Eve The first question that came to mind when the priestess rose like she had just seen a ghost was—Who the hell is this woman?Fear crawled over my skin, goosebumps rising everywhere, but I forced my face to stay neutral. There was something sharp about the way she looked at me, like she was peeling back layers I had carefully built. Could she sense why I was really here?A chill ran down my spine.The way she stared at me unsettled me. It felt like a warning.I needed to stay calm, act normal. If I overreacted, Axel would notice. He wasn’t stupid. He would start piecing things together, and there was no way in hell he’d let me off easily.Axel was ruthless.And if the priestess warned him that I was a threat… I didn’t doubt he’d get rid of me."The King is right, my priestess," I said smoothly. "I’m a cook who was recommended for the job by someone the King trusts. I’m not mysterious, I assure you."She tilted her head, still watching me too closely."Interesting. And why did you l
EveThe past two days had been quiet without Axel. There wasn’t even a glimpse of him, as if he had vanished. I figured he was probably at the healing center, drowning himself in work like the emotionally constipated man he was.Shahar was another missing person on my list—not that I was about to call him. God forbid. That would just feed his ego, and the last thing I needed was for him to start thinking I actually missed him. I was perfectly fine not having him around, showering me with attention I wasn’t even sure I wanted.Okay, maybe that was too harsh.I had gotten used to Shahar. I saw him as a friend. Without him, I felt bored.Without Axel, I felt restless.Which was stupid.My eyes flicked toward the window, where the sun spilled onto the courtyard.Picking cherries in the garden sounded lik
Axel After my exhausting shift at the healing center, I had no intention of eavesdropping. I was walking back into my castle when I heard Nina’s sharp voice."There is nothing remotely special about you."I stopped in my tracks, watching the two women.Nina stood there, flawless as ever, dressed to perfection, like a sculpture carved from vanity itself. Eve, on the other hand, with her wind-swept curls and unreadable expression, looked nothing like her.Then, just like that, Eve shifted slightly and locked her gaze onto me—like she had felt me coming even before she heard me.My chest tightened.Nina still hadn’t noticed me.I compared them in my mind.Nina was a painting in a gallery—perfect and untouched.Eve, however, was the storm outside the window. Alive. Unpredictable.Nina rushed toward me, her voice dripping with false sweetness."Oh, hi, darling! There you are! I missed you so much! You never answer my calls. What’s going on?"She forced a hug, but when I pulled away, I turn
Eve The open-air markets bustled with vendors as I walked through stall after stall, haggling prices of vegetables and seafood.The banquet was in less than twelve hours. The maids helped chop vegetables, scale and clean the fish, while I began making the sauce for the baked salmon, slicing lamb racks before seasoning them.There was a lot of work to do. I was overseeing the arrangement of food, centerpiece flowers, and making sure each guest had a table.Old Victoria hadn’t bothered to make an appearance in the kitchen—not a single moment spent pretending to supervise or help. I hadn’t expected anything different from her. She had no real authority left. It was better this way, as she was utterly useless, and her presence would have been more of an inconvenience than anything else.A presence filled the room before his voice even cut through the noise. Axel walked into the kitchen, and some of the maids straightened and bowed respectfully. I focused on the stew in front of me, stirr
EightAt exactly 8:00 PM, the banquet began. Nobles, warriors, council members, and some packmates had arrived.I moved through the room, placing dishes onto the buffet table and standing behind it. The guests began serving themselves. Some of the noblewomen stared at the food as if expecting disappointment—some even had the audacity to ask for the former head cook.A noblewoman wrinkled her nose as she ladled a small portion of stew onto her plate, eyeing it before moving down the table. Her friend took a slice of meat as if testing its worth. I didn’t let it bother me. They were the least of my worries, and I knew they would be back.Minutes passed as I watched from my station. Then it happened—the first noblewoman leaned toward her companion, muttering something. They both rose from their chairs, and one by one, guests started returning to the buffet table, eager to eat more.The same woman who had initially acted unimpressed filled her plate with more than she could carry. I looke
AxelThe hall pulsed with excited energy. At the far end, seated on the throne-like chair, I remained composed, scanning the room and observing every interaction.We all knew what was coming. The sound of the gong was enough to shift the energy in the room.The execution.Two warriors in black leather and iron armor stepped into the hall. Between them, a traitor was dragged forward, his wrists shackled, and face bruised and covered in dried blood.The warriors forced him onto his knees in the center of the hall. He spat blood onto the floor and, despite the agony in his battered body, I saw the rebellious streak in his eyes.I rested my forearm on the carved wolf's head of my chair, watching him."What is his offense?" Shahar asked, standing beside me.
