MELISSA'S POV:I stepped out of my car and walked into Etherea Royale, the most prestigious and exclusive boutique in the country. The moment I entered, the soft scent of expensive perfume and the sight of shimmering gowns embroidered with delicate gemstones greeted me. This place catered only to the elite—royalty, high-ranking officials, and the wealthiest figures in society. But today, it was catering to me.I was here to try on the custom-made gown I had ordered specifically for Jena’s birthday celebration—an event even grander than usual this year. Not just because of her status being my half-brother Jerond’s fated mate but also because they are planning to announce their pregnancy.That fact alone made the celebration an event of the year. My father was using this occasion to solidify Jerond’s influence before officially declaring him his heir. It was an indirect way of showing the pack that Jerond wasn’t just some illegitimate son he had hidden away for years—he was the rightful
Cassandra had no sense of time—no way of knowing how long she had been lost in the abyss of unconsciousness. But a faint, almost tender sensation pulled her back, a gentle caress against her bruised and bloodied face.Her body remained heavy, drained by the wolfsbane still coursing through her veins, but she forced her eyes to flutter open. The world around her was hazy, blurred by pain and exhaustion. And then, through the dim light, she saw them—those familiar eyes, the same ones she had loved for so many years.For a moment, she forgot the pain, the torment, the betrayal. All she could do was stare, her breath hitching in disbelief.The moment she registered his touch, a surge of anger and instinctual fear coursed through her. With the little strength she had left, she smacked his hand away and desperately scooted back, pressing herself against the cold, unforgiving wall as if it could shield her from him.Her bloodied lips parted, her voice rough but sharp as a blade. "What are you
"Are you hearing yourself, James?" Cassandra spat, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Who in the world can manipulate a mate bond? A bond that is a sacred gift from the Moon Goddess herself?"Her bloodied fingers dug into the cold stone floor as she forced herself upright despite the searing pain in her body. "Do you expect me to believe that someone—anyone—could just tamper with something so divine? That they could force you into heat, make you mark her, make you..." Her voice wavered, but she pushed through, "...make you turn on me like I was nothing?"James swallowed hard, his expression unreadable. "I know how impossible it sounds," he admitted, his voice low. "But Cassy... I felt it. I felt the pull, but it wasn’t natural. It was—wrong."Cassandra let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. "And yet, you still let it happen," she whispered. "You still let it destroy me.""It wasn't something I could control, Cassy!" James burst out, his voice raw with frustratio
In the dimly lit room, a commanding yet elegant figure stood by the massive window, gazing out as if surveying his domain like a god overseeing his creation."How's everything going?" he asked, his voice laced with indifference as he took a slow drag from his tobacco."Things aren’t going exactly as planned," the other man replied, lounging on the sofa with his legs propped up on the table. His hands rested lazily behind his head, giving him an air of nonchalance. Despite his relaxed demeanor, the glint in his youthful eyes—barely fifteen years old—held an unsettling sharpness. "But the good news is, the way things are unfolding seems to be working in your favor."Though the man stood with his back to the young boy, the smirk on his face was unmistakable as he listened to the news. The boy shuddered involuntarily, unable to suppress the creeping dread that came with knowing just how cruel this man's methods could be.The young man knew better than to make a mistake and end up on his ba
Woken by the scorching liquid splashing against her face, Cassandra’s eyes fluttered open. A slow turn of her head brought her face-to-face with a sight so horrific that her breath hitched, her pulse hammering in her ears.James.Lifeless. Unmoving.His body dangled like a ragdoll in Scott’s grasp, his neck still clenched in a vice-like grip. The dull gleam of a bloodied blade flashed with every brutal stab, the rhythmic squelching of flesh being torn apart filling the suffocating silence. Scott was relentless, as if draining James of every last drop of blood would somehow satisfy the madness consuming him.But it didn’t.With a sharp exhale, he let the knife clatter to the floor, its crimson-stained blade spinning before stilling in a puddle of blood.Scott’s shoulders heaved, his breaths ragged, but his hunger was far from sated. His fangs gleamed under the dim light, his irises glowing an unnatural red—depraved, deranged. Oblivious to Cassandra’s petrified gaze, he bared his teeth a
A man clad in a perfectly tailored black suit strode purposefully through the dimly lit corridors of the prison, his polished shoes echoing ominously against the cold, stone floor. The scent of blood thickened the air, metallic and suffocating, as he neared the scene of carnage that awaited him.Three bodies lay sprawled across the ground, their lifeless forms contorted unnaturally. Blood painted the cracked walls in violent splashes, pooling in dark, sluggish rivers around them. The flickering fluorescent light overhead cast eerie shadows over the grim tableau, making the red stains appear even more sinister.The man in the suit exhaled sharply, his fingers raking through his neatly styled hair in irritation.“What a mess,” he muttered, his voice laced with frustration. His jaw tightened as his cold, calculating eyes assessed the aftermath of what had transpired. He hated unnecessary complications."Just as you instructed, I only intervened when there was no other choice," the young m
Beep.Beep.The rhythmic sound of medical machines filled the stark white hospital room, the only sign that life still clung to her fragile body. The soft glow of moonlight filtered through the large window, casting a pale luminescence over the sterile space.A gentle touch ghosted over Cassandra’s face—light, tentative, almost reverent. As if the person feared that any more pressure would shatter her completely.She lay unmoving, her chest rising and falling in shallow, measured breaths. But whether she continues to live is still uncertain.
