MasukThe palace was alive with motion. From the moment dawn brushed its golden fingers over the spires, the air had been filled with the hum of voices, footsteps, and the clatter of servants carrying bolts of fabric, trays of silverware, and garlands of roses. Samantha stood by the window of her chamber, staring at the endless bustle below. The gardens had been transformed into a stage of celebration, where ivory tents bloomed like lilies, and lanterns were strung in lines that shimmered when the wind stirred them. It should have felt magical, a dream realized after so much heartache—but instead, her chest felt heavy. Her reflection in the tall mirror betrayed her thoughts. The white silk gown draped over her figure was exquisite, woven with threads that caught the light like frost under moonlight. The embroidery traced vines and wolves across the bodice, symbols of her rising as both queen’s daughter and Luna-to-be. But in her eyes lingered shadows of unease, the remnants of Elias’s ju
The grand courtroom echoed with the weight of history. Tall columns lined the chamber like silent sentinels, their stone carved with the crests of royal bloodlines. Crimson banners bearing the White Wolf sigil now draped over the Crescent Moon emblem, signaling the final shift of power. At the center stood two wolves bound in silver chains. Alpha John Lockwood, once feared and revered, now gaunt and bruised from his time in the dungeons, lifted his chin with what dignity he had left. Elias, his son, remained hunched, eyes downcast, wrists shaking as the magic-infused chains burned against his skin. The court was silent. The air, thick with anticipation, was suffocating. Samantha stood behind a curtain on the upper tier, alongside her brother, Prince Thorne. From their hidden balcony, she could see the entire room—and every wolf who had once turned their backs on her now forced to bow in the presence of the King. She felt no pity. Only justice. Gabriel stepped forward from the
The door slammed shut behind her, the echo bouncing off the stone walls like the final nail in a coffin. Samantha stared ahead, heart still hammering. The scent of rust and old blood clung to her skin. She could still hear Elias’s voice pleading from his cell—“Forgive me.” But her own voice had been louder, colder. "You were never my fate." The words had settled deep into her bones, severing the last thread that had once tied her to the boy who broke her. As she stepped out of the dark prison hall, the sunlight blinded her. The weight of the past no longer clung to her shoulders—it had fallen to the floor, cold and empty, like Elias’s gaze after her final rejection. Guards trailed behind her silently, escorting her up the grand staircases of the palace. Waiting at the top were her father, King Aldric, and Prince Thorne, their faces solemn. Beside them stood Gabriel, arms folded tightly over his chest, his eyes never leaving hers. No words were exchanged. But when she reached him
The world returned in fragments. A heartbeat. A whisper. The frantic thrum of a bond not yet complete. “Stay with me, please… Samantha—breathe—just breathe.” Gabriel’s thoughts pulsed in her mind like thunder beneath water. Desperate. Raw. His fear coiled around her, dragging her toward the surface of consciousness. Then, a rush of scent—pine, warmth, him—and the deep ache in her shoulder where he had marked her. Samantha's eyes fluttered open. She was in his bed. Dim moonlight filtered through the arched windows of the Alpha’s quarters. Soft sheets clung to her sweat-slick skin, and her limbs felt too light, too heavy all at once. She tried to sit, but Gabriel was there instantly, pressing a hand to her back to steady her. “Samantha,” he breathed, his golden eyes wild with emotion. “You’re awake.” Her throat was dry, her lips cracked. “What… happened?” “You fainted.” His hand cupped the side of her face. “After I marked you. The bond overwhelmed you. I’ve never seen anyt
GABRIEL’S POV The rogue’s claws scraped across the arena floor, its growl a guttural rumble that vibrated through my bones. I stepped in front of my mate, my body tense and shielding, ready to kill. But Samantha’s voice cut through the panic like a blade. “No.” I froze, halfway between shielding her and launching at the creature. “This is my fight,” she said, stepping out from behind me. The rogue’s eyes locked onto her, its lips curling back to reveal bloodied fangs. Whatever mind it had left was lost to rage and madness—but still, it hesitated, as if sensing the power rolling off her in waves. The pack fell into stunned silence, hundreds of eyes watching from the stone benches circling the arena. No one dared speak. I grabbed her wrist. “Sam—” “I have to do this, Gabriel.” Her voice was steady, calm, like moonlight over a storm. “Let them see who I really am.” My grip loosened, gaze burning with reluctance and admiration. “Be careful.” She nodded once and stepped forwa
SAMANTHA’S POV The silence that followed Gabriel’s confession was thick with the weight of unspoken emotions. “I don’t want a Luna,” he said again, his voice raw. He was kneeling before me, eyes fierce with conviction. “I want you, Samantha.” The world tilted beneath me. I stared at him, heart pounding like a war drum. His words cracked something open inside me, a place I had buried deep—where hope dared not live. My lips trembled. “Gabriel... are you sure?” He rose slowly, cupping my face with both hands, thumbs brushing away the tear that escaped my lashes. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” I swallowed hard, then leaned into his touch. “Then I want you too,” I whispered. “But not because I’m the White Wolf. Not because I’m a princess or some prophecy. I want you because... you saw me. Even when I didn’t.” He smiled, the tension in his shoulders loosening as if my words had steadied him. I wasn’t prepared for the kiss he gave me—soft at first, then urge







