New chapter here...
Ara''s POVI had no idea what was happening, but I couldn't stand their pheromones. I felt scared and vulnerableâemotions I despised. Yet for a fleeting moment, I was relieved because he was here.But that relief turned into a nightmare when I heard him clearly approve of the alpha strangling me."Do it. You can kill her. The only reason I keep her by my side is because of her bodyânothing more, brother."My eyes widened as the realization hit me: I was truly alone. If my father were alive, would I be in this predicament?The tears I had desperately tried to hold back came streaming down, falling onto the hand that gripped my throat tightly."Do you mean it, brother? If you lie to me, I will come back and kill her in front of you. That is a promise," Varg said, his voice unwavering."You donât have to worry. She will die by my hand. You have taken enough from me. They were innocent, so..." Sebastian paused.Suddenly, the man let go of me, throwing me harshly to the ground."Their deat
Sebastian's POV It had been two days since I last saw Ara. The last I had heard of her, they had taken her to the servants' quarters. Rebuilding the village seemed like an endless task, with every man and woman pushing themselves beyond their limits. Nia, my little shield-maiden, had lost all the fire in her eyes. Watching her mother and unborn sibling fall by my brotherâs hand had crushed her spirit. I couldn't bring myself to face her anymore. The question that gnawed at me, the one about why I had kept Varg as my brother hidden from the people, was simple. I didnât want them to fear me. I needed them to respect me, to believe in me as their Jarl. Leading a pack of wolves and being the head of the village was no easy burden. We had once occupied a third of the kingdom's land, but now... we had lost it all. Our enemies knew what they wanted and took everything from us. I cursed myself for falling into their trap. Brago and Kalis... they would pay for what they had done. S
âUp, curse-bringer!" A fist struck Araâs cheek. Her throat burnedâdays without water. The maid, the face twisted with hate, loomed over her. "I know you hear me!" the maid barked. "On your feet, now!" Araâs limbs shook. She forced herself upright, fearing another blow. The room was strange She stood up and observed her surroundings This wasn't the place she used to stay. It was dirty and smelled horrible. "W-whereâĶ?" she rasped. The maid sneered. "Don't bother trying to figure out where you are. this now your room. So behave.Your time as a pampered whore is done. This is your hole now. Work, or starve." "Work?" Araâs mind spun. Memories flickered. The last thing she remembered was, a female Alpha dragging her through the street. The maid spat. "Ai, Goddess of the moon, why must I suffer your stench?" She sighed and turned to leave. But Ara stoped her and asked if she could get any water. The maid refused to her, asking her to work for it. "WaterâĶ please," Ara begged. "E
Bragoâs HallâĶ "Aye! I canna believe he yet lives after all we did to bring him down! That fool always rises again!" Kalis slammed his hand upon the table. The noise startled Brago, who sat beside him. "Take it easy, Kalis. Who knew he had a brother in the Elite Alpha? That caught me by surprise," Brago spoke calmly. Kalis furrowed his brow. "I canna believe he hid this from us. I was shocked. Now we know why he has always been bold. He had strength behind him." Brago scoffed. Kalis turned to him. "Did I say aught funny?" "Kalis, that is not why he is so bold. He is stronger than both of us together. And he has the blessing of the Moon Goddess. That is why he carries himself so," Brago replied. "Are you trying to vex me, or what?" "Of course not, Kalis. But now is not the time for sorrow. Yes, we failed, but we gained something in the end. We now know how much that red-haired woman means to him." "True, but I need to know why. Why is she so dear to him?" "Is it not clear? Sh