One Week Later – Cassandra’s POVA week had passed since the night my world shattered—again.After being pumped full of painkillers, healing salves, and who knows what other forms of medicines, I was finally discharged from the Royal Infirmary, but instead of being taken back to familiar territory or even to my pack lands, I was delivered straight to the Royal Palace.Not just the audience chamber, where visitors are usually entertained. No, this time felt different. Permanent.I'd been to the Palace a handful of times before, always in my father's company. He wanted me to be familiar with the place, saying, “It’s important for a future leader to be at ease where power resides.” Back then, I thought he was just showing me off—his proud Alpha daughter. Now I wondered if he had known more than he ever let on.Maybe that’s why Scott hated me with such intensity—why his resentment festered until it turned into something monstrous. He’d always known I was being prepared for something bigger
In the darkness where Cassandra’s body had been burned, a small speck of blue light suddenly flickered into existence. At first, it was no more than a glimmer—but in an instant, it expanded, engulfing the entire forest in a massive blaze of blue fire. The very same fire that once erupted when the first Blue Wolf emerged.Then, as if time itself had slowed, a figure emerged from the heart of the flames. She floated mid-air, eyes closed, while the fire swirled around her, not consuming, but cradling her like a lover’s embrace. She looked innocent, fragile even. But when her eyes opened, they reflected an unmistakable aura of death, haunting and absolute.She was no longer the Cassandra the world once knew. She was now the Blue Wolf—a being born to annihilate her enemies, powerful beyond comprehension yet achingly vulnerable. Few knew the truth: that the Blue Wolf, despite their terrifying strength, is a deeply fragile soul.The first Blue Wolf was believed to have risen from hatred—or s
A woman stood behind a slightly ajar door, watching in silence as the man caressed Cassandra’s stiff, disfigured body.“If I had known that curse would kill you,” said Leo, the second prince of the Lycan royal family, his voice soft but laced with bitterness, “I would’ve simply locked you away—where only I could see you.”Leo was the illegitimate son of Emperor Magnus, born from his fated mate, Amelia. A human woman with no knowledge of the supernatural world, Amelia had no idea of the king’s true identity or immense power. All she knew was that she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the enigmatic man she had encountered at an auction thirty years ago.Magnus, mated for centuries to his chosen queen—Lenox’s mother—had never felt the pull of a true fated bond until he met Amelia. Though he tried to resist, he eventually succumbed to one night of weakness, and on that night, Amelia conceived Leo.The king, bound by duty and image, could not allow the birth of a child from a mere human. In
Cassandra felt her soul leave her body, drifting, weightless, as if pulled into the land of the dead. The silence was deafening, the air cold and still. She even saw James standing in the distance, just as she crossed the threshold. That’s when she knew: she was gone. Her life, her misery—it was all over.She hated James for betraying their love, for abandoning what they once were. But even now, she realized… she loved him more than she hated him.With trembling steps, she moved toward him, desperation and longing guiding her. But before she could reach him, a sudden, cool voice—calm yet commanding—echoed behind her.“Do you truly wish for everything to end?” the man asked.She stopped. Her heart—or whatever remained of it-stuttered in her chest. Slowly, she turned toward the source of the voice.A man stood there, clothed like those from a forgotten era. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders, and a thick beard rested on his face. His eyes glowed faintly, ageless and piercing.“Who
LENOX'S POVIt’s been two months since Cassandra vanished—without a sound, without a trace. One moment, she was being escorted to her chamber by my most trusted servants after arriving at the Palace. The next, she was gone.That night, after I finished my duties, I sent for her, eager to dine together. A small, simple moment I had long anticipated. But when my guards arrived at her room, it was empty. No scent. No struggle. Nothing.I told myself she ran because she finds me repulsive and couldn't stomach the thought of being mine.Maybe she knew. Maybe she figured out that I was the one who made James mark that counterfeit mate. I crafted that illusion to sever their bond. To divide them. To ensure she would have no one else.I’m the Prince of this realm. The strongest living shifter, second only to my father, the King. Royal blood courses through my veins, yet here I am, lowering myself to manipulation and deceit—just for a chance to keep my mate close.I had her family investigate
"What's going on?"A frantic voice echoed through the vast lab, bouncing off cold, sterile walls.The Prince's eyes locked onto Cassandra’s body, floating lifelessly inside the tank. For the first time, something inside him shattered. His breath caught in his throat as he dashed toward the lower level, eyes flicking between the glass and the platform above. Her skin was pale, her face burned, her ankles grotesquely black and swollen.Unable to process the pain clawing at his chest, he stormed toward the nearest witch standing idle."I asked you—what the hell is going on? Why is her face burned? Why are her ankles swollen and blackened?" he roared, grabbing the young witch by the collar.
