LOGINGerald“We cannot continue distributing our resources to every pack that reaches out to us for assistance without first conducting a proper investigation. Most of their Alphas squander the resources we worked so hard to acquire.”An Elder in the court spoke firmly, his words carrying through the large chamber.I nodded along with the various arguments being presented as the fifty elders of the kingdom continued their heated discussion. This was the kingdom’s court, where every significant matter affecting the kingdom, as well as the packs under our jurisdiction, was brought forward for deliberation.The elders had been debating the issue for some time, each one presenting his concerns and opinions. Some believed we had a responsibility to continue supporting struggling packs, while others argued that our generosity was being exploited by irresponsible Alphas who had no regard for how difficult those resources were to obtain.Eventually, the arguments died down, and the attention of th
Valerie I pushed my legs harder, running as fast as my exhausted body would allow. My lungs burned with every breath, and my legs were beginning to feel painfully heavy, but I couldn't afford to slow down.One would think that after spending four years in prison, I would have lost at least some weight. Somehow, though, it seemed the fat had decided to remain stubbornly attached to me. Despite everything I had endured, I was still almost the same weight I had been before I went to prison.A deep, terrifying growl echoed through the forest behind me. I didn't need to look back to know he was close.The sound of his paws pounding against the ground grew louder with every passing second and judging by the speed at which he was closing the distance between us, I would be caught within seconds.“Moon Goddess, please help me. I cannot die now,” I prayed desperately as I forced my legs to move faster.Then something inside me suddenly shifted, my vision changed. The daylight filtering throu
Valerie She dodged the punch I was about to throw at her and tackled me to the floor before I could react. I hit the ground hard, drawing shocked looks from the servants around us.“Excuse us,” Olivia said to the servants.They immediately left the hall. Olivia extended a hand toward me, but I shoved it aside and got to my feet myself.“You ruined my life,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “You convinced me to play that stupid game, abandoned me in the middle of it because you wanted to fight someone, and then left me to take the blame for crimes you committed. And while I was suffering for what you did, you were out here living your life as though none of it ever happened.”She didn't look anything like someone who had spent even a single day behind bars. Instead, she was standing before me as one of the palace's top supervisors.“Listen to me, Val. The position I have now wasn't something I planned or expected. I was simply fortunate,” she said. “Just calm down and let me expla
Valerie Four years later.“You are free to go.” For a moment, I couldn't move.I simply stood there, staring at the prison guard as though I hadn't heard him correctly. Those four words were words I had dreamed about every single day for the past four years. I had imagined this moment countless times. I had imagined walking out of those gates, feeling the fresh air against my face and finally being free.But now that the moment had finally arrived, I didn't feel happy. I cried, tears rolled down my cheeks as I lowered my head and looked at my body. My clothes hung loosely against me, and beneath them was a body covered in bruises and scars.Four years of being beaten almost every single day. I had been told that the Lycan King himself had ordered that I be beaten every day because I was supposed to suffer just as he suffered after losing his fiancée.Yet, strangely, the physical pain had never been the worst part. The worst part was knowing that my family had completely abandoned me
Valerie I felt my heart begin to race. Was he here because of my father? Could this finally be the moment things changed for our family?My father was the Alpha of our pack, but ours was hardly a powerful pack. We were among the weakest at the bottom of the Alpha and pack hierarchy. For years, Father had tried desperately to gain an audience with the Lycan King, hoping he would be willing to offer us his assistance, but he had never been given the opportunity.Perhaps today was finally his lucky day. I quickly made my way inside the house, eager to see what was happening, but the moment I stepped through the door, I came to an abrupt stop.There were several armed men occupying the living room. A man sat in one of the chairs with his back turned toward me, while my parents were kneeling before him.“There she is.” My father said, pointing toward me.Before I could ask what was happening, a guard pressed the cold barrel of his gun against my back. I immediately stiffened as he nudged
Valerie “I dare you to walk over to that stranger in the VIP section and kiss him,” Angel, my elder sister, challenged, pointing toward a man seated in the VIP area.I followed the direction of her finger and immediately spotted him. He was sitting comfortably in one of the private booths, with a stunning woman beside him. From where we were sitting, it was obvious they were enjoying each other’s company. They kept looking at one another with that soft, almost ridiculous expression people wore when they were completely lost in each other.I watched them for a few seconds. Every now and then, one of them would lean closer and steal a quick kiss from the other, almost as though they were embarrassed to let anyone see them. It was strangely sweet, and it made my sister's dare even more ridiculous.I shook my head and turned back to Angel. “I can’t do that. Are you trying to get me into trouble? He is clearly with his woman,” I said, refusing to even consider the idea.Angel rolled her e







