Mira’s POV“No! Please! This is enough.” Serena begs everybody. “You do not tell the council the punishment befitting of you. You should have thought about the repercussions of your actions before carrying them out. You have no one else to blame for your situation.” Rowan says. “Alpha Rowan.”“That’s enough. Proceed.” The look on their faces gives no room for arguments. “The second punishment the council has decided to skate out for you is to have the members of the clan escort you round the clan talking about your deeds.”“I refuse. You have already taken my title. This is too much.” She grits her teeth. “Say one more word refuting your punishment by the upper council and we’d make you walk round the entire clan naked.” Rowan is the one talking. “No other punishment?” Kai asks. “No, Alpha Kai. We as a council have decided to restrain her punishment to this two. Hopefully, she will learn a great deal from the both.” The man that has been reading the entire thing says. “She bett
Mira’s POV“I’m merely carrying out instructions Luna Mira.” For some sudden reason, she seems irritated. I try to take my kind off it over and over again but nothing seems to be working. “Exactly what orders are you carrying out? And from whom?” “Luna Mira, please accept my pardon. I was strictly informed to not disclose this, I was only instructed to do nothing but my job and nothing more.” Her eyes stay focused on my zip. “You address me as your Luna and yet you keep things from me. Right before my presence, you are trying to shift things under the carpet.”“Should I not penalize you?” I’m starting to really get annoyed.“I deeply apologize for my actions. It was mainly due to my workload. It is heavily loaded due to the event.” She lifts her eye from the zip and turns it back when our eyes meet together.“What event? Serena’s dethronement? Are they making it a big deal?” My fingers starts shaking. “It has to be made a big deal. The event after that is an even bigger deal.”
Mira’s POV“I’m merely carrying out instructions Luna Mira.” For some sudden reason, she seems irritated. I try to take my kind off it over and over again but nothing seems to be working. “Exactly what orders are you carrying out? And from whom?” “Luna Mira, please accept my pardon. I was strictly informed to not disclose this, I was only instructed to do nothing but my job and nothing more.” Her eyes stay focused on my zip. “You address me as your Luna and yet you keep things from me. Right before my presence, you are trying to shift things under the carpet.”“Should I not penalize you?” I’m starting to really get annoyed.“I deeply apologize for my actions. It was mainly due to my workload. It is heavily loaded due to the event.” She lifts her eye from the zip and turns it back when our eyes meet together.“What event? Serena’s dethronement? Are they making it a big deal?” My fingers starts shaking. “It has to be made a big deal. The event after that is an even bigger deal.”
Serena’s POV“What? What is he talking about Rowan?” I take steps backward, I am not ready to be there. “He is talking about the current things, Serena. And stop moving.” He stops me from moving backward with his fingers. “What do you mean the current things? You dethrone another person and immediately you crown another woman as your queen?” I am trying to hard not to let tears flow from my eyes. “Your mind runs far wider than your legs Mira. How on the Blackwood clan did your mind rush to that bizarre thought?” Lucian asks me with a smile. Do they not understand the implications of their action?“One of those scary men in your council is about to crown another queen!” Just hearing myself saying that sentence kills me. I know fully well that I had promised myself not to love the brothers but having them do this is just out of line. “Before you jump to conclusions madame, make sure you ask questions. It’s not going to kill you, you know?” Kai says. He has a stupid smirk hanging o
Serena’s POVI clench my fists in annoyance. After all of the warnings I passed to this stupid boys, they still went ahead with their dubious plan. They went ahead to make this half breed thatvhas no idea about leadership. I sneer as I stare at them. I sincerely wonder how they intend to continue with the clan that has a wolfless wolf as it’s queen. “Do not forget the deal. You are to kill her today Serena. Else whatever circumstances you face, you have only yourself to blame.” The voice whispers to me. “You never make mistakes in sentences. You’re going to prolong my life? Or you will prevent them from killing me today?”“Yes, I have decided to give you extra time to rising her off for me. Her mother was just as difficult. Hence the pardon.”“But if you fail, Serena, you will be sent back to your father’s clan, an object of ridicule. I hope I have made myself clear?” “Yes, thank you for the extra grace. I will make sure to finish her off this time around. I still have plans to f
Mira’s POV“She, she does not look like she is okay.” I am trying so hard to control myself, to not react, I know I should not be reacting. She has tried to murder me twice and I still have an atom of sympathy for her. Rowan, Lucian,Damien and Kai, I can feel their eyes on me. I know why they are staring at me so intently. They are afraid that I will give in again. I am determined to make them know that I can be that Queen. For some reason, I see Serena talking. I sweep my eyes across the crowd trying to pinpoint the exact person she is speaking with. I see nobody. “Who is she talking to?” I throw my questions to Rowan, Lucian, Kai and Damien. “It could be a fake stage play. She is dramatic as hell.” Kai answers me with a shrug of his shoulders. “I do not think she is just being dramatic. There is more to her actions than just drama. Should we ask him to stop?”“She might just be asking for that.” Damien says. “Truly, that could be the purpose of this her unnecessary drama. Ser
