Semua Bab Blood And Desire: Bab 11 - Bab 20

Alphas from every kingdom under Winter’s iron rule filled the grand court of Castle Holgah, their cloaks heavy with furs and insignia, voices a low rumble of tribute and allegiance. Leander, Oshea’s newly crowned Alpha, stood tall in jade-trimmed robes with Skye, his Beta, silent at his side, his gaze cold and calculating. Winter’s voice, sharp as his scarred eye, closed the court, dismissing the Alphas with a flick of his hand. River, with his expression tight, guided Leander and Skye through the castle’s frost-kissed corridors, their boots echoing toward the courtyard.As they neared a sunlit passage, Scarlett rounded a corner, a heavy laundry basket in her arms and balanced on her hip, her silver hair loosely braided and catching the light, the pale linen of her dress hiding her bandaged shoulder and side.Distracted and seemingly in a hurry, she crashed into Skye, stumbling with a pained groan as she tripped with a gasp and the basket spilled, linens scattering across the stone.P

Scarlett curled on her narrow bunk in the harem, moonlight barely pierced the heavy drapes, casting faint glows on the rows of narrow beds, the air heavy with the scent of lavender and despair, her silver hair spilling over the coarse pillow, her body wracked with sobs that shook her bandaged shoulder and side, Leander’s slap and her crushed hand still throbbing alongside the claw wounds from Winter’s rage. Her eyes, swollen and red, stared blankly at the wall, Skye’s indifferent gaze carving deeper than any blade.The door creaked open, and Odessa strode in, her boots sharp on the stone, a transparent silk gown—shimmering like a cruel promise—folded neatly in her arms. “The Alpha demands a woman for his bed,” she announced, her voice slicing through the dormitory’s murmurs. She marched to Scarlett’s bunk, her whip cracking against the wooden frame with a jarring crack that jolted Scarlett upright, pain flaring in her injuries.Her emerald eyes glinted at the sight of Scarlett’s puffy

Snow crunched beneath iron-shod hooves as Leander rode at the head, his emerald cloak snapping in the wind, a smug grin hidden beneath his hood. It had been his first Alphas’ meeting and he had braced for boredom until he saw Scarlett. Nothing had prepared him for the exquisite pleasure of watching her, once Oshea’s untouchable Beta, reduced to a battered, limping Omega serving laundry. The memory sparked another low chuckle, his third since leaving the gates. He would attend every damn meeting from now on just for that sight. Seeing her humbled, humiliated, was worth every frozen mile.“I must say,” he laughed, turning to Skye riding beside him, his voice thick with mockery, “I never thought I’d see Scarlett in Dravonia, of all places, groveling as a lowly Omega.” He threw his head back, voice rich with gloating delight. “That alone made this whole wretched trip worthwhile.” He laughed outright, the sound sharp and triumphant in the frozen air as the wind carried his laughter across

Dusk bled across the sky as Leander and Skye emerged from Bracerose’s dense green maze into Turry Pass, painting the sky in molten orange and violet as its last rays slipped between the towering evergreens. Another half hour of hard riding and night had claimed the forest, stars pricking the darkening canopy. Hooves clattered to a stop outside a ramshackle inn that looked one storm away from collapse—roof sagging, windows fogged with grime, a crooked sign swinging above the doorLeander swung down from his horse with practiced ease; this wasn’t his first visit. Skye, however, followed more slowly, his hood pulled low, disgust curling his lip as he surveyed the peeling paint and muddy yard, his nose wrinkling at the reek of sour ale and wet dog drifting from within. He tied his reins to the splintered pole beside Leander’s, the knot tight with irritation. Both men kept their hoods up, shadows swallowing their faces, cloaks dusted with road snow.“A wonderful place for two Alphas to mee

The winter sun hung low, its pale gold rays spilling through the tall, arched window of Winter’s private study, the heavy velvet curtains drawn wide to let the light pool across the mahogany desk like molten metal. Scrolls and maps lay scattered before the Alpha Lycan, his broad frame simply dressed in a dark tunic, his cloak abandoned on a rack in the corner. The scar across his left eye caught the light as he read, gray eyes sharp beneath a furrowed brow.The door opened with a creak and Imogen slipped inside, silver hair glowing like moonlight, her smile bright and effortless despite the weight of her pregnancy. One hand rested protectively on the curve of her belly beneath a gown of pale blue, the other brushing the doorframe for balance. “Winter,” she said, voice warm, soft and fond.He looked up instantly, but the smile that began to form faltered; a faint frown creased his forehead. He was on his feet in a heartbeat, chair rolling back, crossing the room in three long strides t