AxelShahar followed closely behind as we walked out to the hangar to fly a mini-plane. The blue sky stretched above us, promising a smooth flight with no turbulence. Shahar pulled up the flight planning app while I climbed into the cockpit, flipping the switches with the ease of muscle memory. The hum of the engine was a familiar comfort as I turned on the master switch, adjusted my headset, and tuned into the local airport frequency.From the corner of my eye, I caught Shahar stealing glances at me—his way of silently asking if I was okay. It was written all over his face, but I was too tired of explaining the same thing over and over again. Some days were better than others, but then there were days like this, where the weight of everything threatened to crush me. Flying was my escape. It was the one place where the sky didn’t judge me, where the air carried me far from the curses that had tethered me to an existence of unhappiness."Gaia thinks I should try shifting again," I sa
Eve I decided to cook to make up for my earlier “disrespect” towards the king. The last thing I wanted was for him to fire me when I hadn’t even fulfilled my mission for being here. If I got kicked out now, all my efforts and the humiliation I had endured would have been for nothing.I chose to make something not too fancy but still wholesome—Cowboy steak with charred corn panzanella. A hearty meal, but not extravagant enough to come across as trying too hard.To distract myself, I tuned into the radio station that broadcasted to the general werewolf packs. The familiar voice of Alex, the presenter, filled the kitchen. I liked him because he was balanced, and never biased. He spoke about issues that truly mattered rather than the usual useless gossip that flooded most channels.As I chopped my avocados, the discussion on the radio deepened. Correspondents called in, talking about the greed among some Alphas who wasted resources meant for their people. Another spoke about the worsenin
Eve Shahar sat beside me in the sitting area of the restaurant, which overlooked the sea. The location was carefully chosen—far from the hustle and bustle of the main pack territory. The atmosphere was intimate, enhanced by the sea breeze that made the lantern-lit ambiance feel even more romantic . The walls were adorned with traditional motifs, and the scent of salt and freshly grilled seafood lingered in the air.Still, despite the beautiful setting, I couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling that we were doing something wrong by leaving Axel all by himself.“He’s fine,” Shahar said for what felt like the thousandth time. “I see you’re wearing your cloak of empathy.”I peeled my gaze away from him and stared at my plate—stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp, tofu, and sauce. Empathy, indeed. If only he knew my real reason for being here. I was on a date with the best friend of my enemy, with the very person who could unwittingly help me get the information I needed. How ironic.“But
EveI brushed my teeth with the force of someone who had swallowed something absolutely disgusting. My grip on the toothbrush was so tight that I felt pity for the poor brush.I kept scrubbing, harder and harder, as if I could erase the memory of what had just happened. I brushed so aggressively that my gums began to sting, but I didn’t stop.Maya was fuming inside me, pacing and growling like a caged animal. But oddly enough, the pain this time wasn’t as sharp as it had been when Axel had been the one betraying us. Maybe because I was the one doing the cheating this time. “He deserves it, " I spat out, rinsing my mouth and squeezing another dollop of toothpaste onto my brush. “Let him feel the same pain he caused us.”But even as I said those words, a sinking feeling settled in my gut. When did I become so stupid? When did my revenge turn into this twisted mess of emotions? Axel had been brought in earlier looking like he had barely survived the day, and here I was, testing his pa
EveAxel didn't come downstairs for breakfast, and with Victoria gone to her family house for the weekend, his meal was in my hands.A maid had informed me that he hadn't left his bedroom since the previous day, and somehow, my messed-up concern for him took over. Against my better judgment, I decided to prepare chicken broth.Before heading to his room, I rushed back into mine, spritzed on a mild body mist, and quickly fixed my hair. I braided it into a long plait before rolling it into a bun and securing it with pins. Then, I washed my hands, carefully plated the food, and took a deep breath before stepping out.Why was I even bothering to look good for someone who couldn’t give two fucks about me?I shook my head, scolding myself internally as I climbed the stairs. When I reached his bedroom door, I hesitated for a brief moment before knocking lightly.Silence.I knocked again, this time a little louder.Still, no response.I exhaled and slowly pushed the door open.Before I even t
