Chapter 135|| Alberto's POV ||I didn't sleep well last night.Too many things were piling up -- Elinda's name was swirling around the Mafia rumors, Clara was still with Mikhail, and my mother had suddenly handed me an assistant, Catherine, like I was some bachelor prince waiting for a queen. I didn't trust any of it.I sat at my desk the following morning sorting through security reports when Catherine came in — elegant, and clutching something in her hand."A card was delivered for you, Alpha," she informed me, setting it down on my desk.I arched an eyebrow. The envelope was jet black with a golden serpent symbol etched into the seal. Mikhail.I tore it open and read the words within. A party. Naturally. He had hosted a lavish party and invited me to come. Not invited — the tone was insistent. He would have expected me to come."I'm not going," I said curtly, throwing the card away.Catherine picked it up and flattened it with her fingers. "You should."I stared at her, taken abac
Chapter 134|| Alexis’s POV ||The roar echoed through the hall.One moment, I was standing in front of Kai, my fists clenched, every muscle in my body coiled with fury. The next, he lunged at me with bloodlust in his eyes.I didn’t even flinch. I was ready. If he wanted a war, I’d give him one—right here, right now.But then—“Elinda, NO!”Too late.A blinding silver light erupted beside me. The room trembled as her bones cracked and shifted, fur sprouting like wildfire over her skin. In an instant, Elinda’s Lycan form stood towering between me and Kai, her snarl shaking the walls. Her eyes weren’t just golden—they were glowing. Dominant. Angry.She didn’t hesitate.She launched at Kai.Claws outstretched, teeth bared, fury unleashed.Kai’s eyes widened, but he was quick. He shouted something to his men, and in the blink of an eye, he took an escape. His guards followed like dark shadows, retreating through the shattered window Elinda’s roar had cracked.Gone.The whole hall went sil
Chapter 133|| ALEXIS'S POV ||After Alberto left that day, storming out the door and leaving the last hopes of our friendship in his wake, I stood there for hours—paralyzed. His words hurt my ears. And yet, even as the silence grew heavy with regret, I did not falter. No. My heart had never been stronger.Elinda was mine.Not as property, not as some political bargaining chip, not even as a Luna to be sell out. She was my decision. The only one I'd ever make with complete certainty.And I was going to tattoo that decision for the whole world to see.I broke the news the next day to the council of my pack.They tried to protest, of course. My maternal uncle nearly pounded his fist through the table. My grandfather refused to even look at me. One of the elders cursed that I was bringing disaster upon ourselves by joining our bloodline with the Lycans.Let them yell. Let them threaten."She is the only one I trust with me," I said softly. "This is not a request. Prepare the Luna ceremon
Chapter 132|| KAI'S POV ||The scent of bitter herbs wafted through the hallway as I leaned against the carved window frame of the southern tower, smoke rising over rooftops in the distance. A raven wailed outside. Ominous.My spy huddled at my rear, his breath held. I did not glance back at him. I had no need."Repeat it," I snarled, my fingers tapping idly on the stone sill.He coughed. "Alexis… is mated to Elinda. The Lycan Princess."A slow smile spread on my face. Oh, fate was generous this morning."Are you certain?""Confirmed, my Lord," he said, head still lowered. "She's been seen living in his territory. Their guardsmen treat her like a Luna. People whisper in the pack."My smile shifted into something ugly. "So the rogue Mafia dog has claimed the Lycan gem for himself."This was fine. Blew up in my mouth. And exactly what I needed.I turned to him. "And Alberto?""He came looking for her. There was a scene with the two—nothing physical, but bad. Elinda chose to stay with A
Chapter 131|| Elinda's POV ||I didn't bring a bag. I didn't notify anyone. I didn't even look back at the palace as I slipped out through the side gate in civilian attire and hood. I could not stay there—not with Alberto looking at me as if I were something to be ashamed of and Mother reminding me of all the weight I carried. I was no longer a Queen. I was merely a woman who loved the wrong man at the wrong time—and still longed for him above all else.It was night when I came to Alexis's territory. His guards stuttered at my sight, and I knew I had broken rules. But care now was of no use to me. I insisted on seeing him—no, I requested him. And when he appeared, his feet froze and heaving for breath, as though he had been running merely to get to me—my heart broke and reformed all in a single moment."Elinda?" His voice cracked like the world had been torn open.I stared at him, fighting to remember how to breathe. "I don't want to run anymore."He didn't say anything. He just ste
Chapter 130|| ELINDA’s POV ||I stood in the middle of the war room, my words still echoing in the heavy silence. “I’m stepping down as Queen.”Gasps. Whispers. The sound of stiff collars and feet shuffling in shock. But I did not move—not even when my mother came storming in, wide-eyed, her entire face burning with anger and terror."Elinda!" she snarled, jerking my wrist and dragging me sideways. "What were you thinking? Have you gone crazy?"I yanked my hand loose. "Doing what I should have been doing years ago."She glared at me as if I'd ripped the crown from my own head and thrown it on the fire. "You're turning the pack against you. You know that? They will mark you a traitor. You'll be turned rogue—your own kind will track you down!""Then let them," I said coldly. "I'd rather be a rogue than die a puppet.".Her lips trembled, her face locked between desperation and rage. "You don't know what you're doing, Elinda. This isn't about you anymore. The pack—Alberto—they'll blame A