My Possession. Mine.Those words rang over and over in Arianna's head as she sat in her small new chamber. No longer trapped within cold, stone walls, she was now confined in the Sacred Moon wing—her room not far from the King’s own.She could still feel the King’s touch—the way his thick fingers traced her scalp, neck, collarbone, and back. The fire it sparked within her as she knelt at his feet before the eyes of the Grand Court.Like a pretty little thing. His pretty little thing.By his feet, she felt as though that was where she belonged. The shock of the nobles and high lords wasn’t her concern, but she caught sight of Valkyrie's.The king's bestrothed eyes looked as though they were about to pop out of her skull. Her face had paled like that of the dead, dread, horror, regret, and anger filling her once-prideful features all at once. She remained that way until the trial ended.At least seven slaves were executed in the court that day. Others were assigned to a noble, warrior,
Valkyrie paced in her room, utterly disturbed. Her face was red, and she was on the verge of breaking down in tears.She couldn't sleep. Sleep had abandoned her.His possession? His?What, in the light of the moon, had happened at the court? How had she even managed to appear there after being whipped?Her plan had been to keep her hidden until she got the answers she needed, then expose her as a new slave who had broken the rules and let her face the death penalty.But that plan was ruined. Completely ruined.The door creaked open, revealing Selene."You!" Valkyrie roared, storming toward her. "How dare you betray me?! You tricked me, you old hag! You treated her and brought her to the court!"Selene's face remained calm. "You needed her, my lady. How would you have found out how she survived if she were dead?"Valkyrie scoffed. "Cut the bull. Your actions have made her the King's slave. How am I supposed to get my hands on her now?""The King won't believe her," Selene said calmly.
A low growl tore out of Duncan's throat as his tongue dove further, greedily. His teeth gently grazed her soft flesh, causing her to scream; her body shook as pleasure rippled through her.Her back arched perfectly for his tongue to penetrate deeper.“Oh Gawd!… Your Grace!” she cried out, more fluidly, and Duncan drank it all in. He thrust his tongue in and out, his Lycan, Ash still raging inside him, too greedily.His hand shot out to reach her chest, grabbing her left breast, perfectly fitting in his hold. As if her body was made for him. Him alone.Devour her!Yet, subtle anger lingered within him. How could a mere slave trigger him this way? Effortlessly. A slave without a wolf, denying claim of being a traitor at the Grand Court.She had broken the rules several times. The first was when she met his gaze. A slave who looked their master straight in the eyes faced punishment, but he was occupied by that strange pull.Duncan despised hearing the cries of defiance during the slave t
Never for a moment had Valkyrie missed the sight of her King. She always made sure to catch a glimpse of him, even just for a fleeting moment.They might not exchange words, but she made sure he saw her. Almost every night, he would summon her to his chamber to mount and satisfy his lust.He only took her from behind, no foreplay, no kissing, just straight to thrusting in her. Yet, she was satisfied by it.Her Darling still cares for her. He does.But tonight, all things had gone so wrong.It had been more than twenty-one hours; she had refused to eat or sleep.Her Darling was said to be busy throughout the day, yet she heard the gossip of a maid mentioning that the King had summoned his slave.That bitch, Arianna Greystone!She was on the verge of tears, her feet trembling with anxiety. Why had the King summoned the slave instead of her?Just one day, and she was forgotten?Was she to spend another sleepless night?Unable to take it, she went to the Sacred Moon wing, heading toward t
In his arms, she looked small and fragile against his imposing frame. Duncan’s brow furrowed at the words he had muttered.What was she? Could she be...No, he would know. He knew the symptoms, the pull, the intoxication. His heart wasn’t drawn to her; it was his Lycan. Lusting, wanting to devour her whole. Instead of purring and protecting her, it was raging to take her.There should be an answer. He always had an answer, but...Duncan’s eyes squinted as her head tilted slightly to the side. At first, he thought he was mistaken, that perhaps it was due to the dim light and shadows. But as he stared closer, it became clear.A mark.By the moon, could he be mistaken?Duncan’s mind froze as shock hit him like a tidal wave. The tattoo that ran across her neck let out a silvery glow for a fleeting moment. A crescent-shaped moon, like an endless circle. The symbol reminded him of his past.Centuries of memories surged through him like a storm, unbidden and merciless. Flames engulfing his h
"Alive.""Not alive.""Alive.""Not alive."Lylah plucked the last leaf off the plant with a bored expression, then sighed, tossing it aside as she gazed up at the bright sky.Birds chirped, and a cool breeze grazed her skin. The morning was beautiful, yet it did nothing to ease the uneasiness gnawing at her.“Are you alive, Aria?” she muttered, a leaf dangling from the corner of her mouth. “I’ve spent all my savings just to find you, so you’d better be—because if you're not, I’ll kill you.”“My lady,” Ryder called from below, looking up at her. “It’s ready.”A small smile crept onto Lylah’s face, and she began climbing down the massive tree with practiced ease. Her boots hit the grass with a soft thud as she dusted off her hands.“Took them long enough,” she huffed as they made their way back to the inn. Pulling the leaf from her mouth, she grinned. “Alive.”“May I say something?” Ryder asked.Lylah nodded.“I don't think it’s a good idea to go to the Lunaris Citadel. They won’t let
