Kael’s POVI didn’t know why my wolf shifted so violently the moment I saw her mark. But I knew one thing: I had to get out of that room, very fast.I barely remembered pulling my clothes on. Barely remembered shutting the door behind me.All I could remember was the look in her eyes.Hurt. Confused, and Betrayed.I had no right to stay.No right to even breathe the same air as her.I tried to calm myself as I walked, forcing my breathing to steady, but inside, a war raged out of control.How could the Moon Goddess be this cruel?How could she bind me to her?To the girl my father had already claimed?She was too young to carry scars like that.Too innocent to be caught between monsters like us.And yet here I was.Her mate.Her mistake.The night air cut cold against my burning skin as I stalked through the streets. People passed me, stealing glances, whispering behind cupped hands.“Alpha Lucien’s son.”“Since when does he have a son?”“Isn’t he supposed to be dead?”Their voices b
Aria’s POV Everything around me felt cold. Numbness spread through my body, seeping into my veins like a poison. My vision blurred, and the deep chill that settled inside my chest wrapped itself around my heart, making each breath a struggle. I didn’t know if I could keep going, if I even wanted to. The world felt as though it were closing in on me. The words I had just heard echoed mercilessly in my head: “My wolf needs energy.” I felt robbed all over again, as if my life had been drained of all its meaning, and now I was nothing but an empty shell. First, my mother had died because of Alpha Lucien. She had been taken from me, not by the cruelty of a rogue, but by the sword that was meant for him. Then, my stepfather, his father had forcefully marked me, claiming me as his mate, an act that twisted my existence into something unrecognizable. And now… now his son had taken my virginity and reduced it to nothing more than fuel for his wolf’s strength. The realization was suffocat
Kael’s POVThe steady beeping of machines pierced the silence, echoing inside my skull like a distant alarm. A sharp spark tore through my brain, jolting me into consciousness. My eyelids fluttered open, straining against the sterile white lights above. The air was cold and smelled like antiseptic; clinical, lifeless.I was alone on the hospital bed.I tried lifting my arm. It felt like I was trying to move a boulder. Heavy. Numb. A thin IV line ran into the back of my hand, dripping rhythmically into my veins. Pain surged through my skull, sharp and unforgiving, wrapping around my head like a vise.“Ahhh…” I groaned, my voice hoarse and dry. I raised my free hand to my head and felt the bulk of thick bandages pressing against my fingertips. The throbbing beneath them was relentless.“What… the hell?”My voice barely sounded like my own. I scanned the unfamiliar room, panic swelling in my chest.Why am I here?I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my mind to remember, but each attempt was
Aria’s POV“Queen Aria,” one of the maids called, walking into the dining room with a slight bow.“What is it?” I asked, lifting my eyes lazily from the untouched food.“Alpha Lucien won’t be joining you for breakfast. He has gone out.”I nodded. “Okay.”Who cares?Now that I’ve accepted the mate bond with Alpha Lucien, I’ve become the Queen, above everyone in this pack who once mocked me, spat near my feet, and called me all sorts of vile names. The same people who used to roll their eyes at my presence now bow before me like I’m something sacred.But even with all that, it feels hollow.Because who really cares whether he eats with me or not?I’m not used to this polygamous lifestyle. It feels strange. Forced. I still remember how Alpha Lucien, back when my mother was alive, never once dined in her chamber. So why would I expect any special treatment now?The maid, no older than her early twenties, turned quietly and walked away. Her eyes flicked toward the food spread across the ta
Aria’s POVYes, I dare her to do her worst.This is not the Aria they knew before.Luna Celestine staggered back, one hand clutched against her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief and blazing with fury. The sharp slap I had delivered still echoed in the walls of the dining room, bouncing between the glittering chandeliers and the stunned silence of the maids who had scattered into corners.“You… you slapped me?” she stammered, her voice cracking.I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even blink. I stared her down, hand still tingling with the fire of that moment.“Yes,” I said coldly. “And I’ll do it again if you try me.”Her jaw dropped. “You insolent little—!”She lunged at me.I didn’t move. Instead, I raised my hand again, but this time not to strike, but to warn. My fingers hovered mid-air, trembling with restraint.“Don’t,” I said. My voice came out like steel dragged across ice. “Unless you want this to turn into a full-blown fight. One where I make you wish you’d never opened your mouth.”
