LOGINBRONZEI shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have threatened Venus like that. Why did I even say that? That didn’t feel like me at all. The last I remember is seeing Mallory on the ground and Venus standing in front of her. She looked angry so it seemed she hurt her. A part of me knew that wasn’t the truth. Venus won’t hurt anyone unless it comes to self-defence. Then what happened? Why were they even fighting? “Argh!” I yell as my head hurts like someone is pounding on it from the inside. Mallory’s voice follows me down the corridor. “Bronze! Wait!”I ignore it. I just don’t want to speak to her right now. Something about her does not feel right. Whenever I’m around her, I seem to lose control over myself. Is that how mates feel? Was that the reason my dad tried to protect mom even when she burnt my skin with a hot iron poker? I don’t want to become my dad! My steps turn fast as I feel her coming right behind me. I don’t want to be close to her. The walls seem longer than
ROWANMy jaw clenches. So she’s planning to make Lilian my wife. “She has a child already.” I remind her. “You want Alexander to succeed after me?” “That child is not of royal blood,” Nana says, her face clearly showing disapproval for Alex. “He cannot inherit your throne.”“Then who do you intend to make my successor? I won’t be the King forever." “Well…” she walks over to the window and looks outside. “You’re still quite healthy and capable of making a child.” My eyes widen. “You’ve seriously lost your damn mind, Nana! I’m not sleeping with Lilian to make a child.” She whirls her head at me. “Yes you are! There is no other choice. Or are you planning to make Bronze your successor? Is he ready?” she asks. I scoff and look away. Bronze isn’t ready to be king. Fuck, he can’t even function as a proper Alpha at the current moment because of Mallory’s influence. “You’re asking me to marry a woman I don’t love,” I say flatly.“I’m asking you to secure your position. If you want love,
ROWANI don’t like the way the night feels. My room is quiet, but it’s not peaceful. It’s the kind of silence that waits like something is about to snap.I’m standing by the window, looking out at the pack, but I’m not really seeing it. My mind’s elsewhere. I keep thinking of her. I wonder if I made the right decision by telling the truth to her. She didn’t say much after our conversation and now her silence makes me feel restless. My jaw tightens. My phone vibrates on the table behind me. Something in my gut already tells me this isn’t a call I’m going to like.It vibrates again. I turn, grab it, and answer.“Nana.” There’s no warmth in my voice. There’s a pause on the other end. Then I hear a sharp voice. “Things have escalated at the council.” She says, this time not using her sarcastic tone or calling me names. I realize this is serious. I walk back to the window, dragging a hand through my hair. “What now?”“The council is questioning your position as King.”I raise a brow,
VENUSMorning arrives quietly. I wake slowly, like I’m surfacing from deep water, wrapped in warmth that doesn’t feel like my own.For a moment, I don’t move as I realize the sheets I am under are softer than mine. The scent around me is different as well. Despite all of that, I feel a steady warmth against my chest.My eyes flutter open and I freeze. Rowan is lying against me, his head resting just below my collarbone and his arm draped loosely around my waist as if he fell asleep there and never moved again.But he’s not asleep. He’s watching me like I’m the only thing in the world worth looking at.My heart stutters. “Good morning,” I murmur, my voice still thick with sleep.“Morning,” he replies, just as quietly.His gaze doesn’t shift a little from me. I let out a small breath, a nervous smile tugging at my lips. “Why are you staring at me like that?”He doesn’t answer. His eyes trace my face slowly, like he’s memorizing something he’s afraid will disappear.“I don’t want to lo
VENUS“Or what?” Bronze asks coldly. “What if I don’t?”Their auras clash harder. The pressure crawls over my skin like static before a storm. I rub my arms instinctively, trying to steady myself.Then Rowan’s aura changes. It feels heavier and more powerful, consuming the entire area like it owns it. His eyes flash gold, bright as molten metal in the night.“You’ll regret it,” he replies, his voice icy and launches his aura at Bronze. The words carry weight despite not being loud or dramatic like his nephew’s. They land like a judge’s final verdict.Bronze holds his ground for a moment. Then, reluctantly, he takes a step back. His glare never leaves Rowan. “Why are you interfering? This doesn’t concern you.”Rowan raises his brow. “It does,” he replies evenly. “Because you’re treating your old friend like dirt for a woman you’ve known for a few months.”Bronze’s head snaps toward me. The look in his eyes is pure venom. “She’s no friend of mine.”The words hit harder than any blow
VENUSI cannot hear her clearly.The wind keeps stealing her words and tossing them somewhere useless, so I move closer. I take slow steps and breath softly so she does not hear me. The gravel crunches softly under my heels and I wince at every tiny sound.When I reach the corner of the building, I see her.Mallory’s back faces me.Opposite her stands a man in a mask.I only get a heartbeat to look before I realize my angle leaves me exposed to him. If he shifts even slightly, he’ll see me.I slip behind the wall instead, pressing my back against the cool stone.“Unfortunately,” Mallory says smoothly, “the initial plan failed. We’ll have to initiate plan B.”My eyes widen in horror. What are they planning? What’s plan B? The man’s voice answers, deep and steady. “The girl needs to be removed. She’s becoming a serious problem.”The girl? My brows pull together.Mallory exhales. “That’s exactly why we’re moving to plan B. Remove the obstacle before it escalates.”My blood turns to ice.
VENUSBronze looks at her.I can’t read his expression. It’s twisted into something ugly, caught between rage and surrender. His throat works as he swallows.When he speaks, his voice is hoarse. “It’s protocol. You’re our prime suspect. You’ll have to remain in this pack.”My heart stutters.“Unless
VENUS“T-that could be possible. But when he—,” she clears her throat, as if careful not to hurt me, “when that incident happened, the full moon period was just starting. It’s usually not that strong at that time since it’s just being initiated.” I purse my lips, feeling a tad bit disappointed. A
VENUSI take a slow breath and look at Rowan. “It was Mallory,” I mutter, pressing my lips in concern. “She’s the one who let those wolves into the pack. One of them was a white wolf.”His expression hardens instantly. “You do not need to worry about that,” he assures me. “I am already investigating
VENUSShock ripples through me at his response. I stare at Bronze, my heart pounding. His expression remains stoic and unreadable for me, but relief washes over me anyway. Someone is finally saying it out loud.And the fact that it’s Bronze doing this makes my chest ache in a way I am not prepared