"Are you well, young lady?" A young man asked, voice gentle, eyes wide at Araâs beauty.His words halted in his throat. Never had he seen such a beautiful woman.Aside from his dear sister, no woman held beauty in his eyes. But now, that belief was broken.Excitement surged in him, and he smiled, still holding Ara.But he was not the only one struck. Ara, too, staredânot for his looks, but for the fact that he still held her though she stood well."You may let go," she spoke, soft and smiling."Aye, forgive me, I-IâĶ" he stammered, words failing him.Then his eyes roamed over Ara, taking in her form. She was beautiful beyond words.And her hairâred as fireâmade his heart race."Is that your true hair?""Huh?""Forgive me, I should not ask," he muttered, hand to the back of his head in shame.Ara laughed, light and soft. "No need to beg pardon. You are not the first, nor the last, to wonder. And aye, it is mine.""Aye, it is beautiful.""Huh?" Ara blinked at his boldness.She saw how he
Sebastianâs POVMy mind has been restless, torn over this marriage. I know why I must do this, and I do not regret my choice. Yet, the thought of being bound to Crystal was unsettling.She was as beautiful as they say, aye, but there is no bond between us. No fire. No thread that ties our souls together. We share nothing.And still, I do not understand why she longed for me. We met when we were younger, just as Ara and I did. But unlike Ara, she met me when I was already a man, no longer a boy. She was always smiling at me, always watching.Her brother, however, bore hatred for me. He despised that women favored me over him. If only they knew I was marked. None would even dare to set their eyes upon me.I let my thoughts run wild. What else could I do? Crystal sat so close, giving me no room to breathe.She was an Omega, her scent strong. She releases her pheromones on purpose, thinking to ensnare me, to make me desire her. She was mistaken.Only one scent calls to me.Ara.Her fragra
Sebastian, full of wrath and fury, stepped forth.Ara flinched, fear clawing at her heart. What would he do to her?"How dare you try to flee from me!"She took a step back.But ere she could move further, Lewis strode forth, standing before her like a shield.Sebastian halted, his gaze dark and piercing. "And who are you, to stand between me and mine servant?"Lewis stood firm. "One who deems it right to protect those who need it."A low chuckle left Sebastianâs lips. "You dare steal what is mine and yet have the gall to speak back?""Aye, and I have naught to fear."Sebastianâs glare darkened. His fists curled like a beast ready to strike.Ara, fearing for her saviour, stepped in. "Forgive me," she said, her voice unsteady. "I should not have acted out of turn at the feast. I shall return.""Huh?" Sebastianâs brows furrowed. "Lift thine head and look at me."Ara trembled but obeyed, lifting her gaze to meet his. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Lewis seized her arm and pulled her to him
My eyes grew wide when I heard those words from him.Was he still playing tricks on me? I pulled away.âWhat kind of trick is this!ââYou seem shocked. Calm yourself. I would not play a joke on you. I speak with honesty. Are you ready for it?âI chuckled. âI am nothing to you, aye. What is this? I know you would never leave that princess for me.ââYou do not know until you try.ââOh, please. I would not waste my time.âHe raised his brow. âI never knew you had such low faith in yourself.ââLow faith? Do you think I have such a gift as faith? You took that from me.ââAnd I give you a new hope.ââTsk. Stop. The one who could help me, you tried to kill him last night.ââLast night?ââMy savior.ââAh, you mean a day ago.ââA day ago.ââAye, you have slept for a day. Lucky for you, you have not been locked away. Vaxar seems to be searching for you. She thinks you are lazy.ââAnd whose fault is that?ââAre you blaming me?âI swallowed hard. His voice did not sound kind. âNay.ââAye, now bac
