Author's POVDelay is dangerous, so Lyra moved quickly. Her eyes sharp were focused as she searched through the drawer she had kept closed for weeks. At the very bottom, she found what she was looking for. A tiny vial containing the last remnants of the deadly poison Kael had once fed to the guards. The thick, dark liquid still shimmered faintly, dangerous and silent.She smiled broadly, commending herself for being smart enough to take from the poison when Kael brought it and now he was going to die from the same method he had recommended. Isn't that great? It would be fun to watch him take his last breath while realising that he died from the same poison he purchased.She wrapped the vial carefully and slid it into her robe before heading towards the dungeon to set her plans on motion. Outside the cells, she met one of the guards that she had once given the task to hit and starve him. Alvin was young, reckless, and foolishly ambitious. The perfect target for her schemes.He stood
Author's POVThe night was long and tormenting for Damian as he couldn't sleep. He kept tossing from one end of the bed to another, his mind reeling with strategic plans that could be used to justify Kael's release. And the disappointment of Elara and the pack members.Finally,when morning came, Damian summoned another trusted guard, Erik, and handed him a sealed envelope.“I want you to create evidence — letters, records, anything — that shows Kael was innocent,” he said, eyes hard.Erik’s eyes widened. “Alpha… why would.......?”“Because I said so,” Damian growled in irritation. Everyone now questions his rule, huh? “And no one else must know. Do it quietly. Fast. And make sure it’s convincing.”Erik sensing his mood, gave a reluctant nod, then retreated outside.After he left, he heaved a sigh of relief, hoping that everything went as planned. He walked towards the mini bar and poured himself a glass of alcoholic wine. He threw down a glass. Another glass and another glass, until h
Author’s POVLyra paced around her room like a ragged dog who was running mad, her hands trembling, her breathing shallow, and her mind racing with different scenarios. The moment the guards broke the devastating news to her that Kael survived—her world tilted,. She knew she was so dead and there was no two ways about it.She had planned everything so meticulously. She had thought that everything would go on smoothly. The poison. The delivery. Even the cover-up when Damian and the Rogue King want to investigate. In fact, she had started celebrating her victory in advance. But it failed. It fucking failed woefully.Worse of all, he had survived without a single scratch.Her heart slammed violently against her chest as she clutched her fists like a lifeline.“No… no, no, no…” she muttered under her breath. “How? How is that bastard still alive? How could he know not to eat the food?"The guards had said he lay there, unmoving. They were certain he was dead. But it turned out he had tri
Elara’s POV After leaving the palace yesterday, I had gone to a nearby hotel in the kingdom to spend the night. I couldn't afford to stay in the mansion nor the palace. The place was already suffocating enough and now that I knew that Ethan's corpse was somewhere in one of the rooms, I couldn't afford to spend additional minute there. The night was long and brutal, more than any other nights in my entire life. I couldn't sleep. Anytime I closed my eyes, I feel like someone, Ethan was inside the room with me. His deep blue eyes were staring at me fondly like he was still alive. Like he was still here. But anytime I opened my eyes, there was no one in the room, just thick darkness. All I did was toss from one end of the bed to the other. I stood up and cried at a point until I felt my tears dried up. I paced around the room a few times too until it was morning. When morning came, I made a decision to stay strong. Ethan was already gone and the next thing to do was to get justice fo
Elara's POV It didn't take long before a tear escaped from my eyes and before I could stop myself, more tears started streaming down. I backed away from the bed slowly, my chest caving in. I felt a hand touching my elbow. Turning back, I saw the doctor standing behind me with a stethoscope around his neck and a file in his hands. "Miss Elara," he said softly. "Your father is doing remarkably well physically. But he’s experiencing partial memory loss. It’s common in cases like his after such traumatic accident and experience in coma. We’re hopeful it will improve over time." My heart stopped. My legs felt shaky and I had to grip the drip stand for support. Partial memory loss? That can't..... be. No...... not father. He is a fighter. And no memory loss can hold him down. The doctor continued. "You have to be strong, Luna. He needs your support at this trying time." Strong? How? Ethan is gone. And father again? I had hoped was doing well like mother had said but he wasn't. Serious
Elara's POV He looked at me squarely, his eyes simmering with rage. "Kael’s been released." The silence in the room was suffocating the moment Gomez dropped those words. Kael? Released? No..... That made no sense at all. That was arrant nonsense. I blinked at him repeatedly like I misheard him or maybe he was the one who had made a mistake. Then my hand flew to my mouth as I laughed bitterly. "Nice joke, Gomez. Try harder next time." He has to been kidding, right? Because that is the only thing that explains his claims. But Gomez didn’t laugh. He didn’t even smile. His face was grave. No, he was angry even. Realisation hit me like a sledgehammer and my laugh died abruptly. He continued. "I heard it myself. From inside the palace. Damian released him," he said. "He reinstated him as Beta. He even apologized to him... publicly." The world spiralled into chaos. Released him! Reinstated him! Apologise to him! This was absurd. That can't be. That can't fucking be. My body was tre
