LOGINThe white paper lining of the examination table crinkled loudly under my weight as I finally slid my feet onto the cold floor.
I picked up the phone. A single jagged crack now ran entirely across the screen, splitting Dorian’s face right down the center of the text notification.
I shoved the device deep into my purse, my fingers shaking so violently I could barely pull the zipper shut.
A sharp knock suddenly broke the heavy silence.
"Selene? Are you dressed?" Dr. Voss called out from the hallway.
I swallowed hard, forcing a ragged breath into my lungs. "Yes," I called back.
The door swung open, and she stepped inside holding a small white pharmacy bag and a black-and-white printout. She offered me a warm, professional smile.
"Here are your prenatal vitamins," she said, handing over the bag. "And here is your official ultrasound photo. Put it somewhere safe."
I looked at the grainy image in her hand.
"Thank you," I whispered.
She frowned, her sharp eyes scanning my face. "Are you alright? You look incredibly pale all of a sudden. Did the morning sickness just hit?"
"Yes," I lied instantly, clutching the bag tightly against my chest. "Just a sudden wave of dizziness. I need to go home and lie down."
"Good. Make sure Dorian takes care of you tonight. No stress."
I forced a stiff nod and walked out before she could question me further.
The clinic corridor felt endless. Every person I passed looked so normal. They were smiling, living their best life. Whereas, I just found out mine ended years ago.
The automatic glass doors slid open, and a blast of afternoon air hit my face. I practically stumbled out into the parking lot, reaching my sedan and locking myself inside the driver's seat.
For a long time, I simply sat there, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned completely white. My chest was so tight I could barely draw a full breath. I wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn't come. The pain was too deep for that. It felt like a physical wound.
I turned the key and the engine hummed to life.
The forty-five-minute drive back to the Crimson Vale pack house passed in a blur of bitter memories. Six years of cooking his meals, keeping his house, and enduring his cold stares. Six years of bleeding my soul dry to be a perfect, submissive wife while he spent his nights whispering my worthlessness into another woman's neck.
A wave of intense nausea hit me. I pulled the car up, threw the door open, and dry-heaved into the grass. My body shook violently, but nothing came up. My stomach was completely empty.
I wiped my mouth, leaning my forehead against the cold leather of the steering wheel. My hand slowly crept down to my flat stomach.
Dorian didn't deserve this baby. He didn't deserve to know that a piece of him was growing inside the woman he called "nothing." He didn't deserve the heir he so desperately wanted just to impress his terrifying father, the Alpha King.
I put the car back in drive and pulled onto the empty road.
Ten minutes later, the iron gates of the Crimson Vale pack house came into view. As I pulled up the long, winding driveway, my heart spiked hard.
Dorian's luxury silver sports car was parked right in front of the main entrance.
He hadn't left the territory for his meeting at all.
I turned off the engine, grabbed my purse, and stepped out of the car. My legs felt heavy as I walked up the stone steps, then I pushed the front door open.
The house was quiet. I walked across the living area and rounded the corner into the kitchen, needing a glass of water to stop my throat from burning.
Dorian was sitting at the island. He was wearing a casual gray designer sweater, a glass of orange juice in his hand, casually scrolling through his digital tablet.
He looked completely normal. Perfectly groomed. There was no guilt on his face, he didn't even raise his eyes when I walked in.
"You're late," he said smoothly, his tone laced with his usual irritation. "The maids forgot to starch my shirts for the Alpha council meeting tomorrow. Make sure you handle it before tonight."
I stood at the edge of the kitchen, my fingers curling into tight fists at my sides. I stared at his profile, the man I had loved for six years, and realized I was looking at a total stranger.
"Dorian," I called, my voice cutting through the quiet room, colder and sharper than it had ever been.
He clicked his tongue, his eyes still glued to his tablet. "What, Selene? I’m busy."
I took a slow step forward, the anger in me solidifying into pure resolve.
"I want a divorce.”
