LOGINI screamed. The sound tore from my chest like thunder, raw and unrestrained, and I swear the very stones of the castle trembled beneath it. It was morning. I had been in labor all through the night. The pale lights just beginning to spill through the tall windows, but my cry shattered the dawn. Somewhere beyond these walls, I knew the people of Kridensya had gone still, hearts pounding, breath held, waiting for that sound. Waiting for life. Waiting for my child. Pain surged through me again, fierce and consuming, and I clutched the sheets as if they were the only thing anchoring me to this world. My body burned, stretched, demanded more from me than I had ever given before. “Laura… my love.” Damian whispered, his voice close, steady, breaking through the haze. He sat beside me on the bed, refusing to move, one hand gripping mine, the other brushing damp hair from my face. His silver eyes were fierce with devotion and fear. “Look at me. Breathe with me. You’re doing it. Yo
I stepped out of the chamber, flanked by Gina and Lina, they were my new handmaids, whose company I love so much.My silver hair, straightened and shimmering like starlight, caught the glow of the chandeliers in the hallway. The hem of my royal blue gown fluttered around my ankles, the fabric heavy and rich, the color deep as twilight.The gown pulled gently over my belly, rounded, full, growing noticeably since that dark day. I placed a hand on it, feeling the soft swell beneath the silk.Gina and Lina wore dresses woven in green floral patterns; their skirts rustled quietly as we walked. The soft clicks of my flats, chosen carefully at Damian’s insistence, to ease the swelling in my feet, echoed on the floor as we passed guards and servants, every eye lingering a moment longer on my belly than usual. I lifted my chin, high and proud.Ahead lay the great hall. The coronation chamber. The doors swung open and light spilled inside. There, at the altar stood my Alpha King, Damian. Stron
The sound tore across the desert raw and brutal, echoing against dunes that didn’t care if I lived or died. My back arched against the invisible force holding me suspended in the air, ropes biting deep into my skin as my stomach burned, burned where the whip had struck.Melody’s laugher sliced through my agony, sharp and hateful.“Yes!” She purred. “Scream! That’s all you can do!” Another lash tore against my abdomen. “You can’t protect yourself…”She leaned close enough that her breath my cheek. A nightmare, one that never stopped chasing me.“…you can’t even protect your own pups.”My mind blanked.My breath caught mid-sob.Pups?The word hit me harder than the whip ever could. For a heartbeat, the pain vanished and all I heard was the blood rushing in my ears.No appetite these past days.The dizziness.The sudden weakness. I wasn’t sick.I was pregnant.My heart stuttered painfully.“Damian… Goddess. Damian…” I thought. He would have been overjoyed, he talked about pups with me e
The moment Laura vanished, the world seem to stop. No sound. No breath. No heartbeat.Only Damian stood, frozen, the crowd still gleaming cruelly atop his head, his silver eyes wide with fury too ancient to name.Then—he moved.He stormed back into the place with a force that shook the stone beneath his boots, guards scrambling to press their backs against the walls. Hope clung to his arm, tears treading silently down her small face, her fingers digging desperately into his sleeve.“Daddy—Daddy please…” she pleaded with him through the mindlink, but Damian didn’t hear her. He didn’t hear anything. His mind was a storm of Laura’s scream, the crack of Magic, the sight of her being ripped from his arms. Mira rushed forward, grabbing Hope before the little girl could be dragged by Damian’s long strides. Hope fought against her hold, sobbing soundlessly, reaching out for him until Mira’s hands tightened.“It’s okay, sweetheart… it’s okay… I’ve got you.” Mira whispered, but Hope only shook
Hope’s small hand was snug in mine as we walked through the long marble corridor that led to the throne room. Even with the maids trailing behind us, even with the morning sunlight spilling through the tall windows in soft golden ribbons… my heart would not settle.Not after the voice I’d heard.Not after she whispered my name.I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay steady. Hope glanced up at me, her hazel eyes sweet and curious, but she didn’t question me.She simply squeezed my hand, a grounding comfort I didn’t deserve in that moment.When the guards pushed the enormous doors open, the deep echo rolled in the throne room. The council members, the elders, and advisors were already gathered around the long crescent table facing Damian’s throne.Their voices fell instantly.Chairs scraped as every single one of them rose to their feet.Heads bowed.“Good morning, Luna.”“Good morning, princess.”Hope’s fingers twitched shyly in greeting. I bowed respectfully, keeping my face compo
The night air in the palace corridors still shimmered with the remnants of celebration, soft music drifting from distant halls, the faint sparkle of confetti sticking to our clothes like tiny stars.Hope clung to my hand, her little fingers warm on mine, while Damian walked on my other side, his arm occasionally brushing mine as if he couldn’t help needing the contact.We were almost at the residential wing when I noticed two familiar figures ahead.Shiela and Ryan.They didn’t see us at first. They were walking close, too close, hands intertwined, shoulders brushing. Ryan leaned down every few steps to press a kiss to her head or the back of her hand, and Shiela… she was smiling. A real, gentle smile, one that brightened up her features.Hope tugged my hand, whispering through the mind link. “They look cute.”I smiled.When they finally noticed us, both of them froze, eyes widening before they bowed deeply, almost in perfect sync.“My Alpha King.” Ryan said Respectfully.“My Luna Que
“What?” Marisa’s face twisted in disbelief, her voice shrill with rising panic.Before Laura could respond, Damian’s voice rang out like a crack of a thunder.“ Marisa!” He barked, his tone laced with rage.“ You’ve been out the cell for less than a day, and already your causing trouble?” Marisa’s
“Laura!!” Gina and Lina shrieked in unison, nearly dropping their flowers.Hopes basket tipped from her hand, she turned and threw her arms around Laura’s neck, burying her face in leather of the gear. Her hug was tight with months of missing her, of nights without her stories, without her scent, w
The distant clangs of weapons, the shouts of terrified recruits, and the strange unnatural gust of wind stirred Laura awake.Her vision swam.She groaned and blinked opening her eye, around her, the barracks had erupted into chaos. Blades flashing in all directions yet striking nothing.The enemy w
A tall silhouette stood at the door. Then another followed. Marisa’s eyes widened.A maid and a guard.“WHAT THE HELL—!!” She screamed, instinct rising like a storm.The maid pale and breathless, stood with her sleeves loose, and brazier peeking out. The guard beside her looked quite as flustered







