Honestly, this was a difficult chapter to write. But it was necessary for the story. Thank you for reading, and don’t forget… no author wants the bad guys to win. Xoxoxo, Zee.
KAIDEN “That’s enough, Lys. Stop.” I murmured against Lysandra’s lips, but she ignored me, her hands trailing down my torso toward my belt again as she continued to kiss me. I caught her wrist, stopping her before she could take it further. This time, I pushed her away —maybe a little rougher than I intended. Lysandra’s face fell with disappointment, but I didn’t care. I was already getting up from the bed, my head spinning slightly from the alcohol in my system. Blinking hard, I tried to steady my vision. I grabbed the clock on the bedside table, and the moment I saw the time, a sharp curse escaped my lips. “Shit.” It was already 11 PM. A sinking feeling clenched my chest as my thoughts immediately went to Calantha. She was going to be furious. Hell, she had every right to be. And it was my fault. I never intended for any of this to happen. At first, I had been caught up in an urgent council meeting which had started at 8 PM sharp, the exact time I was supposed to meet her. It
KAIDENI was able to trace Calantha’s bond, just like I had the night she was kidnapped. The pull led me to a sleek penthouse. My heart pounded harder as confusion crept into me.A luxury car was parked outside, and somehow, it looked familiar. I had seen it before. I was sure of it. But where? And why the hell was Calantha here?I clenched my jaw, scanning my surroundings. Calantha did not have friends from the alpha ranks, besides Eloise and Nyx, and neither of them lived in a damn penthouse. Did I trace her wrong?A part of me considered turning back. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe she was back at the packhouse, sleeping peacefully.But I just couldn’t do that even though that was the most logical thing to do right now.That lingering pull in my chest and the unmistakable bond was still there. It was weaker than before, but still present and still calling to me.I was certain that she was here. Or at least, she had been.Setting my jaw, I strode toward the entrance, only to be m
RYKERI pulled up in front of the towering, gothic mansion hidden deep in the woods. The night had settled in, just as I had calculated. I had wanted my visit to go unnoticed.Stepping out of the car, I let my gaze linger on the dark, ominous structure ahead. A deep breath steadied me before I took my first step forward. But just as I moved, the rustling of leaves and branches snapped my focus. My instincts flared, sensing danger before I even saw it.Right on cue, several wolves emerged from the shadows, surrounding me in a tight, hostile circle. Their bared fangs glistened under the moonlight as their bloodthirsty eyes locked on me. I clenched my jaw but couldn’t stop the smirk that curled on my lips.Of course, he had this place heavily guarded.Rolling up my sleeves, I braced myself. I had just bought this designer outfit last week, and now I would have to fight in it. Shifting would ruin my clothes completely, so I had no choice but to handle this in human form.Before I could dw
KAIDENCalantha was avoiding me. And I had no idea why.It had been a week since the incident with that brown-haired bastard, and ever since that night, she had kept her distance. She never brought it up, never spoke a word about what happened. It was as if she wanted to erase it from her mind. And I respected that. Everyone dealt with trauma in their own way. If ignoring it helped her cope, then I wouldn’t force her to relive it.But that didn’t mean I wasn’t worried about her.As for the bastard who laid his hands on her —Tate Ferguson— I had him locked in the dungeon the very night it happened. No food, no water. Just darkness and silence while I decided how best to make him suffer.I could have dragged him before the council, but that would have meant exposing what happened to Calantha. I wanted to protect her honor, to keep her name out of the gossip that would inevitably follow. So, instead, I did what I did best. I found dirt on his family.And there was plenty of it.His pare
KAIDEN In a few minutes, we arrived at Pier 29 Bistro restaurant and settled at a table. The place was lively, filled with the aroma of rich spices, wooden tables packed with people, some laughing loudly, others quietly enjoying their meals. Thankfully, no one paid me any attention. My disguise was simple —just a black leather jacket and trousers, with my hair falling over my face— but if anyone looked closely, they would know that it was me. Not that they would. No one expected the Lycan King to dine at a place like this. Truth be told, I had never eaten at a restaurant like this before. The only reason I had suggested it to Calantha twice was because it was on my personal bucket list. To eat something different in a place far from the formal dining halls of my packhouse. “Good day, Mr. and Miss.” A woman, clearly the owner, hurried over to us. Her kind smile deepened the wrinkles on her old face. “What can I get you?” I turned to Calantha, waiting for her to order since she was
KAIDEN As the elders of my council took their seats, a low murmur spread across the room. Some of them leaned toward each other, whispering in confusion. “What’s going on? Why would the Lycan King call an urgent council meeting at this hour?” “Do you think the pack is under attack?” I remained seated on my throne, watching them in silence as their concerns grew. Beside me, Bradley looked just as puzzled, although he kept quiet. After a moment, I raised a single finger, and the room fell into complete silence. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for what I was about to say. The gods knew I would have done anything to avoid being in this position. “Our pack’s Lunar Masked Ball is only a week away.” My voice echoed through the chamber, and the elders nodded, waiting for the real reason behind this sudden meeting. “I have a message for you to deliver to your wives and daughters.” Immediately, their postures stiffened. Some exchanged glances and their concern deepened. Clenchin