EveThe moment Axel stepped into the garden, I caught his scent long before he reached the lake. It was distinct, and even if my nose was doused with a thousand other scents, I would still recognize it.I didn’t need to turn around to know he was there, watching.And tonight, I would let him.My toes curled over the water before slipping in, sending a shock through my limbs, but I didn’t flinch. Instead, I took off my robe and let my body sink into its embrace with an unhurried, deliberate movement.I let myself float for a moment, my limbs slicing through the water, sending ripples that danced across the pool. My hair fanned out behind me as I swam slowly, taking my time, feeling the weight of Axel’s stare pressing against my skin.He hadn’t moved.
Eve My lust grew potent, and the flame of desire kindled between my thighs. Axel was asking for a massage, and the thought of seeing him naked drove me wild with distraction. He sat on the bench, watching my next move with a dangerous smile. My hand twitched in my lap. I needed to touch him. To feel his warm body pressed up against me.“Come on,” he chuckled. “I don't bite. Well…not unless you want.”That made me laugh out loud.A wicked spark lit in his eyes as he raised one brow at me in an invitation. It was tempting. Very, very tempting.Sighing, I reached for him. His expression was priceless as it twisted into a mischievous grin, and he stretched out, completely at my mercy. My hands were already starting to work their magic. I started at my ankles, kneading the tight muscles with the right amount of pressure. He let out a low groan as I moved up to his calves. "You're tense," I murmured, voice low and sultry.Without thinking, my fingers brushed against the bulge in his p
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
AlecShe was gone, but her scent was everywhere.Vanilla, honey, and pure heat underneath.I could smell her need. That scent of a bonded female aching to be claimed. And fuck, my wolf wanted to chase.Before she revealed her name, my heart leapt with excitement. It reminded me of easier times, before the weight of everyone’s expectations had crushed the part of me that used to feel alive.I pressed my back to the wall, breathing like I’d just come out of a fight. The goddess hadn’t given me a mate. She'd shackled me to the daughter of a traitor. Pain twisted in my chest. My wolf was restless, howling for her. I was one second away from losing control."Go to her," he cried. "She’s ours."I ripped the ceremonial robe and tossed it into the flames. Then I began punching the wall repeatedly. I punched until my knuckles bled. Still, the feeling didn’t leave."Shut the fuck up," I bellowed at my wolf, who was starved for our mate’s touch. "Do you even realize what you're asking me to do
Laughter echoed through the halls as they crowned Alpha Alec.He was the heir to a throne built on my family’s grave.I used to walk these halls in silk. Now I scrub their floors with raw hands and silent tears.Alec had been away for six years, training with Northern warriors. He was so ruthless that his bites could break bones. In his years of absence, I had plotted my revenge."You're wasting soap, rat."I flinched as cold water splashed against the side of my face. Laughter followed. Two maids, always eager to bully me whenever the head maid was busy, were at it again.“She thinks scrubbing harder will clean her filthy bloodline,” one of them sneered. Her broom handle knocked over the bucket beside me, spilling soapy water across the floor and into my lap.“Please stop,” I said, keeping my head down.“I hope Alpha Alec throws you into the dungeon so we don’t have to look at your evil eyes anymore.”They had no idea how dark my mind was. I played the meek servant, took all the abu