Ansel’s POVThe anger hadn’t left me since we stepped out of the council chambers. It clawed at my insides, twisting, an uncontrollable storm just beneath my skin.They thought they could dictate my path. That they could force me into a corner, strip me of my own control.Bastards.I stormed into my chamber, slamming the door behind me. The fire in the hearth barely warmed the room, and I felt the cold in my bones, in my mind.They wanted Luna? Fine.They wanted a claim?They wanted an heir? My jaw clenched so hard it ached.I had spent years fighting, carving my own place in this kingdom. I had shed blood for it. I had earned it. And now, because of their impatience, they dared to push me, to put me in a position where I had to fight for something that should have already been mine.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think. Trying to breathe.But all I could hear was Marcellus’s voice.“If the three of you cannot decide amongst yourselves, then perhaps a decision must be made fo
Raven POV I slammed my door shut behind me, my breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. My heart felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my chest, the adrenaline still surging through my veins from what I just did. From what I had just seen.Rowan’s journal. His secret. The truth he had been hiding. I wasn’t able to read everything but what I read made my stomach twisted violently, and I barely made it to the side of my bed before I collapsed onto it, gripping the sheets as if they could steady the storm inside me. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what I had read—what little of it I could understand.“You must cleanse the line, Rowan. But know this—every generation that has tried has failed. Most didn’t even survive the attempt. That is the curse for breaking the bond gifted by the goddess.”And those items he listed.Moonstone, soaked in wolfsbane for seven nights.A dagger forged in silver and obsidian.The heart of a black wolf, freely given.Ashes of a burned
Rowan povThe moment I stepped into my room, something felt wrong. I paused at the doorway, scanning the room. Nothing looked out of place—my bed remained untouched, my desk as I had left it, and yet… I knew someone had been here.I should have caught their scent. Should have heard their heartbeat. But there was nothing.The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Whoever had come and gone was skilled. Too skilled.Shoving the thought aside, I closed the door and walked toward my desk. Ansel and Asher were preparing for war, and I… I just need to go away. I need to find a cure.The throne meant nothing to me.Let them tear each other apart for it.I reached for a piece of parchment, summoning a messenger bird. I needed to contact the priestess again. If I was going to rid myself of this curse, I had to act now.My fingers barely brushed the quill before fire tore through my chest.I gasped, staggering to my feet as pain exploded across my ribs, spreading like molten iron. My visi
Raven’s POVAnsel slammed his mouth against mine, kissing me like the brute that he is.There was nothing tender about it. Nothing soft about it. Just force and pure possession.My wolf still reacted to our closeness, but I didn’t. Not anymore. Not after what I had just learned.Now, his touch felt wrong.Before, I could pretend there was something between us—something real, something that wasn’t just his hunger to conquer. But now, every time his hands touched me, I knew what he was. What he wanted.He wanted power, he wanted to control me and he wanted the throne.And he would use me to get it.I refused.My hands pressed against his chest, shoving with all my strength, but he didn’t budge. His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my waist as he crushed me against him, his teeth scraping against my lips.I bit down hard on his lips.Ansel growled, jerking back slightly, but I didn’t let go. I clamped my teeth onto his tongue until the sharp, metallic taste of blood filled my mou
Ansel POV I was about to pour myself a drink, the lingering satisfaction of claiming Raven still humming through my veins, when a sharp knock rattled my door.Before I could turn, the door flew open.“My lord!” The guard panted, his face pale. “Rowan is summoning you. The palace has been breached.”The glass slipped from my fingers, shattering against the floor.“What?” My voice was low, dangerous.The guard swallowed hard. “He—he sent word just now. It’s urgent.”I didn’t wait for more. I was already moving, yanking on a shirt as I stormed out, my steps quick and purposeful. The halls blurred past me, my mind spinning. Breached? How?The guards at every corner stiffened when they saw me, but I ignored them. My heart pounded with a mix of fury and anticipation.Rowan had better have a damn good explanation.Rowan was already waiting when I stormed into his chambers. He was standing near the fireplace, arms crossed, his face grim. Asher was there too, leaning against a table, fingers
Asher’s POVI watched Rowan leave, his steps steady, his resolve unshaken.Good.Let him go chase ghosts and curses. Let him disappear into the unknown. I had no intention of stopping him.Beside me, Ansel exhaled, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. He thought he had won. That the throne was his for the taking now.Fool.I tilted my head slightly, letting my gaze linger on him longer than necessary. Ansel was already savouring the moment, basking in the illusion that he was now the sole heir worth considering.But I knew better.I knew what he had done.The whispers reached me long before they should have. The little games he played, the manipulation, the way he twisted people to his will. Ansel had always been ruthless, always reaching for more, but he had crossed a line this time.And I was done pretending.For too long, I had played the role of the patient. The mediator. The one who stood between them when they clashed, keeping the balance. But balance didn’t win wars.Strength did.
