LOGINThe heavy iron door slammed shut behind them, sealing Becca and Mira inside the cold prison cell beneath Alpha Desmond’s mansion.
The air was thick with the scent of old blood. Mira sat in the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’ve never been in a place like this before.” Becca exhaled sharply, pacing the cell. She had been here before. Thrown into this very cell. The memory clawed at her mind—Desmond’s cold eyes, his mocking smile as he had ordered her locked away simply for trying to heal one of the maids. She clenched her fists. “This isn’t the first time Desmond has done this to me. He thinks throwing me down here will break me, but it won’t.” Mira’s wide eyes met hers. “But what if this time is different? What if he really—” “Stop.” Becca bent in front of her, gripping her shoulders gently. “We will get out of this. I promise you.” Mira swallowed hard and nodded, but fear still lingered in her expression. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway. The guards were back. The cell door creaked open, and three armored guards stepped inside. Their eyes were filled with cruel amusement as they glared at Becca. One of them smirked. “You’ll be punished for your crimes, Omega.” Becca’s patience snapped. “What crimes? You dragged me here without giving me a single reason!” She stepped forward, fury burning through her veins. “Tell me what I did!” The guards exchanged amused glances. “An Omega doesn’t get to question us.” “Especially not a rejected one.” Becca’s hands turned into fists. “Cowards! That’s all you are. Desmond doesn’t have the spine to face me himself, so he sends his little lapdogs to do his dirty work!” One of the guards’ expressions darkened, and he took a menacing step toward her. “Watch your tongue, Omega, or you’ll lose it.” Becca scoffed. “I’d rather lose my tongue than sit here in silence while you bastards act like I’m supposed to accept my fate without a fight!” Mira tugged at her sleeve, whispering urgently, “Becca, stop—” But Becca wasn’t done. “I demand to know why I was arrested!” she shouted. “I healed a dying man! That’s not a crime!” The guards remained unfazed. Becca let out a bitter laugh. “Right. Of course, you won’t answer me. Because there is no crime. This is just another one of Desmond’s sick games.” The lead guard smirked. “We don’t answer to a worthless Omega like you.” Becca opened her mouth to fire back another insult, but before she could, the guards turned and walked out, slamming the cell door behind them. Silence settled in the room. Mira let out a shaky breath. “That was not a good idea, Becca.” Becca shook her head. “I don’t care. If they’re going to kill me, they might as well let me die with my dignity.” Mira shuddered. “Don’t talk like that.” Becca softened. She could see the fear in her friend’s eyes. Mira doesn’t belong here. She was just a healer’s assistant, thrown into this mess because of her. She reached for Mira’s hands and squeezed them gently. “Everything will be fine.” Mira bit her lip. “I hope so.” The hope in Mira’s voice was short-lived. Less than an hour later, the guards returned. “Get up,” one of them barked. Before Becca could react, they grabbed her arms and drew her to her feet. Mira tried to intervene, but a guard shoved her back, causing her to stumble. Becca struggled. “Let go of me!” The guards ignored her, dragging her out of the cell and down the long, narrow hallway. The further they went, the colder Becca’s blood ran. She knew exactly where they were taking her. The large hall. Where Alpha Desmond delivered his judgments. The moment they entered the hall, Becca was thrown to the ground. She landed hard on her knees. Laughter echoed through the room. Becca didn’t need to look up to know who it belonged to. Alpha Desmond. Slowly, she lifted her gaze. There he was. Sitting on his high throne, dressed in luxury, his cold golden eyes gleaming with amusement. His dark hair was slicked back, his powerful frame relaxed as if he were watching a performance. The sight of him made Becca’s stomach sick. “Well, well,” Desmond began, his deep voice filled with mockery. “Look at what we have here. The disgrace of my pack.” Becca’s jaw clenched. “What the hell do you want, Desmond?” The guards kicked her forward, forcing her to bow her head. Becca gritted her teeth. Desmond laughed. “Still as mouthy as ever. It’s amazing how an Omega like you never learns her place.” Becca shot him a glare. “I know my place, Desmond. I just refuse to bow to a tyrant.” The room went silent. A dangerous smirk played on Desmond’s lips. “You never fail to amuse me, Becca. You really don’t.” She spat at the ground. “I’d rather amuse you than fear you.” The guards reacted instantly, striking her across the face. Pain exploded across her cheek, but she refused to cry out. Desmond clicked his tongue. “You truly have no survival instincts, do you?” Becca wiped the blood from her lip. “Oh, I have instincts, Desmond. That’s why I knew you would try to pull something like this.” His expression darkened. