Eve I paced around Axel's chamber like a lunatic, a hot mess of emotions with no idea what I was even feeling.Angry. Sad. Relieved. All of the above. I was a walking emotional roller coaster, spiraling without a safety bar.Axel had exposed our intimacy to Shahar—just like that. No warning, no consideration, nothing. And yet, this same Axel had stood up for me, had my back, and sent Nina away without a second thought. It was distracting. I should have been focused on how unbelievably annoyed I was at him. I needed to get it together.Calm down, Eve. Pacing around the room like a caged animal isn't going to change anything.I shot him a glare. "Oh, so now you're a therapist? Mind telling me how I should feel—especially since you are the cause of all this?"Axel grinned, thoroughly amused. "Me?" He placed a hand on his chest in mock innocence. "I'm innocent. I just think you might get dizzy and make an anger track in my carpet."I narrowed my eyes. "This isn't funny.""It isn’t," he a
EveAxel had long since fallen asleep, but I lay wide awake, my thoughts running in circles.I hadn't even spoken when he told me he loved me and wanted to marry me. I couldn't. If I had, I might have cried,or worse, let the weight of it all crush me.So instead, I kissed him.I let my body speak for me.It was slow, deep, intense—the most passionate we had ever been. Maybe because, for the first time, my body recognized that Axel truly loved me. And despite everything, despite him not being perfect—despite me not being perfect, despite the secrets we both hid that could destroy us—there was something comforting about knowing that his love was for me and not just the mate bond.A small victory.Slowly, I sat up, careful not to disturb his peaceful slumber. The sheets slipped down, exposing my bare skin to the moonlight.I turned my gaze to Axel, watching the gentle rise and fall of his chest. The lines on his forehead softened in sleep—creases that deepened when he smiled or frowned.
Shahar Axel's car screeched away. The sound slammed into me, igniting a fire that burned through my veins. I felt the urge to shatter something and unleash the fury that threatened to consume me.My growl echoed through the living room. It was a primal call that summoned the anger from the depths of my chest. My heart pounded hard.How dare they think they can waltz in here and police how I react?Axel truly hurt me. This was a deeply personal betrayal. The bond we shared went beyond familial ties. We were closer than brothers.We had fought side by side, bled together, and buried our dead together. He knew every dark thought I kept hidden, and I knew his. We didn’t need words to understand each other; a look and a twitch of the jaw was enough. That’s what made this so unbearable.The fact that he knew exactly what this would do to me and still did it anyway made me hate him. And until things took this ugly turn, I could’ve sworn I’d take a bullet for him without blinking. Now, I was
ShaharI drank from bottles, one after another. The liquor poured down my throat until I became drowsy and my head hit the table.Hours later, my eyes opened and I groaned. My neck hurt. My hand wiped the drool on my beard and mouth. The mattress sagged as I lay on it and my eyes closed as I hit the pillows.I woke up the next morning with one clear decision burning in my chest: to go find Crystal.The Wild Fangs Pack was about a four-hour journey by road from here. If I left before sunrise, I could make it there in time. I could’ve cut that time in half by air, but I hated flying. Something about being in the air, detached from the ground, felt unnatural. Most Lycans didn’t like it either. We were creatures of earth and instinct, grounded and primal. The air felt like a lie. You couldn’t scent your surroundings. You couldn’t feel danger. You couldn’t trust the skies. No matter how convenient air travel was, it always stripped me of control.Crystal knew her friend betrayed and manip
Eve“Axel, stop,” I groaned, struggling in his hold, though part of me wasn’t trying too hard. His arms were like iron bands around my waist, keeping me caged against him. I twisted, trying to free myself, but it was pointless.When Axel wanted something, he didn’t ask, he took it. His lips brushed the shell of my ear. “Why are you fighting me?” “You’re supposed to be holding court right now. They’re waiting. I can't go with you.”“Are you scared of the people who fear me? Those trembling cowards who shake in their boots the second I walk into a room?”His gaze on me was intense, that piercing hazel that seemed to burn straight through me. “I’m not scared of them. I'm not scared of you either.”A knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and before I could say another word, he leaned in and pressed his lips to my neck. His kiss was hot, just above the place where my pulse jumped like a wild thing. I shivered.If he just opened his mouth and sank his teeth into that spot, jus
Nina's POVNina pressed her ear against the door, trying to catch every word that Eve was saying to Gaia. She had always wondered why the priestess was so interested in an ordinary cook. Well, it seemed she wasn't so ordinary anymore—judging by the unexpected turn of events.Nina didn’t want to call what she felt jealousy, but that’s exactly what it was. Spiteful bitterness clawed at her. She believed this stranger—this harlot, this swat—had taken away Herman. It was clear she had slithered her way halfway into Axel’s life. Perhaps she fulfilled needs, styles, kinks, and fetishes Axel loved—ones that once led Nina to suspect he might be secretly homosexual.Nina gloried in her beauty. She was superior to other girls in talent, looks, wealth, and importance—and she was fully conscious of it. Women in the park and beyond humbled themselves before her. She was like a precious egg—darling in her parents’ eyes. She was supposed to be the one to win Axel, fair and square. She deserved to be
