Mira Point of View. I couldnât stop shaking. My father, Anton, stood by the carriage with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes daring me to protest.I wouldnât, though. I never did. He had already made up his mind, and I couldnât change it.âYouâre going to do this, Mira,â he said coldly. âYou are my child and Itâs your duty to this family.âDuty.That word stung like a whip. What duty did I owe to a man who had hated me all my life?I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. âYouâre selling me like IâmâĶ cattle. Is this the duty you talk about?â I asked, holding back not to scream into his face.âYou should be grateful,â he snapped. âThe Lycan Kings are the most powerful beings in the realm. Youâll live like a queen there, and theyâll want nothing from you except children. Youâll have a purpose in their lives.âPurpose.My nails dug into my palms. I wanted to scream, to fight back, but I held my tongue.âIf you say no, Mira,â he continued, his voice dropping, âyouâll be condemning you
Rowan, Damien, Lucian, and Kaiâs POVAs soon as the steward led Mira out of the room, silence fell among us.For a moment, no one said a word, but the tension was unmistakable.The air was thick with something we hadnât felt in yearsâa pull, a connection that ran deeper than anything weâd ever experienced before.Rowan was the first to break it. âDid you feel that?â His voice was low, but the edge of disbelief was clear.Kai growled, his fists clenched on the table. âFeel it? It was impossible to ignore. The mate bond.ââItâs not just the bond,â Lucian added, his usually calm demeanor replaced by visible agitation.âHer scentâĶ itâs intoxicating. It took every ounce of control not to drag her back here and claim her on the spot.âDamien leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. âAnd her blood. Thereâs something unique about her bloodline. Itâs unlike anything Iâve come across before.ââSheâs ours,â Kai said firmly, his wolf grunting in agreement. âWe canât deny it. Sheâs our mate.â
Miraâs Pov The first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, pulling me from a restless sleep.My eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, I lay still, the events of the previous day replaying in my mind.The Lycans.The mate pull.Sereneâs venomous words. It all felt like a horrible dream I couldnât escape.With a groan, I sat up and glanced around the room. The luxurious furniture and silk sheets only reminded me that I was in my enemies territory.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched, shaking off the remnants of sleep.The dress I had worn yesterday hung loosely around me, wrinkled and stiff. A frown tugged at my lips as I realized I had nothing else to wear.âOf course, they wouldnât bother to provide me with anything,â I muttered under my breath.I straightened my dress as best I could and walked over to the small basin to freshen up.My reflection in the mirror stared back at me, the dark circles under my eyes a stark reminder of my sleepless nig
Rowan, Damien, Lucian, and Kaiâs POVThe throne room was heavy with tension. Each of us stood with a scowl on our faces, fuming with frustration. Our minds were clouded with thoughts of Mira.What sheâd done earlier still echoed in our heads, but it wasnât just thatâno, it was the fact that she was rejecting something we couldnât even control.She was trying to ruin everything.âSheâs out of her mind,â Kai growled, his fists clenching tightly as he paced back and forth.âWho does she think she is? She tried to cut herself, to stop us from claiming her!ââI couldnât sleep last night,â Damien said, his voice deep with frustration.âI kept seeing her face in my dreams. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt her presence. Sheâs everywhere, and I canât get her out of my head.ââI feel the same,â Rowan muttered, leaning back against the large stone pillar. His eyes narrowed as his mind seemed to drift back to the events of the night before.âShe kept appearing in my thoughts, haunting me like
Miraâs Pov I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a jumbled mess. I had hoped for some peace, but as the minutes passed, the silence became suffocating. I kept thinking about everythingâthe bond I didnât want, the brothers, and what they were planning for me. It all felt like too much. I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. Just as I was starting to think I could maybe catch a little break, a sharp knock echoed from the door.My heart skipped a beat, and I sat up quickly. I didnât want to deal with them. I didnât want to deal with anyone. But I knew it was pointless to avoid whatever was coming.I stood up and opened the door, only to be greeted by five maids, each carrying something differentâbaskets, bundles, and even a large platter of food.I blinked, confused.âMiss,â one of the maids greeted me politely, her voice soft. âThe Lycan Kings have requested that you join them for dinner. They wish for you to look your best.âI tried to hide the annoyance that bu
The next day. Miraâs POV Though I did not touch the food, the dining hall smelled of roasted pig and freshly made bread. The sight alone made my stomach turn. Eating whatever they offered felt like surrender. Rowan sat at the head of the table, his golden gaze fixed on me. Lucian and Kai lounged on either side of Damien, their faces unreadable, but Rowanâseated directly across from meâwatched in silence. I shoved my plate away. âIâm not eating.â Rowan drummed his fingers on the table. âYouâll eat.â Unflinching, I met his gaze. âMake me.â The air crackled like an impending storm, the tension in the room thickening. Damien ran a hand through his hair and exhaled deeply. âRefusing to eat doesnât prove anything, Mira. You need your strength.â I let out a cold, humorless chuckle. âFor what? So I can be your obedient little breeder? So I can sit here and pretend this is normal?â I gestured to the lavish feast, the brilliant chandeliers, the massive h
