MasukEmily’s POV Lucien looked unfazed regardless.“Your friend said I should give you this,” he said, stretching out a neatly folded sheet of paper.I took it without hesitation, already guessing it was from Linda.And I was right.Her familiar slanted handwriting, in black ink.“Emmy love, I heard what happened. I’m so sorry you had to be disqualified this way. The details of what happened weren’t disclosed to anyone. Regardless, I believe in you. Below is my number. Please call me when you see this.”I smiled faintly as I read it, hearing her voice clearly in my head.“Thank you,” I said to Lucien.He nodded.But his gaze shifted sideways, and a faint frown creased his expression.I turned slightly, and saw Irene approaching.Without a word, Lucien walked away, joining Malric and the others ahead.I frowned slightly. Why the sudden change?My attention returned to Irene as she came closer, her steps steady but not entirely relaxed.I'd been noticing… Something felt off between these tw
Emily’s POV “Where is he?” I asked immediately.“Uhm… he’s outside…”I didn’t wait for her to finish. I was already moving—no, running.By the time I got there, I was breathless.Lucien stood a few steps ahead, speaking to Malric. Adrian was there. His parents too.Of course they were.They all turned the moment they noticed me approaching.Lucien smiled, already lifting a hand to wave me over.Malric said nothing. He simply raised his hand, just slightly, and crooked a finger in my direction.I didn’t hesitate.I went to Malric.The moment I got close enough, his arm slid around my waist, pulling me firmly against him—like a silent reminder to everyone where I belonged.Subtle. Not subtle at all. I didn’t miss the shift in Adrian’s expression. Or his parents’.Good.“You saw the letter, right?” Malric asked, his voice low beside my ear.“Yes,” I said, unable to hide the excitement in my voice as I turned slightly to Lucien. “How—”“Bonnie confessed,” he said. “She’s been suspended f
Emily’s POVI didn’t expect Malric to take the initiative to have us stay in the quarters behind the Ravenwoods’ mansion—the place my mother and I used to stay.The Alpha and his pretentious wife dared not disobey. And when they suggested taking Irene to the maid’s quarters, I immediately objected.“Can she stay somewhere close to us?” I said firmly, knowing there was another room beside ours she could useI didn’t trust Ruth to leave Irene at their mercy. Not that they would openly do anything to her, she was under the protection of a King’s command, but I wasn’t willing to take that risk.But immediately we settled inside, Malric said he needed to attend to a few matters within the pack.“I won’t be long,” he said.I nodded.“When I come back…” he added, his gaze settling on me for a moment longer than necessary, “I need to put you through some training for tomorrow’s challenge. A duel isn’t something to take lightly.”My chest tightened slightly at his words.“I know,” I said quick
Sarah’s POV(A day earlier.)Immediately after Emily left the castle for the competition, I made my way straight to her room.I needed to confirm it.Whether she was truly pregnant.The thought had been circling my mind for days now, refusing to settle, refusing to be ignored.I couldn’t ask her to take a pregnancy test. That alone would raise suspicion.And there was no way I could involve the royal doctor, Robert. Even if I somehow convinced him to keep it quiet, it wouldn’t matter. If the result came out positive, he would tell Malric.They were loyal to him to a fault.Not that their loyalty was a bad thing… but in this case, it was inconvenient.Dangerous.Malric must not know. Not yet. Or he risks walking the same path as the fifth Lycan King in history—Darius.My steps slowed slightly at that thought.“Why am I already concluding she’s pregnant?” I muttered under my breath, frowning as I forced the thought away.I needed facts. Not assumptions.The only way to know without draw
Malric’s POV I knew Emily too well to try to stop her from issuing that challenge. Her mind was made up.And I had already given her my word that I would let her have her revenge.But not without preparing her properly. And certainly not without the duel happening on my terms.“For the fight to be fair,” I said, my gaze sweeping over them slowly, “no use of wolf strength… no shifting. Is that clear?”A wave of silence followed.Adrian stood there for a moment before he nodded, though the arrogance in him didn’t fade. The loud and undeserved arrogance clung to him.Even without his wolf, he knew he could end Emily in seconds.He wasn’t wrong… and not totally right.I had watched Emily train with me. I had seen what she could do when she stopped doubting herself.I only needed to sharpen what I'd already taught her and add a few tips.Everything else would fall into place during the fight.Adrian’s arrogance would be the bait.And if Emily stayed composed… she wouldn’t lose. She would
Emily’s POV She looked lean and pale, like something had been quietly draining her. Nothing like the last time I saw her at the pavilion after the Moon Ascendance celebration.Malric noticed it too.“Have you been ill, Luna Ruth?”“Yes, my king,” she said.Malric paused, watching her for a moment. Then his voice softened, just slightly. “Get up.”She obeyed, though her head remained lowered.“What kind of illness leaves you looking like this?” he asked, his tone calm but probing. “What symptoms?”“It’s nothing serious, my king. Just a lingering weakness. I’ve been under some strain lately.” She lifted her head a little. “The pack doctor has given me medication. He said I’ll recover soon.”Malric exhaled softly and gave a small nod. “Very well then. Make sure you recover properly.”“Yes, my king.Thank you for your concern, my lord.”Her head dipped again in respect.I almost sneered at the display. If I didn’t know her very well, I might have believed she was truly humble. But humilit
Emily’s POV (Before she collapsed)I didn’t care if I was going to bleed to death. But I couldn’t stand there and watch Malric die like this.Without thinking, I challenged the beast.It recoiled again, just like before, and I couldn’t understand why.That hesitation… it felt unnatural.Driven by
Malric’s POV Sarah gazed at me, waiting for my conclusion.I checked the time, we had less than an hour left before midnight.“Where is she?” I asked.She raised a brow. “Who?”“Sharina.”Her face lit up. “You…you agree?”“I have a few seconds before I change my mind.”“Of course…her room. She’ll
Emily’s POV Finally, I managed to save Piper from Malric and the others by threatening to slit my throat. I didn’t expect it to work, but it did. It worked on Malric himself, his face twisting into something like fear. I wasn’t being unreasonable or inconsiderate. If anyone was, it was him. He ju
Malric’s POV A mindlink surged through me, cutting through the moment with Emily.“My king, you need to come to the study now. I found something on that hybrid’s mother.”“On my way,” I replied.I pulled back from Emily reluctantly.“I have matters to attend to,” I told her.She asked to step out