Eve“So…” a familiar voice drawled behind me, full of amusement. “How was the proposal?”I turned to see Gaia trailing behind me into the kitchen. Her brows did some kind of mischievous dance.“Did he go down on one knee?” she asked, barely suppressing her grin. “I know he didn't. His kneecaps would probably shatter from the sheer offense.”I laughed, despite myself. “Please, Gaia.”“I’m just curious. You're royalty now. We want to know how the King of Stone Hearts melted.”I groaned, dropping the tray on the counter. “Let’s just say I don’t know what I’m doing.”Gaia raised an eyebrow. “You seemed pretty confident back there, standing beside him like you were ready to snatch the crown yourself.”“I was winging it,” I muttered.“Winging it with grace,” she corrected, following me as I headed toward the private living room. She made herself comfortable on the couch across from me while I flopped into the seat.I rubbed my forehead. “Everything feels like it’s spiraling. One second I’m
EveA relaxed smile crossed my face as I headed to Axel's closet suites which could be best described as a private showroom than any ordinary wardrobe. He had been in a hurry to pack and had made a mess of the place. It wasn't that messy, but I was bored. It had been more than a day since he travelled, and since I had no reason to be cooking and preparing recipes, I needed something to keep my mind busy.My ga scanned rows of drawers, racks, shelving units, and a relaxed smile crossed my face when I stared at his custom boot trunks. Everything about him was powerful. I began to unfold garments from his set of leather suitcases lying open on a velvet bench and separated his regalia from his casual wears and his battle dress uniforms. I was organizing his cufflinks and brooches when I remembered my ordeal with Crystal and Shahar.Crystal had called back after Gaia left, panicking."He's going to suspect that we are playing him," I said to her, feeling so frustrated."I know, I know!" sh
VanessaIn the middle of the night, when every being who had peace in them was asleep, I tossed and turned in bed. The sheets beneath me felt rough against my skin. Groaning in annoyance, I slid to my knees on the floor, staring at the corner of the room, blank-eyed.“Just say something,” I whispered.I needed to pray, but I didn’t even know who I was talking to. I shut my eyes tightly and tried again. My lips moved without sound; my throat was too dry. I swallowed and forced the words out.“Dear Goddess...”Ugh.It wasn’t working. She was not dear to me. She felt far, like a stranger. My hands twisted together. I had forgotten how to pray, and somehow that sent a wave of shame through me. My mother used to say the Goddess listened even when we didn’t speak, but I didn’t believe that anymore.I used to pray beside her before bed, before everything fell apart. I used to believe the Goddess cared. A broken laugh escaped my lips. My belief died when they took everything that made me happ
AlecIt felt like my feet were glued to the floor as I watched Vanessa vanish down the stairs. My body still reacted like she was right in front of me. I hated that. I hated how she walked off like she had a choice. Like she could somehow outrun this cursed bond. Like it clung to me more than it did her.As if she was immune.She wasn’t. I knew that. Her blood carried the same Alpha rage mine did. This was her problem too. But she carried it like she had already won something.I pushed my wolf down, but he kept snapping at the inside of my ribs, restless. He didn’t shut up. I started pacing, dragging my fingers through my hair. Her scent still clung to the air. Sweet and sharp. It pissed me off.I moved to the nightstand and picked up the perfume bottle. My mother’s. Jasmine and vanilla. I hated how soft it smelled, but I sprayed it anyway.I needed a different memory.The scent hit me, and the flashback came fast—screams cutting through the courtyard. I’d hidden behind a pillar, too
Vanessa In the middle of the night, I sat cross-legged with papers spread across the floor of my room. My fingers glided over the inked words from the parchment Olga had given me earlier.The Alpha bloodline is chosen by the moon. Enforced by myths. Preserved through fear.I scoffed under my breath. Of course they'd say that. That was their poetry for tyranny.I picked up another paper. A diagram. The Blackmoor pack structure. Alphas. Betas. Gammas. Deltas. Omegas. And then, at the very bottom—us.The rejects.Even their omegas lived better. We were the hands that cleaned their fields, the mouths that fed their hunger. Disposable.My eyes landed on another title: The Rebellion of Valen Hunter: A Warning to Future Traitors.My chest clenched. I leaned forward and read line by line, every word slow.Valen Hunter was executed for crimes against the bloodline. May the goddess silence his lineage.I squeezed my eyes shut.They were jokers. What crime did he commit? They didn’t even say. J
