LOGINChapter 30 : The Rogue’s ScentAnaThe sky had turned completely dark by the time the mysterious stranger finally finished scrubbing the last of the wet clothes.I stood a few nervous steps away, shifting constantly from foot to foot, the empty basket clutched tightly in my hands. My stomach twisted tighter with every passing second. Night had fully settled over the forest, thick and heavy, the kind that silently swallowed sound and made every deep shadow feel threateningly alive.If I returned to the palace without everything clean, dry, and properly folded, someone—likely the head maid, or worse, the Queen’s loyalists—would certainly notice the delay.And punishment never came gently in the palace.Finally, he wrung out the last sheet with powerful, economical hands, water dripping back into the river in steady streams. He folded it neatly—too neatly for someone who claimed not to care about civilized chores—and placed it carefully on top of the pile before handing the heavy basket
Chapter 29 : The Rogue KingAnaMy heart pounded so violently I was sure he could hear the frantic rhythm against my ribs.The stranger had me completely pinned against the rough tree bark, one powerful arm braced beside my head, the other still gripping my wrist like an iron shackle. His intense silver eyes gleamed with dark amusement, sharp and knowing, as if he already understood things about me—the Lycan blood, the fear, the rage—things I didn’t want anyone to see.He was tall—definitely taller than Desmond—and built like a seasoned, relentless warrior. Every line of his body screamed lethal danger and coiled power. Wet black hair clung to a sharp jawline and high cheekbones, droplets of river water sliding down his neck and over his chest muscles. He smelled deeply of the forest and cold river stone, a scent that was both natural and unsettling.I shoved hard at his chest with both hands, trying to create distance.It was entirely useless; it felt like pushing a solid, unmoving w
Chapter 28 : The Forbidden StreamAnaOne day after the disastrous dining hall confrontation, and the entire palace felt like it had grown teeth and fangs.Every corridor seemed to hide a malicious whisper. Every whisper carried my name like a vial of potent poison. I couldn’t take a single breath without feeling someone’s hostile stare digging fiercely into the back of my skull. The palace walls felt too close, the air too heavy and suffocating, and I knew that if I stayed inside another second, I was going to break down and scream.So, I grabbed the heavy laundry basket—my pathetic, necessary excuse for fresh air and escape—and slipped out quietly through the side gate toward the less-traveled market road.The moment my feet touched the dirt street, the audible hatred began instantly.“She bewitched the prince,” a woman muttered loudly as I passed, ensuring I heard the accusation.“Cursed blood,” another nearby man spat onto the ground. “Just like her notorious lust mother.”“Whore,
Chapter 27 : ConfrontationAnaThe instant Queen Elizabeth stormed into the hall, my body reacted before my mind did—I shot violently to my feet, my pulse roaring a deafening beat in my ears. I stood rigid beside the untouched feast, already feeling like an intruder.I barely had time to fully breathe before she snatched up the nearest silver platter—a massive, heavy serving dish—and hurled its contents across the marble floor with incredible force.Roasted meats, fruit, and gravy exploded like a battlefield—splattering across the pristine white walls, dripping sickeningly off the columns, and sliding beneath my silk-clad shoes like dark, sticky blood. The air immediately reeked of ruined food and cold rage.Desmond surged up from his chair, his movements radiating shock and pure fury. “Mother!”The queen spun toward him, her skirts whipping violently around her ankles, her emerald eyes blazing like a storm trapped behind glass. “I am your mother,” she spat, each word sharpened with d
Chapter 26 : The FeastAnaSteam clung warmly to my skin as I stepped out of the bathing chamber, the heavy towel still wrapped securely around me. My hair dripped down my back in loose, wet strands. I paused mid-step, my breath catching in my throat.A dress lay waiting on the bed.Not just a dress—a masterpiece.The silk was the deep, rich red of fresh-spilled wine. The neckline dipped in a graceful curve, the back cut low enough to feel utterly sinful, and the sleeves were delicate as spiderweb lace. It shimmered like liquid fire every time the light touched the fine fabric.I approached the bed slowly, cautiously, as though the garment might vanish if I blinked or moved too quickly.My fingers brushed the silk. It felt soft. Cool. Luxurious. It was nothing, absolutely nothing, like the coarse, rough rags I’d been forced into for the last several years.A whisper escaped before I could stop it, a sound of pure wonder.“Wow…”I slipped into it, and the silk glided over my skin so sm
Chapter 25 : The RealityAnaDesmond carried me effortlessly through the endless palace halls as if my weight meant absolutely nothing to his strength. His arms were firm beneath my knees and back, every step steady, unhurried, and immensely possessive. Servants, alerted by the commotion outside, peeked tentatively from behind grand doorways. Guards straightened rigidly, their eyes flicking between us in undisguised shock. Even the palace maids—who usually whispered without mercy about every perceived scandal—fell into immediate, stunned silence as we passed by.No one dared speak a single word. Not with the Alpha Prince openly carrying a marked Lycan in his arms, his aura radiating lethal defiance.He kicked his private bedroom door shut behind us with a loud, final thud. The wooden echo barely faded before I shoved at his chest with both hands, demanding release.“Put me down!”He obeyed instantly, lowering me to the floor with a gentleness that was completely at odds with the curre







