The grand doors of Ironcrest’s Pack’s palace swung open with a heavy clang, drawing every pair of eyes in the great hall.Sabrina stood there, draped in a deep crimson gown that shimmered like blood under the chandeliers, her lips painted the same shade. Her sudden reappearance after weeks of vanishing left the pack murmuring in shock.One maid immediately informed Beta Elion and Alpha King Reis about Sabrina's return. Beta Elion and Alpha King Reis were in the office room discussing some pack matters. When the maid informed them they came running downstairs in the ballroom. Someone informed Queen Luna Jennifer too. Her brother, the Beta Elion, rushed forward, his face lighting up with relief. “Sabrina! You are safe. We thought…”She smiled sweetly, though her eyes glinted with something darker. “Did you really think I could disappear so easily? I’m stronger than that.”But Jennifer, standing at Reis’s side, felt her stomach knot. Her wolf growled low in warning. Something about Sabr
JENNIFER…..When my phone buzzed, I was already half-asleep.A message from Reis.‘Meet me in the woods. I have a surprise for you.’My heart leapt stupidly at first. He was always so serious… maybe this time he’d planned something sweet. Smiling, I slipped into my cloak and headed out quietly out of the house. The forest was hushed, shadows stretching long beneath the moonlight. I called out softly, “Reis?”No answer.Instead, a figure stepped out from behind the trees.My smile vanished.“Sabrina.”Her lips curved into a mocking grin. “Disappointed?”Before I could react, something sharp pricked my neck. My gasp tore out as my body weakened instantly, the world tilting under my feet.“You…” I hissed, stumbling, “you tricked me.”“Of course I did.” Her voice was cold, gleeful. “It’s the only way to level the field. You always ruin everything, Jennifer. Reis should have been mine. You snatched him from me. After you die, he will be mine. You won't leave him so it's the only way left
JENNIFER….For a while, I thought Sabrina had quieted down. She smiled when Reis was around, curtsied politely when I passed her in the halls, and even offered me tea with that perfect painted smile. But I knew better, snakes don’t change their skin, they just wait for the right moment to strike.And then the small things started.It began with a necklace.One night while Reis was bathing, I was putting away his freshly folded shirts in his drawer. That’s when I noticed the velvet box tucked neatly at the back. Curious, I opened it. Inside was the most delicate silver necklace, a small sapphire glinting in the center. My lips curled into a soft smile.He’s planning to surprise me.I closed the box and placed it back, warmth blooming in my chest. For days, I waited.But then, during a training session, I froze mid-step. Across the courtyard, Sabrina stood laughing with another She-wolf, sunlight glinting off her throat.And there it was.The same necklace. Resting proudly against her p
JENNIFER…..When I opened my eyes again, the healer’s wing was quieter. The sun had shifted, spilling golden light through the tall windows, and the air smelled faintly of herbs and smoke.Reis was still there, slumped in the chair beside my bed, his head tilted slightly, lips parted in exhausted sleep. Even then, his hand was wrapped around mine as if he feared I’d slip away if he loosened his grip.My chest ached, not just from the wound but from the sight of him wearing himself down for me. I shifted slightly, wincing at the pull in my side, and that was when I noticed her.Sabrina.She stood at the foot of my bed, perfectly poised, her long golden hair braided back, her face composed in that flawless, practiced smile. Her eyes flickered briefly to Reis, soft, almost tender before landing back on me.“You’re awake,” she said sweetly, though the syrup in her tone made my stomach twist. “We’ve all been so worried. The palace hasn’t slept since the attack.” I forced myself to sit up
JENNIFER….When I woke up, the world was muted, like I was drifting underwater. The first thing I felt was the pain, a searing, gnawing fire in my side that pulsed with every shallow breath.The second was warmth. Strong, steady, and wrapped around my hand. I blinked, forcing my vision to clear, and found Reis sitting beside my bed in the healer’s wing. His head was bowed, dark circles under his eyes, his fingers gripping mine as if letting go would mean losing me forever.My movements wake him up. His eyes fluttered and he looked at me. His eyes went wide when he found me awake.“You’re awake.” His voice was hoarse, raw, but the relief that softened his features nearly undid me. He leaned forward, brushing my hair back from my forehead with a tenderness that made my throat tighten. “Goddess, Jennifer… I thought…” He stopped, swallowing hard, as if the rest of that sentence was too painful to speak.I licked my lips, my voice barely more than a whisper. “I… feel like I got run over b
JENNIFER…..It had been three days since the coronation. The crown still felt heavy on my head, though Reis reminded me constantly that it wasn’t the metal that made me Queen Luna, it was the fire inside me.The pack had started to warm to me. Wolves who once gave me skeptical glances now greeted me with nods of respect. Some even smiled. I thought maybe just maybe the worst was behind me.I was wrong.That morning, as I crossed the courtyard toward the library, a sharp, mocking laugh echoed through the air. I froze, my instincts flaring. She stepped out from the training yard gates, bruises faded but her pride still clearly aching. Beta Elion's sister, SabrinaShe was smiling, but her eyes were as cold as ice.“Luna,” she purred, bowing her head just enough to mock me rather than respect me. “What a surprise. I didn’t think someone like you would… last this long.”My jaw tightened. “Is there something you want?”“Oh, nothing at all.” She circled me slowly, like a predator sizing up