LOGINValerius PovThe study was quiet after the Blackwood eviction. Rain tapped against the tall windows, and the room was darker than usual.I sat behind my desk, staring at the fire. My hands were still warm from holding Serenity earlier. I kept thinking about the way she had stood in front of Gideon, her voice steady and her chin raised. I was proud of her. She was no longer the quiet girl who always tried to stay out of everyone's way. She was starting to stand up for herself.The door opened, and Beta Marcus walked in. He wasn't carrying the ripped ledger from the regional archives. Instead, he had a dark leather folder in his hand and a tablet under his arm."Your Grace," Marcus said as he closed the door. "The head librarian came to me through the private royal wing."I looked up. "The archives?""When the council sent the order to seal the secondary banking files this morning, they didn't know the head archivist had kept duplicate records in the deep vault." He placed the folder on
Serenity PovThe quiet in the parlor was so thick it felt like a cold rock was placed here.Valerius stood close behind me. His body was warm as he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to his side. He leaned his head down and took a deep breath near my neck, taking in my scent.A strange feeling came over me. For twenty years at Blackwood, I had been used to shrinking back, standing in corners, and making myself as small as possible so no one would notice me. Now, wrapped in the King's arms, I felt so safe. His strength behind me made me feel like nothing could hurt me anymore.Across the floors, the Blackwoods were still on their hands and knees, shaking from what they had just seen. Alpha Gideon's fingers shook against the floor, his proud look completely gone. Beside him, Emily, Tristan's new political fated mate, the girl he had replaced me with, was crying quietly into her handkerchief, looking terrified. I guess by now they would be questioning themselves why they
Serenity PovTristan's mouth was still open in shock.They truly expected to find a dying Omega servant who was badly wounded. Instead, the king had changed my life in an instant.I watched as Emily pinched Tristan, but he did not flinch. Maybe he thought it was all an act. He could not understand that I was no longer his pathetic whipping post.I composed myself on my seat and it was beginning to feel hot for me. The memories these people came with, made me feel unrest.Tristan ignored Emily's sharp nails digging into his suit. His eyes stayed on me as he looked at my body and glowing skin. He took a step forward, completely forgetting royal protocol, his eyes filled with pity."Serenity..." Tristan said, his voice shaking. "I know you took Sienna's place to protect the pack, but the game is over now. You don't have to pretend to be comfortable with this monster. Come home. I'll convince my father to let you stay in the main house instead of the basement."I didn't even look up at h
Serenity PovI stood in front of the gold-trimmed mirror in the master suite admiring my dark emerald silk gown that fitted my voluptuous curves perfectly and flawlessly.I never had a chance of wearing such luxury clothes back in Blackwood. Valerius has been such a blessing to my entire existence. I touched the silver necklace on my neck. It glowed in the dark casting its lights across the room.The thought of Valerius came rushing through my head again. What does he truly mean by mate? He treats me like a true queen, and doesn't mock my size.I took in a deep breath flattening my dress. “Look at you, no longer put on rags” I muttered alone to myself in the mirror.The door behind me clicked open pulling me away from my thoughts.Valerius walked into the room, his long steps making no sound against the thick rug. His broad shoulders filled the doorway, but the moment his dark eyes caught my reflection in the glass, the cold look on his face disappeared.A chill cold ran through my
Sienna POVThat bitch thinks she can have the Lycan all to herself and the privilege that comes with it.My ankle still hurts, my eyes still burn from fake tears. I can't back down on a stray girl like her.The plan was supposed to be perfect. Give her the poison and watch her suffer induced heat. A little thing to increase her pheromones.Margot did a great job.The Lycan will investigate anyway, the evidence had been cleared. How else could they find out the idea was mine?The last thing I want to do is sit back while Serenity becomes Valerius' wife.I blame Father for this; his greed wouldn't have ever allowed him to see people for what they are.If he had prepared me, I might have been chosen.I bit my lip so hard I nearly tasted copper in my mouth.The sound of the boiling hot water whistling made me flinch, bringing me back to my senses.I looked down at the steak in front of me with a fork on top. Still untouched.I twitched my nose the way you do when you think something look
POV: TristanThe day my sister returned back to Blackwood without Serenity was the first time I ever thought I would be concerned about her that way.I now have a fated mate, Emily Rodgers from Redclaw. The bond was a contract.Serenity's marriage to the king was supposed to be transactional and not protection.My father had sent his men to retrieve her, but it went south. Yet my wolf feels restless each thought I get of Serenity.“The king has fallen into her traps,” my sister had told me. She looked pale that day, a side of her dress torn and her ankles bruised with pinkish lines.I stood at the balcony corridor when Father approached me, holding a stick of cigarette in my left hand.“Ever since Sienna got back from Frost, she has not been herself. Serenity has been balanced for weeks in that estate without a message to us. King Valerius could not keep his own words.”I turned to look at him. He had always wanted to be powerful, influential. My father, it's always about the profit a







