CHAPTER 96: THE CONFLICT DEEPENSMAXIM:The ancient blood moon and wolfsbane smoke was being prepared in a particular room set aside in the maid's quarters. I watched from the window, unable to take my eyes away. “What the hell are they doing?” Venus asked, looking appalled.“Preparing the blood moon and wolfsbane smoke, as you have requested.”She nodded and moved closer. “May the Moon Goddess protect the Bloodclaw Pack.”“So be it,” I said as I took her hand and led her inside. We stayed together, discussing, planning and wishing for the best until night fell.It was still early, and Venus curled up in my arms, breathing evenly. Suddenly, my phone vibrated violently on the table beside me. I didn’t bother checking the caller ID—only a few people had this number. I grabbed it, "Speak," I barked into the phone."Alpha Maxim, we have a situation. The cargo… it’s gone."The words felt like acid."Gone? What the hell do you mean gone?""The containers never made it to the port. Our men
CHAPTER 95: PREPARING FOR WARVENUS:When I got to know what Maxine had done, I hurried to his study. “Maxine…”He stood by the liquor tray, pouring himself a drink with the calm of a man who had just sealed a deal, not committed a declaration of war. His sleeves were rolled up, muscles flexing as he stirred the amber liquid.“You kidnapped a child,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper, trembling with something I couldn’t name—was it rage, fear, disbelief?“I did what I had to do.” He took a slow sip. “In our world, playing fair will have you buried before your mate's scent fades from your clothes.”I folded my arms tightly. “So the answer is to stoop to their level?”“No,” he said, walking toward me, eyes gleaming like steel under pressure. “The answer is to win. To survive. To make damn sure Draven knows I’m not here to play house while he plots to rip apart everything I’ve built. If I didn’t act first, you’d be mourning me instead. Or vice versa.”“But the boy—”“Is safe,” he c
CHAPTER 94: YOU KIDNAPPED MEMAXINE:I led Venus upstairs to our room and returned to my study. I can't lie down and slumber away while my pack and my legacy is at stake.I stared at the map sprawled across the oak table in my war room. Every inch of parchment had pins, strings, and red marks. These are all Draven’s territory, his guard routes, and his weak spots. The bastard had gotten too comfortable thinking he could attack me anytime he wanted. He probably knew I was away on a honeymoon. But what he didn’t know is that I could smell his desperation from Paris. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, desperate alphas make reckless moves.I stood in front of the window overlooking the courtyard, the night dense with fog. My breath fogged the glass. Behind me, Conrad, my most trusted Beta and enforcer, stepped into the room with a tablet in hand.“He's just left the west border,” Conrad said, tapping the screen. “Draven’s been frequenting that healer's cottage outside his pack's peri
CHAPTER 92: ENDING THE HONEYMOON IN A HURRY VENUS:I glanced around. Maxine was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the turmoil raging in my heart. I went back to sleep after a moment and had another dream. It played before my eyes like the behind the scenes of a movie. Draven has gathered his warriors and was barking orders. And then I saw them matching towards Bloodclaws pack with weapons and furry. Then houses began to go up in flames.As I jolted up in bed, the room was cloaked in darkness, but the vividness of the vision still danced before my eyes. I clutched the sheets against my chest, my heartbeat thundering in my ears.Maxine stirred beside me. “Venus?” he murmured, voice husky with sleep. “What’s wrong?”I turned to him, struggling to steady my breathing. “I saw something, Maxine. A vision.”“Tell me about it, “ he said, sitting up. “I saw Draven… he’s planning something. He’s going to attack your pack while you’re gone.”He sat up immediately, fully alert now. “Are you su
CHAPTER 92: SIGHTSEEING AND THE SHADOWS VENUS:I slept In Maxine's arms and when the morning came and the sunlight poured into the hotel suite like honey, I stirred lazily in bed, my limbs tangled in the silky sheets. My body was sore in the best ways possible. Maxine was already up, shirtless and humming softly as he buttoned his designer pants."Why are you getting dressed so early?" I murmured, yawning as I propped myself up on the pillows.He turned, grinning. "I made you a promise last night, remember. Get dressed, beautiful. We’re going sightseeing."I groaned. “Isn't it too early? We haven't even had breakfast.”“Don't worry, I'll take care of that.”I knew that when he said he would do something, be rest assured that he would do it. I quickly washed up and got dressed.It was late morning when we left our hotel room. Paris unfolded before us in shimmering opulence.Our first stop was at a fancy restaurant with waiters that dressed like bankers.“Eating here must cost a fortu
CHAPTER 91: SPOILING ME ROTTEN VENUS:As we stepped into our hotel room, Maxine grabbed my shoulders and pinned me against the wall, kissing me furiously. He tore off my clothes, and pushed me down on the bed. I don't know where the cuff came from but before I knew what was happening, my hands were cuffed above my head to the bed posts.His lips ravaged my entire body and I could only moan and whimper and wriggle my body since I was restrained. It was a night of endless pleasure and by the time Maxine was done with me, I could barely lift my lashes.We slept, curled up together and by the time I woke up, the sunlight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of our hotel room like golden silk, painting the sheets in a soft glow. I stretched languidly, letting out a tiny yawn as I rolled over into Maxine’s arms. He was already awake, his hazel eyes fixed on me with that boyish grin I was growing way too fond of.“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he whispered, brushing a strand of h