warriors barked, shoving him forward.The healer didn’t move immediately. His dark eyes scanned the room until they landed on me, and then, to m
Serena. I kneel before Tristan Sinclair, my fists clenched at my sides, fighting every urge to spit at his feet. His silver eyes glow under the moonlight streaming through the high windows. "You will show me your utmost submission at all times," he repeats, his voice as cold as the winter winds that once howled through my pack’s mountains. I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing my head down. I know better than to provoke him, but the silence stretches too long, and I see the flicker of amusement in his gaze, like a challenge. Before I can break and say something reckless, the doors to his chambers burst open. "Tristan!" A feminine voice rings through the room. A young woman, no older than me, storms in with wild dark hair bouncing over her shoulders. Then, she stops dead in her tracks, her eyes shifting between me kneeling on the floor and Tristan towering over me. A smirk tugs at her lips. "So, it's slaves now, huh big brother?" She crosses her arms, tapping a finger again
Serena.I straighten quickly, shoving the parchment behind me. “I, I was just dusting.”A smirk tugs at his lips. Not the usual cruel, mocking one. This one seems amused.“Dusting,” he repeats, shaking his head. “With your hands all over confidential war reports?”I open my mouth, searching for an excuse, but nothing comes out. I’m dead. This is it, but then, he laughs.Not a dry, bitter chuckle but a real laugh. I blink, stunned. Tristan never laughs.“You really are something,” he says, stepping closer. “You think I don’t see what you’re trying to do?”My heart races and I step back instinctively, but he just leans against the desk with his arms crossed, watching me like I’m the most amusing thing in the world.Then, he tilts his head. “Tell me, little thief, what do I get in return for my silence?”I stare at him, completely thrown off. Where is the usual coldness? The cruelty? The threats?I hesitate. “Anything?.” I state, totally confused by what is happening.His smirk widens. “
Serena.“She is my slave, brother”, Tristan seethes glaring daggers at Thorne.The council chamber is stifling, and it is not from heat but from the power emanating from these two powerful alpha heirs.Tristan’s grip on my wrist is tight. Too tight, but I do not wince because on my other side, Thorne holds on to me just as firmly.Two brothers. Two heirs. Both refusing to let go. The council members watch in deadly silence, nobody wanting to interfere. Time stretches for what feels like eternity waiting to see who wins.I already know the truth though, that this is not about me. I am just the stage on which their war plays out. So, I do nothing, I do not resist, speak or even react.I simply observe. Who will bend first? Who has more power? Who can I use to carry out my revenge? If I can become an ally of the strongest one, I can take down the other and then use his weakness against him.“Let go,” Tristan grits out, his silver eyes flashing with fury.Thorne does not flinch. He merely
Serena No!! I scream as I jolt awake from a nightmare. I feel a dull pain at my throat, my body feels like lead and my head is pounding.It takes me a second to realize that it was not a nightmare but a memory of last night.Tristan Sinclair, one of the Alpha heirs to the Nythera pack marked me. I groan as my body hit the bed. I feel soft silk beneath my fingers. This could not be the servant quarters. I blink, my vision adjusting. Moonlight filters through heavy curtains, casting long shadows and I realize I am mistaken. It is still night time.The door across the room is slightly ajar, and through it, I hear raised voices. Tristan and Thorne. “…beyond reckless, even for you.” I could instantly tell that it is Thorne because of the smooth voice, “You let your temper get the best of you…….again.” he says.Tristan’s growl is unmistakable. “She’s a slave.” “Then why are we having this conversation?” Thorne counters, and I can practically hear his smirk. “You marked her in front
Serena. I do not know how long I stand there, frozen in place. Tristan's words echo over and over again, cutting through me like a blade. Gasps ripple through the crowd. Some look confused. Others whisper amongst themselves. A public rejection is a scandal, a disgrace, and only for the rejected. Tristan could not care less. His silver eyes are burning with satisfaction. My legs are trembling and the mark on my throat is burning aggressively. The bond he forced on me is breaking very painfully and violently. I feel woozy because it is getting hard to breathe. Strong arms catch me before I collapse. “Easy,” a voice whispers. “I’ve got you.” I do not need to look up to know who it is. Thorne. His hold feels secure and protective. The crowd is still watching, Tristan is also watching as Thorne lifts his head, his silver eyes flashing.“Congratulations, brother,” he says smoothly. “You have made your choice.” Then, without another word, he scoops me into his arms and walks away. The
