Freya: I woke up tired. Really tired. My head ached, a dull throb that came from a night of restless plotting and sneaking about. I shifted in bed, the silk of my nightgown cool against my skin. Beside me, Ethan was still asleep, his chest rising and falling in steady rhythms. I smirked faintly, brushing a strand of hair off his forehead. He had no idea what I’d done last night. The ether—an odorless, potent concoction I’d acquired through some very specific means—had kept him in a dreamless slumber. Even now, his face seemed unusually pale, and there was a subtle tick in his jaw. When he finally stirred, his eyes fluttered open, bleary and unfocused. He groaned, bringing a hand to his temple. “What’s wrong?” I asked, feigning concern. He sat up slowly, his movements sluggish. “I feel… strange,” he admitted, his voice rougher than usual. “My head feels heavy, and it’s like I’m moving through water. Even my limbs feel slow.” I leaned in, resting a hand on his arm.
Imogen: It was a sunny morning, definitely not one for our kind. The sun filtered through the delicate lace of the parasol above me, casting intricate patterns on the table in front of me. A gentle breeze carried the scent of freshly bloomed roses, mingling with the earthy undertones of the garden soil. The parasol shielded me from the worst of the sun, but the warmth still seeped into my skin, lulling me into a false sense of calm which I knew was going to leave burn marks later. But I loved to see the way the sun slightly burnt intricate patterns from the parasol on my skin. I adjusted the hem of my dress, the silk gliding smoothly between my fingers. It was a soft blue today, simple but elegant, the kind of thing that suited a future queen. My engagement to Ethan had finally been solidified, but my heart was still wary. A man like him—so indecisive —would always have his doubts. And I knew I would forever be walking the line between being his choice and being his burden. I
Lianna: The sound of hooves thudding against the earth was steady, almost hypnotic, as Edward and I rode side by side. The forest around us was alive, a symphony of chirping birds and rustling leaves. The scent of pine mixed with the faint aroma of wildflowers, and the sunlight filtered through the trees in fractured beams that painted the path ahead. Edward glanced at me, his expression unreadable at first, but then his lips curved into a smile that hinted at something unspoken. "What do you say we take a different route?" he asked, his voice casual but laced with intrigue. I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes slightly. "What route?" He gestured to a narrow trail veering off from the main path, half-hidden by overgrown ferns. It looked untouched, almost secret. “It leads to a place I think you’ll enjoy.” The uncertainty in me stirred, but his confidence quelled it almost immediately. Edward was many things—arrogant,
Lianna: The blanket beneath me was soft against the grass, the rich hues of the sunset reflecting in the still waters of Lunaris Spring. The sky was a masterpiece of fiery orange and soft pink, streaked with hints of lavender and gold. I leaned back, letting my fingers trace absent patterns over the fabric of the picnic blanket. Beside me, Edward sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the horizon as though the sunset had cast its spell on him too. “I’ve always loved sunsets,” I murmured, my voice breaking the gentle hum of the crickets around us. “They make me feel… hope. Like no matter what happens during the day, it all ends in beauty.” Edward shifted slightly, turning his attention to me. “Hope,” he echoed, the word lingering on his lips as if tasting its weight. I nodded, my eyes still on the horizon. “Look at the colors. The oranges remind me of warmth, safety, like being wrapped in a blanket on a cold night. The pinks feel tender, like love that’s soft and quiet. And the pur
Lianna: The tremor in my hands hadn’t stopped since he got rid of the body. but Edward seemed unbothered, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos in my chest. How could he act so nonchalantly after what had just happened? A rogue had lunged at me—teeth bared, eyes wild—and he brushed it off as if it were a regular occurrence. He crouched near the picnic spot, packing the last remnants of our impromptu meal into the basket. The soft rustling of fabric and clinking of utensils was a good distraction, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying the attack over and over again. My heart still raced at the memory of its guttural growl. “Are you seriously not worried about what just happened?” My voice cracked, betraying the calm façade I was trying to hold onto. Edward stood, brushing the dirt off his hands. “Rogues attack from time to time,” he said with a shrug, his tone almost dismissive. “It’s nothing new.” He turned to look at me, his jaw tight but his eyes steady. “As t
CHAPTER 69 Freya: The weight of Alistair’s body beneath mine was thrilling. His resistance only made the game more intoxicating, his pathetic attempts to stop me was a show of weakness I enjoyed. My lips moved against his, a mixture of hunger and malice driving me. He tried to turn his face away, his breath ragged, but I caught his jaw with my hand, forcing him to look at me. “Freya, stop this,” he rasped, his voice trembling. “This isn't right. What we're doing isn't right at all. You're married...and I know you don't even like me.” “Oh, Alistair,” I purred, running my fingers down his chest. His shirt bunched under my touch, the fabric soft but wrinkled from my earlier grip. “You wanted this. Don’t pretend otherwise.” “I didn't!” His wide, terrified eyes betrayed him. He tried to push me off again, his hands pressing against my shoulders, but I snarled, low and guttural, letting my claws extend just enough to graze his skin. “Don’t make me hurt you,” I wa