Asher’s POV“What happens if Ansel succeeds in getting her pregnant?” I asked, my voice low but sharp.The shadow guard hesitated only for a moment before responding. “Then he secures his claim to the throne. The elders are already impatient. A child would seal his position.”I clenched my jaw, already feeling the weight of that possibility pressing down on me. Ansel, ruling over all of us, with Raven bound to him forever? No. That couldn’t happen.“And what happens if I get her pregnant first?” I asked, more to myself than to the guard. The idea took root quickly, spreading through my mind like wildfire.The guard hesitated again, then lowered his head. “Then you would be the one to take the throne, my lord, although it will be easier if she chooses you.”A slow smirk pulled at my lips. That was the answer I wanted to hear.Come to think of it, I’d been too patient and passive. I had let Ansel do whatever he wanted while I stayed quiet, waiting for my time. And I had neglected my mate
Asher’s POVI clenched my jaw, tightening my grip around her throat just enough to make her focus. “And what exactly do you need to think about, hmm?” My voice was low and controlled, but there was an edge of impatience laced within it.Raven’s lips parted slightly, her breath coming out in short bursts. “Let go.”I tilted my head, my fingers pressing just a little harder, feeling the rapid beat of her pulse beneath my palm. “Answer me first.”Her nails dug into my wrist, but I barely felt it. “Are you happy with this life, Raven? Being used, being tossed between Ansel and whoever else decides to stake their claim on you?” I leaned in, my nose brushing against her cheek. “You’re my mate. You should be doing what I ask.”She exhaled sharply, but I caught the way her body reacted, the way her thighs pressed together despite herself. She could pretend all she wanted, but she wasn’t immune to me.“We don’t have time for your dramatics,” I continued, my voice soft but firm. “This isn’t so
Raven POV My other self turned to look at me, her eyes filled with tears. I never let fall that day.“Do you understand now?” she asked quietly.I nodded, breath shaky. “That was the day I gave up.”“You didn’t just give up on him,” she said. “You gave up on you.” "You buried yourself beneath anger and pain. You stopped believing you were meant for more.”Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them.I hated how much it hurt.“I was broken,” I whispered.“You still are,” she said gently. "But broken things can be rebuilt. She stepped forward, walking into me.And I felt it.That pain. That grief. That rage.But also… I felt light.Soon, the memory shifted, and it was me when I was much younger, the children at the park stoning me and laughing out loud in amusement.I bit my lips until I felt blood roll down my lips, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Because the pain in my mouth was nothing compared to the pain in my chest.There I was, no older than six years old, curled into m
Raven's POV I was still in a state of shock when Kelvin strolled into the room, completely unfazed by the bodies at his feet. He walked over them like they were nothing like he’d seen this kind of carnage a thousand times before, and he probably had.He wore that infuriating smirk again, the one I was beginning to realize was just part of his face. Part of his behavior.“Your Highness,” he greeted Morgan with a bow. Then his gaze slid towards me. “Oh, the little queen is here. Lovely to see you, Raven.”I rolled my eyes, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted. The urge to punch that smug face of his clawed at me, but I held it down. Barely.God, if I ever got the chance, I’d kill them both. Rip them apart and bathe in their blood if that’s what it took.I felt my wolf stir inside me, a low growl vibrating through my chest.She didn’t like being separated from our mates, caged like that. And these two were responsible. Again.Twice now, they’d taken me from the ones I belonged t
Queen Gwen POVIt’s been three days since the battle.Three days since blood painted the earth and death hung heavy in the air—on both sides.It hurt to kill them. Those creatures… they were mindless, controlled by Kelvin and that cursed Queen. They were puppets, not monsters. But it was either them or us.And still… we lost.We fell for their diversion. We lost Raven.I’ve been trying—truly trying—to stay strong. I’m a queen. I’m supposed to be composed, logical, unshaken.But the thought of something happening to her…It chills me in a way I can’t explain.From the moment I first laid eyes on Raven, I knew.I don’t understand the feeling, not fully but I knew. I was meant to be near her. To protect her. To fight for her.I was meant to be her sword.And I let her down.“Hey… are you okay?” Loira asked gently, walking up beside me.I tried to force a smile. “Yeah. I’m just… sad, you know?” My voice cracked. “It feels like we were so stupid.”She said nothing, just listened.“She shou
Raven POV “What did you say, Raven?” she asked again, her voice low and skeptical.“I said I’ll join you, Morgan,” I repeated, steadying my voice. “But only on one condition.”She sighed as though she was enduring a headache. “And what is it now?”“You’ll release Mathias.”Her brows lifted. “Who?”Of course, she doesn’t even remember. The disgust rose sharp and hot in my chest, but I swallowed it. I was in enemy territory now. I had to play this smart.“Mathias is one of the prisoners. He was in the same cell I was thrown into.”“Oh,” she said with a chuckle. “That’s all?” Fine. I’ll have him released today.”“And—”She cut me a glare, her patience thinning. “And what?”“You’ll give me the dagger. I need it.”Morgan narrowed her eyes. “I’ll think about it. "Don’t push your luck, little bird.”She turned away, already done with the conversation. “When Kelvin returns, your real training begins. I’ll need you ready.”"But aren’t you scared, Morgan?” I asked, my gaze steady.“What?” she