Arianna blinked repeatedly, desperately hoping the King wasn’t standing before her right now.Those deep, golden amber eyes pierced through her like a blade, pinning her in place.Her mouth hung open, but no words came out. It was as though she had forgotten how to use her mouth, even as the King stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His scent enveloped her entire being.She stood frozen, completely mesmerized and trapped by his gaze.Speak, Arianna! Say something!“Hi.”No! Oh, shit, Arianna, are you insane?!It's the king!“I mean... Good morning, Your Grace,” she quickly corrected, praying the King wouldn’t order the soldiers to hang her head on a spike. How dare she greet her master, the King, so casually?“I’m deeply sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t mean to say that, I just…” She paused, her breath hitched when the King moved closer, causing her to instinctively step back, her eyes still locked with his.“You just what?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling through his ches
Valkyrie’s blood drained from her face as she spotted King Duncan behind her. Her body went rigid, her throat suddenly dry.With one glance from the King, the guards immediately bowed and released Arianna, keeping their gaze low.“Darling...” Valkyrie exclaimed softly, attempting to step closer, but Duncan’s glare froze her in place.Dread pooled in her stomach. If she hadn’t gone to the restroom before coming here, she might have peed herself.Still, she tried to explain. “Your Grace, this slave dared to—”“Did I ask for your explanation?” Duncan’s sharp tone cut her off, making her swallow hard.“N-no... no, Your Grace...” she stammered, her face flushing with humiliation as her mouth snapped shut.Duncan’s gaze shifted to Arianna, who stood silently with her head lowered.“Did I not give you an order, slave?” he questioned in an icy tone that made Arianna shiver where she stood.“You did, Your Grace,” she replied softly.“And what are you still doing here?” his icy tone made her gl
King Duncan watched as the slave hesitated.Her trembling hand reached for the rope that held her clothing. She let it slide down, revealing delicate skin illuminated by the moonlight.Just as he expected, his Lycan beast rose to the surface with a guttural sneer. Mine.Shutting his eyes, he drew in a deep breath to keep his Lycan at bay.'Not now. Stay still!' Duncan scolded. The beast reluctantly obeyed, retreating into the recesses of his mind.“Leave them,” Duncan said sharply when she reached for the rest of her undergarments. “Get in.”Heat crept onto her cheeks as she nodded. His eyes never left hers. Not once.Swallowing, she stepped into the water. The warm temperature relaxed her tense nerves a little.It had been forever since she had a warm bath, and this water was so satisfying.She hadn’t realized how much she had missed this—such a simple comfort.“How does it feel?” Duncan’s voice cut through the quiet.It was surreal to think she was in a lake with the King, and he wa
Brigid locked the door, brought out a large ancient book, and went to sit beside Arianna. The book had a fine silver leather cover, with the title written boldly."Tales of the Realms," Arianna read aloud, the words stirring a strange feeling in her chest."Echoes of the Forgotten Ages," Brigid added, reading the small subtitle beneath it. "This is going to be interesting.""And we're going to be in big trouble if Selene finds out about this," Arianna muttered."That makes it fun. You'll get used to it, friend," Brigid winked and opened to the first page. "I'll read first."Arianna nodded, a small smile on her face, her expression filled with excitement."Long ago, there existed two realms, separate yet intertwined: the Moon Realm and the fiery land of Pyrrhos...” Brigid started.“The Moon Realm, ruled by the Moon Goddess Seluna, was a place of eternal serenity, Seluna’s chosen warriors, the Lycans, were powerful beings born to guard the sacred balance of their realm. They were nearly
With soft rustles of Selene's cloak, she wove through the Grand Corridor. Her movements were practiced, her footsteps light and deliberate.Her sharp gaze swept over the guards on duty, their postures rigid and alert.She was forbidden from coming to a place like this, but she had no choice.After all, this wasn’t her first time sneaking out.Soon, the sun would rise, and the Lycans would return from their hunt. She needed to be fast and return before that happened.Lowering her hood further to conceal her face, Selene continued on her path. She knew every nook and cranny, every guard’s routine, and every secret passage within the Citadel.Timing her steps carefully, Selene finally emerged beyond the Citadel’s walls. She moved swiftly, the moonlight her only guide.After a while, Selene reached her destination. At first glance, it appeared to be a large tree, but it wasn’t. She pulled a lever hidden by its roots, and the tree bent forward, revealing a concealed staircase leading under