Mira’s POVI rolled my eyes at them, shaking my head in disbelief. “It still doesn’t explain how you all read my thoughts.”Rowan smirked. “We already told you, Mira. You’re an open book.”Lucian chuckled. “You might as well just say your thoughts out loud. It would save us all the trouble.”I huffed, crossing my arms as we walked toward my chambers. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to learn to hide my emotions better.”Kai raised an eyebrow. “Good luck with that.”Ignoring them, I stepped into my chambers and sighed, relieved to finally sit down. My feet ached from the long day, and my sandals felt unbearably tight. I reached down to pull them off, but then I stopped.No. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of thinking I needed help.“You’re really going to sleep with those on?” Lucian teased, leaning against the wall.I glared at him. “Yes.”“Stubborn little mate.” He knelt before me without another word, his hands gently sliding over my ankles. “Then I guess I’ll have to do
Mira’s POV Rowan leaned against the carriage door, his golden eyes fixed on the procession ahead. “We’ll order the walk to begin, then ride in the carriages to the clan shrine to wait for Serene.” I frowned. “Why do we have to wait? Why not just follow them?” Rowan shot me a look of irritation. “Because we are royalty. We don’t walk with criminals.” Lucian’s voice was gentler. “It’s just how things are done, Mira. The walk is meant to be a public display of her shame. The people need to see her parade without us overshadowing the punishment.” Kai, clearly impatient, let out a frustrated sigh. “Can we stop explaining? Let’s just start the damn thing already.” Before I could argue further, the captain of the guards approached and bowed slightly. “My Lords, Luna, everything is set. Serene is ready to move, and the people are waiting.” My stomach twisted with unease. A strange feeling, like a warning, crept through me. “I want to walk with them,” I said. Rowan’s head s
Kai POV The sky was still cloaked in darkness, though the faintest glow of dawn had begun to brush the horizon when our carriage rattled over the rocky terrain toward the Darkfire border. The journey had been long and heavy with silence at times, but inside the double space carriage, we found ourselves deep in conversation once again. The air was thick with anticipation.Rowan sat with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp and unwavering, while Damien leaned forward slightly, elbows on knees, brows drawn as he listened to me lay out the final version of our plan.“We go in under the guise of diplomacy,” I said, my voice calm, but firm. “We are visiting the King and the council to pay our respects. That’s the surface. But our real task—what we must accomplish before we leave—is to uncover the witches.”“Find Benard Sawyer,” Damien added, nodding. “And locate those woods—the site of the executions.”I nodded back. “Exactly. If the Last Witches truly died there, then the secrets of what
Mira POV The wind was soft, yet cold, brushing against my skin as I walked along the stone path leading to the shrine. The sun hung low in the sky, bleeding orange light over the trees that framed the sacred space. My steps were slow. Heavy. But steady.I had walked this path before.And yet, today felt different.The shrine loomed ahead, surrounded by people kneeling in prayer or whispering hushed words toward the sky. It was more crowded than usual, packed with villagers seeking comfort amidst the chaos that had overtaken our clan. Some clutched candles. Others held small, carved totems. Their eyes were glassy, tired. Lost.As soon as I was spotted, a small group broke off from the rest and hurried toward me.“My Queen,” one of them—a man no older than thirty—spoke first. “Please… what do we do now? The clan feels like it’s crumbling. We’ve heard whispers that the Kings have vanished.”“Are we at war again?” a woman asked, clutching her shawl tightly. “Is Blackwood falling a
Mira POV Pressure wrapped around me like a noose.It tightened more with every cry that echoed beyond the castle walls, the angry shouts of the clan members rising like a storm I couldn’t stop. My fingers trembled as I clasped them in my lap, seated on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the door as if someone—anyone—would walk through it and tell me what to do.But no one came.The throne was mine. The responsibility was mine. For the first time, I was alone to rule.My mates—my kings—were gone. Their decision had been final. They left the castle with nothing but purpose in their stride and the weight of a plan I had no part in. And now, the clan wanted answers. Clarity. Leadership.From me.A pit had formed in my stomach. It felt cold and heavy, like a stone I’d swallowed but couldn’t digest. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t wise like Kai or confident like Lucian. I wasn’t brave like Damien. I was just… Mira. A girl burdened by a legacy I didn’t ask for and secrets I wished I could