The cabin was not a cabin as I took proper view of it. It was a logging outpost, built for punishment detail. Four walls of damp pine, a roof that leaked, and six bunks for men who were not soldiers and not prisoners, but something in between but I was the only one there.I had been left there that morning with a sack of stale rye, but by midnight, I returned with a rogue. Brandon wouldn't come inside, "your workers will scream if they see me, they've been told we eat children.""Do you?" I turned to him."Only on feast days," Brandon said flatly, then saw the look on my face. "No, my prince, we do not.""Wait here then, behind the woodpile. If you hear me shout, run."I pushed the door open but stumbled backwards when I saw three men inside, playing dice by a weak fire. Old Robert, a guy with the missing ear, and younger guy who couldn't have been older than sixteen. I knew they were not royal guards because Robert was there, when they stood when they saw him. "Your Highness.""Stop
The rogue stayed bowed, his forehead nearly touching the dead leaves. Up close, he smelled worse than my wolf had reported; sweat, woodsmoke, wet earth, and years of living without a proper bathhouse."Get up," I snapped, brushing dirt off my tunic. "I hate being bowed to by people who just tackled me into the dirt like a wild boar."He rose quickly, awkwardly. He was younger than I'd thought at first glance. Not much older than me, maybe twenty-nine. But his face was gaunt, his hair matted, his cloak made from stitched pelts that didn't match. A decade of exile had aged him twice over."What's your name?" I asked, because if he was going to kill me and eat me, I should at least know his name for the afterlife."Brandon, of the Grey Hollow pack. Formerly of the Grey Hollow pack.""Formerly." I said with a sprinkle of disgust.He flinched at the word. "My father was a border scout, he was loyal for twenty years. He served under your grandfather first." Brandon's voice lost its tremblin
The guards acted swiftly, lady Vespera was held down at the dais before she got to Kael. He rose and looked at Vespera, his face was blank but I could tell he held the same disdain in the same measure he saw Lara. There should be an expression of disgust if he was that direct facially. Kael looked down at her, “you all keep doing the same thing over and over again, and even after the multiple failed attempts you still venture into more evil.” Last Vespera whimpered and turned to me swiftly, “please, queen Selene. Solicit on my behalf……” “I could swear that you almost choked when you called me queen.” I curved my lips in amusement. “I can't help you, lady Vespera. The deed has been done, every crime committed against the king and the throne have received repercussions and justice in return. It's your turn to face your karma,” I said quietly. “I'll do anything please, just don't send me to jail or make me end up like Lara.” Lady Vespera pleaded endlessly. “My verdict is this,” the
Staring at the lady who wasted her youth running my life, I felt an in-depth relief wash over me. But I was filled with so much pity for her; Lara has spent almost the entire time of her life fighting for a throne because of its glamour and bloodthirsty power, the other side of the throne she ignored has risen to bite off her head. When Kael gave me an opportunity to make a verdict, I decided to give her another chance at life even if it would be a bone-breaking one. Without her wolf, her strength would wane and her abilities to manipulate things would be absent. She would definitely work extra hard to get by. The royal witch was summoned and the ceremony began with so much solemnity and the aura of malicious spirits present, I shivered inwardly but still maintained my poise. “I hope you get this one right,” I whispered and genuinely prayed that the goddess help her through the whole ordeal. Despite all she has done, I still send her my goodwill wishes. As the witch made her way
The grand courtyard of the palace was filled to absolute maximum capacity, a literal sea of powerful, dominant wolves representing every single major pack across the entire continent. The air was thick and heavy with a volatile, dangerous mix of competing Alphas’ primal auras—a tense, vibrating energy that would have easily ignited into open violence under the authority of any lesser king. But my absolute dominance pinned them all down like a lead weight, demanding total submission and absolute silence.I sat upon the throne with a huge dominating aura, Selene positioned proudly beside me, her posture remarkably regal and unyielding despite the trauma she had endured. Hadrian stood directly behind our chairs, and Theo stood beside the steps leading to the throne with his heavy broadsword drawn and resting against his shoulder. While Bram meticulously managed the perimeter guards along the high walls. This assembly wasn’t just a simple trial; it was a calculated demonstration of absol
Maddie took Ash from queen Selene’s hands and stared at him in awe, “he’s beautiful my lady. The goddess truly smiled on you.”“Thank you Maddie,” queen Selene beamed. King Kael kissed her on the forehead and signaled me, “we would leave you now to continue your catching up. We have business to do,” he said and turned around. The deep subterranean levels of the royal palace smelled heavily of damp stone, old rust, and the agonizing, metallic scent of silver suppression fields. I walked slowly down the narrow corridor, my heavy leather boots clicking rhythmically against the wet granite floor, until I finally stopped before the heavily barred cell situated at the very end of the maximum-security row. This was where we kept the monsters, traitors included. King Kael spoke behind me, “the trial begins tomorrow, no delay of any sort.” “Yes, your Majesty.” I nodded.Inside the dark space, chained securely to the stone wall by heavy silver manacles that actively burned into her ra