Raven POV We walked out of the cell, the heavy door slamming shut behind me with a loud clang that echoed down the stone halls.I tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in my stomach, tried to shove the fear deep down where it couldn’t reach me — but it was there, crawling under my skin.Facing that beautiful monster again made my heart pound harder against my ribs.We moved through a large hallway, the stone walls cold and silent witnesses to my march.From what I could tell, it was already dawn — soft light trickled through high windows.Two days.I had been trapped here for nearly two days without food.My legs ached, and my body screamed for rest, but I forced myself forward, step after heavy step.Finally, we entered a large throne room.At the far end of it, sitting on a towering, jagged throne of black stone, was Morgan.She looked… magnificent.Beautiful and terrible, like something carved from nightmares.Her smile, slow and cold, made my skin crawl.I paused, instinctively gla
Raven POV Unluckily for me, I was thrown into a cell by Queen Morgan’s hounds.The heavy iron door slammed shut behind me with a sound that echoed like a death knell. I stumbled forward, catching myself on the rough stone wall.I turned around slowly, trying to assess the cell.I’ve been locked up more times than I can count.This wasn’t new.I wouldn’t panic. Panic was the enemy now.First thing first, I needed a way out.But gods, it was dark.The air was thick with rot and something far worse—a sour, metallic scent that made my stomach turn. The walls oozed dampness, and the floor was uneven under my boots. The whole place felt like it had been forgotten by the world.Squinting my eyes, I edged deeper into the cell, ignoring the way the shadows seemed to reach for me.And then I heard a faint cough.It was soft and strained. From somewhere in the darkness.I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs.“Is anybody there?”My voice barely rose above a whisper, but in the stillness,
Ansel POV Raven is the child of the prophecy.And they kept it from us.Rowan and Raven both knew, and yet they chose silence. I don’t know what game the goddess is playing—first binding us all to the same mate, now tying her fate to an ancient prophecy—but I’m sick of being left in the dark. I should’ve seen the signs. The dreams she said she had, the divine visitations… they were all there, and I ignored them.And now, the truth burns in my chest like fire.My son—our child— will carry power in his blood. A legacy. He will be everything. But Morgan, if she’s taken Raven—if she lays a hand on what’s mine, I will tear this world apart.And if my brothers even think of challenging me for the child, for Raven, for the throne—I’ll destroy them too.We ran through the day and into the dusk, not stopping once. Our men were weary, barely holding themselves together, but there was no time for rest. Every second we wasted could mean losing her.When the palace finally came into view, I w
Raven POV Morgan didn’t look back at me. “What do I want? Oh, Raven, that’s the wrong question. What do you want?”The silence stretched out between us, the air thick with tension. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything I was seeing.Morgan’s cruelty was evident in the creatures that slithered and prowled around us, their eyes cold and lifeless, their movements like puppets on strings. My anger surged, burning through my veins.“Why are you doing this?” I asked, my voice tight with fury. “Why are you enslaving innocent creatures, using them like this?”Morgan’s smile stretched into something far colder, more calculating. She tilted her head slightly, finally turning to look at me, studying me as though I were an insect in need of examination. “Innocent?” she repeated, almost amused. “You call them innocent? These creatures are nothing but tools—tools that help me achieve what is rightfully mine. They’re weak, living in fear. And I’m giving them purpose.”I shook my hea
Raven POV I stood there, with my hand pressed to my chest, heart racing, feeling the weight of the queen’s cold gaze upon me.“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my attempt to remain calm.She chuckled softly, the sound low and almost mocking. “Oh, so you know who I am,” she said, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “That’s very interesting, don’t you think?”“Very interesting indeed,” I muttered under my breath, not able to stop the bitterness that seeped into my words.She stepped closer, her presence suffocating. “Well, it seems like you haven’t been getting my messages,” she said casually, “So I came to pick you up myself.”“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I snapped, clenching my fists, unwilling to show the fear that threatened to rise in my throat. “You monster.”She raised a single eyebrow, her lips curling into a slow, sinister smile. “Who told you that you had a choice, my sweet girl?” Her words were laced with such venom that it sent a chill dow