Mira POV I ran through the fields barefoot, the wind lashing my face. I was younger—perhaps thirteen—and the soft warmth of sunset bathed the skies above our small village.Laughter echoed behind me, the sound of teenagers playing a game I’d barely understood but tried to join. I had always watched them from the window of our cottage, envying their joy, their freedom. That day, for the first time, I had dared to approach.I remember how hesitant I was when I stepped into their circle. They looked at me, puzzled, surprised. I was the Chief’s daughter, the one who never spoke to anyone, the one who always looked distant. But they smiled, awkwardly at first, then welcomed me with timid warmth. I laughed—really laughed—for the first time in a long while as I tried to keep up with the game. It was clumsy and imperfect, but I had finally felt…human.Then he came.“Mira!” his deep, sharp voice split the air like a whip. Everyone turned.My heart dropped.My father stood at the edge of
Mira POV I stared at them, mouth slightly parted in disbelief. “You’re what?” I asked, even though I’d heard Kai’s words clearly the first time.“We’re going to the Darkfire clan,” Rowan said calmly, standing beside Kai with arms folded across his broad chest.My heart skipped. “Just like that? Without warning?”Kai’s voice was steady, resolute. “We’ve exhausted all our options, Mira. We’ve sent spies, scouts, even attempted magical tracking. Nothing’s led us to Baylor or any of the witches. It’s as though they’ve vanished from the realm.”“So, you’re going straight to the source?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai nodded. “Yes. To Benard Sawyer. He started this. Somehow, he brought them back from extinction. He knows something… and we intend to find out what.”“But why go yourselves?” I argued, stepping closer to them. “Why not send messengers? Or councilmen? Even your generals? You’re the rulers of this kingdom. Your lives aren’t just your own to gamble.”Rowan gave
Mira POV When I arrived at the shrine, I immediately knew something was different.The courtyard was crowded, more than I’d ever seen it. People were pouring in through the arched gates, their footsteps fast yet quiet, their heads bowed as though afraid to lift their eyes. Some clutched prayer beads, others held burning candles. A few sobbed quietly as they moved toward the inner sanctum.I stepped aside as a woman passed me, dragging two small children behind her. One of them looked up at me, his eyes swollen from crying. My heart twisted painfully.I made my way inside and found the head priestess, her wrinkled face lined even deeper than usual.“What’s going on?” I asked softly, trying not to let the heavy tension around us suffocate my voice.She turned to me with a tired expression. “The people are afraid,” she said, clasping her hands together. “Since the massacre… the castle guards, the bloodshed… word has spread.”I frowned. “Word?”The priestess nodded. “About the wit
Mira POV Two days later…I woke up before the sun had risen, the castle still blanketed in silence. For once, I didn’t wait for Adela or any of the handmaids to come in. I slipped out of bed, walked barefoot to the bath chamber, and poured myself a cold shower. The icy water hit my skin like a slap, but I welcomed it. I needed the numbness. My mind had been anything but still for the past two days.I couldn’t stop thinking about the massacre—the way the blood had soaked into the stone floors, the way the guards’ lifeless bodies had been carried away one by one. And the families… Gods, the families. They had gathered outside the castle gates yesterday, their wails cutting through the air like blades. Some had thrown stones, others had just fallen to their knees, begging for answers. Begging for justice.I stayed in the shower longer than necessary, hoping the water would wash away the unease churning inside me. It didn’t. When I stepped out, I dried myself quickly and dressed
Mira POVI sat quietly in the carriage beside Damien, the steady rhythm of the wheels rolling over the rugged trail doing little to ease the storm brewing inside me. The sun was still rising in the sky, casting golden beams through the trees, but my heart felt too heavy to appreciate any of it. We were heading to the place where Benard Sawyer was meant to be executed years ago. Damien sat across from me, flipping through an old parchment from the archives, but I knew we were both thinking about more than just the past.The silence stretched between us until I finally broke it.“How’s Lucian doing?” I asked, not looking at him. I didn’t know why I needed to know so badly. Maybe because the thought of losing him clawed painfully at the inside of my chest.Damien looked up at me, his expression shifting to something solemn. “He’s hanging on,” he said softly.“But not for long. The disciple told me the only thing that could really save him is complete faith—from the three of us.”I
Kai POVThe air was tense as we stormed toward Councilman Baylor’s chambers. I walked beside Rowan with six guards behind us, all alert and on edge. Damien and Mira had taken off earlier to the execution site where Benard Sawyer was once meant to die. I hoped they’d find something useful. But right now, our focus was Councilman Baylor.Rowan kept glancing at me as we moved through the corridor. “What if he’s already done it?” he asked, low but urgent. “What if he’s already summoned them?”I didn’t need to ask who he meant. “Then we’ll be too late,” I said. “But we can’t think like that. We have to act before they arrive.”Rowan didn’t speak again, but his jaw tightened. He knew as well as I did that there was no defense against witches—not unless we were prepared. And we weren’t. Not yet.When we arrived at Baylor’s chambers, they were eerily quiet. The guards took position at the doors while Rowan and I pushed inside. The room was dim, the curtains drawn, the fire out. It felt li