Traded to the tyrant

ELARA’S POVThe entire pack smelled like moonflowers and anticipation. Silvercrest always looked transformed during mating season. Lanterns glowed from every corner of the territory, hanging from tall silverwood trees while wolves filled the sacred grounds dressed in soft silks and polished leather, laughing too loudly and smiling too brightly like tonight alone could determine the rest of their lives.Maybe for some of them, it actually could. I stood near the edge of the clearing trying very hard not to exist. “Stop hiding behind people,” Lyra said beside me with clear irritation. “You look suspicious when you do that.”I lowered my eyes immediately. “Sorry.” The apology came automatically like I had rehearsed it. Lyra sighed dramatically before adjusting the silver chains decorating her dark blue dress. Everything about her looked effortless, beautiful and untouchable.She had our mother’s sharp cheekbones, golden skin, and confident smile. Wolves noticed when Lyra entered a roo

ELARA’S POVThe entire sacred ground went still again.Kaelen’s eyes narrowed slowly as if he could not believe I had actually spoken against him. Against an Alpha. Against the future ruler of Silvercrest.My chest heaved painfully while I pushed myself shakily to my feet.Every part of my body still hurt from the rejection bond snapping apart, but fear had finally burned through enough of the pain for desperation to take over.“I won’t go,” I whispered. Kaelen’s expression darkened immediately.“What did you say?”My pulse pounded violently beneath my skin, but this time I forced myself not to lower my eyes. “I said I won’t go,” I repeated, my voice trembling harder now. “Please… anything else.”Murmurs spread through the crowd instantly. Shock. Disbelief. Disapproval. An omega refusing an Alpha publicly was already dangerous enough.Refusing the future Alpha? That was practically suicidal.Kaelen stepped toward me slowly, and the pressure of his Alpha aura slammed heavily into the c

DRAVEN’S POVThe fortress finally went quiet sometime after midnight.Rain tapped softly against the black stone walls while servants extinguished the last ceremonial fires downstairs. Somewhere deep inside the eastern wing, guards rotated through their watch shifts.And upstairs, in my bed, slept the woman who looked at me like I was death itself. I stood alone inside my study with one hand braced against the desk, jaw tight enough to ache.Little wolf. Gods. I should never have called her that.The words slipped out the moment I saw her curled inside that carriage like something waiting to be slaughtered. Small. Frightened. Alone.And the worst part?She looked at me afterward like kindness scared her more than cruelty ever had. Something ugly twisted beneath my ribs.Slowly, I reached up and removed the silver mask covering half my face. Cold air brushed across old scar tissue immediately.I stared at my reflection in the mirror near the fireplace. Varak stared back at me. The Bloo