“Elena, I’ve found my fated mate… and I’m marrying her…” After waiting a year for her husband to return home from war, Elena Dooley didn’t expect that instead of hugs and kisses, she would be welcomed by a royal decree legalizing her husband’s second marriage with his mistress. Suddenly, Elena was pushed aside from being a Luna as if she were the third party between the two. But being born into a warrior pack and the daughter of an Alpha of the most respected and powerful warrior pack, Elena stood her ground. She asked for a divorce that would totally take a toll on Bryson’s family. With marriage in ruin and a heart bleeding from betrayals, would Elena trust a man again to be her mate after she rose to be the great warrior she always dreamt to be? Especially if she met the King’s brother, Prince Deacon, who was feared by the kingdom and the Rogues so much that he was given the title of god of war.
Lihat lebih banyakElena's POV
I looked around my room with a sense of warmth slowly creeping into my cold heart. In this very same room last year, I was left alone by my husband on our wedding night, feeling cold and alone.
Instead of the cuddles and kisses I was expecting, I received hurried words of goodbye from him, for the King called him to fight in a battle against the Rogues.
And for the year that came, I was in charge of all the pack issues as I awaited for his comeback.
Standing in front of the empty halls, I stared at the picture of the only family I had left, my husband, the Alpha of Swiftridge Pack – Bryson Renner.
Yes, the only family I had…
Years ago, my father and six brothers died in an unfortunate attack from the Rogues alongside most of our pack’s significant members. With their absence, my in-laws treated me well. So, when my father-in-law was injured in a war, I didn’t think twice about using every means I had to help the new family I had, the Swiftridge Pack.
Though no one asked, I worked to be the best Luna they needed. I would even use my own inheritance to improve the living of their packs and ensure that Bryson’s mother, Courtney, who was sick, was well taken care of. I’ve looked around for the best doctor to check on her and brought every medicine she needed, no matter what the cost.
Although I’ve been a full-time housewife who’s very different from the warrior I’ve been brought up to be, I’m still looking forward to my bright future after reuniting with my Alpha husband.
I smiled as I admired his photo on the wall. He’s a great warrior on the battlefield, but when he was with me, he was nothing but sweet and gentlemanly.
Due to my mother’s last wish, I turned my back from being a warrior and heeded her wishes for me to get married, have children, and lead a peaceful life.
And on her last day in the hospital, Bryson came to her bedside and vowed to her that he’d treat me well for the rest of his life.
Now, the war had ended, and he won another battle that brought glory to the kingdom. Joyful of his return, I held a grand celebratory event to welcome him back.
I was wearing a beautiful midnight blue gown with sparkles on its hem, and I did my makeup and hair. I prepared so well for this, but as I walked toward the hall where the celebration was being held, my in-laws couldn’t even look at me, and the other elders and high-ranking members stared at me with sympathy.
What’s happening? I wondered in confusion.
My questions were then thrown out of the window the second I saw Bryson coming down the stage. A smile immediately formed on my lips as I watched him walk closer and closer to me.
His brown eyes were sparkling with…
My eyes narrowed.
“Elena, I need to talk to you,” he spoke so earnestly that his baritone voice brought a chill to my spine.
"Elena, I've found my fated mate." His words hung in the air after he repeated them, and I saw him smile with a depth of joy I had never seen before.
His hazelnut eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, a stark contrast to the storm raging in my heart, as he continued, "…and I am marrying her."
My wolf, Ava, whimpered inside of me while I froze in bewilderment.
When I opened my lips, ready to refute, he thoughtlessly handed me a letter with the familiar seal of the kingdom.
A cold sweat formed on my forehead, and my legs almost became weak at the sight of it. The last time I received that letter was when the kingdom showed their earnest gratitude and apology when my father and six brothers died in war.
"W-what's that?" I asked.
The last time I received it, I lost the people I love. What would I lose now?
As I grabbed the letter and read it, Bryson spoke, "The King, himself, granted a verdict for my marriage with Glenda. She'll be joining our pack."
