LOGINAlpha Kael came in majestically in his glory. His handsomeness is what I loved most about him; he looks so good that I am certain no lady would be able to say no to him.
He looked like the moon goddess herself had created him, well-built to a fault; his green eyes remained constant even whenever he shifted.
He is feared by many but when it comes to me, he is so easy and good; the only time he is bad is while we are busy in bed.
He smiled at me beautifully and I thought maybe the maids were wrong.
“How are you, Aria?" he said to me.
His voice was so calm and I came to a conclusion; there was no way this man was lying to me; he definitely feels something for me.
“Tired,” I replied trying to smile but instead, I felt numb and truly tired.
He came close to sitting next to me on the bed. “ you will be fine; you just need to rest well.” He kissed me briefly at the side of my lips while tucking a stray hair behind my ear.
I closed my eyes, basking in the moment, basking in his touch; it feels so good to be touched by him. His touch could literally take all my pains away.
He placed a kiss on my forehead, “thank you for giving me an heir,” he said calmly, his tone was gentle and soft but there was an underlying emotion that I couldn’t place.
Like there was more.
I leaned into his arms, trying to wish all I had heard were not true and his promises to me were true.
When I had newly arrived three years ago as a maid, some were not nice to me because I was human; he was so good to me, he would take me out on dates, and he would take walks with me without caring what his people would say.
I easily fell for him.
No one had really wanted me like that.
Not even my parents; I hadn’t met any of them. I don’t even know who they are, so forgive me for falling easily for a tremendous alpha who looked at me like I was the best thing after a bad day.
He had even told me I was his mate.
I had believed him because I did not see why not.
“There would be celebrations tonight; it is fine if you can’t join, everyone would understand seeing as you are human…” he was now rocking me in his arms.
It felt so good.
Werewolves put to bed and recover immediately; I am human so I would need time to recover. I am happy he understands that. "I would just stay indoors,” I replied.
“That is fine.” He said gently, disengaging himself from me, his face now cold, “his nurse would arrive tomorrow; we have a lot to talk about but I need you to recover first.” His eyes were dark as he walked to meet our baby in his crib.
My heart skipped for a moment; I do not need a nurse. I can take care of my baby myself. I already dreaded the talk we would have and I felt goosebumps in the form of fear running down my spine.
I hope this is not what I think, I nodded my head in reply.
His phone rang, he looked at me before walking out, at the door he picked the call and left.
I looked at his retreating back and a drop of tear slid down my cheek.
My baby cried, making me realize I didn’t need to cry, I needed to nurse my baby. I walked to his crib to carry him.
I breastfed him; breastfeeding him makes me happy and I immediately forgot my past thoughts as I gently nursed my baby.
The next few hours my husband did not come back to see us. I had some guests who came bearing gifts but I wished my husband was there with me.
The next time I woke up, it was already getting dark; the pack was celebrating outside, and there was music and laughter.
I thought about joining them; if there was one thing I enjoyed about this pack, it was their parties, their parties are really fun.
Even when I was a maid and I was supposed to be serving drinks and food, I would still find time to dance.
Just before I walked to the bathroom to take my bath, I called Helen so she could come watch my baby.
I took my time in the shower; surprisingly, I cried for a few minutes.
I was scared of the unknown future.
I know if I became a rejected Luna, no one else would accept me. I know he wouldn’t give me my baby, what then would become of me?
I cried harder.
When I was done bathing, I walked to the room. Helen was already sitting close to the crib; she glanced at me with pity in her eyes.
I fucking saw it.
I hated to be pitied; that was what I hated the most. I felt like asking her what was wrong because it was obvious something was but I had had enough so I kept quiet and walked to my dressing room to dress up.
While dressing, I heard a knock at my bedroom door. I knew Helen could take care of it, but I thought it would be a guest coming to greet the new luna and heir, so I quickly rounded up and walked to my room.
It was Beta James; he is my husband’s best friend and second in command of the pack. He hadn’t come to see me since morning, which was unlike him.
He was one of those who actually cared for me.
"Congratulations, dearest luna,” he said, giving me a hug, smiling.
Truth be told, if Alpha Kael hadn’t been my husband, we would have had a closer relationship than this. “It is not official yet,” I replied while showing him a seat.
“The moment you birth the heir it becomes official. I was quite busy at the training ground; that’s the reason you have not seen me since morning, but I wouldn’t miss the celebration for anything.”
I only smiled in reply. He was really a nice person; since I came to the pack, he had always helped me when I needed it, he would talk to me like I wasn’t a maid but an equal.
“The pack is waiting to meet their future alpha; it’s time for the heirs' presentation.” He said.
Of course I know about that culture; I have learnt a lot about their culture while trying to fit in.
Helene picked up the baby to hand over to him.
“I brought this for you…” he pointed at a big wrapped box close to the door; I had just noticed it. He carried my baby closer to his chest. “… I have to join them at the party; see you later.”
He stood up.
“Thank you James…” I turned to Helena. “please, go with him,” then back to James, “I would also join the party briefly.”
He paused, looked back, “that might not be wise; everything will change after today.” His eyes lingered on me longer than necessary.
