Standing near the edge of the altar, dressed in the ceremonial silver robes of the Crown Bearer. Her hands cradled the royal circlet, black steel entwined with obsidian vines, and yet her face held none of the reverence the moment demanded.She was smiling. As if she was telling me to relax and play the game. It was kind of a smile that reassured me that after this, we will be free. Her eyes met mine and in that second, I remembered:Our plan. If I act hurt and let my emotion take me, chances of me going to escape with her will be slim to nothing. Axel means business and if I screwed him now, there would be no telling if I come back to the cul de sac of horror, surrounded by ferals. The plan has two phases. Phase one: Survive the wedding.Phase two: Trick Axel into drinking the sleeping pills Amber had made even though she’s not sure if it’ll work with Axel. If one of these fails, then I can kiss my freedom goodbye.I clenched the bouquet tighter, fighting to steady my breath. Th
I walked slowly, each step heavier than the last.The crowd remained quiet, too quiet. Every face I passed wore a carefully practiced expression. Politeness. Formal smiles. A few looked genuinely happy. Others seemed… relieved.Relieved that finally, their monster King has finally chosen to settle down with me, his real mate and would never kill any of them if he’s pissed. Or maybe relieved that Axel’s rage had found a target and they had escaped it.The string quartet played louder as I moved forward. My bouquet trembled slightly in my hands. I gripped it tighter to hide it. I couldn’t cry. Not now. Axel hated when I cried.“Emotions are weakness,” he once told me. “Especially on a woman who’s meant to be a queen.”So I held it in. Every sob. Every scream. And I swallowed my pride and the lump that formed in my throat. I looked around and saw him. I gasped. For a second, I thought my world suddenly stopped and I forgot I was walking down the aisle.Seven. I stopped breathing. Even i
Each flower tucked into my hair felt like a whisper I couldn’t speak. When they were done, I barely recognized myself. Not because I looked different. But because I looked exactly like his idea of me.One of the Omegas handed me the bouquet. The roses were flawless, but their thorns had been trimmed. Made safe. Just like me.A chime would echo from the courtyard below anytime soon.The hour would have come.I turned to the mirror one last time. My gown glittered. My skin glowed faintly with lavender oil. My hands gripped the roses so tightly I felt the stems bend.This wasn’t a walk toward love. This was fate and bond, I’m against it, even my wolf It was a performance.And I would play my part until the final curtain fell. I thought I’d have a moment alone before the entourage began. But of course, he came.The door opened without a knock, and every Omega in the room instantly bowed their heads and stepped aside. It was like watching the air drain out of the space.Axel stood tall i
The day before the wedding came like a funeral wrapped in silk.I stood before the mirror, my reflection nearly unrecognizable. Layers of ivory lace hugged my body like a web. Jewels glitter across the bodice, not my choice, of course, chosen to match the crown that would soon rest on my head. A crown I never asked for. I was in my dress rehearsal per Axel’s command. He wanted it perfect. I touched the collarbone peeking through the fabric. My skin felt too tight. My throat, a cage.Tomorrow night will be the royal wedding. Axel wanted it during the red moon. He wanted the wolf mating process to be under his beloved moon, in worship of that bitch Moon Goddess. I called it a well-decorated sentence.Outside, the castle’s lawn had been transformed. Where there had once been dying flower beds and suffocating fog, now there were bursts of enchanted color. Roses spiraled upward like they’d been sung into bloom. Paths lined with moon lilies glowed faintly beneath the sun, casting soft li
Kayah’s Point of viewSilence…For the past few days, no one had bothered me, including Axel. I hate it. I never liked silence. Not this kind of silence, thick, watching, heavy with a weight I couldn’t shake off no matter how fast I paced.My bare feet moved restlessly across the cold stone floor, the hem of my dress dragging like a ghost behind me. I’d worn this same linen for three days. Ever since Axel bought me. Luis handed me over like I was a bottle of wine, aged and ready to be uncorked for someone else’s pleasure. I knew he did it because he despised Seven so much. Maybe this was his revenge for whatever feud they had once. I begged him. I cried but none of it mattered. Luis didn’t care. Now, the time was already ticking. In a few days, I’ll be marrying him and crowned to be a Queen.The bastard couldn't even identify a willing mate and not. I tried not to care but every time Axel barged into my door, I felt like he'd do anything to me. Just thinking his name made my skin c
