Go get her ready for the wedding, Jenna heard her father's voice. “We can't let anything ruin this. This marriage with Damien is the best thing that could happen to all of us.”
Jenna’s stepmother nodded with a smirk on her face, before turning to go to Jenna’s room. Jenna followed her, head down as she made her way to the room.
She was lost in thoughts and confusion as she knew Coty was not going to let her pregnancy slide and if Damien confirmed it wasn't his then she was done for.
Jenna stood in front of the mirror, her eyes red and puffy from the tears that kept rolling down her cheeks. She washed her face, trying to compose herself and embrace the worst that could happen.
As she was getting dressed, Mrs. Chloe knocked on the door and entered with a different wedding dress in her arm. “Your husband-to-be chose this for you,” she said with a cunning smile.
“You should be thankful you will be getting married to him, that's the best you can do so you don't end up like your whore of a mother,” Mrs. Chloe said approaching her with a wide, unsettling smile on her face. "My beautiful Jenna," she cooed, her voice sending a chill down Jenna’s spine. Her arms stretched out wide, a predatory grin etched on her face. "I tell you, child, Damien would take good care of you. He's a good man," she proclaimed confidently.
Jenna took the dress from her stepmother, feeling a wave of anger wash over her. The same person that led her into this is acting all cool like he did nothing wrong.
“Scared, huh?”
Jenna startled when Coty abruptly barged into her room.
“So, what is your little mind telling you? That I'm going to tell on you right?” she asked sarcastically.
“I'm not sure what you mean,” Jenna replied acting like she didn't have a hint of what she meant but she was scared within her at the thought that Coty might have found out Damien doesn't own the child.
She scoffed, “You are so cocky. This isn't the right time to grow a spine, Jenna! You should be on your knees begging!!” she snarled walking closer to Jenna as she squinted at her. “Not even the moon goddess would save you from my claws today!” Coty added drawing out her claws.
“Don’t you dare, Coty!” Jenna warned as she was about to attack her. “Touch me, and I’ll rip your hand off this minute,” Jenna threatened.
“How dare you threaten me!?” She sneered. “Expect that I’ll make sure to tell father how much of a whore you are,” she warned Jenna.
“Go ahead, Coty. Tell him. What’s the worst he could do to me? Kill me? Lock me up?” Jenna shot back, summoning some courage as she tried to hide her fears.
“Say all you want, Jenna. The moment I tell Father about this, you’re going to regret everything you said a while ago.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing in this world that scares me,” she scoffed. Even death doesn’t bother me, Coty. I’ve got nothing to lose now because I do not even have a family, okay?
Coty clenched her Jaw as she struggled to find words to throw at her. “Enjoy your newfound courage while it lasts, Jenna. You’ve not seen my worst yet!” She immediately left the room after that.
Once she was gone, Jenna finally let out the breath she had been holding back. She had no idea where she found the courage to fight back, but she knew Coty wasn’t going to let her off easily.
She looked at her reflection one last time before blowing a loud sigh. She gulped, trying to calm herself before heading out.
Jenna’s thoughts were a jumbled mess as they left the house and headed to the wedding.
She kept hoping things would not go south for her.
Jenna stood at the altar, her eyes fixed on the floor, as she felt a sense of anxiety wash over her.
The priest cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to the present.
“Do you, Jenna, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” He asked, but Jenna’s mind was blank.
She felt her father’s hand on her arm, a silent plea to say yes. She looked over at her best friend, Nina, who gave her a small, sad smile before settling her gaze on the rest of the crowd that was gathered and she felt cold shivers run through her spine as she noticed Coty was missing.
With a deep breath, Jenna turned to face Damien who had a look of hatred for her.
“Ye…” she tried to say but was cut short when the entrance door burst open.
Her heart skipped the moment she saw Coty walking in with a familiar paper in her hand.
“This marriage cannot happen,” Coty said as her voice resounded through the hall. “She’s pregnant with someone else’s child!”
A gasp erupted in the congregation and Jenna felt like the ground should swallow her at this point.
At that point, she knew Coty must have told Damien about it and that explains his calmness.
Beads of sweat formed in her forehead as her body began to tremble.
“Coty! You have to stop this madness!! That’s not possible!” Her father scowled.
Coty walked over to the altar and handed the test results to her father as a wicked smile played on her lips.
“Damien, is Jenna pregnant for you?” He tried so hard to believe it was for Damien.
“I hate her so much to even share a bed with her,” Damien said causing another gasp from the crowd.
“Is that true!?” He asked turning to Jenna who stood frozen at the spot.
“I… He…” she stuttered trying to find the words.
“Who is the father?” He growled in rage but Jenna was mute.
“Do not make me repeat myself, who is the father of that thing!?” He sneered.
“The child is mine!”
Before she could summon a response, a deep commanding voice reverberated through the previously buzzing crowd. Gasps filled the air, and her heart skipped a beat as her eyes settled upon him.
Oh, shit! Jenna muttered.
“Ryker stones!? She heard her father growl.
“Uncle!?” came Damien’s voice leaving her in shock.
