~ Daciana’s POVAlpha Rayel was the absolute last person I wanted to bump into, especially not when he looked like he could erupt like a volcano. He stomped closer, his voice echoing through the garden as he repeated his question. "What. Were. You. Doing?"My mind went blank. One minute I was enjoying a stolen apple, the next I was facing the furious Alpha. "I, uh..." I stammered, my brain scrambling for an explanation that wouldn't make me sound even more guilty.Alpha Rayel grabbed my arm, a bit too roughly, and yanked me out of the peaceful garden. "This place is off limit!" he bellowed, his voice tight with anger. "Don't you ever set foot in here again!"Shaken but strangely relieved, I mumbled an apology and scurried back towards my room, the guards flanking me like watchdogs. Honestly, I was just happy he hadn't thrown me in the dungeon or something. Back in my room, I collapsed onto the bed, my mind racing. Everything was so messed up, but at least I had a little peace, for now
~ Hazel’s POVAfter confirming that Daciana and Rayel spent the night together, I made sure Daciana knew I was in control. After that not-so-pleasant chat and warning, I placed two of my guys outside her place to keep an eye on her. I instructed them to keep an eye on her movements and report to me if she did anything suspicious. Feeling like a winner, I strolled back to my room. A craving hit me for something spicy, so I called in a maid. "Tell the kitchen to whip up some super spicy food," I instructed, feeling pretty pleased with myself. But then, the maid just stared back at me, like she couldn't quite figure me out. "What's wrong with you?" I asked her, my good mood vanishing faster than smoke. I glared at the maid, trying to figure out if she was messing with me.Instead of getting flustered, she just kept looking at me with wide eyes,almost...excited. Then, it came out in a rush: "Congratulations!" She even gave a little bow, which only made me more confused."Congratulations
~ Hazel’s POVIn a huff, I lumbered out of bed and stomped over to the chair. My curiosity gnawed at me wondering why on earth did Louis need to see me so urgently. Grumbling under my breath, I told the maid to show him in. A few minutes later, Louis was ushered into the room. I gestured towards a seat opposite me, trying to appear composed. Turning back to the maid, I barked an order to fetch drinks for both of us.The maid scurried out, leaving me alone with Louis. My glare could’ve curdled milk. “Alright, Louis,” I growled, “what’s the big emergency? You practically woke me up!”Louis looked genuinely apologetic. He gave a small bow. “I wouldn't have bothered you during your rest unless it was serious, Your Majesty. There’s a young pup, from the Shadow Moon pack that was found dead near our border.”“And it seemed like the Alpha of the Shadow moon pack won’t take it easy with us,” he added and I knew he was referring to Dolph and then I became calm and listened attentively to him.
~ Rayel’s POVBoris woke me up at the crack of dawn. I grumbled as I sat up in bed, totally confused. "Boris, what are you doing in my room? It's way too early!" He looked super sorry. "I'm so sorry to wake you up like this, but it's really important. I had to see you right away." Groaning, I swung my legs off the bed. "Alright, alright. Give me a few minutes to splash some water on my face and brush my teeth. Then you can tell me what's so urgent."As soon as I reached the bathroom, the world decided to tilt on its axis. Everything started spinning like a carnival ride gone wrong. To make matters worse, my stomach decided to throw a full-on tantrum again. It felt exactly the same as that awful time before, only this time the pain seemed to crank up to eleven. I let out a yelp as the ache doubled me over. My legs, which moments ago were perfectly happy holding me up, decided to go on strike. With a clumsy wobble and a surprised squeak, I landed flat on the cold bathroom floor with a
~ Hazel’s POVI scurried out of the palace like a shadow, changing my clothes for something less recognizable to Dolph in our secret spot. Reaching the fancy doorway, I rapped my knuckles nervously. The door creaked open, revealing Dolph.But he wasn't dressed. Surprise flooded my face, hot and prickly. Before I could even stammer a question, he swept me into a hug. His arms were like iron bands, and his whispered words tickled my ear, "I can't believe you're here. I've missed you so much."I tried pulling away from his embrace but he was too strong for me. "Dolph, we need to talk, now!" My voice came out shaky, but the urgency couldn't be hidden. Even trapped in his hug, I glared up at him.His smile faltered for a second, but then he squeezed me tighter. "Hey, easy there, Hazel. Relax. You snuck out to see me, didn't you? Must mean you missed me a little, huh?""Dolph, this isn't funny!" I snapped. He chuckled,"Come on, lighten up. We can talk later. Right now," he leaned in close
~ Hazel’s POVSneaking back into the palace wasn't a problem at all. I knew the halls like the back of my hand and it wasn’t my first time sneaking out of the palace. But then bam, my luck almost ran out. Just as I thought I was in the clear, I saw a bunch of maids chilling outside their room, yapping away like nobody's business and I almost bumped right into them. Crashing back into my room, I practically melted onto the bed. Relief washed over me like a giant wave. My mind, though, was still buzzing with every second I spent with Alpha Dolph. All I could do was root for him to win this war against Rayel. Being apart from him felt like forever. He was the one who made my heart do flips, and I would totally climb a mountain or help out in any way I could to see him win.I couldn't just lie in bed. Curiosity gnawed at me. Was Rayel secretly training his troops for battle? I tiptoed out and peeked around the training grounds, but the place was deserted. "Huh," I thought, "maybe he j
~ Daciana’s POVMy eyes fluttered open, and a jolt of surprise shot through me as I checked the time. Only an hour had passed since I drifted off. Exhaustion clawed at me, but sleep stubbornly refused to return. Tossing and turning like a leaf in a storm, I realized sleep was a lost cause.Craving fresh air to clear my head, I stumbled towards the door. But as I reached for the knob, a sight stopped me dead in my tracks. Hazel's guards, the same ones who shadowed her every move – stood vigilantly outside my room.My heart thumped a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Privacy felt like a distant dream. Even if I begged them to look the other way for a few minutes, I knew it would be a fruitless effort. These guards were as loyal as guard dogs, and the thought of them watching my every move filled me with a suffocating sense of claustrophobia.Feeling trapped and more restless than ever, I retreated back into the confines of my room. Sleep was out of the question, and with Hazel's watchful
~ Daciana’s POV"Get a grip," I muttered to myself. I just needed some fresh air and a moment to think. “A plan.” An escape plan, one that would get me out of this mess and answer the questions swirling in my mind.The moon, usually a source of comfort, now seemed to mock me with its cold, indifferent glow. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over and tracing a warm path down my cheeks. I missed my mom. Achingly, terribly missed her.The weight of my situation, the confinement, all felt so overwhelming. I pictured my mom's face, her warm smile, and a sob escaped my lips. How was she coping without you? Was she worried sick? The thought of her pain tore at my heart.Hazel taking my phone felt like the final straw. It was a constant reminder of my isolation, a severed connection to the life I once knew. Being trapped in the palace, away from my mom, away from any sense of normalcy, amplified my longing for her.Lost in a wave of grief for my mom, I barely registered the approaching fi