It wasn't a question or a suggestion. It's a statement.
Glenda… So, she's his fated mate. How could I not know her? She's, after all, a well-known warrior.
Straightening up my back and keeping calm, I asked, "Glenda… She's a respected warrior from the kingdom, looked up to by every woman and valued by the royal family’s safety forces. Will she be willing to marry you without any title?"
“Without a title? Of course, she’ll be my legal wife and Luna, just like you. You and her will be equal in everything, standing side by side in handling our pack’s affairs.
Legal? Same as me?
I sneered in utter disbelief. “The same? Do you really think making things legal won’t change the fact that she’s a mistress?”
“Don’t call her that! She’s my fated mate, and we earned this marriage by battling through death in the rogue war. You just have to live with that!”
Live with that? That phrase made my ear twitch as it repeatedly echoed in me.
The audacity he had to say such a thing right in my face was beyond me.
“Are you hearing yourself?” I asked, looking at him with eyes filled with betrayal. “Have you forgotten what you promised me on our marriage a year ago?”
He was stunned for a bit. His eyes dimmed as he got lost in thoughts before they glinted with guilt that quickly vanished.
A year ago, right after our marriage ceremony, he brought me to the lakeside near the venue where our ceremony was held.
The moonlight shone before us, and he pulled me beside him, holding me by my waist while we stared at the moon.
He slowly turned his head and whispered his vow right into my ears, which brought butterflies to my belly and warmth to my heart.
“Remember this day, my Love. From today onwards, I’d love no one else but you. You’ll be the only woman in my life.”
My heart was pumping so wild with happiness. I turned my head and met his gaze. “What if you find your fated mate?”
Holding my chin with his thumb and index finger, he lifted my head up and made me stare closer at him. “It won’t change a thing.”
I thought I was very lucky then, but it turned out. It was just a blissful dream I was so cruelly woken up from.
That same man who promised me a lifetime was now looking at me with indifference as he firmly said, “Forget about that. I was clueless then. I love Glenda, and the moon goddess blessed us. We were meant for each other.”
I felt like something in me vanished, and I felt so empty. But despite that, I need answers. Staring at him, I indifferently said, “I want to talk to her.”
“Elena!” he growled protectively.
He took a threatening step toward me. “Don’t you dare cause any unnecessary trouble! You are still a Luna. As long as you properly serve my family and this pack, I promise to give you a child in the future.”
I looked at him in disbelief.
I never thought he’d be so arrogant, totally different from the person he was when he asked my mother for my hand in marriage.
A child? Serve? What did he take me for, a servant? And since when did a child become a piece of reward?
The more he spoke, the more absurd he sounded to me. It’s ridiculous!
Raising my head high, I took a deep breath and pursed my lips as I uttered with conviction, “Then, as the current and only Luna of this pack, I am commanding that you bring her to me.”