Ethan: I knew I didn't want to be in my chambers all morning, being plagued by thoughts that cried to me spoken out. Even as I left the room, Freya paid me no heed as she was still angry from last night. But I did not care. I had more important things to attend to. The throne room smelled faintly of cedarwood and aged stone, a constant reminder of the centuries of decisions that had been made within these walls. Today, it felt heavier than usual. Maybe it was the stifling tension of my own thoughts or the way the high ceilings seemed to echo every creak of the massive wooden doors. I adjusted my collar, feigning confidence as I walked into the room. The council elders, their silver hair and stoic expressions betraying lifetimes of service, turned to look at me with a faint surprise. Edward was already seated on the throne, his shoulders square and his face set in the impassive mask he wore so well. He wasn’t expecting me, of course. Good. “Ethan,” he said, his voice coo
CHAPTER 71 Lianna: The garden was bathed in soft sunlight, the kind that seemed to kiss the skin rather than scorch it. The faint hum of bees mingled with the gentle rustle of leaves, creating a melody of serenity. My teacup felt warm in my hands, the delicate porcelain cooling slightly as I sipped the fragrant brew. Beside me, Ingrid laughed, her golden hair catching the light as she ran after the tiny puppy Edward had brought me yesterday. Watching her made me smile. The puppy, an excitable little thing with floppy ears and boundless energy, darted around her feet, barking happily. It was such a contrast to the thoughts swirling in my mind that I almost envied her carefree spirit. “Ingrid,” I called, my voice cutting through the warm stillness. She turned, her cheeks flushed from chasing the dog. “Yes?” she replied, plopping down beside me on the cushioned bench. The puppy climbed onto her lap, panting contentedly. I set my cup down on the small table, runnin
Edward: I didn’t think I had ever had a good time like that in my entire goddamn life. Seated on my ridiculous golden throne, which, by the way, I had told them was unnecessary but they had insisted like it was some sacred tradition, I watched the sea of smiling faces parading before me. Everyone looked genuinely happy to see me, like they were actually proud, and for the life of me, I couldn’t even pretend to be my usual sarcastic self. The grin splitting my face was impossible to contain. It felt ridiculous, too wide, too bright, but hell if I cared. My chest was warm, my fingers were drumming lightly against the armrest in time to the soft thrum of music weaving through the air. The scent of fresh flowers... roses, gardenias, something Lianna had picked, I was sure drifted through the hall, blending with the mouth-watering smell of pastries and meat pies and the sharp tang of aged wine. A few of the Alpha Kings I was c
Edward: “How the hell is she able to be this bubbly after she almost died yesterday?” Harvey muttered, leaning forward against the iron railing of the gallery. I stood beside him, arms loosely folded, my gaze drawn down to where Lianna moved like a wildfire in silk. She was everywhere at once, barking out orders to the kitchen staff, laughing too loudly at something one of the guards said, twirling away from an apprentice who nearly dropped a tray of wine glasses at her feet. Her hair whipped behind her like a banner, her cheeks flushed with life. She looked damn good doing it too. She looked alive, radiant, and unstoppable. And that made me damn rock hard. I felt my mouth curl into a slow, uncontrollable smile. “She’s Lianna,” I said simply, voice low, almost reverent. “Death’s scared of her, not the other way around.” Harvey shook his head with a chuckle, but his eyes stayed trained on her too, like he couldn’t help himself. Ingrid’s heels clicked ag
Edward: The podium felt colder than it should have. Maybe it was just me. Hell, maybe it was the goddamn nerves humming under my skin, crackling through my bloodstream like I’d swallowed a live wire. I adjusted the heavy folds of my coat, brushing the fabric smooth with my palms. The leather was stiff under my fingertips, polished to perfection, but it didn’t ease the tension straining my spine. Harvey was a silent shadow at my back, his presence a steady weight between my shoulder blades. Good. I needed that anchor right now. The crowd before me shifted, a sea of bodies cloaked in muted colors and apprehensive whispers. I stepped forward, feeling the wood of the podium creak beneath my boots, and cleared my throat, the sound slicing through the low murmur of voices. "Good morning," I began. It was the kind of voice that made people lean in even if they didn’t trust a damn word coming out of your mouth. "I want to start by apologizing for dragging you all out here toda
