~ Elara’s POV "Remember that whole fight with Ashley's guard? Did I, uh, look like some kind of scary beast out there? Did I perhaps freak you out a bit?"Rufus's question hit me like a ton of bricks. Here was the guy who single-handedly took down Ashley's goons, looking at me with this worried frown, like he was the one who needed saving. It didn't make any sense. Sure, when I first saw him unleashing all that power, it was a little scary. He moved like a lightning bolt, taking down those guards faster than I could blink. But after that initial shock, a weird mix of feelings took over. Part of me was still jittery, seeing this raw power firsthand. But the other part? Well, the other part was kind of…impressed.I stared at him for a moment, replaying the scene in my head. There he was, a whirlwind of rage and power, taking down Ashley's hulking guard with surprising ease. It was both terrifying and exhilarating to watch. A chuckle escaped my lips before I could stop it."Monster?" I

~ Rayel’s POV I was so furious when I saw Daciana on my bed. Blood pounded in my ears as I saw what she was putting on. When I asked her what she was doing in my room, her reaction was like a splash of cold water on a bonfire, it only made the flames of my anger burn hotter. She flinched, then dropped right to the ground, begging for forgiveness. She swore she never meant to come to my room , that she was just doing what Hazel told her to do.I locked eyes with her, a heavy silence pressing down. Fury simmered in my gut, but something stopped me from unleashing it all at once. With a growl, I barked an order for her to stay put and stormed towards the bathroom. Slamming the door, I took a deep breath, trying to clear your head.The cold tile felt good against my hot skin as I splashed water on your face. While the cold spray calmed my burning anger, a dark thought wormed its way into my mind. Memories of how I treated Elara surfaced, a twisted plan forming. I imagined pushing Dacia

~ Daciana’s PovMy face burned like fire, tears stinging my eyes. Mingan, the head maid, stood at my doorway, her eyes narrowed like a viper's."What was that for?" I stammered, voice barely a whisper."That's what you get for getting all high and mighty after a night with the Alpha!" Mingan screeched. "Think you're too good to do your chores now?"My jaw practically hit the floor. "Slept with... the Alpha...?" I sputtered, my voice barely a squeak. There was no way this was real. My mind raced back to leaving Alpha Rayel's room that night, remembering the weird looks some of the maids gave me. Now it all clicked.I flicked my gaze to the other maids huddled behind Mingan. Their eyes were like daggers pointed right at me. It was like a scene from a bad soap opera; they were definitely the ones who cooked up the juicy lie. A wave of nausea washed over me. Not only was I getting blamed for something I didn't do, but it was this horrible rumor. Disgust churned in my stomach.The words g

~ 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 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.