ANMELDENThe dungeon was colder than usual.The stone walls seemed to absorb whatever warmth entered the place, leaving the corridors dark, damp, and suffocating.The guards stationed outside the main chamber immediately straightened when they saw Alpha King Eugene approaching.Eugene didn't acknowledge them, his expression was hard and his steps echoed through the corridor.He was very irritated. He had been in the middle of dealing with Tyler when Desmond had asked for him and Eugene hated that, especially by a prisoner.When he reached the cell, he stopped. Desmond was sitting calmly on the stone bench inside.bHe looked almost comfortable.Eugene's eyes narrowed."What do you want?"Desmond looked up then a slow smile appeared on his face."Is it bad I asked to see you?" He asked. Eugene stepped closer to the bars."You will never do that again" he warned. Desmond raised an eyebrow."Good afternoon to you too" he said."I'm serious. You don't summon me like some servant" Eugene cautioned
Mira could feel the tension in the room becoming unbearable.Alpha King Eugene stood near the door, his expression cold and unreadable, while Tyler remained opposite him with the same stubborn determination that had been irritating Eugene from the moment he arrived.She couldn't blame Eugene entirely.Tyler had just stood in front of him and confessed that he was in love with his Luna. There was nothing normal about that situation and Tyler didn't even seem particularly ashamed of it.Mira stepped between them."Okay. That's enough" she said then looked at Tyler first. "Tyler, I think you should leave. You need to calm down."Tyler sighed."Mira, I'm not afraid of him."Eugene's eyes narrowed."You should be."Eugene took a step forward and Mira immediately moved between them. He stopped but his eyes remained fixed on Tyler."He's deliberately provoking me."Tyler gave a small smile."I'm not trying to provoke you" he replied. Mira sighed."Tyler, please."He looked at her then shook
The storage room was silent. Jack stood near the far wall, staring at the empty space where the maid's body had been only minutes earlier.Everything had been cleaned, the ropes were gone, the blood had been wiped away, the vial had disappeared, even the traces that might have raised questions had been carefully removed.Jack stared at the floor."Where did Desmond even get a poison like that?"Greta didn't answer then Jack continued thinking aloud."If it killed her that quickly, what would happen to Alpha King Eugene?"Greta's eyes narrowed."Alpha Desmond said it would make his wolf lose control but he didn't say it would kill him immediately" she answered. Jack's expression darkened."Exactly, that's what worries me" he said.Greta folded her arms."Why?""Because if Alpha King Eugene survives long enough to realize something is wrong, he'll investigate eventually find the person responsible" he replied. Greta's face tightened."You mean us."Jack looked at her."Yes."For a mom
Mira forced herself to breathe normally. Alpha King Eugene stood near the door, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere in her room.Tyler was still standing several feet away, his shoulders tense. Neither man looked willing to make the first move.Mira decided that if she didn't say something soon, the silence would become unbearable.She forced a small smile."Alpha King, what are you doing here?" Mira asked carefully. "Is there any news about Becca?"Eugene's eyes shifted toward her then his expression softened slightly."Yes."Mira's heart jumped."Is she—?""She's stable. She's no longer in immediate danger" he said.Mira released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding then a smile immediately spread across her face."Thank the Moon Goddess. That's wonderful" she said as she clasped her hands together.She turned toward the door."I want to see her."Eugene nodded."You can" he urged.Mira paused. She had expected resistance so she looked at him suspiciously."You'
Mira walked beside Jack in silence. Neither of them said much as they made their way through the quiet corridors of the mansion.The events in the storage room were still fresh in Mira's mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see the maid lying there.And somehow, she was now expected to pretend she had never seen any of it.Mira hated it but she had promised Jack. And that promise weighed heavily on her.Jack glanced at her."You've been quiet" he said."I'm thinking" she replied. Jack nodded. He knew exactly what was on her mind. They reached the corridor leading toward Mira's room and she glanced around before lowering her voice."Do you think Desmond ordered it?" She asked.Jack tried to act natural."I don't know" he said."But Greta is loyal to him and she wouldn't just do this because she felt like it" she replied. Jack nodded."I need to speak with Greta. I need to know exactly what happened" he said.Mira's expression became worried."Be careful and don't trust he
Eugene practically ran through the corridors. The moment the maid had told him that Becca was stable, everything else had ceased to matter.He reached the healer's chambers and pushed the doors open. The atmosphere was still tense, but it was no longer filled with panic.That alone brought Eugene some relief.His eyes immediately searched the room."Where is she?" He asked. The healer gestured toward the bed."She's here."Eugene rushed toward her.Becca lay beneath the blankets, her face was pale, her breathing was slow and steady, but she was alive.Eugene stopped beside the bed and for several seconds, he simply stared at her. The tightness in his chest finally loosened.He reached out and gently touched her forehead."Becca."She didn't respond then he swallowed."She's really stable?" He asked. The healer nodded."Yes, Alpha King."Eugene let out a breath. He hadn't realized he'd been holding it."Thank the Moon Goddess" he muttered. He sat beside the bed then his fingers gent
The sound of the carriage leaving hit Mira heavily, each turn of the wheels pounding deeper into her chest.“No” Mira whispered.Her fingers trembled violently at her sides, nails biting into her palms as if pain might anchor her to reality.She had to do something to help her friend.Becca had hel
The silence after Desmond’s decree was so complete it felt like the throne room itself had stopped in time.Becca stood frozen at the center of the marble floor, her hands clenched into fists so tight her nails bit into her palms. For a heartbeat, she wondered if she had misheard him. If her mind
Dawn broke over the resistance hideout like it was an apology for the horrible night that had fallen on the poor space hours ago.The first light of morning crept through the broken stone ceilings and cracked corridors, illuminating what remained of the sanctuary that had once been alive with laugh
The first thing Becca became aware of was pain.Not sharp like something dull and pulsing, sitting heavy behind her eyes, spreading down her spine. Her head throbbed viciously, each heartbeat a reminder that she had been struck and dragged like cargo.Loud raised voices reached her through the fog







