Marissa
I bit the inside of my cheek. My throat went dry, and my skin prickled like I’d been caught somewhere I shouldn’t be.
Justin looked the same as always: that arrogant posture, his hands casually gripping the railing as if he were king of the world and gravity existed only because he allowed it.
But I saw past the performance—the dark circles under his eyes, the faint line of strain between his brows, the way his shoulders were held just a little too stiff.
He hadn’t been sleeping. He was unraveling, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
His glare locked on me. "What is she doing here?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air.
Justine groaned, tossing her head back like a tired babysitter. "God, you're so dramatic. I can practically hear your heart beating out of your chest right now."
"Justine," I warned, nudging her with my elbow.
She smirked. "What? I’m just stating the obvious. You s
FLASHBACK Norma’s POVThe hall was alive with laughter, cheers, and music, and I hated every sound of it.The sunrise of happiness over my packmates only deepened my bitterness.Servants rushed around carrying endless trays of food and wine. Everyone was dressed in vibrant fabrics. The hall glittered like a jewel box, but to me, it reeked of betrayal.Alaric stood at the center of it all.My Alaric.Now he was dancing with his bride, Queen Mallory.Or, as I preferred to call her, the spoiled bitch Mallory.I clenched my fists so hard my nails bit into my palms, grounding myself before I lost control right there in front of everyone.One wrong move and my rage would explode, splattering across this perfect little party.Alaric twirled Mallory gracefully, his hand firm at her waist. His mother, Gwen, and his triplet sisters—Bella, Brielle, and Blair—stood nearby, smiling openly with no hint of discomfort.Their bright smiles mocked me. Hadn't they always sworn I was family too?The wh
FLASHBACK “You look like a widow, my friend,” Kira said softly. She was my confidant and one of my ladies-in-waiting, She lay my wedding veil across the back of my chair. “You don’t have to marry him if you don’t want to.”Hearing the word marry was like swallowing glass, each syllable tearing me open.“I’m fine.”The lie tasted like stale wine.Kira turned and sat beside me, lacing her fingers through mine. “Don’t do it if it’s tearing you apart like this.”Her grip tightened, as if she could physically keep me from walking into disaster.“Alaric may be handsome, rich, and powerful,” she continued, “but none of that matters if he isn’t who you want.”“I don’t have a choice,” I said, jerking my hand free and standing so fast my chair scraped the floor. “If the cage is glided, that just means the bars are stronger.”Kira flinched, but didn't back down. Sympathy and irritation flashed in her eyes.She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper even though we were alone. The palace
FLASHBACK “I suppose it’s time to face the vultures,” I said quietly, staring at my reflection as Alexander zipped my dress. My fingers fussed with my hair, forcing each rebellious strand into place until my hands stopped shaking.“You know I’ll always be by your side, my love,” Alexander said softly, his breath close to my ear.A weak smile tugged at my lips. “I know.”The marriage ahead loomed between us like a wall neither of us knew how to climb.“Don’t let him touch you,” he said firmly, as if reading my mind.The words sliced through the air. I looked away instead of letting him see how his words gutted me.“It isn’t simple,” I said.Alexander’s eyes shut tight, then snapped open again, furious.“I can’t stand the thought of him touching you. Do you realize what it would do to me? To be awake, knowing he’s touching you, while I’m left here powerless? I would lose my mind.”My muscles went rigid.If I let Alaric touch me and failed to conceive right away, we would have to keep
FlashbackDear readers,From this point onward, the story takes a turn.Starting with Chapter 57, you’ll enter Queen Mallory’s flashback arc, a set of 14 chapters that reveal the painful history behind Justin’s curse and the twisted roots of the conflict shaping our present-day story.These chapters will take you back in time, showing how Mallory’s choices, sacrifices, and battles shaped the world Justin is now trapped in.If you prefer to stay in the present timeline, you can skip the flashback chapters (each one will be clearly labeled as a flashback) and jump straight to Chapter 71, where the present-day events resume.However, I strongly encourage you to read Mallory’s story.It will give you a deeper understanding of:The true nature of the curse and the devastating legacy he must overcomeThank you for going on this journey with me.Get ready to experience the heartbreak, betrayal, and resilience that started it all.Twenty-Nine Years AgoCast Mallory: Justin's mother Alaric:
MarissaJustin lashed the tip of my nipple with his tongue, making them hard as sharp dagger points."You're something else, aren't you?" I said as he towered over me, breathing heavily. My back hit the wall of his bedroom with a soft thud. I gasped, part surprised and part excited by his fierceness."Tell me what you want," he said as my nails traced circles on his skin. "Your wish is my command.""I have everything I need," I whispered in his ear. I was already wet for him, his hard cock pressing against my abdomen. It made me feel powerful, loved, and desperately wanted.He moaned into my mouth as my lips traveled from the top of his head down to the back of his neck, nibbling at tender spots that sent electric shocks through his body.His voice deepened, rich with desire. "You like it when I kiss your perfect skin," he murmured. "I wonder what would happen if I trailed my kisses up to those delicious collarbones and claimed your gorgeous neck."I gasped. "Not yet."He chuckled, te
MarissaI bit the inside of my cheek. My throat went dry, and my skin prickled like I’d been caught somewhere I shouldn’t be.Justin looked the same as always: that arrogant posture, his hands casually gripping the railing as if he were king of the world and gravity existed only because he allowed it.But I saw past the performance—the dark circles under his eyes, the faint line of strain between his brows, the way his shoulders were held just a little too stiff.He hadn’t been sleeping. He was unraveling, whether he wanted to admit it or not.His glare locked on me. "What is she doing here?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the air.Justine groaned, tossing her head back like a tired babysitter. "God, you're so dramatic. I can practically hear your heart beating out of your chest right now.""Justine," I warned, nudging her with my elbow.She smirked. "What? I’m just stating the obvious. You s