Bayle had slipped from Rylan’s grasp and vanished into the shadows, but now he emerged onto the battlefield like a phantom drawn to blood. His gaze swept the chaos—Dominic and Aliyah locked in a savage clash, fur and fangs flashing, while Kaelen and the other wolves tore through Dominic’s men.Then he saw Leo.The once-proud Alpha’s son lay sprawled in the dirt, pale and barely breathing.A slow smile curled across Bayle’s face. So weak. I could end you right now, and it would be over.He took a step toward Leo, savoring the thought. But then another, far sweeter idea slid into his mind like a knife.No… killing you now would be mercy. I want to watch your eyes when you see her fall. I want you to feel every drop of her life slip away, knowing you could not stop it.The thought warmed him in a way the battle’s blood never could.Keeping low, he wove between the fighters. No one noticed him.From the dirt, he tore a sword from the stiff fingers of a fallen wolf and gripped it tight.Al
Aliyah didn’t flinch under Dominic’s words.Instead, she stepped forward, calm but resolute.“You mistake loyalty for submission, Dominic. I won’t bow to a tyrant just because he tossed me scraps to survive.”Her eyes narrowed. “Your brother claimed to love me, yet he wanted to forcefully make me his mate. That isn’t love, it’s lust. Love isn’t a cage, it’s a choice. And I chose the one my heart craved.”Dominic’s jaw tightened. Rage flickered in his eyes, but words failed him.Worried, Rosetta’s gaze darted toward the tree line. A shadow shifted—Kaelen’s signal. The others were in place.But Dominic caught her glance, and a dangerous smile crept across his face.“Ah… so you didn’t come alone.”He raised his hand. Guards stepped from the shadows, surrounding the clearing. “And here I thought you’d walk into my hands without a safety net.”Aliyah’s heart pounded, but her voice was steady.“Let them go, Dominic. Leo. Lily. End this now before it’s too late for you.”Dominic’s laugh was
Aliyah and the group reached the edge of Alpha Dominic’s territory but stopped just short of crossing in. They needed a plan. Charging in without one would be suicide.Aliyah turned to the others, her voice calm but firm. “Since Dominic wants me, I’ll go in with Rosetta and Rylan. The rest of you, sneak in quietly. Stay hidden until it’s time to strike.”Rylan hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Yes… that might be best. It shouldn’t just be the two of you. If things go wrong, you’ll need backup.”Kaelen immediately shook his head. “That’s too dangerous. We don’t know what trap he’s laid for you. It’s better we all sneak in and rescue them together.”Rosetta stepped forward, her voice tight with emotion but steady. “Let Aliyah and me go in,” she said. “He’s expecting us. We’ll be the distraction. While his attention is on us, Kaelen and Rylan should lead the rest of you into position.”She glanced around, eyes fierce despite the fear beneath.Kaelen’s jaw tightened as he stared at Aliyah.
Since the day Leo was thrown into the cell, Dominic had made it a ritual. Morning and evening, without fail.Pain. Humiliation. Torture.It wasn’t just punishment. It was control. A brutal reminder that hope was a weakness, and resistance would be crushed.The cell smelled of blood and metal. Leo hung from silver chains attached to the ceiling, his arms stretched above him, feet just touching the floor. His chest was covered in deep cuts, and painful silver burns marked his skin.In the corner, Lily slumped against the wall. A faintly glowing collar choked her strength, muffled her wolf, and dulled the light in her eyes. She was fading.Leo didn’t know what day it was. Only that every second hurt. That time blurred into pain.And yet, Aliyah. Her name alone kept him from falling.But sometimes, even that hope cracked. What if she didn’t come? What if he had broken her too deeply?Still, he held on.The iron door groaned open.Bootsteps echoed.Dominic entered, dark and composed, his e
Rosetta remained silent, the sting of those words digging deep. Her pride ached, but before she could respond, Rylan stepped forward, his voice grave.“There is something you need to know, Your Majesty.”He glanced at Rosetta, then back at Aliyah. “Alpha Leo and Lily have been captured by Alpha Dominic. He is demanding you in exchange for their lives.”Aliyah’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”Her body tensed, fury rising in her voice. “Why am I just hearing about this now? How did this even happen?”Rylan explained everything. He told her how she had misunderstood Leo, believing he cheated on her. How he had been on his way to see her and clear the air before he was ambushed by the rogues Dominic sent.Aliyah’s body shook in fear. Now she understood why Leo never came. She had blamed him. Hated him. And all this time, he had been trying to come back. To explain.“I thought he abandoned me,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I pushed away the one person who made me feel seen. And now
When they were brought to Aliyah’s chamber, silence fell again. Rosetta’s group froze, not in fear, but in quiet astonishment. Aliyah looked different. Not in body, but in presence. She stood tall, regal, with strength woven into every line of her posture. Rylan and Rosetta exchanged a glance, shocked not just by the authority she now carried, but by the reality of it. She had truly taken the crown. She had chosen to stay. Chosen not to return to Leo or the life she once had. She was Queen now. At the threshold, two groups faced one another, the air thick with unspoken history. Before anyone could speak, Elder Thalos stepped forward, his gaze locked on Rosetta. His voice, deep and steady, carried the weight of old wounds. “Before anything else, the Queen deserves to know something I doubt she’s been told.” Aliyah gave a slight nod. “Speak.” Thalos turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You may have known Rosetta for years during your time among their pack, but I fear you