Jenna placed her hands on her hips, staring up at the towering wall before her. At that moment, she envied every creature gifted with the ability to fly. Her gaze drifted to the side, and she sprinted a few meters behind a wide house, seeking cover as she prepared her escape.The rain continued to pour down relentlessly, soaking her to the bone. It did nothing to help her situation, but she had no control over that. She rolled her shoulders, pushed up the sleeves of her soaked gray dress, and stood before the tall wooden fence with steely determination.It was probably twice her height. Still, with the right skill, she believed she could scale it.Then reality hit.She wasn’t skilled. She was the opposite—utterly lazy.Regardless, Jenna planted her hands against the slick, brown wood and dug her nails in, trying to pull herself up. A sharp sting shot through her finger as a splinter buried itself in her skin. She cursed under her breath and considered shifting to tear through the damn
Two days.That’s how long it had been since he defended her.And still, Jenna felt like she was suffocating.Kaelion hadn’t touched her, hadn’t demanded anything, and hadn’t raised his voice once. He simply existed, watching with those quiet, stormy eyes, as if he was waiting for her to either break… or heal.He was polite, cautious. Respectful in a way that made her more unsettled than if he had demanded her obedience.And Maren…That girl was a storm wrapped in sunshine. A whirlwind of kindness and chatter. Jenna should’ve hated her. But Maren made it hard. The way she hummed while braiding Jenna’s hair, the way she dropped extra honey in her tea without asking. The way she looked at her like… she wasn’t broken.But that didn’t mean Jenna could stay.Kindness was a trick. She’d learned that lesson one too many times.It always came with strings.Sometimes she tried to trust that they were better peopleBut at night… the old ghosts returned.She couldn’t sleep without seeing her old
The next morning was unusually quiet.Jenna stood by the wide arched window of her chambers, the sky painted in soft hues of pale gold and misty blue. The courtyard below bustled faintly with movement—servants sweeping, warriors training but none of it touched her. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself, feeling like an ornament trapped in someone else’s glass castle.A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts.She turned just as the door creaked open and a bright-eyed girl with russet curls popped her head in with cheeks flushed pink and eyes so wide with excitement it made Jenna blink.“Um—hello?” the girl chirped. “Are you… Jenna? I mean—Luna Jenna?”Jenna blinked. “Yes but not your Luna”The girl beamed and stepped in, holding a folded apron in her hands. The girl curtsied with a little flourish. “My name’s Maren. His Majesty assigned me as your personal maid if that’s alright with you, of course.” She paused, her amber eyes hopeful. “I know I’m a bit… young-looking. But I pr
The silence was the loudest thing in the room.Ryker stood in Jenna’s old quarters, untouched since she vanished. The same gray blanket she used to curl under still rested at the foot of the bed. Her scent lingered on the pillow, faded but not gone. That soft blend of crushed lilacs and wolf pine that used to ground him.Now it haunted him.He stared at the space on the bed and tried to remember the last thing she said to him. Something cold. Something distant.He deserved that.He deserved worse.Outside, the Villa was restless. Whispers ran like wildfire: The Luna’s gone. Ryker lost his mate. The Lycan Alpha took her. They didn’t say it to his face, of course. But he felt their doubt like needles under his skin.He’d lost her.Again.Exhausted, Ryker sat slouched on the high-backed chair at the far end. His knuckles were bloodied—fresh from punching the stone wall of his chambers just minutes before.The taste of defeat still coated his tongue like ash.She was gone.Jenna.And not
The storm outside was unrelenting. Rain thrashed against the high-arched windows casting shadows that danced violently across the towering bookshelves of the Alpha King’s private study.Kaelion Vexmoor stood alone, one hand braced against the edge of his massive desk, his broad shoulders rising and falling with every shallow breath.His chest ached.Not from injury.But from the curse.He could feel it again—writhing beneath his skin like molten fire, twisting into his lungs and curling fingers around his heart. Every time he thought it had calmed, it surged back, fiercer than before.The pain came in waves now.Stronger.Faster.Like time was counting down.He didn’t flinch. He didn’t cry out. But the tremor in his jaw betrayed him, as did the way he squeezed his eyes shut to trap the growl in his throat.Then came the voice, low, calm, irritatingly timely.“You’re burning again, aren’t you?”Dorian. His Beta. Always watching. Always ten steps behind and yet never out of reach.Kaeli
Jenna lay still for a long while after Kaelion left, the silence in the room thick as fog. Her heart still hadn’t settled from his words.“For every tear they made you shed, I will make them beg.”She should’ve felt fear. Or revulsion. But instead, something darker curled in her chest. Hope. Dangerous, bloody hope.She buried her face in the sheets to drown it.The knock at the door jolted her.Before she could say anything, it opened.A woman entered — tall, stern, elegant, her posture straight as a blade. Behind her, three younger women followed, each carrying folded garments, steaming cloths, and wooden bowls filled with scented water. Maids.The older woman’s eyes scanned Jenna from head to toe. Not cruel. Not soft either. Just… assessing.“I’m called Myra,” she said, her voice brisk. “I am the head of His Majesty’s house staff. These girls are here to assist me in preparing you for the day.”Jenna sat up slowly, pulling the covers closer to her chest. “I don’t need help.”Myra’s