Kael’s POV“He has lost his memory.”The doctor’s words echoed through the room like a slow-moving bomb. Each syllable pulsed like a drumbeat in my skull.I opened my eyes to blinding white lights and an unfamiliar ceiling. My limbs felt heavy, my muscles aching like I’d been mauled and stitched back together. As I tried to sit up, a sharp pain bolted down my spine. I gritted my teeth, pushing past the burning sensation as I threw the sheets off.Where the hell was I?I swung my legs off the bed and hissed as the cold linoleum met my feet. The ache in my body flared like fire, but I forced myself upright. I wasn’t about to show weakness in front of strangers.The door creaked open.A woman stepped inside, looking like a disaster. Her hair was tangled in a messy bun, her shirt wrinkled and stained, pants sagging like they hadn’t seen an iron in a year. Worse, the room, already reeking of antiseptic, was now infused with something sour and… ripe.“Good morning, sir,” she chirped, too br
Kael’s POV“Kael! Kael!”Gracie’s voice echoed through the hallway like a fire alarm. Shrill. Persistent. Impossible to ignore, but I kept walking, ignoring the pain in my side and the stiffness in my legs. My body wasn’t ready for this, but I didn’t care. I needed air. Space. Silence.“I’m your mate! You can’t leave me here!” she cried, footsteps slapping against the polished floor as she ran after me.Still, I didn’t stop.“Our wedding is near!” she shouted, desperation thick in her voice. And then, I felt her hand wrap around my arm, her grip trembling as she clung to me like a lifeline.I stopped walking.Slowly, I turned to look at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide and pleading. But all I saw wasn’t love. It wasn’t even concern. It was panic. Possession.She was more afraid of losing control than losing me.I looked at her like a stranger, and that’s exactly what she felt like.“I can’t believe you’re thinking about a wedding,” I muttered, yanking my arm from her grip. She
Aria’s POVMoonlight poured in through the cracked window of my tiny room, painting the walls silver.Morning already? My heart sank.I threw off the thin blanket, grabbed my towel, and rushed into the bathroom, shivering as cold water hit my skin.“Oh God…” I said under my breath.“I’m already late.”Today was my stepfather’s Pack Mating Ceremony, and I was supposed to be at the hall early, helping the other omegas clean and set up. But here I was, just now getting dressed.I dashed out of the bathroom, still dripping, and flung open my wooden wardrobe. Its doors were barely hanging on, termites long since making a meal of it. I grabbed the only dress that could possibly pass for the day. It had a small hole in the back.Whatever. No one would care. No one ever did.Just as I was pulling it over my head, the door to my room slammed open.“Orphan!”His voice struck like a whip.Alpha King Lucien Thorn, my stepfather.“What the hell are you still doing in here?”“I—I’m so—” I stammered
Kael’s POV“Kael! Kael!”Gracie’s voice echoed through the hallway like a fire alarm. Shrill. Persistent. Impossible to ignore, but I kept walking, ignoring the pain in my side and the stiffness in my legs. My body wasn’t ready for this, but I didn’t care. I needed air. Space. Silence.“I’m your mate! You can’t leave me here!” she cried, footsteps slapping against the polished floor as she ran after me.Still, I didn’t stop.“Our wedding is near!” she shouted, desperation thick in her voice. And then, I felt her hand wrap around my arm, her grip trembling as she clung to me like a lifeline.I stopped walking.Slowly, I turned to look at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide and pleading. But all I saw wasn’t love. It wasn’t even concern. It was panic. Possession.She was more afraid of losing control than losing me.I looked at her like a stranger, and that’s exactly what she felt like.“I can’t believe you’re thinking about a wedding,” I muttered, yanking my arm from her grip. She
Kael’s POV“He has lost his memory.”The doctor’s words echoed through the room like a slow-moving bomb. Each syllable pulsed like a drumbeat in my skull.I opened my eyes to blinding white lights and an unfamiliar ceiling. My limbs felt heavy, my muscles aching like I’d been mauled and stitched back together. As I tried to sit up, a sharp pain bolted down my spine. I gritted my teeth, pushing past the burning sensation as I threw the sheets off.Where the hell was I?I swung my legs off the bed and hissed as the cold linoleum met my feet. The ache in my body flared like fire, but I forced myself upright. I wasn’t about to show weakness in front of strangers.The door creaked open.A woman stepped inside, looking like a disaster. Her hair was tangled in a messy bun, her shirt wrinkled and stained, pants sagging like they hadn’t seen an iron in a year. Worse, the room, already reeking of antiseptic, was now infused with something sour and… ripe.“Good morning, sir,” she chirped, too br
Aria’s POVYes, I dare her to do her worst.This is not the Aria they knew before.Luna Celestine staggered back, one hand clutched against her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief and blazing with fury. The sharp slap I had delivered still echoed in the walls of the dining room, bouncing between the glittering chandeliers and the stunned silence of the maids who had scattered into corners.“You… you slapped me?” she stammered, her voice cracking.I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even blink. I stared her down, hand still tingling with the fire of that moment.“Yes,” I said coldly. “And I’ll do it again if you try me.”Her jaw dropped. “You insolent little—!”She lunged at me.I didn’t move. Instead, I raised my hand again, but this time not to strike, but to warn. My fingers hovered mid-air, trembling with restraint.“Don’t,” I said. My voice came out like steel dragged across ice. “Unless you want this to turn into a full-blown fight. One where I make you wish you’d never opened your mouth.”