Amma didn’t look back. Her steps kicked up the dust behind her, and her fists clenched at her sides like she was dragging her anger with her. I stood still. My chest felt hollow. The rage rolling off her had knocked the wind out of me, and now all I could do was stare.I didn’t move at first. My legs didn’t listen. It took everything to shift one foot forward, like walking through thick mud. Amma was supposed to understand. She was supposed to comfort me, not make me feel like I’d burned the entire village.I turned away and started walking slowly. The trees swallowed me, and each step felt heavier than the last. I didn’t rush. I didn’t want to get home.Why did she react like I reached out to the goddess and begged for the bond? I didn’t. I never wanted it. I never wanted him.But Amma didn’t wait to hear that. She didn’t ask questions. She looked at me like I betrayed her. Like I betrayed all of them.The house buzzed when I arrived. The higher-ranked females were preparing for a p
Vanessa The air in the Omega base felt stale. Too many bodies and too little hope.The omega's were too weak to fight during the coup so they lived. But if living was like this, perhaps death was better. They were suffering in abject poverty.I stepped over a broken plank and passed a sleeping child curled beside an empty basket. Some of them looked up. Most didn’t bother. Their eyes were flat. Tired. Hungry.The housing was worse than I imagined—if you could even call it housing. Wooden shacks leaned into each other like they were too weak to stand. Some of the younger wolves squatted beside black water, brushing their teeth with twigs.A boy with matted hair sniffed the air when I passed. His stomach was swollen from hunger. I shifted my basket and kept moving. I had brought what I could—some rice, herbs, and clean rags—but it felt like pouring water into a cracked jar.Olga had told me to come. Told me to see what Alec’s “peace” looked like. Told me to remember what he took.And I
Alec I caught her scent before I saw her.Sweet, primal and alive.It hit me as I rounded the corner of the second-floor stairs.My heart slammed hard enough that I felt it in my throat. The bond snapped awake between us, yanking tight across my ribs.And there she was.Vanessa stood a few steps above me, gripping the railing, breathing like she had just run a mile. Her skin glowed under the lights, damp from a heat that hadn't touched anyone else. Her wolf was awake, I could feel it reaching for mine.Every muscle in my body locked.I wanted to take the last few steps and grab her.Bury my face against her neck.Mark her until she couldn’t belong to anyone but me.She took another shaky step down. Her knees wobbled like a newborn pup’s.I stayed rooted where I was.Her eyes found mine, like she'd been caught in the middle of a nightmare.Something primal shoved against my control.My wolf surged, howling for her.Take her. Now.Vanessa’s lips parted. She staggered. Her scent punched
Vanessa’s POVI couldn't let Nina's words slide without knowing what she was up to. I pushed through the servants, ignoring the stupid whispers.Nina was halfway up the stairs leading to the third floor, acting like she had no idea she’d just thrown a torch into dry wood. I ran up the stairs and caught up with her. She turned, calm as still water with a smile on her lips. “What are you up to?” I cried out, exasperated.Nina looked around and whispered, “Walls have ears. You don't want Isabella and Maya to hear this.”She smoothed her skirt and turned back to the stairs. Without glancing back, she said, “Follow me.”Rage crawled up my neck. I stood there with clenched fists, before forcing my legs to move.We didn’t speak as we climbed. When I stepped inside her quarters, my eyes widened.It was nothing short of beautiful and eccentric. The walls were painted deep blue, like the sky right before it surrendered to the stars. A colorful rug sprawled across the floor, alive with shapes
Vanessa The stench of blood hit me before I even reached the laundry hall. The metallic smell clung to my nose and throat, making every breath taste like iron.We were waiting, heads down, buckets lined along the wall. When the hunters dumped the bloodied clothes in front of us, the pile steamed in the cold air."Move," barked one of the guards.We dropped to our knees and started sorting. Thick leather cloaks soaked through, ripped and dark with blood. Some had claw marks. Others, deep slashes. My hands found a warm shirt. My stomach clenched. I bit the inside of my cheek and shoved it into the basin.The head servant, Marga, stormed past. "You're slower than a pack of drunk pups. Hurry up!"My fingers worked fast, scrubbing, rinsing and wringing. The water turned red instantly. A film of blood coated the surface. Every time I dipped the cloth back in, it felt like bathing in ghosts.The memory slipped in before I could fight it.I was thirteen years old, and my dad had just given
AlecThe morning after Olga's prophecy was awful.I woke up with a pounding headache, like my skull was about to split open. But as memories of last night came flooding back, the headache was nothing compared to the deep ache in my chest.My mate.The one person destined to be my perfect match was Valen Hunter's daughter. Entirely unsuitable for me.The thought of being bonded to an enemy felt like punishment. I rubbed my forehead, trying to shake off the fog, but my mind kept circling back to the impossibility of it all.How could the goddess be so cruel?I’d always thought I was blessed and destined for power. Life had spoiled me with luxury, and now I was crowned alpha of one of the most powerful packs on the south coast. People envied me. But now, luck had turned its back on me.It felt like the moon goddess herself had said, "You’ve had enough blessings. Time for a change."And she had changed everything.A bond with Vanessa was unthinkable. Packmates would revolt and use it agai