CALANTHA THREE DAYS LATER Pinkie Boutique and Elite Club’s grand launch day had finally arrived. Under normal circumstances, I might have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of women flooding into the store. But today? I already knew exactly whose handiwork this was, and honestly, I could barely contain my excitement. I had never truly expected Kaiden to go through with my outrageous demand, but the packed boutique was undeniable proof that he had. It made me wonder just how he had managed to coerce the council elders into making all the women in their households shop here. The thought of it almost made me laugh. Eloise and Nyx were helping me handle the endless stream of customers, their hands full as they dashed from one rack to another. At one point, Eloise, looking completely drained, walked up to me for a breather. Seeing her so exhausted amused me because, as an elite Alpha’s daughter, she wasn’t exactly used to this kind of work. Yet she and Nyx had still offered to hel
BRADLEYI took a step back, scanning the room with a satisfied nod. The bed was neatly made, scattered with soft rose petals, and the air smelled warm and inviting from the diffuser I had lit. On a small tray near the bed, I had set out two empty wine flutes alongside a bottle of red wine.Everything was perfect.Hana was finally coming home.After weeks of guarding the borders with her squad, Kaiden had finally granted her a well-deserved break— the one we had both been waiting for all year. As Gamma of the pack, she was hardly ever around. She spent most of her time overseeing security, training warriors, or preparing for battles we hadn’t faced in years. It was rare to have her here, and now that she was back, I wasn’t about to waste a second.Just as I was admiring my work, a soft knock echoed at my door and I already knew who it was.In excitement and anticipation, I rushed to open it, and the moment I saw Hana standing there, I pulled her into a tight hug. She laughed, trying t
KAIDEN“The tournament organizers, led by the High Priestess, have begun preparations,” Bradley reported calmly. “From what I’ve seen in the mails sent to you, several high-ranking figures will begin arriving in our pack starting tomorrow. The Vampire King is among them. His crowned prince will be participating in the tournament as well.”My hand froze mid-sentence, the quill pausing just above the paper. I had been drafting formal invitations to other royals across the realm, but Bradley’s last words caught my attention.“The Vampire Prince?” I asked, glancing up at him with a slight frown. “Didn’t he take part in the last tournament with me?”Bradley nodded. “Yes, my King. Like you, this will be his second, and final tournament.”“Interesting.” I muttered, eyes returning to the letter I had been writing.Back then, the Vampire Prince had proven himself a worthy opponent. He was tactical, fierce, and unpredictable. He had made the games challenging, not just for me but for the entire
LYSANDRAI took a deep breath, a soft smile spreading across my face as I sipped my tea. The warm scent of flowers and herbs from the garden surrounded me, wrapping me in a calm I rarely found anywhere else.It was early morning, and the academy was on a short break for the next two days. That meant I could spend time in my favorite place. The garden.The break had been given because of the upcoming tournament. Preparations had already started, and soon the pack would be buzzing with important guests from different packs, clans, and kingdoms. But for now, everything was still and quiet.Days like this were the ones I treasured the most. Sitting here, away from all the noise, just watching the flowers sway in the wind, the butterflies flit around, and the squirrels chase each other with tiny nuts. It felt like a little piece of heaven.My smile faded a little as my eyes caught a squirrel struggling under a low shrub. I leaned in for a closer look and noticed its leg was injured. It loo
NYXMy eyes widened in shock and fear. My heart thumped wildly as I stared at the broken pieces of the vase I had just smashed against his head.He lay on the floor, groaning in pain, a small trail of blood trickling from the side of his head. At least he was still alive. For a second, I had thought I killed him.“You…” he groaned, trying to crawl toward me, reaching for my foot. But before he could get close, I turned and ran—bolting out the door and down the hallway, my torn nightie flapping behind me, barely covering my body.I didn’t stop. Not even when I passed Aunt Diane, who was sitting in the foyer, lazily smoking her pipe. She sat up fast, sensing something was wrong. But I didn’t wait for her to ask. I just kept running.Because I knew that attacking an elite meant so much trouble for me. I was so done for. Once I burst through the gates and out onto the road, barefoot and shaking, I stopped in the middle of the street, my chest heaving. My ears rang with the sound of rushi
NYXTrigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of attempted assault and may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution.~~~~After a while, I finished showering. The cold water stung the open cuts on my back from Aunt Diane’s whip, making me flinch every time it touched my skin. I bit back the tears, trying not to cry as I washed the blood away.Once I was done, I changed into the usual lingerie I wore on nights like this—thin, see-through, and short. It stopped just above my thighs, showing the lace panties and bra I wore underneath. I hated it. But I didn’t have a choice.I sat in front of the mirror, spraying some perfume on my neck and wrists. The smell filled the air, sweet and heavy. My stomach twisted, and I felt sick. My eyes were full of tears, but I held them back. I just stared at the broken girl looking back at me in the mirror.This was when I always blamed my mother. The anger inside me burned. If she had been a real mother, none of this would be hap
NYXI didn’t miss the way Eloise kept glancing at me with concern during the entire car ride from the academy. Her silence spoke louder than words. Every time I felt her eyes on me, I looked away, pretending to be interested in the scenery outside the window, pretending everything was fine.When we finally arrived at my aunt’s mansion, I opened the door and stepped out quietly, shutting it behind me. Just as I turned to leave, her voice stopped me.“Should I come in with you?” She asked through the rolled-down window, her tone gentle but filled with worry.I forced a small smile onto my face as I looked up at her. “It’s fine. You don’t have to.”But the moment our eyes met, she caught the fear behind my mask. I saw it in her face—the way her expression shifted. She opened her door and got out at once. “Come on,” she said, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go in together.”“I already said it’s fine.” I pulled my hand back softly, not harshly, but firm enough that she understood I wasn’t g
CALANTHA“I remember my name now!” The timid boy said as we lay on the ground, breathing hard and trying to recover from the adrenaline rush. A small, relieved laugh escaped his lips. “Oh, gods… I actually remember!”“I remember too!” Eloise gasped, turning her head quickly to look at me. A wide, happy smile lit up her face, just like his. “Calantha. I remember now. Damn, I thought I was going to lose my mind back there.”I laughed softly, still catching my breath. It felt so strange that just a few minutes ago, I couldn’t even recognize the girl beside me as my best friend.This trial was definitely the hardest, scariest, and most confusing thing we had ever faced. And honestly, I would give anything not to go through the main tournament after this.“Come on. Let’s go find Nyx.” Eloise said, pushing herself up and reaching a hand out to me. I took it and stood, brushing dried leaves and dirt off my clothes. The others got up too, and I looked around.Other participants were stepping
CALANTHA As everyone started to panic, shouting things like “Who are you?” and “Why are we here?”, I took a step back and let my eyes roam around the strange room that had trapped the five of us together.The walls were tall panes of silver glass, stretching out in every direction like an endless mirror maze, reflecting our confused faces a thousand times over. A soft hum echoed through the room, and suddenly, a glowing clock appeared on one of the mirrors.00:10:59.An eleven-minute countdown.Fear climbed up my throat. What were we supposed to do?Beside me, the timid-looking boy stepped closer to the mirrors, frowning as he studied the clock.“We’re being timed.” He said quietly.“Timed?” The girl with soft cherry-brown hair echoed, stepping forward to see for herself. Her forehead creased with worry.As everyone started pacing in confusion, trying to make sense of the place, I moved closer to one of the mirrors and stared into it.My breath caught in my throat.My reflection didn
CALANTHAThe rune blinked once then glowed gold. The words on it shifted and changed:Passed ⅓.“Oh, thank the gods,” Eloise breathed out behind me, placing a hand over her chest. She looked like she had been holding her breath the whole time. I let out a small laugh, the tension finally easing a bit. I turned to the timid boy.“Well done.”He smiled shyly, his cheeks turning red as he looked down at his shoes. His ears were flushed too.Before we could say anything else, another door shimmered to life —this time, the obsidian one. A second riddle echoed through the chamber:"I wear your face, but hide a knife. I smile as you bleed. Once I strike, the scent of trust never returns. What am I?"Isadora folded her arms across her chest and stepped forward with her usual smugness. “That’s betrayal.” She said with a slight toss of her head, her voice sharp and confident.“Wait,” I said quickly, holding up a hand. “Could it be deception? Or maybe false love?”She let out a small snort. “I
CALANTHA"Um... I-I think I panicked and pressed the wrong runes." Isadora mumbled as the floor finally stopped tilting and the magic fog faded. We slowly picked ourselves off the ground. Eloise and I stayed close together, like something terrible might happen if we let go of each other. Isadora, on the other hand, was still trying to act calm, like nothing had shaken her."It’ll work this time.” She said confidently and started walking toward the rune slab again, but Eloise quickly stepped in front of her."We only have one chance left, Isadora," Eloise warned. "You already messed up the first try. What makes you so sure you won’t mess up again?""Oh really? Then why don’t you try it if you think it’s so easy!" Isadora snapped, glaring at her.Eloise scoffed. "Oh, now you admit it’s not easy? That’s funny coming from someone who said she’s the best in werewolf history.""You’re just jealous because I’m better than you!" Isadora hissed, her face red with anger."Me? Jealous of you?"