LOGINAngela:~~~The brutal grip of the castle guards bruises my arms as they drag us down an endless spiral of rough stone stairs.My boots scrape against the jagged, uneven edges of the steps, but I can barely feel my legs.There's only the deep, tearing pain in my lower stomach. A heavy, rhythmic cramping that screams a terrifying truth. My body is failing.It is giving up on the tiny, fragile life growing inside me.The air grows freezing the deeper we go, smelling like wet earth, rotting wood, and ancient, rusted iron. It's the scent of a grave.The guards don't show an ounce of mercy. They throw us inside the cell. I hit the stone floor hard, my shoulder taking the brunt of the impact.The violent jolt knocks the remaining air from my lungs, just as the heavy iron door slams shut behind us.āAngel!... You bastards, I will rip you apart for this!ā Cassian threatens, his voice lacking its usual edge.āYeah, that's if you're coming out of here alive. No one survives the cold dungeon.ā O
The 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 sirenās call. It should have worked, but his hand snapped to her throat to her shock and strangled her, nearly killing her. āYouāre not her.ā 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. āRaya! What are you doing?!ā Alaricās 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 Claudiaās 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 āMother, are you crying because of Father?ā 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. āHow is that possible, my little wolf?ā she asks him softly. āYour mother
~~~Three days later.The truth comes out, as clear as blood on snow.Lucious is indeed Lucienās 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.āI am a very petty man, Lucious,ā I tell him, staring him down. āI 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.āHe smirks, looking very proud of himself.āI look forward to it.āHe 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 momentās hesitation, she finally speaks.ā
Cassian:~~~I watch Lisa closely as she attends to Angel, my heart hammering like a war drum.She finishes checking Angelās vitals and straightens up. I step closer, my voice rough with worry.āHow is she?āShe turns to me and rolls her eyes; her face stays serious.āShe's fine,ā she answers flatly.āGood.ā I let out a heavy breath.āGood?ā she repeats in disbelief. āCassian, she is pregnant, for goddessā sake. She could have lost that child because you could not control yourself.ā Lisa snaps, her tone sharp.I growl at her, and she lowers her head.āI'm sorry, Alpha.āāAngela didn't faint because of the sex. It is because Lucien pushed her.ā I try to explain.Lisa nods slowly and says.āYes, 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.āI drag a shaking hand over my face, feeling a deep wave of frustration and guilt.I knew it.Last night should never ha
I run for the elevator, but before I can reach it, Luke steps out from the side, grabs my hand, and pulls me toward the washroom. āYou, let me go.ā I struggle against him. āLet's make a deal,ā he says instead, but I yank my hand out of his grasp and counter, āI would rather die than accept your d
Her blood is everywhere, hot and slippery against my palms.The ragged wound at her side wonāt stop bleeding. I press my palm hard against it, knotting the fabric of my shirt to try and stop the flow, while administering CPR with the other.Her skin is cold. Too cold. Her face pale. The rain is was
Melinda: ~~~ āY-You.ā I stammer, sitting up quickly. āB-Brandon. How are you here?ā My voice shakes, but he doesnāt answer, just stares, and the glint in his eyes makes my skin crawl. He yanks me up effortlessly, and before I can breathe, his hand cracks across my cheek. I stagger back, stunned,
Cassian:~~~āYouāre telling me Angela betrayed her own company? Betrayed me?ā I demand angrily.How could anyone think that of her? My angel would never. I know it. I open my mouth to tell him the next time he accuses my angel again, heāll be gone from my sight for good.Then I smell her.Her into







