LOGINDesiree’s POV “I hope you don't mind if I join you?” He asks, his grin widening as he looks directly at Ronan. “I'd hate for the conversation to get boring.”My eyes widens and my lips part, but I am too stunned to even give a response. Who the hell comes all the way from the villa on his Luna's first day at work after Instructing his beta to follow me. Who the hell appears even after seeing I am with someone?I blink my eyes, giving him signs to give us space but his next words renders me more speechless. “Do you have something in your eye? I can help you-” he says, standing up to touch my eyes but I quickly avoid his hand touching me with an awkward smile. “Oh... darling,” I say, my voice sounding a little tighter than I than intended. My eyes fix on Ronan, who like he's having the absolute time of his life watching the Alpha of the North play the role of the uninvited third wheel. Ronan doesn't even look intimidated. If anything, he looks delighted, leaning back as he mirrors
Desiree’s POV “No way,” the person says, their face lighting up with a radiant, happy beam as they begin to run toward me. “I can’t believe it’s actually you!”I stand frozen on the manicured path, my hand still gripping the strap of my briefcase, as the figure sprints toward me with a grin that could outshine the afternoon sun. Ronan!Before I can even process the shock, he's in front of me, skidding to a halt. He looks exactly the same - the same effortless, messy hair, the same twinkle in his eyes that suggests he's always five seconds away from a joke or a heist. "Desiree!" he laughs, his voice like a refreshing splash of cold water. "I heard a rumor that a certain fierce Luna was taking over this place, but seeing you here... in that suit? You look like you’re ready to buy the whole territory just to spite someone."I find my voice, a genuine smile breaking through my professional face. "Ronan. Lyra mentioned I might be seeing you, but I didn't think it would be so soon."He
Desiree’s POV “Get your ass back here, Des.”I hear Gillian’s voice from behind, halting me to a stop at the entrance of the villa. I turn back to face him, and I see Gillian striding toward me with a mischievous grin that tells me he isn't quite ready to let me step into my professional world just yet. “Where do you think you are going?” He asks, his pace slow and intentional as he winks at me. I raise my brows at him, adjusting the strap of my bag as I folded my arms together. “I believe I mentioned a gallery inspection? Contracts? Being a boss? Any of that ringing a bell, Alpha?”Gillian reaches me in a few strides, his large body covering me, effectively blocking the sunlight. He looks me up and down, his eyes lingering on the sharp lines of my blazer before meeting my gaze with a spark of pure deviltry that speaks volumes of what naughty thing he is thinking about. “I heard all of that,” he murmurs, stepping into my personal space until the scent of his cologne wraps around m
Gillian’s POV “Alpha, I need to bring something to your notice.” Keal says as soon as I get into the house, a disturbed face plastered on his face. “What is it?” I ask and I keep walking, my attention focused on getting to Desiree. “Is Lucius disturbing?”Kael sighs, and it makes me turn my face to him. “He's up to something again?”“Yes...” He stutters. “On Luna Desiree’s other, I released him and he told her about Seraphina showing up with heavy pregnancy to proclaim her place. Something like she on her way back and you having to keep the secret from her.” My eyes widen in disbelief. “What?”I stop dead in my tracks, my eyes flying back to Kael. He gives me a shrug that says ‘I am sorry.”“Seraphina is coming back? When?” My blood runs cold, then boils in a second flat. The thought of Seraphina coming back disgusted me. “Why don't I know that someone is coming back to my domain, Kael? Have any answers to that?” I ask, my voice dropping to a dangerous, low frequency. Kael doesn'
Desiree’s POV The steam from my hot coffee rises in lazy, blurring the view of the man sitting across from me in the study. I had moved from the kitchen to the formal library, wanting a space that felt less like a home and more like a battlefield. If Lucius wants to play king of the castle, I'll meet him in a room full of old books. Kael stands by the door, his arms crossed, looking like a statue. He had finally ‘released’ Lucius from the corner he'd been pinned in by Gillian's command. Lucius is lounging in one of the leather wingback chairs, looking entirely too comfortable for a man who was just being throttled by his brother. He's smoothing out the lapels of his black suit, his fingers moving elegantly. "You always did have a penchant for the dramatic, Desiree," Lucius says, with a smooth voice, and a purr that lacks even a hint of the gasping breath from earlier. "Though I must say, the 'Luna of the North' look is... surprisingly becoming on you. Even if you are wearing my
Gillian's POV I turn my back on Lucius, refusing to give him another second of my attention because of the sudden anger rising in my soul for his appearance. Guess the peace never last because choas love to mix with the peace so much. My chest is tight, a mix of the protective fury I feel for Desiree and the cold dread Kael just planted in my gut about my father. “Gillian, wait,” Lucius rasps, rubbing his throat where my grip had been. He's already trying to regain that stupid smug composure of his, but his eyes are burning with a different kind of heat now. “You are going to see him? Alone? While you have me escorted to a study like a child? Like this isn't my father's house as well? As though I am a puppet needed to be kept in the dark.”I don't even turn around, because with Lucius, we all know it's pointless arguing with him. “Kael, I said move him, now! He needs to be checked before he gets access to his chambers again, with the girl lurking at his back.”“You're hiding him!”
Desiree's POV If someone had told me a week ago that I would willingly choose Eliana to accompany me anywhere outside Gillian's territory, I would have laughed in their face and tell them to their face ‘In your dreams’But here I amStanding at the entrance of one of the most extravagant boutiques
Desiree's POV “Darling!” I call, running up to Gillian amidst everyone in the room. I cling to Gillian's shoulder like he is the only solid thing in the room that keeps shifting under my feets. I can smell his scents in my lungs, dark cedar and smoke, something that makes him more unique, and fo
Gillian’s POV I close my eyes, trying to restrain my anger as I hear footsteps. Can't mistake Desiree for her, Seraphina. Even in my private study room, her perfume still sinks into the room as she walks in. I can hear her heels clicking towards my side, irritation clinging to my body. Why don'
Gillian's POV Desiree lies in the center of my bed, unmoving except for the slow rise and fall of her chest. The healer's bandages wrap around her throat in clean white layers that look too bright against her skin. She has always been fierce, but now, seeing her like this feels wrong for me. I fe







