ALEXANDER’S POVThe morning sun barely peeked over the horizon as I made my through the encampment.The air was thick with the scent of steel and sweat.My soldiers were always busy. Why? It was because of the rigorous training regimen I had imposed since the reinforcements arrived.My mind raced as I mentally tallied the numbers: 100,000 royal soldiers to organize, 10,000 Sacred Firearms Regiment to arm and station, and 15,000 Mystic Corps members to train.The pressure of responsibility pressed against my shoulders, but I welcomed it. I thrived in the chaos of battle preparation.My tent, the largest among the command posts, was lit by lanterns as I looked over supply reports.Rations were holding steady, weapon distribution was on schedule, and the training regimens were progressing as planned. But I could sense a disturbance in the ranks.Small inefficiencies.Delays in coordination.They were whispering all the time. They seemed to be upset about something.Then, the mindlink came
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe discontent spread like an infection.It spread in the hearts of the 120,000 reinforcements who had marched tirelessly across mountains, rivers, and rough lands to reach the battlefield.It began as murmurs among the lower ranks, quiet whispers were exchanged during night watches, but within three days, those murmurs had transformed into open resentment.“Eliza Valford,” one soldier spat, tossing a twig into the campfire. “Fifth-Rank Brave General? What exactly did she do to earn that?”The group of men sitting around him nodded in agreement. One of them, a veteran with scars tracing his arms, scoffed.“She’s only here because of her father and brother. That’s it,” he growled. “Her father’s a war hero, her brother’s a commander—so what? Since when does lineage make a general?”A younger recruit, barely in his twenties, hesitated before speaking. “But… I heard she trained under General Rourke. That has to count for something, right?”The veteran snorted. “Training
DEREK’S POVI could see the evil glint in Maya’s eyes.I knew that look.She was planning something bad and whatever it was, it wouldn’t end well.Maya was the most deceptive person I knew.She was cold and calculative when she wanted to be. And that was exactly what I was scared of.I finally voiced the question that had been disturbing me for days.“How exactly did you get The Western Plains to sign the peace treaty at the City?”Maya’s brows lifted slightly, but she masked her surprise well. Still, there was a brief pause before she answered.“I told you already,” she said. Her tone was smooth but I knew her better than anyone. There was something she was hiding, “I made them believe Alexander had already won at the southern border and was marching toward XX Pass. They had no choice but to surrender, especially after their supply warehouse was destroyed.”I had never questioned her account before. But now, after catching her in lies at the wedding, I was forced to reconsider everyt
MAYA’S POVThe pain was unbearable.I lay on my stomach. My body burned from the searing lashes of the military cane.Twenty strokes.Twenty excruciating marks seared into my back for doing nothing but speaking the truth.My muscles trembled as I sucked in a breath, forcing myself not to make a sound.I refused to let them break me. I was Maya, a war hero. Not only that. I was a Luna, a warrior who had bled for this kingdom. And yet, I had been treated no better than a traitor.All because of her.Eliza.My wolf growled in my head, restless. My wolf was itching to sink her claws into that woman’s throat.I could see her now, standing with that infuriating smirk, watching as I was dragged out and flogged like a common criminal.And Derek had watched my suffering without lifting a single damn finger.That stupid Alexander.He thought he could do anything he wanted because he was the son of the Lycan king.It had been his orders that had left me in this state.The anger I felt boiled ins
ELIZA’S POVI could feel the tension radiating off Alexander like heat from a fire. His arms were crossed over his broad chest as he looked at me with those intense eyes of his. I could see the emotions in his eyes but one was very clear.Jealousy.I almost sighed. Again?He didn’t say anything at first, but the hard set of his jaw and the way his fingers twitched at his sides told me everything I needed to know.I had seen this side of him before—possessive, barely holding himself back.I was amused. I found it kinda cute but I hid my expression, pretending not to notice."You’re sulking," I said lightly, stepping closer.Alexander scoffed, "I don’t sulk."I bit my lip, fighting back a smirk. "Oh? So the dark glare, the stiff posture, the way you’ve been staring holes into me all evening—that’s just you being… what? Thoughtful?"His jaw clenched, but he remai
ELIZA’S POVI stood amidst the gathered generals, keeping my posture straight and my expression unreadable as Alexander questioned Derek about the reinforcements."We've brought 100,000 royal soldiers, 10,000 Sacred Firearms Regiment, and 15,000 Mystic Corps," Derek reported.Alexander nodded in approval.Then, without hesitation, he began assigning the troops like he had given it some thought beforehand.“General Timothy, you will lead the Royal Army along the eastern front. General Howell, you will take the Firearms Regiment and reinforce the western flank."Then his eyes turned to me. "And Eliza—" He paused for a fraction of a second, like he wanted to say something important, "You will command the 15,000 Mystic Corps."I barely kept my breath from hitching. The Mystic Corps were the most formidable warriors. These were elites feared even by seasoned generals.Why would he entrust them to me? Was this a tes
ELIZA’S POVThe moment Maya's accusation left her lips, I saw red.An affair? With Alexander?The sheer audacity.Her words made all the self control I felt let loose.My wolf moved forward, and before I could stop her, I was across the room. In a second, I was in front of her and fist closed around her throat.The war room fell into a stunned silence.My grip tightened as I lifted her onto her toes. My voice dropped into something dark.“Say one more word of nonsense, Maya,” I hissed, “and I won’t hesitate to rip your throat out.”Her hands clawed at my wrist, struggling to break free but I didn’t let go. I could feel her pulse racing beneath my fingers. Her breath hitched as she struggled against my hold.Yet, even as she gasped for air, the glint in her eyes was not one of fear.It was one of hatred.She managed a choked, breathless laugh. “No one wo
ELIZA’S POVThe moment Maya and Derek stepped into the war room, there was tension in the air.I had expected them to come, but seeing them now didn’t make it any easier. The room was already crowded with generals.I held my head high with a neutral expression even as my wolf grew restless and angry inside me.Maya’s eyes were filled with amusement as she walked forward. Her lips curved into a smirk, and I knew then that she had come prepared to gloat.“Eliza,” she said again, “You never mentioned to the generals that you and Derek are divorced.”The words were deliberately loud enough to catch the attention of everyone in the room, and sure enough, heads turned.The generals started to murmur.My fingers curled into fists beside me. My wolf growled, demanding I fight her or do something to defend myself. But she wasn’t worth it.Instead, I arched a single brow and smirked
DEREK'S POVMorning came, Maya and I led our troops across Illyria’s southern border.The banners of our kingdom snapped in the wind as we moved.My pulse hammered against my ribs, not from exhaustion but because of how uncertain I felt.I couldn’t put my finger on it. something just felt …off.“Something feels off,” Maya muttered.Her sharp eyes scanned the landscape ahead. Her gloved fingers tightened around the reins of her horse.She was right. There was no sign of conflict.No smoke, no cries of the wounded, no destruction beyond the natural harshness of winter. It was unsettling.The moment we rode past the first outpost, a scout galloped toward us.“The city’s been reclaimed, my lord.” He said.A weight dropped in my stomach.Maya straightened beside me with a frown on her face. “Already?”I exhaled slowly, controlling the frustration clawing at my chest.If Illyria had already fallen back into our hands, then Alexander and his forces had moved faster than we anticipated.Worse