WINTERA week passed and in that time Valtor was rarely at the castle. Which was a blessing because whenever he was away, the pull I felt toward him dulled and at least it didn’t torment me so much. I had abandoned whatever hope I might have carried for this bond after Loran’s explanation that day.I remember Loran also said Valtor already had a mate, and a Rogue who had once claimed a mate would never take another.“If you’re bored here you can always wander around, just make sure not too far from the castle,” Loran suggested as we were dining together. “There’s an apple grove not far from here and a hot spring with a waterfall."“I’ve seen the waterfall before, I’m allowed to go there?”“Of course. The maids often bathe there after their work, it’s free for anyone to enjoy.”The thought drew a smile to my lips. I had to admit that spending time in my room after training was beginning to weigh on me. So taking Loran’s advice, I decided to go after dinner. He had already left to atte
CRYSTAL“You’re in your fourth month, Luna. The baby is strong, I can already sense it will grow to be a powerful Alpha for this pack.” Gretta the healer, said as she pressed her palm gently against my belly.A smile broke across my lips.“You hear that, Kallias? Our baby will be known throughout the packs.” I turned to Kallias eagerly, clutching his arm as I leaned against him.But he said nothing. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to his face and my own smile faltered. “You’re not happy?”“Why did you say that? I’m so happy, Crystal.” He bent and pressed a kiss to my forehead.“You’re lying. You’re still thinking of Winter, aren’t you?” My voice lowered, “She’s dead, Kallias. Your men saw it themselves she was attacked by a wild bear."Months had passed since Winter left this pack and I became the new Luna. But no matter what I did, no matter how much I gave, Kallias never truly let her go. He always told me he had never loved her, but why does her leaving haunt him so much?“Kallias! Where
WINTER'NO!'I shook my head, panic clawing at my chest.This couldn’t be happening! There was no way the man standing before me was my mate. But the harder I fought against it, the more that insistent pull surged inside me.My wolf recognized him, craved him, and that undeniable bond gnawed at the edges of my reason. If I surrendered to it, I'm afraid it would swallow me whole.So with a sharp movement, I slapped Valtor’s hand away from my face.“Don’t touch me,” I warned.Surprise flickered in his eyes for the briefest moment. But just as quickly, his composure returned. “There’s a bruise on your face,” he said flatly.I lifted my fingers to the spot where his touch had lingered. “It’s from training earlier but it doesn’t bother me. You don’t need to pity me.”I tore my gaze away from him, afraid that if our eyes met again the bond tugging at me would flare to life. I still couldn’t accept it. How could Selene be so cruel as to bind me to him?From what I know Rogues had mates just
WINTER“It’s enough, Winter. You did a good job today now let's get back to the castle.” Loran’s voice drifted from behind me, but I didn’t stop.With the blindfold still strapped over my eyes, I kept driving my fists into the target in front of me again and again. My body screamed with exhaustion, sweat dripping down my skin, but I couldn’t quit after what Valtor said about me.I wasn’t weak. And I would prove it to that man.“Did I hit the mark again, Loran?" I panted.I knew he was still nearby but no answer came. The silence pressed against me until unease curled in my stomach. Frowning, I ripped off the blindfold. My lashes fluttered as my vision adjusted to the darkness.I turned and froze in an instant seeing that not only Loran was there but Valtor too. His gaze fixed on me before sliding to the battered training target.And seeing him made my anger surface again. So before I could lose myself to the storm rising inside, I tried to shoulder past him. But his hand shot out clos
VALTORI hate weak people and I don’t regret admitting it. But the flicker of pain in the woman’s eyes before me cut deeper than I anticipated.“How easily you judge me as weak…” Her voice faltered, “Because if you weren’t, you would fight.”She was just silent when they treated me like shit. This woman was once a Luna, like a queen to her pack, right? How could she not know how to fight?Earlier when I saw the scene, something inside me twisted in a way I couldn’t name. Painful memory I had long buried clawed its way to the surface. Weakness could cost someone's life. And I don't want to watch it claim hers.“What would you want me to do if it happens again?” Winter asked, her gaze locking on mine.“Show them you’re not someone they can walk over.”“I can’t promise I won't hurt your lovely maid.” Her voice is now sharper.“Then so be it,” She only held my gaze for a moment, as though she couldn’t quite believe the words that had left my mouth. Then with a faint smirk, Winter whis
WINTERMy face burned with humiliation but I shoved the feeling down. I pushed myself to my feet, fixing her with a glare that grew brighter the longer I held it. This was too much and I couldn’t take it anymore. Before I had even thought it through, my hand was already moving.I slap her hard.The maid's eyes widened briefly before narrowing with fury that burned like wildfire. Anger swirled in them as she snapped, “How dare you lay a hand on me? Who do you think you are here?!"“Whoever I am, you have no right to treat me like this-"But my words barely left my lips before I caught the subtle flick of her hand, a signal to her friends. It happened so fast I didn’t even have a chance to react. Suddenly hands were everywhere; yanking at my hair, claws raking across my arms, fists slamming into my ribs and stomach.The blows drove me down on my knees. The air was knocked out of my lungs, leaving me choking on the ache in my chest. Then she seized a fistful of my hair, wrenching my