LOGINHazel’s POV“And why should I go with you?” I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I intended.The atmosphere between us thickened instantly, the air growing heavy and charged. We stared at each other—blue eyes locked on brown—neither of us willing to look away first. The tension felt alive, crackling like electricity just before a storm.Nicholas didn’t answer with words.Instead, he brought my hand to his lips again, but this time it was different. Slower. More deliberate. His tongue darted out and licked a slow, wet line across my knuckles. A shiver ran straight down my spine, hot and unexpected.He whispered, voice dropping low and rough, “Maybe because I’m hot.”I raised an eyebrow, trying to look unimpressed even though my pulse was racing.He didn’t stop.“Or maybe because I’m your husband.”I made a face that clearly said “seriously?”He smirked, then started kissing up my hand—soft, open-mouthed kisses that left a trail of heat on my skin. I wanted to stop him. I should ha
Hazel’s POVEverything was falling into place for the ball.The grand ballroom looked like a dream—crystal chandeliers sparkling, white roses cascading from the entrance arch, deep red roses arranged in elegant vases inside. Servants moved quickly, setting up things, hanging garlands of fresh flowers. I wanted every detail perfect. This was my first ball as queen, and I refused to let anyone compare me to Liora. I wanted it so good they wouldn’t even remember her name.“Your Majesty, where should we put this?” one of the maids asked, holding up a large decorative lantern.I pointed. “Hang that at the entrance. Remember, I want the white roses outside and the red roses inside. Make sure the lighting is soft but bright enough for people to see each other clearly.”“Yes, my queen.” The maid bowed and hurried off.I stood in the middle of the chaos, arms folded, watching everything with a critical eye. My back ached from standing all day, but I didn’t care. This ball had to be flawless.
Nicholas’s POVI stood at the edge of the training field, arms crossed, watching the young warriors spar in both human and wolf form.On one side, Hazel’s personal team with fierce determination—every strike, every block, every shift looked like their lives depended on it. I was impressed. They trained harder than most, as if protecting their queen was the only purpose they had left in this world.Hazel wasn’t in sight, but Dimitri was there, moving between the groups, correcting form, shouting orders. Our eyes locked for a brief moment. He gave a respectful bow, then turned back to the warriors without a word.There was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite place. Loyalty, yes. But also a quiet protectiveness that made my wolf stir uneasily.I hadn’t stopped thinking about Hazel all morning.When I woke up on the couch, a pillow had been placed under my head and a blanket draped over me. That small act alone gave me more hope than I cared to admit. But the fear that she might still
Hazel’s POVI woke up sometime in the middle of the night. The room was dark except for a thin sliver of moonlight slipping through the curtains.I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, and looked toward the couch.Nicholas was lying there awkwardly, one leg hanging off the side, his big body barely fitting on the narrow piece of furniture. His head was tilted at an uncomfortable angle, and even in sleep his face looked tense, like he was still carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.For some strange reason, I felt bad for him.If everything he told me was true—and the bond kept whispering that it was—then it must have been hell for him. Watching me for three years, pretending he didn’t love me, pushing me away to keep me safe. Bleeding inside every single day while I hated him more and more.I didn’t know what possessed me.I stood up from the bed, grabbed a pillow, and walked quietly over to the couch.Gently, I lifted his head and slid the pillow underneath.He stirred slightl
Nicholas’s POV“Did you really think I was going to take it?”Hazel’s voice cut through the room like a whip. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at me with those fierce brown eyes that always managed to strip me bare. The shattered glass and spilled liquid glittered on the floor between us like broken promises.I should have known.I should have known she would pull something like this.But I still let myself hope that the truth would be enough. That the moment I handed her the vial she would drink it without question. That she would trust me enough to let me save her.Stupid. So fucking stupid I stood there, chest heaving, the weight of every lie I had ever told her pressing down on me like a mountain.I stared at the shattered glass on the floor, the liquid spreading. My stomach twisted. That decoy vial had been my last desperate gamble. I’d prepared it the moment I got the real one—filled a fake with plain water just in case she reacted exactly like this. Because thi
Nicholas’s POVMy heart slammed against my chest so hard I thought it might crack my ribs. Each beat echoed in my ears like a war drum, drowning out every sound in the room.I couldn’t believe what I had just seen.Hazel’s hands had glowed—bright, electric blue light dancing across her fingers like living lightning.She quickly hid them behind her back, but it was too late.I had seen it. And the image was now burned into my mind forever.“Hazel… show me your hands.” I commanded, my voice low but trembling with barely contained urgency.She took a step back, her beautiful brown eyes wide with panic, the color draining from her face.“Stay back, Nicholas. Don’t come closer.”In all my life, I had never felt fear like this. It was a cold suffocating dread that wrapped around my throat and squeezed.Not when I stood at her father’s deathbed, watching the light fade from his eyes. Not when I first learned what she truly was—a dangerous, forbidden secret that could destroy us both.Not ev
Hazel’s POVThe second the door slammed behind him, I jumped off the bed like it had burned me.My legs were shaky, knees weak, but I didn’t care. I ran straight to the bathroom, bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor.I dropped to my knees in front of the toilet so hard the impact jarred
Nicholas’s POVI sat on the edge of the bed in my bedroom, elbow on my knees, head bowed like a man waiting for execution.The room was dim, lit only by the moonlight coming through the window, casting long shadows that danced across the stone walls like ghosts mocking me. My mind kept ringing wit
Hazel’s POVBehind me, Nicholas’s voice cut through the air like a thunderclap. “Hazel, what is going on here?”I didn’t turn right away. I let the moment sink in, savoring the way his words hung there, laced with shock and fury. The chants died down just enough for silence to creep in, thick and
Hazel’s POVThe double doors to the throne room burst open with a thunderous crack that echoed off the high stone walls.The sound rolled through the room like a challenge—like a declaration that something in this kingdom had just shifted.Two rows of guards snapped to attention as I stormed throug







