Crimson Pack.“Do you have children?” Mea, the girl on Duncan's lap asked.“I’m about to,” he replied, staring at the bold little girl who came and asked him directly if she could sit on his lap.He wondered if she’d do the same if he were dressed in his royal attire instead of as a common traveler. Mae has long curly brown hair that accencutated her adorable look.“Can I be their friend?” Mae flashed her incomplete teeth cutely.“Very well,” Duncan replied.The women had been drooling over Duncan ever since they got here. Some even approached, offering their help.Arianna felt a pang of jealousy hearing how the women whispered about Duncan. But she already knew something like this would happen.Her mate was larger than life, with smooth skin and long, fine sliky hair. He was the epitome of perfection and sexiness.“You have beautiful eyes,” another kid said. “Can you marry my mother?”Arianna, who was helping an older woman in a sickbed, almost choked.Duncan lifted his chin at Ari
Cor Triantha—the name might sound appealing, but it was anything but. It was created to mask the horror behind it.Centuries ago, a powerful dark mage discovered the ritual. At the time, male Ancient Lycans who had survived the Ouroboros War were known, invincible. Their bond with the moon, with their mates, and their very blood made them a force no ordinary weapon could destroy.Cor Triantha was crafted as a means to threaten that very race.The poison required three hearts. Not just any hearts, but hearts willingly given by those the caster loved most. Family, friends, anyone whose love for the caster was true.The pain of the caster, combined with the sacrifice of those hearts, was bound into the poison, making it deadly beyond mortal comprehension.It became a forbidden weapon capable of killing a male Ancient Lycan.But only if delivered by his fated mate.Her willingness wasn’t needed.If Valoreth truly planned to kill the other two Lords and frame the captured Ouroboros, then h
"Really?” Arianna chuckled as Selene spoke about beyond the realm. Even though the head maid was smiling ear to ear, Arianna could see a hint of sadness in her eyes.“Yeah. He was a stubborn little kid. Lylah reminds me of him,” Selene said.“Ashton is probably all grown up by now. And alive—he’s a survivor, after all,” Arianna shrugged. As the head maid's smile brightened, Arianna decided to change the topic.“I’ve been wondering… did Valkyrie go through all this Queen training before the Grand Festival? I only remember her proudly walking around the palace with no intention of studying.”Selene chuckled. “No. Valkyrie was lazy while she was the King’s betrothed, and the King didn’t force her since he didn’t really have any interest in making her his Queen.”Lylah chuckled from around the corner. “Sure she was. I knew the bitch was lazy—wanting something that wasn't meant for her,” she said, indirectly referring to someone else.She was lounging in a chair, reading a combat book, her
Lord Valoreth stood frozen, jaw slack. The goblet in his hand would have fallen if he hadn’t gathered himself in the next second.Lord Damaris wore the same expression, the color drained from his face.Both ancient Lycans stared at the messenger, who had just finished reading from the small scroll, their eyes wide as if waiting for him to laugh and admit it was a fucking joke.“Are you certain?” Damaris finally managed to speak.“Yes, my Lord—” the messenger’s words were cut off as Valoreth snatched the paper, its sympathetic ink revealed, from his hands.Reading through it, anger flared through Valoreth’s bones and he smashed his goblet against the nearest wall, sending its pieces scattering.“Fuucckkk!!!” he roared, raking his thick, long brown hair back.Damaris was barely holding himself together, his fists clenched with rage.Valoreth cursed under his breath over and over, searching for something else to destroy but, finding nothing, forced himself to stay calm.“Could that be a
A FEW HOURS AGOAs Lylah explained what she meant--how she feels around the Grand Lord: the pounding of her heart, reddened cheeks, unbidden thoughts spiraling around him, the way his voice and presence made her feel on top of the world, how upset she got seeing him with another—Arianna couldn’t keep her mouth shut.Lylah was kind that despised the word couples. She scoffed at the sight of two people whispering sweet things to each other. Rolled her eyes when mates meets.The only pair she tolerated was their parents—but even then, the way their father lost himself after their mother’s death only made her hate love more.It was no surprise Lylah didn’t want a mate and rejected every single young male who managed to ignore her cold façade and approach her.Lylah had broken three young he-wolves' noses just because they tried to kiss her.Arianna even thought her sister might never feel anything close to love—at least not the kind that made hearts race and logic scatter. So, hearing L
“Can’t the idiot Lords just get arrested by the King?” Lylah asked Arianna as they had lunch together.“And why should they be arrested?”“I don’t know,” Lylah shrugged. “They’re… disobeying the King.”Arianna dropped her fork and explained, “That’s not how politics works, Lylah. They’re the pillars of the realm. They see me as a threat and are doing what they think is right. All of this depends on the realm’s decision. If we get most of the realm on our side, then it’s game over for them.”Lylah’s lips twitched. “But they’re not going to sit still and wait.”“We know,” Arianna nodded. “But the King can’t just arrest them without proof. Lord Valoreth has had a clean record ever since he was appointed to his regal post. There’s no evidence—yet. Duncan is still digging… but right now…” her lips tightened, “it’s a thin line. Acting out might make the realm believe I really did manipulate the King and turned him against his people.”“Ohhhh…” Lylah drawled. “That’s why the King is holding