Serena.The cold stone floor bites into my knees as we’re forced to kneel, wrists bound behind our backs with cords that hum faintly with magic. Thorne struggles beside me, his muscles straining against the enchanted ropes, but they only tighten in response.Athea stands before us like a queen before her court, red cloak flaring, hair wild, eyes glowing with unnatural fire.“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” I whisper. “You were helping us.”Her gaze softens, barely. “I spared you for a little while longer.”Thorne growls. “You used us. You lied.”She sighs and steps closer, crouching so her face is level with mine. “No, cousin. I protected you. I delayed the Rite for you.”“Cousin?” I echo. “That wasn't just a part of your lies and deceit?Thorne stiffens. “What?”She tilts her head. “You never wondered why we looked alike?” Her fingers brush my cheek, almost tender. “We share blood, Serena. Our mothers were sisters. Daughters of Raelor.”The name strikes like thunder. “No,” I breathe
Serena.Athea’s hood falls back, and for a moment, no one breathes. Her white hair glows like snow in torchlight, her green eyes that look too much like mine seem calm, drawing whoever cares to gaze at them in.Thorne’s sword doesn’t lower. “Athea?” She stands her ground, voice steady. ““Your father made enemies on both sides of the Gate, Serena. You’re just starting to see the truth.”.”I stare at her, heart pounding. “What are you talking about?”Athea doesn’t look at me. Her gaze is fixed on Thorne. “I’ve been working undercover. With Alpha Prince Tristan.”“Tristan?” I echo. “He sent you?”Thorne’s jaw clenches. “You’re a spy?”“A scout,” she counters coolly. “A volunteer. The prince received whispers months ago, rumors about a cult rooted in Raelor’s old worship. When I joined the manor's slaves, he recognized the symbol, just like this one etched in my amulet. It matched one carved on the wall of a ruined stronghold in the mountains. I knew the whispers were true and wanted answ
Serena.Sylvaine disappears into the manor before I can ask questions. That night, I barely sleep. My dreams are filled with red cloaks, flickering torches, and the hollow echo of a chant that won't leave my head.The next day, I return to the hidden library as soon as I find the chance. This time however, I make sure I’m not followed. The passage is exactly as I met it before. The door groans open, and the familiar scent of dust and old parchment wraps around me like a welcome.I go back to the book I was reading the day Thorne and General Vasquez barged in. The one with the gilded spine and wolf’s eye seal.The letters are still tucked inside, the edges are crinkled from age. My father’s handwriting, bold and precise, spills out in passionate pleas to Henry Sinclair. I hadn't seen this particular letter. It is hidden so well that it blends with the pages of the book.> “You know this wolf cannot be allowed to open the gate, Henry. There are forces beyond even our understanding. I d
Serena. The hood falls back, and my breath seizes. “Sylvaine?”She smirks. “Really, Rena, you looked like you were about to faint. I’m not that scary.”I don’t know whether to slap her or hug her. Relief bubbles up, unexpected and warm.“You…….” I shake my head, still catching up. “Why the cloak? Why all the drama?”She lifts a brow. “You think I’d risk sneaking out in full princess regalia? Honestly.”Then she grabs my hand. “Come on. I have a little... mischief planned.”“Should I be worried?” I ask as she tugs me along.“Probably,” she says brightly.We creep past the outer gardens, tiptoe behind the east wall, and slip by two guards who are far too busy arguing over whether the moon looks better from the east tower or the west.Sylvaine rolls her eyes. “Muscle, no brains.”At the stables, she snatches two worn travel cloaks from a hook, tossing one at me. “For blending in,” she whispers. “And because you look like heartbreak personified.”I shove her lightly. “Gee, thanks.”We du
