KAIDEN“My king,” one of the guards called as he rushed toward me, bowing his head. “The Luna is nowhere to be found in the packhouse.”My brows furrowed. “Have you searched everywhere?” “Yes, my king,” another guard added quickly. “We checked every room, every hallway, even the garden and the training grounds. There’s no sign of her.”I clenched my jaw harder, frustration simmering beneath my skin. My nostrils flared slightly as I scanned the area around me, hoping that I might catch a glimpse of her by some miracle. Night had already fallen, and Calantha still hadn’t returned. The academy had closed hours ago after the incident, yet she still wasn’t back. Just thinking about that incident that happened at the academy made my heart race, but I pushed the thoughts aside and focused on the thought of Calantha.Like an answer to my rising panic, I finally spotted her. Her familiar slender frame was walking toward me. Relief rushed through me, but it was quickly followed by irritati
CALANTHAI stood frozen and shocked, as the girl’s lifeless body was carried away by the academy guards. Around me, the crowd buzzed with murmurs, everyone visibly shaken by what had just happened.“We were just chasing a rabbit,” someone explained to a small group nearby. “And all of a sudden, she wasn’t there anymore. We found her barely two minutes later, completely covered in blood, with a bite mark on her neck.”His words sent a chill down my spine. I couldn’t move or even speak. All I could do was stare as they took her away, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of Kaiden. But he was gone. He must have left already.“The tournament might be put on hold now, due to the unusual happenings in the pack.” Lysandra said quietly beside me with a deep sigh.I turned in surprise, not realizing she had been standing next to me the whole time. She was watching me carefully, her expression unreadable.“We should go see Chief Priestess Tara,” she added, still looking right at me. “She’s wi
CALANTHA The next day marked the second round of the tournament. Just like before, we were all gathered at the same large arena where the first trial had taken place. The air was buzzing with tension and excitement. High Priestess Hera stood tall at the top of the high staircase overlooking us. Beside her sat Kaiden, unmoving on his throne. My eyes drifted to him for a second. Our gazes met briefly, and I quickly looked away, my heart pounding.After what I’d overheard between him and Queen Adeline yesterday, I wasn’t sure how to feel around him anymore. A small part of me was still scared. What if he no longer saw the one he loved anymore, but only as a tool—something meant to tame the monster within him?High Priestess Hera raised her voice and began to speak.“Welcome to the second trial of the Wolfville Blood Games.” Her voice echoed through the open arena.“Today, you face something that may appear simple at first, but is anything but. This is the Hunt. You will enter the wild
KAIDEN“You knew about her all these while didn’t you?” I stormed after my mother as she walked down the hallway headed for her chambers. She didn’t answer me.“That was why you made her invite those scoundrels of her parents over, isn’t it?!” I continued to yell after her. This time, she stopped on her heels and turned to face me. “I only confirmed today.” She said to me, calmly. A stark contrast to how infuriated I was. “And no. I’ve never suspected her either, not until recently. That was why I invited her parents over. To hear things from the horse's mouth, myself.”I scoffed. “Oh, really? Is that so? Without discussing things with me first?”She raised her brow at me, staring at me like I was just bluffing. “You and I both know that if I’d told you about it, you’d never have agreed to have them over.”She sucked the insides of her cheeks and cocked her head thoughtfully.“You know, while the guards were dragging those scoundrels away, they kept saying something.” She looked at
SIENNAEveryone of us at the dinner table held our breaths at Kaiden’s threats.Even though a part of me felt relief that he was standing beside me, defending me, it didn’t take away the fear churning in my gut. I knew Thomas and Ginger too well. They weren’t the kind to back down without trying to shift the blame or twist the truth. And I knew exactly what card they’d play.And right on cue, they did.“My king,” Thomas spoke up, finally breaking the heavy silence. He bowed his head slightly, wearing a fake, innocent smile. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Neither I nor my wife has ever laid a finger on Calantha. We’ve never hurt her, not even once.”Ginger quickly backed him up. “As for selling her into slavery… we would never do such a thing. Calantha offered to do that herself. Times were hard for our family and we were barely surviving. She said she wanted to help.”Then they both turned to look at me, their eyes gleaming with an underlying wickedness. I knew that look, b
KAIDENI hurried down the hallway, straight for Calantha’s chamber. She was not inside. Exhaling deep through my mouth and with my heart pounding hard in my chest, I checked other places that I figured she might be. She wasn’t in any of those places either.“Where is my Luna?” I finally asked one of the guards who stood by the entrance doors.“She is in the dining room with the Queen and some guests, my king.”I frowned. In the dining room with my mother and some guests? I hadn’t been notified of the arrival of any guests.I headed straight for the dining room. As soon as I entered, I was welcomed by the sight of Calantha, my mother, a man and a woman sitting around the dining table.“Oh. Look. The king is here.” My mother said as soon as she noticed me, a smile curling up to her face. The man and the woman immediately rose from their seats and bowed their heads before me.Looking at the couple suspiciously, I walked closer to the table. “What is going on here?” I asked as I neared t