I woke up to find myself in a room that smelled unmistakably of Lucius. The darkness enveloped me, pressing in from all sides, and I knew without a doubt that I was in his chambers. But where was he?Groggily, I pushed myself up from the bed, my muscles protesting from the restless night. Lucius was nowhere to be found, his absence a curious puzzle in the tangled web of our shared existence.Feeling a bit better than the previous night, I decided to take a shower. The thought of washing away the lingering traces of captivity and despair filled me with a sense of renewed purpose.Stepping into the bathroom, I let the warm water cascade over me, washing away the remnants of the night's unrest. Lila, my wolf, paced restlessly within me, her thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of uncertainty and defiance."We can't keep fighting the mate bond forever," she insisted, her voice a persistent echo in the recesses of my mind. "Lucius may not be what we want, but he's what we have."I sighed, the
As Lucius and I settled in for our private dinner, the tension between us was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Yet, as the meal progressed, I found myself drawn into the easy rhythm of conversation, his words casting a spell that held me captive."I won those battles without my eyes," Lucius remarked, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "Blindness has its advantages, you see. It sharpens the other senses, heightens the instincts."I nodded, intrigued by his tales of triumph against all odds. "It's impressive," I conceded, unable to hide the begrudging respect in my voice.He smiled, a small yet genuine expression that softened the hard edges of his features. "Thank you," he replied simply, his tone devoid of arrogance.In turn, I shared glimpses of my own past, of the days spent running through the forest with my cousins Aimee and the others, of the laughter and tears that had woven the fabric of my childhood."We were a handful, my cousins and I," I chuckled, the memories
In the depths of my restless slumber, I found myself wandering through the hazy corridors of memory, the ghosts of the past swirling around me like shadows in the night.I walked hand in hand with my mother, the scent of roses hanging heavy in the air as we strolled through the moonlit garden. Each step was laden with unspoken tension, the weight of unanswered questions lingering between us like a thick fog."Mother," I began tentatively, the words tumbling from my lips in a hesitant whisper. "Why won't you tell me what happened?"She turned to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Vesta, my dear," she murmured, her voice filled with sorrow. "Some things are better left unsaid."I frowned, frustration gnawing at the edges of my patience. "But I need to know," I insisted, the desperation in my voice betraying the depth of my longing.She sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "You don't understand, Vesta," she replied, her voice tinged with regret. "Some truths are too painful
I sat in the dimly lit room, the silence heavy around me like a suffocating blanket. Each passing moment seemed to stretch on for an eternity, the weight of my confinement pressing down upon me like a prison of my own making. I loathed Lucius for treating me like a common prisoner, for confining me to this wing of the palace as if I were nothing more than a pawn in his twisted game. I was no longer who I was in here anymore. It was as if I was losing a piece of myself along the way, and something told me that Lucius knew exactly what he was doing to me, and he wouldn't stop unless I put a stop to him myself. Unless I put a stop to this madness myself. The next morning, after having my breakfast in my usual spot on the balcony, I returned to the room to continue staring at the ceiling while trying to convince myself that I wasn’t going mad and this was perfectly normal to do to your supposed mate that you don’t want to let go of. an omega arrived inside the room bearing a stack of b
I stormed out of Vesta's room, my mind ablaze with frustration and anger. The air crackled with tension as I made my way to the sparring room, my footsteps echoing loudly in the empty corridors. I needed an outlet for the turmoil raging within me, and the clash of steel against steel seemed like the perfect remedy.As I entered the sparring room, I could sense Roland's presence before I even heard his voice. He was waiting for me, his stance poised and ready for battle."Lucius," he greeted, his voice calm and steady. "I've been expecting you."I didn't bother with pleasantries. Instead, I grabbed a training sword and took up a defensive stance, my muscles coiled like a spring ready to unleash its fury.We circled each other, the tension thick between us as we prepared for the clash to come."Roland," I replied, my voice tight with restraint. "Let's get started."And with that, the battle began. Blow after blow, we sparred with a ferocity born of years of training and discipline. The
I mustered up the courage to approach Lucius, hoping he might grant me a sliver of freedom. "Lucius, may I speak with you?" I asked tentatively, my voice barely above a whisper.He turned towards me, his posture rigid and his expression unreadable. "What is it, Vesta?" he replied curtly."I... I was wondering if I could visit my old pack," I began, my voice faltering slightly. "I haven't heard from them since I left, and I just... I need to know if they're alright."Lucius's face darkened with anger. "Visit your old pack?" he repeated incredulously. "And what exactly do you think you'll accomplish by doing that?""I just want to see my family," I pleaded, my voice trembling with emotion. "I need to know if they're safe."He scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "You left your pack willingly, Vesta," he reminded me coldly. "And now you want to go crawling back to them? I don't think so."Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "Please, Lucius," I beg
ALPHA LUCIUS’S POV The atmosphere in the room turned icy as Vesta's hand connected with the man's cheek, the resounding slap echoing through the air like a thunderclap. My jaw clenched in fury, my wolf seething with rage at the humiliation she had caused me.I rose from my seat, my voice cold and commanding. "Enough," I growled, my words cutting through the tense silence like a knife. "Take her to the dungeon."The guards moved swiftly, seizing Vesta by the arms as she struggled against them, her protests echoing off the stone walls. Her voice rose in a desperate plea, but I hardened my heart against her cries. She had crossed a line, and now she would face the consequences.As they dragged her from the room, her screams still ringing in my ears, I turned to the man she had assaulted, my expression cool and collected. "I apologize for the disturbance," I said evenly, my tone betraying none of the turmoil raging within me.He waved off my apology with a dismissive gesture, his own ang
I blinked, water stinging my eyes as my surroundings slowly came into focus. My heart hammered in my chest as I took in the dimly lit room, the shadows dancing in eerie patterns across the walls. Lucius sat at the table, a dark silhouette against the faint glow of candlelight."What's going on?" I rasped, my voice barely a whisper as I struggled to make sense of the situation.Lucius's voice cut through the silence like a blade, cold and unforgiving. "Do you understand the gravity of your actions?" he demanded, his tone laced with barely contained fury.I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. "I... I was only defending myself," I stammered, the words tumbling out in a rush as I tried to explain.But before I could finish, hands seized me, dragging me forward until my head was submerged in icy water. Panic clawed at my chest as I fought for air, the world narrowing to the suffocating darkness that engulfed me.They pulled me up, gasping and choking as water streamed down my face.