Elara's POV They held firm, unflinching. "Alpha Damian is currently unavailable. Please schedule a meeting through official channels." I stared at them, disbelief and betrayal crashing over me all at once. Damian. That asshole. He must have ordered them not to let me in, huh? He was hiding from me like a typical coward that he is. My fury exploded, my wolf roaring inside me. I lunged at the guards, trying to shove my way through. Gomez grabbed my waist from behind, pulling me back. "Elara, stop! You’ll only make it worse!" Make things worse? And why did he think I cared about all that? Things have always been worse and I was only trying to make it better. Gomez should be joining me to fight this assholes and not trying to stop me. "LET ME GO!" I screamed, slapping his hand away from my wrist. And then, a deep, familiar voice cut through the chaos. Cold and commanding. "Let her through." I froze. And slowly, I turned my head and saw him. Damian. He was standing at the top
Lyra’s POV After Kael's departure, it felt like the room walls were closing in on me. I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands trembling so hard I could barely keep my fingers together. Everything inside me screamed at me to run. To disappear. To escape whatever punishment Kael had obviously planned out for me tonight. But deep down inside me, I knew it was pointless. Useless even. Kael was everywhere and anywhere. He was watching me like a CCTV camera and he knows every steps I take. The guards who patrolled the palace halls? They weren't just guarding the palace— most of them were working for Kael. That bastard had more loyal servants than Damian, the king did . His eyes were in the shadows, in the silence, in every goddamn corner I turned. I could feel it. They were like invisible hands tightening around my throat. Hours passed and I was still pacing around like a lunatic, biting down at my lower lip until I tasted blood again. Maybe... maybe I could find a way out? Maybe if I s
Author's POV The warehouse was cold and empty. It was no different from Kael's piercing eyes. He couldn't believe what Lyra had told him over the phone. And that made him so disgusted with everyone and everything. Lyra stood cautiously just in front of him, mindful of his gaze and not wanting to piss him off further. Her arms were folded, her nerves trembling beneath her skin. “Elara’s pregnant," she said, her voice quiet, trembling but urgent. Kael didn’t react immediately. He stared at her for a long, cold moment. Not blinking. Not moving. Just... watching. Like a beast assessing its prey, checking whether or not she was fit to be devoured. “Are you sure?" he asked slowly, voice barely above a whisper. Since Lyra had betrayed him and almost wanted to kill him, he knows better than to trust her blindly. She was good for everything but certainly not an alliance. The devil is better than her if anything. “Yes. I saw the prenatal pills in her room.” Lyra’s eyes searched his fa
Elara's POV Different scenarios crossed my mind but one that stood out was that: It was the names of the people working for him. They had helped him with the company's takeover one way or another and he had kept their name as leverage.... maybe in case they chose to betray him then he'd have something to use against them. That bastard.... but seems just like Damian. He might be reckless but equally smart. Smart to always manipulate people and keep them under him. But then my heart twisted. How could all these people betray my father? Father was nothing but kind to his staff. In fact, he was too kind and they had betrayed him with a second thought. If these many people had betrayed my father and are somehow working with Damian, then.... taking back the company won't be easy at all. Then I found a picture. The room swayed. No. No, this couldn’t be— It was an old picture of Damian, Lyra, Kael and an older man, which I know very well to be the Rogue king. I had seen him countless
Elara’s POV At exactly 12 am, I opened my eyes and for a second, I forgot where I was before I realised I was now in the palace, in Damian's room and on his bed to be precise. The scent of sex and sweat still lingered in the air, a reminder of last night's adventure. Turning to my side, Damian was laying next to me, one strong arm thrown over my waist, holding me in place as if he had somehow expected that I'd sneak away. His breathing was heavy and slowed, lost in the blissful illusion that we were back together again. But we aren't. We can never be. Whatever we had already ended a long time ago. I watched the rise and fall of his chest, the faint glow of the moonlight flickering in through the blinds and falling on his bare skin, and I waited. For a second, a really, really dark thought crossed my mind. If only I could strangle him. Everything would be over. I will finally be free. But I quickly shake my head, shunning the voice. No. I shouldn't do that. I shouldn't become the