AxelA heaviness settled in my limbs, making it nearly impossible to open my eyes. Though I was aware of my surroundings, my body refused to cooperate. It felt like sleep paralysis, where my mind was awake, yet my muscles remained frozen. Even so, I could sense when someone entered the room. The soft pad of footsteps was light, and the scent was undeniably feminine.I struggled to lift my eyelids, fully expecting to see Nina standing over me, as she often did, uninvited and overstepping her boundaries. But when I finally forced my eyes open, I was met with Shahar’s latest fascination, Eve.She stood stiffly beside the bed, rigid as if she had just been caught doing something she shouldn’t have. Her eyes widened in shock, and I could tell she was trying and failing to mask her reaction.Her fingers had been on me.I could feel the sensation—a light touch tracing the scar along my ribcage. She had yanked her hand away as if I had burned her. My gaze scanned the surroundings, noting th
EveFire surged from Axel’s body to mine, igniting a lustful, sinful sensation so overwhelming that I was blind to everything but the pleasure coursing through me.He was all I wanted, all I could think about. A forbidden longing had taken root, sending a delicious shiver down my spine.The need to possess him, to be claimed by him, burned hotter than anything I had ever felt.I ran a hand around his abdomen, massaging with oils until he arched into my touch. His breathing grew heavier, and his muscles relaxed beneath my touch.His closed eyes and slightly parted lips were a sign that he was enjoying the sensation of my hands working his muscles.The dirty part of my mind imagined him buried inside me with a savage thrust.I inhaled the scent of the bond, and my chest rose and fell with an unspoken desire.My hands slipped beneath his shirt and stroked over the warm skin. When I rubbed his left nipple between two fingers, he sucked in a breath, and his eyes widened Reality struck.He
EveI hid behind a stone-carved pillar, watching Axel preside over the throne room.He sat in full regalia, a dark military jacket adorned with golden insignias, a cape trimmed with fur flowing behind him like a mark of absolute authority.His presence alone was enough to command the room, and when he spoke, his voice held an effortless power that silenced all other voices—the unmistakable voice of a king.The council members, mostly older males, surrounded him, discussing political matters. Despite Axel being a major asshole, there was something undeniably majestic about him. He exuded control, and whether I liked it or not, I couldn’t deny that it was captivating.I tore my gaze away from him and turned my attention to the two brothers standing before him. A land dispute had brought them here, and I could already tell, even without hearing much, that the older one was greedy and manipulative.“That land was our father’s legacy, not your personal kingdom!” the younger brother argued
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
Vanessa The bruises had faded, but the ache remained. It was so deep nothing could touch it. My wolf was still weak from Olga’s wolfsbane. She wasn’t silent, but her voice and cries were faint.I felt sorry for poisoning her in the first place. But if I had to do this over and over to suppress this bond, I wouldn't hesitate.The memory from last night rushed in. Lucas had tried to kill me, and Alec had stopped him, saved me, carried me... then stood over me and said I was a threat.He kept sending mixed signals, confusing me. He needed to pick a side already.Picking a side wouldn’t change the fact that he killed my father. I got dressed and headed out. The morning gong had rung earlier to wake the servants, but no one had woken me. They had all witnessed the horrifying event last night.No high-ranking wolf ever came down to the servants’ quarters.That changed yesterday because of me. Because of me, the Alpha punched his trusted Beta.As I stepped out, everyone stared at me like
AlecLucas slammed the door without knocking."If you’ve lost your damn mind, just say it out loud so I can send for the psychiatrist."I didn’t look up from the blade I was sharpening."Get out.""No. Not until we explain what the hell that was last night."He paced around the room like a rabid dog, chest out, pride bruised."You punched me in front of that servant girl!"My jaw tightened. "Stop whining, Luc. I warned you not to kill her.""And why should I listen to you? She's a traitor's spawn. We should’ve gotten her the moment the bond snapped into place. You think you can hide her? This isn’t about your feelings—it’s about what the Kingdom sees.""Stop it," I said flatly. "You’re beginning to sound like a broken record. I have a mind of my own.""Then use it," he snapped. "You’re showing weakness: This is not like you. I’ll keep reminding you every fucking minute if it keeps you from wrecking your life."I shot him a sharp look. "I hope you haven’t told your loudmouth wife anyth
Vanessa The pack house was riddled with immorality.The sounds of sex echoed off the marbled walls. Every corner reeked of wine and sex.Usually, I found my escape. It was a miracle I hadn’t lost my virginity while living in this immoral pack for eight years.Except for that one time when one of the servant boys, Zachary, tried to lure me into his bed. I always counted myself wise and lucky. My being in the main court was on purpose. I wanted to see Alec's reaction to someone manhandling me. "On your knees, traitor bitch," a drunken gamma slurred as he grabbed a goblet of wine, spilling it down my breasts. "Were you not trained to please?"I smiled, because that’s what servants do, and because I had caught Alec watching.Across the hall, he watched me. He stood at the throne, surrounded by well-wishers. His fiancée, Maya, clung to his arm like a jewel. I was glad that he saw me."I’m sorry, sir," I said softly, taking my time to unzip the drunken gamma.My heart fell. Alec's reactio