All Chapters of The Alpha King's Shadow: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The palace hallways smelled like old wax and secrets, a heavy smell that made it hard to breathe. I stuck to the walls, quiet as a mouse, my inner wolf all coiled up, jumpy and ready. Every gut feeling screamed danger. I could sense it before I saw anything – a little shiver in the air, a change in the mood, like the shadows themselves were alive, twisting around like they were watching.Maris walked ahead, her soft footsteps barely making a sound on the shiny stone floor. She had no clue I was behind her, following her every move like a hawk. The moonlight came in through the big windows, shining on her dark hair and her sharp cheekbones. Something about the way she moved, the way her fingers curled as she held the candle tray, told me she wasn't just doing her job. Nah. She had a reason for being there. There was a secret in the air.My wolf perked up, sensing something I didn't see: Maris wasn't alone. She whispered to someone I couldn't see, in a language I didn't know, but my wol

Even with my mind laser-focused, my hands still shook. The vial was gone – smashed on the stone, the dark stuff writhing like smoke before fading away. My inner wolf was on high alert, muscles tight, senses screaming at the slightest sound. Aurek was coming closer, each step strong and sure. The Alpha’s power was intense – the air crackled around him, his wolf pushing against mine, silent and demanding.Maris went rigid, her eyes betraying her fear even under the cool mask she usually wore. Veyra’s magic buzzed in the hall like a live wire, but the witch’s fake smile didn’t slip. “Nice try,” she purred, her voice full of nasty intent, “but not good enough.”My mind went into overdrive. I couldn't screw this up. Not now. I still had one sleeve left to finish on the sixth shirt, stitching away in the secret space where the candle burned. If Veyra’s spell hit Aurek, I’d never finish the job. My brothers would be lost. Years of keeping quiet bore down on me – the silence I’d kept was a th

Selene’s hands shook as she crept along the dim hallway. Each step was slow as she battled the fear eating at her. The torchlight danced, shadows playing on the cold stone walls looked alive, like helpers of Veyra's evil plans.Maris disappeared a short time ago, but a faint scent like sweet poison—a warning Selene couldn't ignore— lingered. The vial, the coins, the quick move of her wrist…it wasn't just following orders. It felt like a choice, a betrayal hidden as duty. If Maris did it once, what stops her from doing it again?My wolf gave a low growl, pressing into my mind. It was a warning signal. Danger wasn't gone; it had changed form. Treachery was closing in on me, like a noose getting tighter, unseen but deadly.Aurek followed behind me, every sense sharpened, aware of any change. His wolf nudged mine in a silent talk— a bond of instinct. I watched how she moved, frustrated, helpless, but protective. Each step was careful, but forward, standing firm even when the air felt thic

Smoke, thick and heavy, hung in the air, clinging to the stone walls. It was like a physical manifestation of the guilt I felt, suffocating and inescapable. The torches, once bright and proud, were now pathetic stubs, their flames reduced to trembling wicks that cast more shadows than light. The whole place felt like a tomb.I stood amidst the chaos, the metallic tang of blood mingling with the acrid scent of burnt stone. My lungs burned with each breath. I had to get myself under control. I repeated in my head that I was the king, not a wild animal.Selene moved through the fallen with a quiet determination, her small hands quickly bandaging Maris’s injuries. Even with her face smudged with ash, she remained focused.She still wouldn’t look at me. Not since I'd blurted out she belonged to me.The words bounced around in my head.I tried to convince myself it was a strategy – a way to claim and protect her. But deep down, I knew the truth was much more raw and dangerous. It was my wol

That night, the palace felt dangerous. Guards stood outside my door, but I couldn't sleep. The bond pulsed inside me, faint but there. When I closed my eyes, I caught glimpses through his council meeting, candlelight, Fenric's angry voice. The link was shaky, but it told me he was in trouble.I got up and put on my cloak.Sneaking around a palace that's tied to your heartbeat is insane. But here I was. The hallways twisted like veins, and I followed the pull of the bond until I reached the outer room of the council chamber. Voices echoed from inside.“…can't let him keep her,” Fenric hissed. The witch's mark spreads through them both. We get rid of it before the court falls apart.The soft *shink* of a blade being drawn.My chest grew tight. The bond burned.I pushed the door open just as Fenric raised his dagger behind Aurek.Everything went crazy. I threw the dead shard. It hit the dagger and broke into harmless pieces of light. Guards yelled, and the dagger clattered on the floor.