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VENUSThe air changes around the room the moment Rowan steps beside me. It’s like the entire power shifts towards him and everyone sits stiffly in his presence. “I will be taking over the defense,” he says, calm as a blade resting at someone’s throat.Gonalz stiffens. “But my King, the notice should have been issued before the trial. You just can’t step into a trail and declare that you’re the defense lawyer. That’s the common law that every pack follows.” “Nile.”Nile steps forward instantly, placing a sealed document before the elders. “Royal decree,” he states. “The King holds the right to intervene in all judicial proceedings concerning inter-pack matters and wrongful conviction.”Silence follows.The elders scan the document. Elder Cersei nods. “You may proceed, King Rowan.” Gonalz’s jaw tightens, but he says nothing.Rowan turns towards me. Seeing him after so long makes my heart race wildly. His gaze drops to the chains biting into my wrists. Something dark flickers across h
VENUSThe next day, I wake to the violent groan of metal doors being thrown open. The sound crashes through the dungeon like thunder, dragging me out of the shallow, restless dark. Light spills into my cell. I squint, pushing myself up, my head spinning as the world tilts slightly.I hear footsteps thundering towards my cell. Bronze stands at the entrance with Simon and three guards behind him, his presence filling the narrow space like something carved from stone. “The trial begins in an hour,” he says to me, his voice flat. “You’ll be presented as the accused.”There’s a slight hint of rage but other than that, there’s no emotion in his eyes. I stare at him, trying to find any semblance of the man I used to know. The one who was kind, just and loving. I can’t find that Bronze anymore. The one standing in front of me looks like a tyrant. “I hope,” I say as I slowly get up from the ground, “you realize before it’s too late.” He narrows his eyes at me, a hint of darkness reflecti
VENUSThe dungeon air feels like it’s pressing down on my lungs. I sit curled against the cold stone wall, my arms wrapped around myself, trying to steady the strange unease crawling through my body. A wave of dizziness constantly hits me, followed by my head spinning. I press a hand to my stomach, frowning. It hasn’t been long since I was put into the dungeons yet I feel so sick. Do all prisoners feel the same? I swallow hard as another wave rolls through me, forcing my eyes shut. Maybe it’s the stress. I let my head fall back against the wall, exhaling slowly, but my mind doesn’t quiet.Why did I even go to the party? I should have stayed in my room. My fingers curl against my sleeves.Why did I have to help?Suddenly, I hear footsteps. My head snaps up.My heart starts pounding before I even understand why. The sound grows louder, echoing down the corridor until it stops right outside my cell.The door creaks open.Light spills in and a figure steps in. “Venus!”It was Sydney.R
ROWANCarlisle’s punch snaps my head to the side. A burst of pain hits across my jaw, followed by the metallic taste of blood. He lowers his fists, watching me with narrowed eyes. “You’re getting sloppy.”I roll my jaw, tasting the hit again. “I’m fine.”“You’re distracted.” He says as he scrutinizes me. The private gym of my club echoes with the dull rhythm of our breathing. I refuse to agree with my boxing partner, even though he’s right. My head hasn’t been here all week. The thoughts of the royal council pressuring me to take a wife has been screwing with my head. But it’s not just them. All I can think of is Venus. I haven’t spoken to her. I have been avoiding her thinking that maybe the distance will help both of us move on. Instead it has made me and my wolf restless. Asgard has been staying up all night, telling me we should go back. I can’t! Because if I do, Thane might get an upperhand at the council. Nana can only do so much to keep them at bay. Feeding them fake prom
VENUSThe party ends abruptly because of what happened to Mallory. By the time I make it back to my room, the echoes of the party still cling to me. I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at nothing. My fingers feel cold.How did that happen? A sudden knock at the door makes me jump. I flinch before I can stop myself.Who’s here so late? I carefully walk towards the door. “Venus?” I hear Olivia’s voice and sigh in relief. She stumbles in the moment I open the door, her face pale and her breathing uneven like she ran all the way here.“I don’t know what to do,” she blurts out, her voice trembling. “This-this wasn’t supposed to happen. It was my first time handling something like this and…”“Hey,” I cut in gently, closing the door behind her. “Sit.”She collapses onto the bed, hands shaking in her lap. I move quickly towards the table close to the window. My back faces Olivia as I am pouring her a glass of water. I turn around and see her sitting on the bed while looking restless. I
VENUSTwo days later, the packhouse is filled with people. Preparations for the gathering are everywhere. Servants moving back and forth, decorations being arranged, voices overlapping. I step into the venue where the celebration will be held, and scan the space. “Venus!” Olivia spots me immediately. Her face lights up as she hurries over to me, relief practically radiating off her.“Thank the Goddess, you’re here,” she says, like she wasn’t entirely sure I would be.“I said I would be,” I reply.She lets out a breath, then grabs my wrist lightly. “Come, I’ll show you everything.”She pulls me along before I can respond, leading me toward the dining area reserved for important guests.The moment I step inside, I know this is a mess. The seating arrangement is wrong. People who shouldn’t be near each other are placed side by side. The hierarchy isn’t respected.Even the menu is all over the place. Woah! So she wasn’t joking when she said she doesn't know much about holding events.
BRONZEGonalz’s brows lift a little.Rowan is already trying to force her to shift. Once she does, she will sense the mate bond and run back to him. My grip tightens on my glass. I will not let that happen. She defended him when I told her the truth. Maybe it is the bond. She is getting closer to
VENUSEven if I don’t consider that mysterious creature to be the one to drop him to the borders, then whoever did must be familiar with Bronze’s identity. “Could that individual be from your pack?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.Bronze shakes his head. “If it was someone from the pack, t
BRONZENot even a single fucking muscle on his face moves. It’s like yelling at a damn stone wall.“You’ve got it all wrong,” he says, his tone infuriatingly level. “I’m not your enemy. Your true enemies are right here, in this pack.”“My enemies?” I laugh loudly, in a way to mock his audacity. “Who
VENUS“When I looked toward the forest…” He lifts his gaze to mine. “I saw a pair of golden eyes watching me from the darkness. But the moment I blinked, those eyes were gone.”Bronze’s voice softens as he adds and looks down. “I lost consciousness after that, and when I opened my eyes again, I w







