ALPHA LUCIUS’S POV As the day of the appointment of the new cabinet members dawned, the sun rose over the capital city, casting a golden hue upon the grand courtyard of the palace. The air hummed with anticipation, the energy palpable as citizens from across the kingdom gathered to witness the historic event.I stood at the center of the courtyard, flanked by towering pillars of marble that rose to meet the sky. Despite my blindness, I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down upon me, the gravity of my responsibilities heavy upon my shoulders.Beside me stood Vesta, radiant in the morning light, her presence a beacon of hope amidst the sea of faces that filled the space. She wore a gown of royal blue, the color accentuating the fiery determination that burned within her. As she glanced at me, her eyes alight with excitement, I felt a surge of pride swell within me. She was a worthy consort, a partner in every sense of the word.The courtyard buzzed with activity as dignitari

ALPHA LUCIUS’S POV As consciousness washed over me like a slow-moving tide, I became aware of the emptiness beside me, the absence of Vesta's presence a stark reminder of the events that had transpired the night before. The sheets were cool beneath my fingertips, the remnants of her warmth lingering in the air like a fading echo.I blinked against the morning light filtering through the window, the soft glow of dawn casting shadows across the room. Time had slipped away from me, lost amidst the depths of slumber that had held me in their grasp until the sun had reached its zenith in the sky.I rose from the bed with a heavy heart, the weight of my actions weighing upon me like a leaden shroud. Emotions, foreign and unfamiliar, swirled within me like a tempest, threatening to consume me in their relentless onslaught.I felt a pang of sadness gnawing at the edges of my consciousness, a hollow ache that echoed in the depths of my soul. I was not accustomed to such emotions, to the vulne

ALPHA LUCIUS’S POVThe heat of passion still lingered in the air as I lay beside Rose, the echo of our lovemaking a haunting reminder of the guilt that weighed heavy upon my soul. I knew that Vesta would feel the betrayal in some form or another, her presence a constant shadow that loomed over me even in the arms of another.My wolf whined within me, a primal force that pulsed with the rhythm of my heartbeat. It recoiled at the thought of betraying our mate, the bond that tied us to Vesta a tether that bound us together in ways that I could not comprehend.But I silenced its protests with a grim determination, pushing aside the whispers of conscience that threatened to unravel the fragile facade that I had built around myself. There was no room for weakness in the heart of a king, no place for sentiment in a world consumed by power and ambition.I rose from the bed, the cool air of the cabin washing over me like a cleansing tide. The weight of my guilt hung heavy upon my shoulders, a

ALPHA LUCIUS’S POV The corridors of the palace echoed with the sound of my footsteps as I made my way to Vesta's chambers, a sense of anticipation gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. I had returned from my journey with a singular purpose in mind: to find her, to confront her, to make sense of the turmoil that raged within my heart.As I stepped into her room, a chill crept down my spine, the absence of her presence a stark reminder of the emptiness that now consumed me. The air hung heavy with silence, broken only by the faint rustle of fabric as I moved through the room in search of any sign of her.But she was nowhere to be found.Frustration bubbled up within me, a volatile mixture of anger and confusion that threatened to consume me whole. With each passing moment, the walls of the room seemed to close in around me, suffocating me with the weight of my own uncertainty.Leaving her chambers behind, I made my way to the training grounds, a sinking feeling settling in the pit

I lay on the cold stone altar, surrounded by the flickering flames of the candles that illuminated the dimly lit chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, a heady mixture of sage and lavender that filled my senses as I braced myself for the ritual ahead. The witches, with their ancient knowledge and mystical powers, prepared to perform the rites that would free me from the bonds that tethered me to Lucius.The lead witch, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light, approached me with purpose. Her hands moved deftly, tracing intricate patterns in the air as she began the ritual to remove the mark that Lucius had branded upon my skin. I gritted my teeth against the pain, feeling the searing heat of the magic as it worked its way through my body.The room seemed to blur around me, the edges of my vision darkening as waves of agony washed over me. I clenched my fists, willing myself to endure, to survive the torment that threatened to consume me whole. Each moment felt like