Present:Sebastianâs POVâAhh!â I gasped as I woke up, my head spinning and vision blurry.âSeb, youâre finally awake,â I heard Gargathâs voice from a distance.I blinked. âAye, are you alright?â His voice was clearer now.I looked upâhe was standing in front of me. His voice trembled. He was worried.âW-What happened?â I asked.âYou fainted. We brought you to your chambers. You need rest, so donâtââI could hear him clearly now. My vision had returned. And suddenly, I remembered why we were here.It was the game. I had fainted because of the pain in my chest.I grabbed Gargathâs hand. âWhat about the game?âHe hesitated. âAye... itâs almost over.ââWhat about AraâI mean, the red-haired?âHe sighed and shook his head. I let go instantly.My chest felt heavy. No. It couldnât be. She couldnât be dead. We were connected.If she were dead, Iâd be dead too. So she must be alive. Or... maybe she ran away.She used this chance to run. She tricked me. She left meâagain.ThatââSeb. Seb,â Garg
A man burst into Ragnorâs chamber, haggard and nearly out of breath.âMy king, wake up!âThe king stirred, annoyed by the intrusion. He turned, pulling the sheets over Hulda beside him.âHow dare he wake me? What could be more important than my rest?â he growled.The man dropped to his knees, bowing low. âForgive me, my king, but there is urgent news.â His eyes flicked toward Hulda, who had pulled the sheet from her head and now sat up.Ragnor noticed the glance and stood, covering himself. He stormed over and grabbed the man by the neck.âYou fool! You dare lay your eyesâ!âBut before he could finish, the chamber doors slammed open again. More men entered, swords drawnâaimed not at Ragnor, but at Hulda.Ragnor let go of the man and turned sharply.âWhat is the meaning of this?!â he barked.One warrior stepped forward. âMy king, stay away from her. She carries ill intentions toward you.âRagnorâs face twisted with fury. âWhat madness is this?! Who dares accuse her?! You enter my room w
Past.. 1000 AD Notice: Sensual content ahead, read with caution. Hulda faced off her enemies head on. She fought vigorously and defeated many of the participating. After long battle. Hee emerged victorious. King Ragnor couldnât hold back his excitement. Finally no one could come between them. They could finally be together. No options, since she won the heart of them audience. VIKRONâĶ King Ragnorâs room. The torches flickered low in the royal room of king Ragnor. Casting long, dancing shadows across the stone walls. The air was thick with the scent of spiced wine and the heady perfume of desire. King Ragnor permitted for the servants to service his room. Make it look attractive and surreal. The servants did as they were told. Collected the finest perfumes and wolves skins. The wooden bed covered in fur. White. He stood by the arched window, his broad frame silhouetted against the moonlight, his green eyes emitting such eagerness. His heart pounding as the heavy w
The horse kept talking about remembering and stuff i couldnât comprehend. His voice unfamiliar, feminine. His gaze unnervingly still watched me with eyes too knowing to belong to an animal. "Remember your past, Ara. That is the only way to win Sebastian Knightâs heart." he said like he knew my purpose of being in the game. I wondered. âHow did..â âAs I said earlier, I am here to help nothing more. You need to remember the memories you have chosen to forgetâ Its voice was smooth, like wind through the trees, yet it sent a shiver down my spine. I blinked hard, squeezing my eyes shut. âThis must be a dreamâ I muttered to myself. This is a dream. It has to be. When I opened them again, the horse hadnât moved. âWhat memories, are you in my dream or maybe I am still dreamingâ âListen to me I donât have much time Araâ He knew my name and called it once more. âI am here to helpâ âI donât even believe in you,â I muttered, more to myself than to it. The horse exhaled, a sound al
In the ash-gray dawn, wind whispered through the trees like spirits speaking in lost tongues. âWe need to split,â Franco whispered. âI disagree,â Rose said, eyes sharp. âSame here,â Ara nodded, her voice low like thunder before the storm. But their words shattered, for steel clashed aheadâtwo groups, charging, roaring, blades singing. The fight was wild. Not one soul gave ground. They fought like beasts. But one side had to break. One did. When the blood mist cleared, only three walked from the wreckâsilent, breathless. Franco, Rose, and Ara watched, horror in their eyes. Franco once held a sword like a king held a crown. But those days were behind. He had crawled to Bragoâs side, left battle for politics, and now his blade arm was slow, soft. He would not survive hand-to-hand. âThey failed, like the others,â a voice rang. Freda. She stepped through smoke and bone, flanked by wolvesâAlphas and Betas, fierce, fanged, loyal. Ara raised her hand, gesturing to Rose a