"Spread her legs."A frown settled upon Arianna's face as the words stirred her out of her sleep.When she felt the touch on her thighs, her mind cleared. Memories struck her, and her eyes snapped open."Get away from me!" she yelled, yanking the arms off her body.Her eyes frantically scanned the place. They had brought her to a cold, empty cell. The only light came from a small fire burning around the corner."How the hell is she awake? Didn't you say it would put her into a deep sleep?" snarled Ser Orion at Ser Zephyr."Perhaps she didn’t inhale enough," Zephyr replied, grabbing her legs again, dragging and pinning her underneath him.Arianna struggled, but her strength was no match for his. No wonder they had made her work until her bones ached and her energy was drained."Stay still, will you!" Ser Orion growled, his eyes flashing and glowing in the darkness.Arianna’s hand shot out, grabbing a stone. With a scream, she struck it against Zephyr's head.His head tilted as blood oo
The fight began. Lylah watched with blurry vision as the Lycans effortlessly tore through the rogues, even in their half-shifted form.The scariest one grabbed one of the wolves and tore him in two. He was the most brutal, strongest, and fastest. The second was swift and calculating, just like the warriors.Lylah couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. She let herself slowly slip into darkness.But soon, arms carried her, his strange scent hitting her nose, so strong it almost choked her, but her eyes stayed closed."Is she one of them?" a powerful voice beside her said, the tone sending a chill down her spine."No," vibrated through the chest of the one holding her. "She has a faint scent of them, barely. I don’t think she’s part of them."A low growl rumbled through the other one's chest. "I'll keep hunting. She'll be under your care, Lucas..."Lylah couldn't keep her consciousness any longer. Her head fell further to his hard chest, and she fell into darkness.•••••••••••ARIANNAExha
“You must be completely insane to go to the training ground. Not just that, you must be insane to let the Beta catch you, and you even sparred with him? What if he had hurt you beyond this?” Selene scolded, her voice laced with disbelief.Brigid, who had her feet crossed and resting on the wall. “He's handsome though. So handsome up close.”Selene hit her shoulder, and Brigid winced. “Have you completely gone mad? What if the king was the one who spotted you? You’d be skinned alive by now.”Brigid pouted. “I heard the king is even more handsome than his Beta. I haven’t seen King Duncan up close, but Beta Lucas... Oh, by the gods. He is beautiful.”"Are you even listening?" Selene huffed, pinching the bridge of her nose. This girl is going to be the end of her.“The king really asked you to treat her? His slave? And even allowed her to stay in his bed for the night?” Brigid asked, her voice edged with disbelief.“Yes,” Selene replied, her voice clipped as she started to prepare for an
Valkyrie’s blood drained from her face as she spotted King Duncan behind her. Her body went rigid, her throat suddenly dry.With one glance from the King, the guards immediately bowed and released Arianna, keeping their gaze low.“Darling...” Valkyrie exclaimed softly, attempting to step closer, but Duncan’s glare froze her in place.Dread pooled in her stomach. If she hadn’t gone to the restroom before coming here, she might have peed herself.Still, she tried to explain. “Your Grace, this slave dared to—”“Did I ask for your explanation?” Duncan’s sharp tone cut her off, making her swallow hard.“N-no... no, Your Grace...” she stammered, her face flushing with humiliation as her mouth snapped shut.Duncan’s gaze shifted to Arianna, who stood silently with her head lowered.“Did I not give you an order, slave?” he questioned in an icy tone that made Arianna shiver where she stood.“You did, Your Grace,” she replied softly.“And what are you still doing here?” his icy tone made her gl
Arianna blinked repeatedly, desperately hoping the King wasn’t standing before her right now.Those deep, golden amber eyes pierced through her like a blade, pinning her in place.Her mouth hung open, but no words came out. It was as though she had forgotten how to use her mouth, even as the King stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His scent enveloped her entire being.She stood frozen, completely mesmerized and trapped by his gaze.Speak, Arianna! Say something!“Hi.”No! Oh, shit, Arianna, are you insane?!It's the king!“I mean... Good morning, Your Grace,” she quickly corrected, praying the King wouldn’t order the soldiers to hang her head on a spike. How dare she greet her master, the King, so casually?“I’m deeply sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t mean to say that, I just…” She paused, her breath hitched when the King moved closer, causing her to instinctively step back, her eyes still locked with his.“You just what?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling through his ches
"Alive.""Not alive.""Alive.""Not alive."Lylah plucked the last leaf off the plant with a bored expression, then sighed, tossing it aside as she gazed up at the bright sky.Birds chirped, and a cool breeze grazed her skin. The morning was beautiful, yet it did nothing to ease the uneasiness gnawing at her.“Are you alive, Aria?” she muttered, a leaf dangling from the corner of her mouth. “I’ve spent all my savings just to find you, so you’d better be—because if you're not, I’ll kill you.”“My lady,” Ryder called from below, looking up at her. “It’s ready.”A small smile crept onto Lylah’s face, and she began climbing down the massive tree with practiced ease. Her boots hit the grass with a soft thud as she dusted off her hands.“Took them long enough,” she huffed as they made their way back to the inn. Pulling the leaf from her mouth, she grinned. “Alive.”“May I say something?” Ryder asked.Lylah nodded.“I don't think it’s a good idea to go to the Lunaris Citadel. They won’t let