Elara's POV “You’re staring,” I said, voice like silk, “Alpha. You like what you see? I bet Lyra can't please you the way I do. I bet her pussy isn't as sweet as mine." His jaw tightened with irritation as if I just reminded him of the name he wants to forget. “Don’t pretend you don’t love it,” he growled, taking a step closer, then another, until he was towering over me. I gave a small, knowing smile. Of course, my deliciousness can't be compared to that whore. And the stupid man in front of me had forgotten about her. Forgotten about the woman who was carrying his 'supposed heir'. “Then make me beg," I taunted. "Make me cry, make me moan," my lord." He didn’t need a special invitation. His mouth slammed onto mine, raw with hunger. There was no gentleness or love here. No. Only savage, unrestrained lust. He devoured my lips, dipping his tongue into my mouth, drinking me in and tasting my saliva like I was the only thing barely holding him from going insane. I gasped in his mout
Elara's POV "Alright, my Alpha. I'm more than happy to serve you tonight." The words spilled out of my mouth like silk, sweet and submissive exactly what I knew he'd like to hear, what I wanted him to hear. Pathetic. I even offered him my most charming smile, the kind that I knew use to captivate him in the past. The one that used to make his eyes darken with lust. And just like I expected, they did work. And he was also surprised. He hadn't expected me to say such words but I did anyways and I didn't regret it one bit. Because every word I said… every breath I took in his presence now… was a blatant lie. Inside me? I was screaming in anger. But then my wolf as always was silent at the moment—I realised she was torn between us—obviously wouldn't mind sleeping with her mate, but she was still bothered that I didn't want to do it. I turned back toward the room, the fake smile washing off my face the moment my back was to him. The moment I knew he couldn't see me and a deep fr
Damian’s POV “Elara’s belongings,” I said coolly, my hands tucked behind my back as I addressed the two maids standing near her door alongside with me. “Pack them. Move everything that belonged to her into my chambers. She’ll be staying there from tonight onward.” The maids exchanged a quick glance of uncertainty before bowing and entering the room. I leaned against the wall outside, waiting. After she left earlier, I was suddenly interested and aroused more than I could control. I needed to act fast before she changes her mind, and it was to test her too. To make sure she really meant well. And also to keep an eye incase she tries to carry out her initial threat of 'I will drag you down from that throne.' I don't want her fooling me again like she did with Ethan. I hadn't find out what really happened between them but deep down inside it feels like Ethan betrayed me. He was fooling me while working for her. Because it was the only explanation that made sense after I saw her bre
Lyra's POV Elara..... That sly bitch. She had barely let me step outside before she slammed the door in my face like any more minutes I spent in her room hinted that I was ruining something.... something important, something she was obviously hiding. I stood in the hallway for a breath longer than I should have, my eyes narrowed, heart racing with suspicion. That satchet… that damn pills on her table. I knew exactly what it was. Prenatal vitamins. I was taking the same pills for my baby recently, although it was a different brand. But hell, I still recognised them if I see them anywhere. Could Elara really be pregnant? Or is it possible for someone who isn't pregnant to be taking a prenatal vitamins? I don't think so. The thought made my heart skipped a beat. I turned on my heels, walking down the corridor. If she was pregnant, then who was responsible for it? Was it Damian? Or maybe....... Ethan? My eye widened at my thoughts, but I quickly shook my head in disagreement. I
Elara's POV Once Clara left, I sat down at the edge of the bed and rubbing my temple and sighing in frustration. I had just remembered that I said I was going to move to Damian's room. This was crazy. I didn't even mean to say that. But the word had left my mouth before I could stop them in a desperate bind to make him believe me earlier. I should have never said that no matter what. Sharing a chamber with Damian again felt like inviting a wolf into my den, one I couldn’t quite keep from growling, or biting. And that kiss… the memory of it alone made my stomach twisted with discomfort. And now? I'd be sleeping in his bed tonight. And I don't need any soothsayer to tell me what was to come next. It was crystal clear that he'd try to sleep with me. He’d use it as a test, a way to claim control and even if it isn't that, I could see I still have an effect on him. And the thought of his hands on me for the whatever reasons, the thoughts of his cock inside me after I had sworn not
Elara’s POV The moment I stepped into my room and the door clicked shut behind me with a soft click, I leaned against it for a long moment, closing my eyes and I had a bit of relief. My chest was still rising and falling from the aftermath of that kiss. I clasped my hands together tightly, trying everything I could to steady my breathing. The disgusting taste of that kiss still lingered on my lips. It was everything warm, aggressive, unforgettable. And it was everything I hated because of the way it had unraveled me in ways it shouldn't. Damn him. For one week I had been preparing for this. And I thought I was fully prepared to take up this role that I had perfectly crafted. This role of being calm, calculated, in control. But it turned out to be harder than I had expected. The moment he pressed his lips on mine, something within me cracked. Something old. Something buried. Something dangerous. Fuck!!! Even my wolf wasn't left out. She had been restless, jumping inside me since