Seven’s Point of ViewFear kicked sense back into me and I turned on my heels and ran. I didn't know who that was, but they didn't look friendly. I strained my ears for some sort of indication that they were following me, but got none. I didn’t run away because I was afraid. I’m still weak and couldn’t fight. I’m not even sure what kind of creatures live in this kind of dense forest. I looked over my shoulder to double check and saw the figure calmly walking in my direction from across the stream. I cursed myself again and again for being so stupid as I ran further away. Sure, I know vampires do exist but living in a forest? Not exactly the kind of vampire I was thinking of. They were unbelievably fast, had heightened senses, and a craving for blood. I could have a chance but given my situation. I’m no match.Once I couldn't run any further, I ducked behind a tree and tried to catch my breath. The figure had just been walking, so I figured I had some sort of a lead. I knew I couldn't
We found shelter in the ruins of an abandoned outpost, deep in the Blightpine forest. It was old, warded and made for rogues before I was ever king. I thought we could regroup there. I thought they would understand. Luis didn’t.He was the first friend I ever had. My brother in battle. My second when I took the title of King.He was also the one who threw the first punch.“You ran,” he growled, shoving me against the cold stone wall. “You left us, Seven!”“I saved you,” I spat back. “Do you think any of us would’ve survived against that magic?”“Because of you,” he hissed, “we had to survive it. You brought her here. You lied about her, about Kayah. You turned us into bait for your obsession.”The others were watching. Bleeding. Listening. They were angry. And I was outnumbered.“No one forced you to follow me,” I said, low, eyes flashing. “You stood with me because you believed in this brotherhood. Don’t forget that.”Luis didn’t flinch. “We believed in you. And now every wolf we love
Seven’s Point of View The court had lost its authority after I killed my corrupt father. None of those candidates as elders made me appoint them. I knew they would betray me. And that their loyalty remains to the main family. The previous elders had lied. They made me choose Sabrina as my wife. They said it’ll strengthen me, and maybe help me with my curse. Sabrina was nothing but a pawn. I thank Fenrir for guiding me, I got Kayajh instead. She wasn’t the chosen Luna for politics and power but she was something else entirely; she had a heart. She treated everyone with kindness.And Fenrir help me, I had started to care. Now, I’m more than relieved that she’s not here, otherwise I’ll be distracted. I told myself it didn’t matter that I’ll find her soon. I buried myself in preparing for war. Because I knew it would come. When someone runs, someone else always follows. And when bloodlines are involved, so is power. Ilyas wouldn't pass up the opportunity to strike. My half-brother had
Seven’s Point of ViewI felt it the moment she crossed the border.The tether between us snapped taut, too tight, too strained. A part of me flared in panic, my wolf was rising just beneath my skin. I should have established our bond before she left. Stupid of me. “She ran away, what are you going to do about it?” Luis, my best friend asked me. “You didn’t tell her about Hailey, didn’t you?” he said, eyes strained on me. “She doesn’t need to know,” I replied as I sat on my throne. “There are more important things I need to solve than telling her about Hailey.” I noticed Luis' eyes flickered with something. I knew what it was and I chose to ignore it. “Have you tracked her?” I said, changing the subject. Luis heaved a sigh. “Nope. We found her trail one mile east but when she crossed the other border, we lost track of her,” he said. “As if she just vanished.”I nodded. Of course, Kayah probably knew I'd hunt her down after she was exposed. I said, sighing. “Thanks for the repo