'To ascend your father's throne, you need to have a mate. You're to marry him, then we'll crown you as the Luna of the pack.' Arianna’s eyelids fluttered open, the elder’s words echoing in her mind. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, the makeup artist having done a flawless job. Clad in the most beautiful white gown she had ever seen, Arianna couldn’t help but feel a wave of nervousness wash over her. It was her wedding day. Her parents had died two years ago, devastating both her and the pack. With no male heir, Arianna, as the eldest daughter, was chosen to lead. But to be crowned, she had to marry. They believed it would strengthen the pack. Last year, on her twentieth birthday, the ball ceremony had been held, under the full moon. It was a grand event where wolves met their destined mates. Arianna remembered standing nervously in the corner, watching the scenes unfold. Then, suddenly, she caught a scent—strong, intoxicating, and utterly overwhelming. It melted
Arianna watched as the first guard approached, crouching beside her. Painful whimpers escaped her throat, soft yet filled with agony."End her and bûrn the body." She couldn’t believe those words had come from Kael’s mouth. The man she had given her heart and body to was a traitor, and she was just a pawn to his own game of stealing the throne? The thought made her heart clench even tighter.“All my life, I’ve wondered what it would feel like to kill a highborn. It’ll be a marvelous feeling, I suppose. Now, I finally get the chance, thanks to Alpha Kael,” the guard sneered, licking his lips, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.Arianna shut her eyes, more tears streaming down her face. She was slipping into darkness, her strength fading quickly. Her breathing was labored, and she knew her condition would worsen if she didn’t do something about the wound Kael had inflicted.“But today isn’t the day for that,” the guard added, and Arianna’s eyes fluttered open in confusion.What?The seco
One moment, her life was perfect: a loving father, a respected pack, a devoted sister, and a mate who cherished her. But in the blink of an eye, everything shattered.The man she loved betrayed her, rejected her, and ordered her death. Fate twisted, and she was sold, branded a traitor. Now, her life was no longer her own.Arianna nervously fidgeted with her dress. The carriage was silent, thick with tension, as they head to an unknown destination. She could feel the guard's gaze on her, making her skin prickle with unease.Time dragged as the man asked the guards questions, none of which made sense to her. Her eyelids grew heavy, but fear kept her awake. Eventually, exhaustion won, and she drifted into sleep.The carriage stopped abruptly, jolting her awake. Realizing she had doze off, she inwardly scolded herself."Are you hungry?" The man's voice pulled her attention. His expression was unreadable."No," Arianna lied, but her stomach growled, betraying her. Their eyes met, and she k
Arianna's heart raced even more as she stood paralyzed, the King's warm breath brushed her skin, his finger trailing up to her neck and collared it in a possessive manner.She didn't like this, didn't like the heat starting to spread through her body.Was he going to hurt her? She had heard of ruts and the uncontrollable desire that came with them-the periods of intense, primal urgency that not even the most civilized of her kind could resist.His nose buried his nose into the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply, as if her scent intoxicating. He then let out a low, throaty groan of satisfaction."Take your clothes off, get on the bed, all on four." His voice rough and thick with command, making her nerves tense.Arianna gritted her teeth, her eyes shut. "P...please," her voice came out like broken waves. A guttural growl of warning followed, an angry one that made her shiver.Left with no choice, she turned and took a few steps away from him, her legs weak with fear. His pair of golden
Arianna snapped awake as the intense warmth surged into her, her body heating from the inside out as the King released his seed deep inside her. How long had she been under his sinful control? She had no idea.Her skin slick with sweat, her eyes heavy and filled with tears of pleasure from the intensity. Her folds were drenched in the King's release.Taming the Lycan King's rut had turned into something unexpected-unbelievable and daring. His rut had triggered her heat, and now, she craved more.She wanted him deep inside her, striking every part of her walls, hitting her womb, making her reach her peak. She wanted more, and he was giving it to her. Pleasure pulsing through her nerves.Her body ignited like never before, her most intimate parts throbbing and soaked with desire. She could feel her walls tightening around the King's length as it moved in and out, and at each thrust, a low growl rumbled from his chest.The bed creaked beneath their entwined bodies. King Duncan's pace rem