Aria’s POV“Queen Aria,” one of the maids called, walking into the dining room with a slight bow.“What is it?” I asked, lifting my eyes lazily from the untouched food.“Alpha Lucien won’t be joining you for breakfast. He has gone out.”I nodded. “Okay.”Who cares?Now that I’ve accepted the mate bond with Alpha Lucien, I’ve become the Queen, above everyone in this pack who once mocked me, spat near my feet, and called me all sorts of vile names. The same people who used to roll their eyes at my presence now bow before me like I’m something sacred.But even with all that, it feels hollow.Because who really cares whether he eats with me or not?I’m not used to this polygamous lifestyle. It feels strange. Forced. I still remember how Alpha Lucien, back when my mother was alive, never once dined in her chamber. So why would I expect any special treatment now?The maid, no older than her early twenties, turned quietly and walked away. Her eyes flicked toward the food spread across the ta
Kael’s POVThe steady beeping of machines pierced the silence, echoing inside my skull like a distant alarm. A sharp spark tore through my brain, jolting me into consciousness. My eyelids fluttered open, straining against the sterile white lights above. The air was cold and smelled like antiseptic; clinical, lifeless.I was alone on the hospital bed.I tried lifting my arm. It felt like I was trying to move a boulder. Heavy. Numb. A thin IV line ran into the back of my hand, dripping rhythmically into my veins. Pain surged through my skull, sharp and unforgiving, wrapping around my head like a vise.“Ahhh…” I groaned, my voice hoarse and dry. I raised my free hand to my head and felt the bulk of thick bandages pressing against my fingertips. The throbbing beneath them was relentless.“What… the hell?”My voice barely sounded like my own. I scanned the unfamiliar room, panic swelling in my chest.Why am I here?I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my mind to remember, but each attempt was
Aria’s POV Everything around me felt cold. Numbness spread through my body, seeping into my veins like a poison. My vision blurred, and the deep chill that settled inside my chest wrapped itself around my heart, making each breath a struggle. I didn’t know if I could keep going, if I even wanted to. The world felt as though it were closing in on me. The words I had just heard echoed mercilessly in my head: “My wolf needs energy.” I felt robbed all over again, as if my life had been drained of all its meaning, and now I was nothing but an empty shell. First, my mother had died because of Alpha Lucien. She had been taken from me, not by the cruelty of a rogue, but by the sword that was meant for him. Then, my stepfather, his father had forcefully marked me, claiming me as his mate, an act that twisted my existence into something unrecognizable. And now… now his son had taken my virginity and reduced it to nothing more than fuel for his wolf’s strength. The realization was suffocat
Kael’s POVI didn’t know why my wolf shifted so violently the moment I saw her mark. But I knew one thing: I had to get out of that room, very fast.I barely remembered pulling my clothes on. Barely remembered shutting the door behind me.All I could remember was the look in her eyes.Hurt. Confused, and Betrayed.I had no right to stay.No right to even breathe the same air as her.I tried to calm myself as I walked, forcing my breathing to steady, but inside, a war raged out of control.How could the Moon Goddess be this cruel?How could she bind me to her?To the girl my father had already claimed?She was too young to carry scars like that.Too innocent to be caught between monsters like us.And yet here I was.Her mate.Her mistake.The night air cut cold against my burning skin as I stalked through the streets. People passed me, stealing glances, whispering behind cupped hands.“Alpha Lucien’s son.”“Since when does he have a son?”“Isn’t he supposed to be dead?”Their voices b
Aria’s POVMy heart sank as I watched him leave my old room without a word.What had come over him?I knew what we just shared shouldn’t have happened, not like that.It was rushed, wild, and raw, but I understood that we both couldn’t control ourselves. Still, what I didn’t understand was why he’d left so abruptly. Why didn’t he say anything?I stood up from the bed slowly, my body sore, trembling slightly from everything we’d just done. I picked up my dress and slid it back on, my fingers brushing over the soft fabric as my gaze drifted to the bed, the blood-stained sheets.The blood of my virginity.My heart twisted painfully. I grabbed a cloth, wet it lightly, and began wiping it away, every movement delicate, like I was erasing more than just a stain.“Be rest assured,” Freya, my wolf, finally spoke after a long silence. Her voice was calm but laced with a strange vulnerability, one we rarely shared.I knew she felt what I felt; shame, confusion, something unspoken.We both felt
Kael’s POV“What is that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.My mind drifted to the photo I found in the bathroom on the second day after returning to my father’s pack, and to what Gracie had said. I quickly dismissed the thought. I’m an adult; I can handle things myself without her help.“Use your tracking ability to find your mate today,” my mother said, her voice echoing softly in the stillness.“I’ve been trying to track her, but I’m unable to find her,” I replied, frustration seeping into my tone.“I’ve noticed someone… but that can’t be,” I continued, shaking my head. “I heard my father say she’s his mate. And I know the Moon Goddess wouldn’t mate me to my father’s mate. So I ignored her.”The thought of mind linking suddenly crossed my mind.“Mum, you know I don’t have the ability to mindlink,” I said, looking at her ethereal form.“Yes, I know,” she responded calmly.“But since I got to this pack, someone has been mindlinking me,” I said, my voice tinged with worry.“T