The door that led to the room was unsettling—more like a vault than an entrance, cold and ominous, as if designed solely to imprison someone. And Cassandra felt it deep in her bones—that someone was her.The room itself was surprisingly spacious. It had everything one would need to survive: a bed, a small kitchen, even a closet with clean clothes. It was pristine, well-lit, and eerily sterile—clearly maintained with care, yet too well-hidden to be part of the main palace. No, this place was beneath the garden—buried like a secret.Lenox had uncovered it by lifting a section of stone flooring, revealing a narrow staircase that spiraled downward for what felt like fifty steps. At the bottom stood another heavy steel door—the true gate to the prison where Cassandra now found herself.She’d barely processed the chilling space when Lenox approached her, his towering form a shadow against the light. His claws extended slowly, gleaming like daggers under the glow. His eyes burned a deep, fur
NARRATOR'S POVLater that night, once the crowd had dispersed and everyone returned to their chambers, Lenox and Cassandra remained in the grand hall. Silence lingered between them like a storm about to break.Lenox stared at her, unreadable, for several long seconds. Then, without a word, without even a final glance, he turned and walked away.At the door, he paused.“I’ve known Celeste since she was a child,” he said, his back still to her. “So I know what she’s capable of. Don’t overthink what just happened.”And with that, he vanished down the corridor, leaving only cold silence in his wake.Cassandra blinked, stunned.A bitter scoff escaped her lips. “And here I thought he meant what he said.”She rolled her eyes, irritation bubbling in her chest.“Mate or not, I still don’t like you,” she muttered under her breath, as if speaking to him in absentia. “No matter what James did… my heart is still his to claim.”Her pride bruised, her chest tight, she decided she needed fresh air.T
I stood before the grand mirror in my chambers, eyes scanning my reflection, searching for something—anything—that would offer me a clue about what was happening. The stillness of the room, the haunting quiet of the Palace, all of it felt suffocating. My mind raced, but I couldn’t make sense of it. I could still hear the voice echoing in my head: “You’re not safe here...”A sudden knock broke through my thoughts, pulling me from the storm brewing inside me. The door opened, and a maid stepped inside, her face tense, and her gaze lowered.“Lady Cassandra,” she began hesitantly, “His Highness requests your presence in the Hall of Counsel.”My pulse quickened. Lenox.“Very well,” I replied, trying to keep the edge of urgency from my voice as I stepped past her.NARRATOR'S POV"How’s the progress? How much hatred have we accumulated so far?" the man asked lazily, reclining in his seat, his fingers idly tapping against the armrest."It hasn’t moved an inch yet, Your Highness," the head witc
A man swirled the wine in his glass, the deep red liquid catching the dim, flickering light of the lab. His eyes, cold and calculating, lingered on the large cylindrical tank before him—a containment glass filled with a viscous, glowing fluid. Suspended within it was a motionless figure, limbs limp, wires snaking across her body like vines claiming a statue.He stepped closer, raising a hand to the glass. His fingers hovered just above the surface, tracing the curve of the woman’s cheek through the barrier with eerie tenderness."Who would've thought you were this beautiful, my dear Cassandra?" he murmured, voice low and reverent. A bitter laugh followed. "I would've kept you for myself... too bad you were mated to that bastard."His jaw clenched, the words spat with venom, but the bitterness quickly melted into a smirk. Possessive. Dangerous."No matter," he said, swirling his wine once more. "When everything’s done, I can do whatever I want with you."He turned slightly, his gaze fal