'End her and burn the body.'Arianna gasped, snapping awake from her nightmares. Her chest rose and fell in rapid rhythm as she squeezed her eyes shut, desperately trying to calm her racing heart. It was haunting her again. The cruelty of her mate rejection tearing her from within.After drawing several deep breath, Arianna calmed, slowly took in her surrounding. She was not longer in the king's chamber but surrounded by cold walls and firm iron bars.With effort, she pushed herself up to a sitting position. A clanking sound echoed, and her gaze fell on the chains that bound her arms and legs, biting into her skin with their cruel tightness.Her appearance was disheveled. Her hair resembling a bird's nest, and her skin was marred with red marks from the King’s harsh, possessive grip. The soreness on her most intimate part forced her to keep her legs apart, an instinctive reaction to the pain."She's awake," a whisper broke the silence, drawing her attention to the cell across from he
Arianna groaned as she struggled to keep up with the guard’s relentless pace. They dragged her into a room where a few maids waited, clutching scissors and a razor. One of the maids was Selene, her expression blank.What are they going to do with those?The guard shoved her to the floor, and Arianna shot a glare at him. This particular guard clearly hated her the most. He smirked down at her."What are you waiting for?" he asked the maids, who quickly stepped forward. They stripped her naked and tied her arms above her head while the guards watched."Let me go," Arianna barely had the strength to fight back, she could barely feel her bones.Her eyes caught Selene taking the scissors from another maid. Arianna’s breath hitched as she cast a pleading gaze at Selene, but the head maid simply walked behind her, expression unchanging.“Stop! Please, stop!” Arianna cried out, but the grip on her hair remained firm.Snip. Snip.The sound of the scissors cutting through her locks echoed in th
Ravenhood Pack.It felt like a lie. The entire pack had been deceived by the tale of rivals attacking Arianna’s chamber, killing her and trapping her in the fire. Lylah refused to believe it. She never would.She knew Arianna to be a strong female, inheriting the traits of their late father. Even at a young age, Arianna had handled many official matters. Like their father, she was a perfect leader.Yet, on her wedding night, a rival had killed her and trapped her in the fire? Lylah would swear that Kael and the elders were behind it.Her sister had died because of them.Lylah wiped her tears, stood, and grabbed the small dagger Arianna had gifted her. As she walked down the hall, she could hear the chatter and laughter of the elders and their so-called new Alpha.It fueled her rage, confirming her suspicions that they were all behind Arianna’s death.She slammed the tall door open, her gaze locking onto the group seated around a table, food and drinks laid before them.They were feast
'Finish what we started.''She is your slave, why the hell aren't you taking her?''You're fucking hungry. I'm hungry!'Duncan's brow furrowed deeply. The warm water surrounding him did nothing to calm the raging storm inside."Stay still, Ash. Retreat," Duncan growled at his Lycan, but it only made things worse.His Lycan, Ash, stirred even closer to the edge, restless and relentless. Every veins in him had hot blood running through them.'Take the goddamn slave!' Ash roared louder. Duncan felt a loud bang in his head.Claws extended, scraping against the edge of the bathtub. Duncan's eyes squeezed shut as he tried to suppress the beast within.That night at the lake, he had wanted to take her right there but decided to test the limits of his Lycan. To see if his inner wolf would crave another—perhaps Valkyrie or even one of the females who would do anything to be on his bed.Just any female other than her.But no.Ari.A sharp pain pierced his abdomen, and when Duncan looked down,
"She hasn't eaten, my Lord," said the maid who led Lucas to the door."You may leave," he said to her, and she bowed before taking her leave.Without knocking, Lucas opened the door, his eyes landing on the small female curled up in the corner of her room.Her arms were wrapped around her folded knees, face buried between them, with her hair spilling over her back and arm."If you're starving yourself to avoid questioning, then you're completely wrong, little wolf."Slowly, Lylah looked up at him without a word. Her eyes were red and swollen—she had been crying."Where am I? And who the hell are you?" she asked in a croaky voice, laced with pain and anger.Lucas raised a brow, clearly not expecting such a curt question from her. Her elbow concealed part of her face, but her gaze was sharp.He walked further into the room. "Who am I?" His voice cut through the air like a blade. "I'm the one who decides whether you walk out of here alive or not."Lylah’s eyes narrowed. "You're the one w
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