Serena.The world tilts. For a moment, I can’t breathe.Thorne’s words slice through the night like a blade, severing the fragile thread of hope Tristan had dangled before me.Tristan rises to his feet, face a mask of fury. “You’re lying,” he growls.Thorne just laughs, slow and cruel. “Am I?” He circles closer, predatory. “Go ahead. Ask him. Ask your precious Alpha Prince Tristan how he spent the night you almost died.”I don't want to. I don’t want to ask, because deep down, I already know.My throat tightens painfully. Still, I force the words out. "Tristan. Tell me he’s lying."The fire crackles between us, painting his face in harsh shadows.He says nothing, nothing at all. The silence is louder than any confession.Something inside me, something already frayed and fragile, finally snaps. I do not scream or sob. I just let the silence, colder than any winter surface between us.I take a step back. Then another. Tristan moves toward me, hand outstretched, desperation flashing
Serena.The silence after his words was the kind that crushed mountains.I watch Alessia crumble. Her face, once smug and glittering, is twisted into a mask of panic. She stumbles back from the Queen’s arms, her mouth flapping, trying to find some anchor in a room where none existed anymore.“No, he’s lying!” Alessia cries. “He just... he just wants to ruin me”“Enough,” the Queen snapped, voice sharp enough to flay skin.Tristan’s face is as hard as stone, carved from the same cruelty he used to reserve for enemies of the crown. “Bring the Seer,” he orders.Minutes pass like lifetimes. When the Seer arrives, cloaked in deep blue, the truth peels from Alessia like a second skin.She confesses that it has been all lies, manipulation and ambition. When she discovered that she was pregnant, she had to think of a way to secure the future of herself and that of her child.It is true that she had been intimate with Tristan, but it had been a long time again and Tristan had rejected her as a
Serena.Darkness. But not the kind that scares children. This was weightless, endless silence. A void where even pain didn’t reach.Until it did. My ribs ache first, then my temples. Then a thousand invisible strings tug at the corners of my soul, like they are trying to sew me back together after something had torn me in half.My eyes blink open to soft, flickering candlelight and a face I don’t expect.Alessia.She’s sitting near the edge of the room, her hands folded in her lap. She doesn't speak. Neither do I.Because the question hanging in the air is louder than anything she could say: Who did you choose?I wish I knew.I sit up slowly, realising I'm now alone and seeing Alessia was a figment of my imagination, no Priestess, no Tristan and no Thorne. I touch my chest, but I don't feel any threads, there's no warmth. Just my skin and heartbeat. Was the bond broken completely? Did I choose no one?Or worse… was I never truly meant for either of them?I hear footsteps. “Serena?
Thorne.The thread split. I saw it happen, not imagined, not some fever-dream hope, like the one I've been holding onto too tightly lately. It stretched from Serena’s chest, flickering like a frightened star. One line pulled toward Tristan, desperate, familiar. The other... faltered, wavered, and then turned, toward me.It hit me like a punch to the ribs. I felt it. The bond. Not theory. Not fantasy. A real bond, and mine. But not only mine.Because fate, it seems, is a cruel thing, and Serena Nikolai and I are its favorite fates to ruin.She didn’t look at me right away. Her gaze was fixed on the flickering strands, on the confusion. On him. Always him.Across the circle, Tristan looked like a man standing in the wreckage of his own lies, he still had his stupid confident facade, yes, but cracking. His shoulders tight. His mouth a grim line. The medallion at his feet like a dropped crown, proof of betrayal no one could ignore anymore.But still, even in this chaos, the gods saw fit
Serena.For one perfect, trembling second, the world holds its breath. Gasps, whispers and cries of disbelief rise from every corner as the circle shatters into noise.My breath stops. My chest tightens. I don’t know if it’s fear or fury clawing up my throat.“I carry the Alpha Prince’s heir,” the girl says again, bolder now, chin lifted like a dagger. Her voice rings out, steady, so confident that it is hard not to focus on her .I don’t recognize her, but she’s as young as I am, perhaps the same age, maybe even younger as moonlight catching the defiance in her eyes.As she repeats this, every eye turns to him. Tristan.He doesn’t move or even blink. He just stands there, shrouded in ceremonial black, silver trim glinting like a crown of thorns. His jaw ticks once. That’s it. No outburst. No denial.Nothing.The silence is worse than a yes.“Is this true?” the High Priestess finally asks, her voice heavy with ancient authority.Still, he says nothing. Just a slow exhale through his