Se connecterMalric’s POV Everything Emily revealed about the way she had been treated in this pack left a bitter weight in my chest.Guilt clawed at me.I had been there on Darius Ravenwood’s coronation day and believed every accusation they made against her. I had allowed her to be auctioned.How many other she-wolves had been falsely accused and sold off the same way?My jaw tightened, partially relieved that I had followed my instinct and bought Emily that day.Even so, the memory sat heavily in my chest.My resolve regarding the auctioning of wolves hardened instantly.I would abolish the system entirely without delay or compromises.And then came the second revelation.Emily wasn’t Rachael’s biological daughter.The revelation unsettled me more than I expected.I had never questioned her blood ties before. Never had any reason to think Rachael wasn’t truly her mother.But now…I needed answers.About her real parents. About where she came from. And why Emily herself seemed to know nothing a
Darius’s POV He hesitated, and my patience snapped.“Speak you fool!”The doctor flinched through the link before forcing the words out.“Emily may be pregnant, my Lord.”My brows furrowed immediately.“You’re certain about this?”“Yes, my Lord. I noticed some signs while examining her—”“I don’t deal in assumptions,” I cut him off sharply. “Run a proper test. Discreetly.”“I already did, my Lord.” His voice lowered. “She’s carrying a Lycan pup.”For a moment, everything inside me went still.Then slowly… something shifted.Damian Stone definitely didn’t know.If he had known, he would never have allowed her into that arena. Never would have let her risk a duel while carrying his child.A smile slowly pulled at the corner of my mouth.Interesting.Very interesting.My fingers curled lightly against the armrest.“No one else is to know about this,” I said at last.The doctor hesitated. “My Lord…”“I said no one,” I repeated. The edge in my voice left no room for misunderstanding.“Ye
Emily’s POV I clenched my fists beside me, anger flaring hot in my chest. I didn’t ask for her judgment. I didn’t ask anyone to measure what my mother meant to me.Biological or not… what did that even change?What more could a mother have done than she did for me?“Yes, my Lord,” Rosaline answered. “Rachael brought her into the pack when she was little. They shared a bond… a love no one else could truly understand.”A faint sound left Malric—almost a nod, as if he was processing it, but he didn’t question further or ask me anything. Which was good at this moment.“Thank you for the details,” I said flatly, sarcasm cutting through my tone as I looked at the former Luna.Then I turned away from her completely. I didn’t give her another second of my attention.My focus locked back on Adrian.Since he lost the fight, he hadn’t even dared to look up. It must feel like a waking nightmare to him.Good.Let him feel what it means to be weak.“You and your parents abused power,” I said, my v
Emily’s POV “My parents didn’t do anything,” Adrian said, lifting his head to meet mine. “You stole from them instead. We even have footage. CCTV recordings.”“Yes, my Lord,” Ruth added quickly, as if eager to seal it. “She stole from us multiple times. It’s all recorded. We… we can show you.”“Then show everything,” I snapped before I could stop myself, my voice shaking but firm. “Show them the parts where you conveniently forgot how you treated me… and my mother. The beatings. The punishments.”Ruth’s expression hardened instantly.“You and your mother were punished because you kept doing things worthy of punishment,” she said sharply before turning toward Malric. “Surely the Lycan King understands discipline. Correction is necessary in every household and pack.”“You’re a bloody liar!” The words flew out before I could stop them.“How rude!” Ruth snapped immediately. “See?” She scoffed bitterly. “Even now, she forgets how to speak to a Luna.”Then she bowed slightly toward Malric.
Malric’s POV My head went blank the moment I saw Emily on the ground.Defeated.For a second, everything in me stopped.The arena, the noise, the pack…none of it registered. Just her.Lucien moved instantly beside me, his intent clear before he even spoke.He was going to stop the duel.“Don't.” An irresistible Lycan command snapped through the link before he could take another step.He turned his head sharply toward me with a lethal glare.“She'll die!”I didn’t answer.I wasn’t stupid enough to stand there and watch her die.The guard stationed at the bell also sent me an urgent signal through the mindlink.“I’m sounding the bell now, my King.”“Wait,” I replied.“Sir? The situation is already dangerous, my Lord.”My gaze never left the arena. It stayed fixed on Darius’s son.That overconfident expression on his face made me clench my jaw.“My Lord…”“Not yet.” I shut the link immediately after.Anger replaced everything else.I pushed my essence outward through the mate bond, forc
Emily's POV I swung into action as I’d strategized for… or at least, I tried to.But the effect of whatever was in my bloodstream ruined everything before I could even settle into it.My body lagged behind my thoughts—heavy, slow, uncooperative. Like I was moving through something thick… invisible… holding me back.Before I could adjust–Adrian’s fist slammed straight into my stomach.The force knocked the air out of me instantly as I hit the ground hard, pain exploding through my middle.For a second, I couldn’t breathe.Couldn’t even think straight.A sharp, unified gasp rose from the crowd, loud enough to echo.Exactly what they’d been waiting for.For Adrian to finish me off.Through blurred vision, I saw Adrian walking toward me slowly, arrogantly, like this was already over. Like I had already lost.A smirk sat comfortably on his face.I tried to push myself up…But I couldn’t.The moment I moved, excruciating pain tore through my stomach, deep and brutal, like something insid
Emily’s POV “Beta Theodore. Is there any problem?” I asked, my hands resting on the open door.“Could we speak for a moment?” His tone was clipped.“Sure.” I nodded, stepping out fully to meet him.He inhaled sharply, arms akimbo as if choosing his words with care. Then he exhaled again.“I trust
Emily’s POV Warmth.That was the first thing I noticed when I woke up. Not from the pale morning light slipping through the glass doors… but him.My back rested against his chest, his arm draped over my waist, heavy, possessive, as though even in sleep he refused to loosen his hold on me. Each slo
Malric’s POVI was stunned to discover my little fire had never been touched before. The realization undid something inside me completely. And yet, beneath that shock, anger thumped immediately in my chest. Anger at myself for touching her at all, knowing the situation with the Luna healer I was me
Emily's POVHe locked the door behind him and sauntered toward me, his storm-grey eyes holding me in a seductive, predatory gaze. My chest pounded as I remembered the crescent moon mark on my back.I straightened immediately. “Mal… Malric.”He loomed over me, caging me against the wall. His head di