Miraâs POVI walk to my room with trembling legs, unsure where I gathered the courage to confront Serene head-on.Maybe it was the frustration from the brothersâ display at dinner, all because of her stupid mistake. And she dared to laugh at me. What good is she as a female Alpha if she canât even bear a pup? This is all because of her.I bang my door shutâloud enough for everyone to hear. Hopefully, the brothers will take it as a sign to stay away tonight. I am still not ready to accept the title of breeder.I let out a long breath, my hands balling into fists. My fate has already been sealed, and yet, I still refuse to accept it.But how long can I fight this?The walls of this castle are closing in, suffocating me, and the worst part isâĶ there is no escape.Knock. Knock.A part of me wants to run into the bathroom and lock myself in, but then I rememberânone of them ever bother knocking before barging into my room.âCome in.â My voice is steadyâfar steadier than I expected, conside
Miraâs POVMy legs quiver in fear. I swallow hard, forcing myself to maintain a blank expression, no matter how loudly my mind screams at me to run.âAnton is really a bastard,â Rowan smirks, his voice laced with amusement. The others exchange knowing looks, their lips curling into faint smiles, as if theyâve already agreed upon some sinister plan.âThatâs my father!â I shoot them a sharp glare, my heart pounding in my chest. If only they knew what I truly planned. I wasnât here to beg or accept my fate. NoâI was going to avenge my motherâs death. I was going to reclaim my life, my freedom.I would get close to my father and enjoy every luxury the Moon Goddess had fated for me. Then, when the time was right, Iâd tear him apart.âA father that sold you to the brothers you want to rip apart?â Lucian runs his fingers through his hair, his voice calm yet accusing.My mouth falls open in shock. How did they know?âYouâre an open book, Mira.â They scoff in unison, eyes scanning my face l
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.âWe go in under the guise of diplomacy,â I said, my voice calm, but firm. âWe are visiting the King and the council to pay our respects. Thatâs the surface. But our real taskâwhat we must accomplish before we leaveâis to uncover the witches.ââFind Benard Sawyer,â Damien added, nodding. âAnd locate those woodsâthe site of the executions.âI nodded back. âExactly. 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.âMy Queen,â one of themâa man no older than thirtyâspoke first. âPleaseâĶ what do we do now? The clan feels like itâs crumbling. Weâve heard whispers that the Kings have vanished.ââAre we at war again?â a woman asked, clutching her shawl tightly. âIs 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 couldnât 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 someoneâanyoneâwould 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 matesâmy kingsâwere 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 Iâd swallowed but couldnât digest. I wasnât ready. I wasnât wise like Kai or confident like Lucian. I wasnât brave like Damien. I was justâĶ Mira. A girl burdened by a legacy I didnât ask for and secrets I wished I could
Mira POV I ran through the fields barefoot, the wind lashing my face. I was youngerâperhaps thirteenâand the soft warmth of sunset bathed the skies above our small village.Laughter echoed behind me, the sound of teenagers playing a game Iâd 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 Chiefâs 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 laughedâreally laughedâfor 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 feltâĶhuman.Then he came.âMira!â 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. âYouâre what?â I asked, even though Iâd heard Kaiâs words clearly the first time.âWeâre going to the Darkfire clan,â Rowan said calmly, standing beside Kai with arms folded across his broad chest.My heart skipped. âJust like that? Without warning?âKaiâs voice was steady, resolute. âWeâve exhausted all our options, Mira. Weâve sent spies, scouts, even attempted magical tracking. Nothingâs led us to Baylor or any of the witches. Itâs as though theyâve vanished from the realm.ââSo, youâre going straight to the source?â I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai nodded. âYes. To Benard Sawyer. He started this. Somehow, he brought them back from extinction. He knows somethingâĶ and we intend to find out what.ââBut why go yourselves?â I argued, stepping closer to them. âWhy not send messengers? Or councilmen? Even your generals? Youâre the rulers of this kingdom. Your lives arenât just your own to gamble.âRowan gave
Mira POV When I arrived at the shrine, I immediately knew something was different.The courtyard was crowded, more than Iâd 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.âWhatâs going on?â I asked softly, trying not to let the heavy tension around us suffocate my voice.She turned to me with a tired expression. âThe people are afraid,â she said, clasping her hands together. âSince the massacreâĶ the castle guards, the bloodshedâĶ word has spread.âI frowned. âWord?âThe priestess nodded. âAbout the wit
Mira POV Two days laterâĶI woke up before the sun had risen, the castle still blanketed in silence. For once, I didnât 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 couldnât stop thinking about the massacreâthe way the blood had soaked into the stone floors, the way the guardsâ lifeless bodies had been carried away one by one. And the familiesâĶ 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 didnât. 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.âHowâs Lucian doing?â I asked, not looking at him. I didnât 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. âHeâs hanging on,â he said softly.âBut not for long. The disciple told me the only thing that could really save him is complete faithâfrom the three of us.âI
Kai POVThe air was tense as we stormed toward Councilman Baylorâs 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 theyâd find something useful. But right now, our focus was Councilman Baylor.Rowan kept glancing at me as we moved through the corridor. âWhat if heâs already done it?â he asked, low but urgent. âWhat if heâs already summoned them?âI didnât need to ask who he meant. âThen weâll be too late,â I said. âBut we canât think like that. We have to act before they arrive.âRowan didnât speak again, but his jaw tightened. He knew as well as I did that there was no defense against witchesânot unless we were prepared. And we werenât. Not yet.When we arrived at Baylorâs 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