MasukVENUSThe next morning, I stand outside the door of the pack meeting room. I was called by Simon, saying that the Luna wanted to have a discussion with me. I pause at the door for half a second, steadying myself, then push it open.Mallory is already seated, posture perfect, fingers lightly folded on the table like she owns the room. Gonalz stands beside her, arms behind his back, watching me. I already have a bad feeling about this. I step in anyway, lifting my chin with confidence. “You called for me?”Mallory’s gaze flicks to me, a smile curving her lips that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Venus. Please, sit.”I don’t like the fake politeness.I sit anyway. The chair feels harder than it should.Gonalz is the one who speaks first. “Miss Donovan. I believe we had a bad situation before. I hope you can leave it behind so we can have a fresh start.” He gives a smile as well. What’s with all the fake smiles? It annoys me. “Why was I called here?” I cut to the chase, not interested
VENUSHis eyes flicker with guilt but he quickly hides it. “I didn’t intend to do it. I’m telling you…”“Those are excuses,” I cut him off.His eyes flash. “Even if you are in trouble, you could have come to me. You could have told me. But you never cared to discuss anything with me.” I snap and swallow the lump in my throat as those old, bitter memories rush to the surface of my mind. I push them away as I don’t want to remember them. “The truth is, you always made decisions for the two of us. And for once, when I decided to do the same by rejecting you, you started to blame me.” He simply stares, as if he is at a loss for words. “That’s cowardly, Bronze.” The words hang between us.“Maybe,” I continue, my voice lower now, “you should figure out what you actually want instead of dragging me into your confusion.”His expression shifts into shock. I gather strength to say, “I know what I want. The moment you slept with Mallory, everything between us was over. So I simply decided
VENUSThe silence after I leave Rowan’s room doesn’t feel like peace. It feels like something has been ripped out of me… and the space it left behind doesn’t know how to exist yet.I keep moving in my room and clean everything in it to keep myself engaged. Sometimes I wipe the cleaned places twice without thinking. That’s the only way I don’t fall apart.My phone pings and I pull it out of my pants pocket to find Sid’s text. “Hey! I’m sorry I left the party early because I wasn’t feeling well. I hope you’re fine and left the party safely with Alex. Let’s hang out later?” I smile at my phone and reply, “Sure. Let’s meet at the coffee shop.” She types for a while and then replies. “How about I meet you in your room? I want to tell you something in private.” I frown. If she wants it to be private, then it must be something important. “No probs. Come to my room at 4.” “Cool. See you later, then.” I tuck the phone back in my pocket and after I’m done cleaning my room, I head out of
BRONZEI 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,
VENUSThe limo glides through the tall iron gates, and I feel my breath hitch as the estate opens up before us. This place is only ever used for the grandest pack celebrations, the kind whispered about long after they end. At night, it looks almost unreal. Stone pathways curve through manicured he
VENUSI open the door with a rush of excitement already bubbling in my chest.“Sid,” I start to say, smiling.The word dies in my throat.A gasp slips out before I can stop it. Dark circles sit heavily under her eyes, bruised shadows that no concealer could hide. Her hair is loosely tied into a mes
VENUSI rush out of my room, my heart still racing, and lock the door behind me. The hallway feels uncomfortably quiet as I make my way to Sid’s room, my steps quick and restless. When I reach her door, I knock three times. Minutes stretch thin.Just when I am about to knock again, the door opens.
VENUSAlex turns to me immediately. “You don’t need to be sorry, Venus. If anything, I feel terrible.” His jaw tightens. “I couldn’t protect you.”“You couldn’t have known,” I say gently and shake my head. “I only started feeling that something was wrong after we went deeper into the forest.”“Well,