Araâs POV The gods must still look upon me with some favorâfor I had not drawn attention. Not yet. But the forest screamed. I could hear the cries of others in the distance, sharp and raw, carried by the wind. And worseâĶ I could smell themâdormant Alphas. Their scent was sour, primal. Disgusting. Still, I had no choice but to bear it. I pressed crushed herbs to my neck, masking my scent. An Omega must hide, not shine. I gripped my bow tight. The string hummed softly. No close combatâIâd lose before I even had a chance to strike. ThenâĶ footsteps. Quick, heavy. I ducked behind a thick tree, breath tight in my chest. From behind the branches, I saw her. A womanâtall, sharp-eyed. Black hair like nightfall, eyes like a frost sea. Her voice was silk and steel. âSlay as many as you can,â she said to the two men beside her. âAnd your reward shall be a night with me.â A cruel grin touched her lips. I recognized the first manâan Alpha with a dark tattoo etched across his arm. I had
NOTICE: Sexual abuse and high violence scenes read with caution. The forest sprawled like a burial ground, thick with shadows. Over three hundred participants swarmed beneath its canopy, hunting and hunted. Alphas unleashed pheromones to assert dominance. Omegas wielded charms to survive, while Betas scrambled for scraps of safety. Some had formed temporary packs, though alliances frayed like rotting thread. Soon, even comrades would turn on one another. fanco trudged beside Rose, though âteammateâ was too generous a term. Roseâs defiance crackled like static. âYou shouldnât have followed me here,â Rose snapped. Franco scanned the trees, jaw tight. âYou think I wanted to? Stay close.â âIf youâre so reluctant, then leave! Iâll make a fine feast for the Alphas.â Franco whirled on him. âIâm sick of this act. Being Bragoâs favorite doesnât mean Iâll cater to your whims.â Rose barked a laugh. âHis favorite? Who does he summon every night? He fought to keep you out
Ara's POVI stood again in the arena of blades, where blood-soaked earth remembers all who dared step within. The stench, sharp as a broken promise, struck my senses.It was just as I rememberedâthe cries of the crowd, the roar of warriors.But this was no homecoming.I alone bore bow and arrow. No sword. No axe. No iron fang to clash with theirs. They laughed then, and they laugh still. Fools. Or maybe it is I who was fooled.I thought it a game. A test of bravery. Not this. Not death in the dirt.And himâSebastian. I dared not meet his eyes. Shame is heavier than any shield.What fool enters a war of blades with feathered sticks?Would I survive long enough to make my plea? Would he remember me when I fallâif I fall?I shook the thought like snow from my shoulders. Of course he would. He is to be wed soon. And Iâwhat am I but a fallen leader of a broken village?He is loved. And he loves them in return. His people. His duty. Not me.But when he spoke , Gods, when he spoke my
Gargath stood tall, troubled by Vaxarâs strange stillness. Her eyes did not storm, her voice did not rise. She made no quarrel with Sebastian for allowing Ara to join the sacred games. And to Gargath, this was not right. He stepped forward, his voice low but steady. "VaxarâĶ have I asked a foolish thing?" She smiled, cold and knowing. "Not foolish, Gargath. Just amusing. You see me as the villain if I agree, and still the villain if I do not." His eyes narrowed. "You've done something, havenât you? I know you, Vaxar. No realm in all the nine worlds would find you pleased for Araâs joy. You hate her. We all know it." Her face hardened. "I do not hate her. I bear her no ill." "Oh, spare me that tale," Gargath snapped. She stepped closer, her voice a whisper meant to strike. "Would you have me raise sword against the Alpha himself? You all would rise like a pack of wolves and tear me down. I wasnât prepared for thatâĶ not yet." "Then why send Crystal to the maidens i