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” Becca met his gaze without fear. “I don’t think, Desmond. I know.” The guards tightened their grips on her arms. Desmond leaned forward, his smirk vanishing. “I’ve had enough of you. I’ve been looking for a reason to rid myself of you, and now you’ve delivered yourself to me on a silver platter.” Becca’s heart pounded. “What crime did I commit?” Desmond’s eyes gleamed. “It doesn’t matter.” Becca’s breath caught. He doesn’t even care to justify it. Desmond motioned with his hand. “Executioner.” A door on the side of the hall opened. A large man stepped out, carrying a massive blade. Becca’s blood turned to ice. The guards forced her down, pressing her forehead to the cold floor. She struggled. “Desmond, you bastard! You can’t just—” Desmond chuckled. “Oh, but I can.” The executioner raised his sword. Becca closed her eyes. And then— A deep, powerful voice cut through the tension. “Stop.” Everything froze. Becca’s eyes snapped open. The large doors to the hall stood wide open. A man stepped inside. His presence filled the room instantly. The man from her clinic. Alive, awake and looking furious. Becca’s breath caught. What the hell was happening?The journey to the healer's chambers was far more chaotic than anyone had expected.Two guards carried Kaelyn carefully through the mansion corridors while Eugene walked beside them with a deep frown on his face.Behind him came Becca and Mira and neither of them looked particularly pleasedspecially Becca. In fact, the longer they walked, the more irritated she became.The entire situation felt very strange. Only moments ago Kaelyn had been arguing then suddenly she had collapsed.Now everyone was acting as if the world had ended.Becca folded her arms over her chest as they walked. She and Mira continued following the group until they finally reached the healer's chambers.The doors burst open and the healer immediately looked up from her desk. Her eyes widened."What happened?" She asked then hurried toward them.The healer pointed toward one of the beds."Lay her down" she instructed and the guards quickly obeyed.Kaelyn's unconscious body was placed gently onto the bed then the he
A slow smile spread across Desmond's face as he walked through one of the quieter corridors of the Blackwood Mansion.For the first time in days, he felt genuinely pleased, mot because he had won anything, not yet but because everything was beginning to unfold exactly as he had hoped.Beautiful, destructive chaos.Desmond chuckled to himself and the sound echoed softly through the hallway.Eugene was so distracted these days that it was almost embarrassing. His half-brother had always been strong but even the strongest Alpha could be blinded.And Eugene was blinded now.Desmond shook his head."What a disappointment" he said.As he continued walking, he thought about everything currently happening inside the mansion.Everyone was busy, emotional, vulnerable and that's exactly how Desmond liked them.A satisfied grin appeared on his face."I almost feel sorry for them" he mocked.His destination was been Kaelyn's room. After hearing rumors that she had gone to speak with Eugene, Desmon
Mira froze the moment she stepped fully into the study.The atmosphere inside the room felt suffocating. Her eyes moved from Becca to Eugene and then finally to Kaelyn.Immediately, she knew something had happened.The silence stretched painfully then Mira cleared her throat."Did I interrupt something?" She asked.Becca let out a bitter laugh."You could say that."Eugene rubbed his forehead. The beginnings of another headache were already forming.He had spent the last few days dealing with one disaster after another. At this point he was beginning to think the Moon Goddess simply hated him.Mira glanced between them again."What happened?" She asked. Nobody answered immediately and that alone told her enough.Whatever conversation she had walked into had not gone well.Her attention settled fully on Kaelyn and suddenly she remembered exactly why she had come.Her expression hardened very slightly but Kaelyn noticed and the moment she did, panic shot through her chest.Kaelyn's hea