Elena’s POVI looked at him admiringly. How lucky was it that we had found each other and that he had offered me this marriage?It might be an arranged marriage, but how come I feel more fortunate about this one than the last?It’s like he wasn’t real. He was setting the standard too high. When Bryson wasn’t there for me and came back only to betray me, I was shattered. I didn’t think I’d ever believe in marriage again, let alone have one fall into my life unexpectedly.But with Deacon… even if this entire arrangement was just a bandage over the problems we were both facing, he was going far and beyond to make it bearable, memorable, and somehow, even perfect.Custodes was no ordinary place. It was secluded, hidden away, and meant for the most elite warriors. Gaining access was difficult, and getting permission without being a member was even more difficult. Almost impossible. And yet, here he was, ready to face anything—anyone—just to ease my worries.He wasn’t even asking me to go w
Elena’s POVI couldn’t help but laugh at his not-so-smooth attempt to change the subject. “You’re really bad at dismissing things.”He grinned sheepishly, avoiding my gaze as he picked up a glass of wine and took a sip. “I just don’t want to talk about that anymore. It’s all in the past.”Turning to face me, his grin widened. “I prefer talking about the present—and most importantly, the future. My future with you. Our wedding.”I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to suppress the grin that threatened to take over my face as he successfully shifted my thoughts.Raising an eyebrow playfully, I asked, “The wedding already?”“Yes, already.” He smirked, clearly pleased with himself. “You didn’t think I’d just sit around and not plan this, did you? This is important to me. I won’t delegate the planning to anyone else.”“Also,” he continued, his eyes lighting up, “I’ve already spoken to a few planners. And trust me, Elena, no one’s as lucky as I am right now.”His excitement was contagious,
Elena’s POVHe let out another soft laugh, as if recalling something silly, and his eyes sparkled with a mix of admiration and teasing. "You used to make this face whenever you tasted something you didn’t like. Took me a few reminders to memorise your taste."I lifted my head in shock, and before I could say anything, we both burst into laughter. It felt like a return to simpler times—before everything had changed, before life had pulled us in different directions.I was never particularly picky with food, but if I’m honest, it wasn’t easy to satisfy my taste buds. I could eat anything, but that didn’t mean I liked everything. I never let it show, or at least, I thought I hadn’t. It never occurred to me that someone might notice the small reactions I had when something didn’t sit right.Once the laughter subsided and we settled into a comfortable silence, my eyes drifted down, and that’s when I saw it again—the keychain hanging from his pocket. The keys and other trinkets were tucked
Elena’s POV“I see they didn’t manage to break you,” Deacon said amusingly, leaning back in his seat like he was offering me the stage to perform.Taking a sip from my wine glass, I shrugged in a half-boast and replied with a smirk, “Well, they tried. But if Bryson’s family and pack didn’t crush me, an angry princess surely won’t.”Deacon chuckled softly and shook his head in awe. His normally sharp features relaxed into admiration as he began cutting his steak into bite-sized pieces. “Tell me everything,” he said. “I want to hear it from your lips, not theirs.”Setting my cup down with a soft clink, I met his gaze steadily. “Your mother… she was discreet, but intentionally emphasised how much of a ‘second-hand bride’ I am. The Grand Princess? She called me shameful. My ex-mother-in-law helped heat things up. And Julie—Bryson’s cousin tried humiliating me by suggesting I’m unworthy.”I recounted it casually, as if we were merely discussing politics over dinner. But from the way Deacon
Deacon’s POVStanding upright with my hands clasped behind my back, I paced the length of the corridor outside the palace's eastern wing. From here, I could hear the faint echoes of music and laughter from my aunt’s birthday banquet. But I couldn’t hear it well enough to distinguish whether it was a laugh of enjoyment or ridicule.I was restless. My combat boots hit the polished marble of the hallway with an echo as I paced around the hallway, the long black coat that draped over me and was barely shielding me from the palace’s cold evening breeze. I had every intention of staying in my office tonight, busying myself with work and waiting for some passing attendant to inform me how the evening went for Elena, but my worry kept me from working.And the moment I heard she had accepted the invitation and come to the palace, I couldn’t sit still.So before I knew it, here I was, stalking the corridor like a warrior in hostile territory.She had been in there far too long already.I tru
Elena’s POVThe atmosphere had turned sharp and brittle, like a thin ice beneath bare feet. Whispers fluttered through the air around us, intensifying the tension as everyone started muttering under their breaths. The weight of their stares clung to my skin, heavy, suffocating. And then came the crack that split it all.Not from the ones you’d expect—not from the Duchess who stood beside me moments ago with warmth in her hand—but from the Grand Princess herself.She let out a loud, unrestrained snort, drawing every eye to her like a signal flare. With a sneer curling at the corner of her mouth, she tilted her head and inspected me with a look that could rot silver.“So this is the woman Deacon has chosen?” she said with venomous amusement. “A divorced woman, rejected by one noble family and now clawing her way into another?”Her voice sliced through the silence like a blade.Gasps echoed faintly around the room.The decor—the soft lighting, the finely tuned string quartet, the scent
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