MasukThe upcoming scene is rated 18+ and involves blood and murder. Please skip it if you are uncomfortable. ~~~ From the very beginning, Claudia had played them all. She was a royal siren, a master of dark manipulation and shapeshifting. She was tasked by Elias' and Darius' father to end the peace between the lycan king and the crimson queen. Claudia had shapeshifted to look exactly like Raya. She became Raya down to the smallest detail and lured Alaric in with her sirenâs call. It should have worked, but his hand snapped to her throat to her shock and strangled her, nearly killing her. âYouâre not her.â So, she used her royal siren magic to wipe his memories. Her son was not even Alaric's; he belonged to Alaric's dead brother. Raya, betrayed by Alaric and Claudia plotting to have her killed, attacked Claudia, ripping her face and digging her wing nails deep into the siren's chest. âRaya! What are you doing?!â Alaricâs voice roared down the hall. Before he could reach
Raya insisted Alaric stay away from Claudia's wing.She knew exactly what Claudia was plotting, and she also knew the child was the only thing binding the king to the mistress, and Claudia would have to give the boy the antidote eventually.But Raya underestimates Claudiaâs cruelty.Vicious rumors spread that Raya was so insanely jealous she tried to poison a child. People said she was a monster keeping a father from his sick son.Some even brought up Raya's dark past, whispering that she would murder Claudia just like she murdered her old mates.Alaric, furious, executed all the servants spreading the lies, but it was too late. The powerful High Council had heard. They demanded action. Alaric has no choice but to visit Claudia to settle the peace.~~~Days pass with no word from him. When Raya went to find him, the guards told her the king was too busy.She remembered Alaric promising months ago to take Matthias to the grand fair for his birthday.She sent a message reminding him of
Author: ~~~ The moment Angela steps inside the dim, ancient throne room, a tight knot forms deep in her chest. The heavy energy in the air feels incredibly familiar, yet she can't figure out exactly why. Is Cassian right? She wonders. Is he right to be terrified that I might have another mate? But then she realizes that the intense pull she feels right now is nothing like the burning heat of a mate bond. This feels completely different. It feels pure, deep, and painful. It feels like the bond between a mother and... The exact moment the word "mother" enters her mind, a powerful memory crashes into her, making her legs waver. Flashback: Over 200 Years Ago âMother, are you crying because of Father?â Four-year-old Matthias peers up with wide, innocent eyes, his small face full of concern. Raya looks down at him, quickly wiping her tears. Her eyes are red, swollen from crying, but she forces a bright smile. âHow is that possible, my little wolf?â she asks him softly. âYour mother
~~~Three days later.The truth comes out, as clear as blood on snow.Lucious is indeed Lucienâs biological father.He is also the bastard who targeted me from the start, trying to kill me and claim the throne.We stand in the council hall to settle the terms.Tension crackles like lightning. I step forward, voice steady and cold.âI am a very petty man, Lucious,â I tell him, staring him down. âI do not forget things. And I never forgive. But I am glad you are the real father of Lucien. Treat him well. He is just a child. But hear me now. In exactly five months, I will fight you in a duel to the death. I will kill you, and I will claim my mate and my throne. It is a long-standing tradition, and you cannot run from it.âHe smirks, looking very proud of himself.âI look forward to it.âHe turns around, scoops Lucien into his arms, and walks away without looking back.Melinda stays behind. Seconds pass. She looks at me, and says nothing.After a momentâs hesitation, she finally speaks.â
Cassian:~~~I watch Lisa closely as she attends to Angel, my heart hammering like a war drum.She finishes checking Angelâs vitals and straightens up. I step closer, my voice rough with worry.âHow is she?âShe turns to me and rolls her eyes; her face stays serious.âShe's fine,â she answers flatly.âGood.â I let out a heavy breath.âGood?â she repeats in disbelief. âCassian, she is pregnant, for goddessâ sake. She could have lost that child because you could not control yourself.â Lisa snaps, her tone sharp.I growl at her, and she lowers her head.âI'm sorry, Alpha.ââAngela didn't faint because of the sex. It is because Lucien pushed her.â I try to explain.Lisa nods slowly and says.âYes, his push triggered it. But it was bound to happen soon. Her body was already pushed to the edge because you two indulged in heavy rounds of intimacy when her body needed rest.âI drag a shaking hand over my face, feeling a deep wave of frustration and guilt.I knew it.Last night should never ha
I stare at Melindaâs face, genuinely dumbfounded. Why does she care that Lucious is my mate? This is the same venomous glare she gave me when she fought tooth and nail for Cassian. Now the poison turns toward Lucious too? âWhat does me being Luciousâs mate have to do with you, Melinda?â I ask, turning to face her, and fold my arms over my chest. âTell me.â Her eyes widen. Every drop of color drains from her cheeks until she looks like a ghost. It's as if I have just ripped the lid off a secret she buried years ago and hoped no one would ever find. âI⊠I⊠um, I am angry, that is all!â she stammers, trying to sound casual. But I catch the tremble in her hands as she fists them at her sides. âAngry? No, that's not it. The Melinda I know does not get this worked up over nothing,â I say, taking one deliberate step closer, then another. She stumbles back, and my voice hardens as I continue. âBut here you stand. You are not only angry. You are possessive. Territorial. Of him.â
I don't knock. I don't hear what Anna is saying. I push the door open with enough force to make the glass partition rattle. Adrianâs âdeadâ wife, what's her name again, Julianna, doesnât even flinch. She just looks at me as a slow, condescending smirk spreads across her face. âGet out,â I say, my
It is getting dark when we arrive at the mansion. Itâs located in the heart of the city, a grand display of Cassianâs power and wealth.The car pulls in the driveway, and I carry Sophie, stepping out as Cynthia gets out to begin unloading our luggage.âWelcome, Madam. Iâm Lia, the housekeeper. I wi
Angela: ~~~ âBlair⊠I⊠please, it's not what you think! Fuck, I can explain.â I want to hit him, scream, and ask him how exchanging saliva with his supposed dead wife while his hands roam her body means anything other than exactly what it looks like. And to be honest, I don't understand why
Angela: ~~~ âCassian, why are you looking at me like that? Did you do something to Adrian?â The words spill out before I can stop them; the air in the room has shifted, turning heavy. Cassian is staring at me with that dark, predatory gaze, which makes me afraid of him. âYou want to go back to h