The study fell into complete silence.Kaelyn stood frozen in the doorway, Becca stood a few feet away from Eugene and for several long moments, all three simply stared at one another.The situation felt painfully awkward but Becca was the first to react. As she stared at Kaelyn standing in the doorway, a thought immediately entered her mind.Were they supposed to meet?The question slipped into her thoughts before she could prevent it.Her stomach tightened. The timing felt suspicious.The thought hurt, more than Becca wanted to admit. She quickly forced her expression to remain neutral.She would not let either of them see her pain, especially not Kaelyn. Unfortunately, Eugene noticed the brief flicker in her eyes and it bothered him.Before he could say anything, Kaelyn suddenly lowered her gaze."Oh, I'm sorry" her voice came out soft, almost embarrassed.Neither Becca nor Eugene answered and Kaelyn looked between them then awkwardly took a step backward."I didn't realize that you
The sight of Becca standing at the entrance of his study stunned Eugene.She was supposed to be resting in her room, but here she was, standing in his doorway looking determined and somehow that worried him more than if she had arrived angry.Beside him, Max glanced between them, his Beta instincts immediately sensed danger.The kind that happened between two people who loved each other but no longer knew how to speak without hurting one another.Max cleared his throat but neither Eugene nor Becca looked at him."You know what? I suddenly remembered I have somewhere else to be" he said then he walked out.As he passed Becca, he offered her a sympathetic look. One that said he didn't envy either of them.A moment later the study door closed, leaving them alone.The silence stretched as Eugene studied her carefully and despite everything, he still cared for her."You should be in bed" he said.Becca immediately rolled her eyes."I'm fine" she said.Her hand instinctively moved toward he
The moment Tyler finally disappeared from the study, the tension in the room did not leave with him.If anything, it seemed to grow worse.The heavy wooden doors closed behind the stranger with a loud thud, and Eugene immediately turned away, running a hand through his dark hair in frustration."You're all dsmissed" he said, the order came sharply.The guards wasted no time. One after another, they bowed their heads and hurried from the room.Within moments, only Alpha King Eugene and Max were left alone and the study suddenly felt quieter.Eugene walked toward the large window overlooking the training grounds and his jaw remained clenched.His fists tightened and loosened repeatedly.Max watched him for several seconds then sighed."You are still angry" he said.Eugene let out a humorless laugh."Still?"Max folded his arms."That bad, huh?"Eugene turned toward him and his eyes flashed."That wolf is becoming a problem" he said.Max rubbed the bridge of his nose."The man saved Becc
The marketplace at the center of Blackwood’s pack town was alive with its usual hum of voices. Becca stood near a long wooden table that had been carefully set up beneath a wide tent of cloth. Around her were neatly stacked baskets of wrapped herbs, glass bottles of healing tinctures, and bowls o
The streets of Blackwood’s pack town thrummed with restless energy that day. Midday light poured down in beams through the canopy of swaying trees, but the warmth of the sun could not melt the chill of unease in the air. Merchants raised their voices with forced cheer, calling out prices for fre
Most of the pack members who had come for treatment had already left, going back to their homes as the sky dimmed into dusk. Lanterns were being lit one by one, tiny points of light flickering against the deepening shadows. But Mira’s eyes kept darting toward the path leading into the woods, her ha
The courtyard of Blackwood’s mansion held its breath. Mira’s gasp still lingered in the crisp air like the fading chime of a bell. The maids stood rooted to the spot, wide-eyed, as though they had just witnessed an omen whispered from the Moon Goddess herself. Seraphina’s hand rested elegantly ag







