로그인Lyra's POV The whip cracked against my back again, and I screamed until my throat was raw.Twenty lashes. Twenty brutal, agonizing strikes that tore through my skin.I couldn't stop crying. Not just because of the pain, though the pain was unbearable. Not just because my back felt like it had been shredded to ribbons.But because of what I had done. Elara.Sweet, kind Elara, who treated me like a friend instead of a servant. Who gave me my own room when I should have been sleeping in the servants' quarters. Who laughed with me, confided in me, trusted me.And I had poisoned her.The whip struck again, and I sobbed harder, my body convulsing with each blow.I didn't mean to. I didn't want to. I would never have hurt her.But they had my daughter. My baby girl.I could still see the picture in my mind. Her tiny body tied up, her mouth gagged, her eyes wide with terror.They said they would kill her if I didn't do it.What was I supposed to do? The final lash came down, and I screamed
Kael's POVI knew something was going to happen. I didn't know when. I didn't know how. But I felt it in my bones, in the way my wolf had been restless for days, pacing and snarling inside my head.It was why I'd been so hard on Elara. Why I'd pushed her to train harder, to control her emotions, to prepare herself for what was coming.But not in a thousand years did I think Lyra would do something like this.Elara's own personal maid. The woman she treated like a friend. The woman she trusted with her life. No matter how careful we were, we always had that one person we trusted. It made me so grateful for my twin.My chest tightened as I stared at her, my hands trembling with rage at the betrayal."It was me," Lyra whispered again, her voice breaking. "I did it."Luca went cold beside me.The warmth in his eyes, the protectiveness that had been there moments ago, vanished completely. He should respond that way. Elara was our queen and he knew Lyra would never be let off easily.He did
Lyra's POVThe scream tore from my throat. "She's been poisoned!"My hands trembled as I watched Elara convulse, blood pouring from her mouth, her nose, her eyes, her ears. So much blood.King K moved faster than I'd ever seen anyone move, catching her before she hit the ground. His face was a mask of terror as he scooped his mate into his arms, cradling her against his chest."Elara love. Please, stay with me." His voice cracked.Draven was already on his feet, his eyes blazing red. "Get the healer!" he roared at a guard. "Now!"Kael didn't wait. He bolted toward the stairs, taking them three at a time, Elara limp in his arms.But Draven didn't follow.He stopped at the base of the stairs, his chest heaving, his hands clenched into fists."Arrest them," he snarled, his voice low and deadly. "All of them. The cooks. The maids. Everyone who touched the food."My blood ran cold."My king, please—" one of the cooks stammered."Silence!" Draven's roar shook the walls a she ordered the gu
Elara's POV My mouth hung open, eyes widening as I took in everything. The decorated tables laden with different foods, the soft music playing in the background, the banners strung across the ceiling.Tommy, Collins, Freya, my dad, Luca, a man I hadn't exactly seen before, and Lyra stood clapping, their faces bright with genuine smiles. On the main table sat a massive cake with "Congratulations On Your Awakening" written in elegant icing.Tears burst from my eyes, my lips stretching into the widest smile as I broke into a run straight toward my dad."Thank you, thank you, thank you," I sobbed, wrapping my arms around him.He chuckled, patting my back. "It wasn't me, sweetheart. The Kings organized everything."I pulled back, staring at him in surprise before turning to Kael and Draven. They stood there watching me, their expressions soft.I launched myself at them, throwing my arms around both their necks."Thank you," I whispered. "This is incredible.""Anything for you," Kael murm
Elara's POV I pulled away from them, my chest heaving, my skin still buzzing with the aftermath of the rage. My hands were shaking."Elara," Kael started, reaching for me.I stepped back, shaking my head. "Don't.""Baby, wait," Draven said, his voice gentle.But I couldn't. I couldn't stand there and let them see me like this. Broken. Uncontrollable. Dangerous. I should be able to do better than this right? What the hell was wrong with me?I turned and ran."Elara!" Kael shouted, but I didn't stop.My legs carried me across the training ground, through the palace gates, up the stairs. I could hear them behind me, calling my name, but I didn't care.I reached my room and slammed the door shut. My chest was tight, my breaths coming in short, painful gasps.Rowan. Rowan. Rowan.His name echoed in my head like a curse I couldn't shake. His hands on me. His voice in my ear. His pheromones forcing me to submit.My blood boiled, rage flooding every inch of my body. I wanted to kill him. I
Rowan's POVI sucked in another drag of the cigarette, the smoke burning down my throat like acid. It wasn't enough. Nothing was ever enough anymore.My hands trembled as I brought the cigarette to my lips again, the embers glowing red in the dim light of my office. Around me, the mansion felt suffocating, the walls closing in with every passing second. I constantly felt irritated by everything.Elara.Her name was a wound that wouldn't heal. There was a festering infection spreading through my veins. I could feel it, the darkness creeping up my arms, black veins pulsing beneath my skin.I glanced down at my forearm, watching the veins writhe and twist, spreading further toward my shoulder. My powers were weakening. Every day without her made me less of what I was, less of an Alpha.She was mine. Mine.And those fucking Lycan kings had stolen her.I crushed the cigarette in the ashtray, my jaw clenching so hard I thought my teeth might crack. I needed a drink. I needed something to t
Elara's POV "Stay with you?" I repeated, my voice wavering slightly.The idea was both terrifying and tempting. Being around them constantly, in their space, where I'd be surrounded by their scent and their presence was something I would very much love. Staying with Clara meant putting her in dang
Kael's POVWe both froze like statues as the knocking continued, cutting off the warm pleasure I'd been sinking into. I cursed under my breath and glanced up at Draven, who was still watching us with an entertained smirk curling at the edge of his mouth. The bastard pulled out his earphones, clearl
Elara's POV The word "no" shot out of me before I could even think twice, and both of them stared at me with such identical expressions of surprise that I almost laughed despite myself. "Ashamed of us?" Kael asked, his icy blue eyes not leaving my face. There was no anger in it, just a look of wo
Elara's POV I panicked immediately, jerking my hand away from Draven's and scrambling to wipe my face. There was already a lot of drama going on at the office because of me, I didn't want to further complicate things, but I guess all that worry faded away the moment I saw who walked in. "Whew,







