Chapter 67 Liam’s POV I shot him a sharp look, but Lucious only grinned wider. “Don’t be ridiculous,” I muttered. “It’s not seduction. It’s a strategy.” He chuckled under his breath. “Strategy? You sound like Father. Next thing I know, you’ll be drawing battle plans to win her heart.” “I don’t care about her heart,” I said flatly, my voice like steel. “I care about what she represents. Once she agrees to marry me, I’ll have the title, the power… and Mother will come home. That’s all.” Lucious shook his head, frustration clear in his eyes. “Then you’re going about it wrong. You have to treat her right. Start by being nice to her.” “Nice?” I echoed, unimpressed. My lip curled in disdain. “Nice to a weak girl… and still manages to be proud? Ugh.” “Yes, Liam. Do things for her. Make her feel special,” he insisted. I scoffed. “That sounds like a lot of unnecessary work. I already have the kingdom’s burdens on my shoulders. This—” I gestured carelessly, “—is too much.” Luciou
Chapter 66 Liam’s POV “What did you just say?” Aurora’s voice cut like a whip, low but furious. She took a step forward, her eyes blazing. “Who picked up a bad habit, hmm?” she demanded again, closing the space between her and Selene, her anger radiating like heat. I moved before she could do something reckless, catching her by the arm and holding her back. Selene only laughed, a cruel, melodic sound. “The little wolf wants to bare her teeth? How cute.” She tilted her head, smirking. “Adorable.” Aurora’s fury deepened, her jaw tight, her hands clenched. She was breathtaking like that—burning, alive, untamed. I tightened my grip gently. “Stop it,” I ordered, my voice low, warning. Selene’s smile sharpened, her words laced with venom. “Yes, listen to him. Because if you push me, darling, I’ll carve that pretty face of yours into something unrecognizable. You’d never look the same again.” “Enough!” My tone cracked like thunder. I turned my glare on Selene. “Stop it.” Bella and
Chapter 65 Aurora’s POV “You think you can just force me to marry you?” My voice cut through the quiet training field like a blade. “Is that how love works here?” I flicked my gaze toward Cassidy and Bella as I said it, as if to ask them for confirmation. Liam’s expression hardened, but his tone stayed soft. “Cassidy, Bella—leave us.” They hesitated for a second before exchanging a look and slipping out of the training grounds, their footsteps fading behind me. Now it was just him and me. He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto mine, unflinching. “You’re my mate,” he said quietly. “We’re bound to be together.” For one treacherous heartbeat, that sentence felt… peaceful. My wolf stirred at the sound of it, wanting to melt into him. But I shoved the feeling back down. “I’m not marrying you.” My voice rose, firm. “I just turned eighteen, Liam. You’re twenty-one. I’m barely figuring out who I am, living with my grandmother, learning about our world, its secrets, its rules.
Chapter 64 Aurora’s POV Cassidy moved with her usual precision, her wooden sword slicing through the air like it belonged in her hand. “Tighter grip,” she instructed, her eyes sharp on me. “And stop treating it like it’s about to slip away. Own it.” I tightened my hold, adjusted my stance, and swung. The wood connected with hers in a sharp crack, the vibration shooting through my arms. “Better,” Cassidy said, though her smirk hinted at more criticism. “But you’re still holding back.” I narrowed my eyes. “I am not.” “Yes, you are,” she pressed, stepping in closer, her blade teasing mine with little nudges. “You’re fighting like you’re scared of breaking something. You want to win? Then strike.” The fire rose in my chest at her provocation. I gritted my teeth and lifted my sword, ready to lunge— Then it hit me. A scent. Bold. Rich. Masculine. It wrapped around me, pulling me in like invisible threads. My wolf stirred instantly, a thrill racing through me. My knees almost gave w
Chapter 63 Aurora’s POV Cassidy and Bella were already on the training grounds, their bodies moving in perfect rhythm. Cassidy struck with sharp, fluid precision, her limbs slicing the air like blades. Bella met her blows with calm control, her counters smooth and powerful, elegance woven into every motion. Together, they moved like a deadly dance—balanced, graceful, and mesmerizing. I paused at the edge, my lips parting. For a moment, I could only stare. They noticed me then. “Oh—you’re early,” Bella said with an easy grin. Cassidy smirked. “We usually have to drag you out of bed.” I ignored the teasing, still caught by what I’d seen. “That was incredible. The two of you fight like warriors out of legend.” As I drew closer, something new washed over me. Bella’s scent was soft and sweet, like jasmine blooming at night, while Cassidy’s was sharper—bright and tangy, like ripe citrus. It struck me all at once, distinct and undeniable. “You smell… different,” I said before I coul
Chapter 62 Liam’s POV Morning came too quickly, but I didn’t waste it. I rose before dawn, took to the training grounds, and put my body through the usual drills. Blades, sparring, weight stones, and speed runs until the ground was dark with sweat. Afterward, I supervised the warriors’ morning routines—pack drills, scent tracking, formation runs, and the young wolves practicing their first shifts. Every muscle in me buzzed with restless purpose. By midmorning, I was back in the castle, heading straight for my father’s chambers. Enough waiting. Enough pretending. “I’m ready,” I said, the moment I was admitted inside. “I’ve trained. I’ve studied. I know the kingdom inside and out. It’s time I take my place as Alpha King.” My father looked up slowly, his gaze cool, sharp as a blade. “You think swinging a sword and barking orders makes you a king? You’re of age, yes. But age doesn’t make an Alpha. You’re not ready.” The words hit harder than any strike, and fury flared hot in my che