Lianna: I adjusted Edward’s collar, tugging it with the kind of care a surgeon might use when slicing open a patient. His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides, and he stared at me like I’d just announced I was going to crown myself Empress of the Seven Kingdoms. "You know," he muttered, a lopsided smirk tugging at his mouth, "you’re acting like this is some royal wedding, not just a boring speech in the town square." I laughed under my breath, smoothing down the front of his jacket with a few sharp swipes. The fabric was rich under my palms. It was soft, expensive, and a little smug, just like him. "Oh, it is a royal wedding, Eddie," I said sweetly. "Between you, destiny, and whatever chaos we manage to unleash today." He rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might actually fall out of his head. "Should’ve known you were secretly trying to become an influencer," he grumbled. "Just this once," I quipped, giving the lapels one final, overly dramatic flourish. "I
Freya: I was deep in the middle of a very satisfying drea. It was a dream about me on a deserted island, no nagging voices, no endless plans for world domination, when the knocking started. It was persistent enough to rattle the door on its hinges. I groaned into my pillow, dragging the blanket over my head like that flimsy piece of fabric would somehow drown out the inevitable reality waiting for me on the other side. No such luck. The knocking only grew louder, like a war drum signaling my doom. "Gods," I hissed under my breath, pushing myself upright. My muscles protested. I rubbed at my eyes, feeling the crust of exhaustion scraping against my lashes. Another knock. This time, it shook the whole damn doorframe. "I'm coming!" I snapped, stumbling toward the door, the wooden floor cold against my bare feet. I yanked it open with a sharp tug, blinking against the blinding hallway light, and there she was. My mother. Standing in a fury, arms crossed so tightly
Lianna: The solar was soaked in gold. Thick streams of morning sunlight pouring through the wide windows, catching on the dust motes that floated lazily in the warm air. I curled further into the deep cushions of the settee, absently twirling the stem of my empty goblet between my fingers, feeling the slight slickness of glass warmed by my palm. Edward sat across from me, long legs sprawled out, shirt sleeves rolled up in that reckless way that always made my blood simmer. The door creaked open and one of the maids stepped in, the rustle of her skirts brushing against the polished floors. She bowed slightly. "My Lord, My Lady. The announcement has been made. About the address at the market square." I straightened, lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. "Did they make it obvious that I wouldn’t be there?" "Yes, my Lady," she nodded briskly. "It was made clear you are away visiting family." "Perfect," I m
Lianna: The morning sun spilled into the room entirely too bright for someone who’d just woken up. But I didn’t mind. I felt good. Better than I had in days. My limbs didn’t feel like they were filled with cement, my head wasn’t throbbing, and I wasn’t sweating through every damn sheet like I was trapped in a sauna sent from hell. No, this morning… I felt like myself again. Whole. Dangerous. Alive. I swung my legs off the bed, the marble floor biting cold against my bare feet. The silk robe I grabbed clung to my damp skin as I shrugged into it, its texture like water slipping between my fingers. The air smelled of fresh linen and pinewood, soft and crisp, and when I tied the robe around my waist, something fluttered in my chest. Excitement. Finally. I could train again. I didn’t get far before a voice groaned behind me. “Lianna… what the hell are you doing?” I turned, caught mid-step, with my hair messy, one knee bent, and my hand halfway to the doorknob. E
Lianna: I stirred to the sound of rustling fabric and the gentle weight of a hand on mine. My eyelids blinked open slowly. The low amber glow of the bedside lamp bathed the room in warm shadows. He was sitting right beside me, elbow propped on the bed, fingers trailing across my knuckles with an almost reverent tenderness. The second our eyes met, the tension on his face cracked and melted into a soft smile. "You're awake," he whispered, voice hoarse and threaded with relief. Then he leaned in and pressed a kiss to my forehead, one hand sliding up to cradle my cheek. "How do you feel, my warrior queen?" I let out a soft groan, stretching slowly as though my bones had been carved from old stone. “Like someone beat me with a broomstick, then threw me into a pit full of sorrow and set it on fire. But thank you for asking.” He chuckled, eyes scanning my face. “Your colour’s back. You had me panicking. You actu
Lianna: I’d fought wars with blood in my teeth and lightning in my palms. I had come out bruised, singed, but never like this. Never this empty. It was like something had drained the marrow from my bones, like my soul had been sifted through a sieve and discarded for sport. I wasn’t just tired, I was hollowed out. My eyelids felt like lead but lifted slowly at the sound of faint incantations. It was low and rhythmic, the syllables curling into my ears like smoke. My vision blurred, then sharpened around the figure of a woman draped in charcoal grey, her fingers twinkling with tiny, glowing sigils. I blinked once, twice. Ah. The Pack Witch. Relief loosened something in my chest, but I didn’t let it show. I hated looking fragile, even though I currently felt like someone had taken a hammer to every joint in my body. “Still alive, I see,” I murmured, my voice raspy and dry like parchment left in the sun. “Congratulations. You all didn’t kill me with your fretting.”