In the depths of my restless sleep, I wandered through hazy corridors of memory. Ghosts of the past swirled around me like shadows in the night.I walked hand in hand with my mother, the scent of roses heavy in the air as we strolled through a moonlit garden. Each step was filled with unspoken tension, unanswered questions lingering like a thick fog."Mother," I began tentatively, whispering. "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 sad. "Some things are better left unsaid."I frowned, frustration growing. "But I need to know," I insisted, desperation in my voice.She sighed, her shoulders slumping. "You don't understand, Vesta," she replied with regret. "Some truths are too painful to bear."I shook my head, feeling the weight of her words. "I can't live like this, Mother," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes. "I need to know the truth."She reached out, her hand gentle on my cheek. "I wis
VESTA'S POVI sat in the dark room, the silence heavy around me like a suffocating blanket. Each moment felt like an eternity, the weight of my confinement pressing down on me like a prison of my own making.I loathed Lucius for treating me like a common prisoner, confining me to this wing of the palace as if I were just a pawn in his twisted game. I felt like I was losing a piece of myself every day, and something told me Lucius knew exactly what he was doing to me. He wouldn't stop unless I stopped him myself.The next morning, after having breakfast on the balcony, I returned to my room to stare at the ceiling. I tried convincing myself that I wasn’t going mad and that this was perfectly normal for someone who supposedly cared about me.An omega arrived in the room with a stack of books from the library. She hesitated at the threshold, her eyes darting nervously around as if expecting danger."Good morning, Miss Vesta," she greeted timidly. She seemed so young and fearful. I wondere
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.
VESTA’S POV I blinked, the dungeon's darkness giving way to flickers of light as the door swung open. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched, my breath catching in my throat. What was happening? What did Lucius want from me now?I could list a thousand things that monster was coming to do to me, and I wasn’t even prepared to face him. I have no interest in his disgusting face. To my surprise it wasn’t him, it was a bunch of other people. The maids bustled around the room, their movements swift and purposeful. I said nothing, my silence a shield against the uncertainty that swirled around me like a storm.They packed away the sheets, their hands moving with practiced ease. I watched in silence, my thoughts a jumble of confusion and fear. What orders has that mad man given them again this time?Finally, they turned to me, their faces impassive masks. "Follow us, ma’am" one of them said, her voice devoid of emotion.I nodded, my steps hesitant as I trailed behind them. Was this the
The night stretched on, the darkness thickening around me like a suffocating shroud. Sleep eluded me, my mind awash with a whirlwind of thoughts and fears.I tossed and turned, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a leaden weight. What awaited me on the other side of morning? What twisted games did Lucius have in store for me now?But there was no time for doubt, no room for hesitation. I had to be strong, to steel myself against the darkness that threatened to consume me.Dawn broke, casting feeble rays of light through the tiny windows of the room. I rose, the exhaustion of sleepless nights weighing heavy on my shoulders.The hours passed in a blur, each moment dragging on like an eternity. And then, suddenly, he was there—Lucius, his presence looming over me like a shadow in the darkness."It is time," he said, his voice a low, menacing growl.I braced myself, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air between us. This was it—the moment of reckoning, the culmina