There was something in his eyes that made my stomach tighten. Not excitement. Not happiness.
Sympathy.
Then he turned and left.
I hated sympathy.
Aria’s POVThe morning frost had barely started to melt on the northern walls when the message came.I was in the royal conservatory, staring out at the weak rays of the northern sun struggling to reach me through the tall glass windows. In my hands, there was a wooden stag that Leo left on the hearth rug. I had decided to keep it for him for when he had grown big enough to walk. It was worn out by the teething baby's gums; it smelled faintly of dried chamomile and lavender water that his maid used to wash his clothes.Each hour since the southern escort left, the thick castle gates felt hollow and ached inside my chest, the ache that no crown could mend.The heavy rattling of iron boots in the stone passage interrupted my thoughts.Torak burst into the double archway without even knocking. His face was ashen under his helmet, and his leather brigandine was streaked with the smell of horse sweat and road slush. He did not kneel but held out to me a crumpled, blood-stained wax cylinde
The stone spiral of the eastern turret was thick with the scent of pitch and old tallow. Following me in absolute silence, Torvin led Serena toward the high parapet. She pressed her wounded palm against her heart, breathing erratically and unevenly. With every step, her wild eyes glanced at me in the dim light of the torches, seeking confirmation in my look.She didn't see the threads strangling her neck.For her, tonight was nothing but the fulfillment of a personal revenge vendetta against a maid who dared to outshine her. For me, it was just a move in a big chess game. The pack in the south, the throne in the north, the broken promises made on broken alters, it all wasn't as important as the power dormant in the nursery upstairs."The gatehouse door is unlocked," Torvin rasped from the landing, withered fingers pointing at the heavy oak door that led to the outer wall. "The wind blows from the west. Once the flame touches the roof of the armory, the smoke will blind the courtyard
Saint Patrick's POVThe dampness of the lower levels was my good old friend.For weeks, the cold slime of these stone slabs and the constant dripping of the river water had counted off my hours in captivity. To the fools of Valemont; Kael and his dull-witted council, I was merely a rogue alchemist captured by the royal guard and sentenced to death by burning on the pyre.But they never grasped the fact that a cage is only a cage if you don't have patience enough to wait for your prey to walk into it.Just beyond the corridor, in her own rusty metal cell, Serena was pacing like a rabid fox in a trap. She was gasping, gnawing on the rotten straw on her floor. She was utterly mad, drowning in the vinegar of her crushed ambition.Pathetic creature.She truly believed that I cared about her petty grievances. She believed that this entire plan was created to bring Aria to her vengeance. She planned to kill her with a jeweled dagger.I gave a mock smile in the dark.I did not care about Sere
Serena's POVBlack mold, stagnant water, and decaying straw. That was how the dungeons of Valemont smelled.It was two long, agonizing days since the massive iron gates squealed loudly for the arrival of Kael, his heir, along with his northern escort, into this fortress. Through the narrow slit windows of my underground cell, I could clearly hear the pounding hooves, the blast of southern horns, and the victorious shouts of this fortress' soldiers welcoming their Alpha back.Along with the bastard.Leo.Clutching handfuls of wet straw in my fists, I bit down hard into my nails while listening to them tear across the slimy stone floor.For years, I had dressed in fine robes and delicate silks, and I had played the innocent woman before everyone’s eyes while quietly weaving the threads that would eventually bring me to the top.I enjoyed the top for a few months, and I know that is exactly where I want to stay.This means I have to kill her. The one who brought me down from the top whe
The solar was filled with the scent of dried lavender flowers and the sharp bite of the mountain air blowing in through the open, high windows.In the lower courtyard, there were sounds of horses’ armored hooves and the clinking of supply wagons being carried by the southern escort. There were fifty northern huskarls ready in full iron gear, saddling their horses and preparing to carry the heir of the south beyond the Dragon’s Spine.It was deathly quiet inside the chamber.I sat on the edge of the low settee, hugging my son tightly to my chest. His small body was swathed in thick layers of quilted white wool and ermine furs, his little face warm and pink in the cold air. He was almost eleven months old, he did not understand any council decrees or the blood borders that separated the north from the south. All he could do was babble meaningless syllables, playing with the silver chain of the Tear of Elyra around my neck.A sharp sob tore from my throat before I managed to stop myself
The rays of dawn illuminated the mountainous crags of our room.Within the chambers of the High Council of Obsidian Keep, no traces remained of last night's festivities, the warm smells of cooked mead and roasted pine wood had given way to a metallic tang of chilled iron.I was seated in my own chair to the side of the Sovereign Chair, which belonged exclusively to the king and his queen.The silver crown lay upon my forehead, weightless but impossibly heavy, and the newly formed mating bite on the side of my neck throbbed hotly, possessed. The bond lay wide open; humming softly with Draven's dominant iron willpower. To my side, sitting beside me in a thick charcoal fur robe, was Draven himself. His hands lay on the arms of his own throne while his chin rested on the top of a fisted palm. In his gleaming amber eyes, the curse now cleansed, a sovereign, lethal calm kept the elders in their places in check. Their gazes were riveted to him alone.Standing before them at the heart of th







