The maid’s scream drew the king’s attention. A second later, he flung the room’s door open, exuding the commanding presence of a mighty alpha. Yet, he appeared undisturbed by Kaliyah’s proximity to the edge, showing no concern that she might fall or jump. Instead, those gray eyes looked at her with the coldest stare, making her feel like she was doing something stupid again.
You’re nothing but a pretty face. His words echoed inside her head.
Haunted by the thought of him making love to another woman while she was in the room next door, she reached a firm decision. She closed her eyes and took the leap, jumping from the balcony. From the third floor of the palace, she fell with nothing embracing her but the freezing wind.
But upon landing, she found herself unharmed, resting on the soft fur of a brown werewolf. This creature was one of the secret guards who had protected her for decades. She knew they’d save her. Fenris, too, had been aware of this certainty.
She rose to her feet, and the wolf mirrored her actions, standing tall beside her. Extending her hand, she gently caressed the creature’s furry cheeks. “Thank you for protecting me all these years,” she whispered tenderly. With her soothing words, the guard’s attention wavered momentarily. Kaliyah seized the chance to swiftly incapacitate him, employing the same technique she had utilized on her opponents during the test.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to the wolf as he fell to the ground.
Then she looked up at the balcony and gazed into the eyes of her once beloved mate, whom she now hated. A precious tear, a pearl of emotion, cascaded down her cheek. With Allison by his side, her agony only intensified. The sight of them together was too much to bear.
She had waited for him for years, thinking their mate bond would be enough, believing she would have a family who would love and protect her. But she had been wrong all along. She had been a fool to believe that lie.
In the freezing night, she sprinted toward the dense forest, burdened by wounds, pain, and betrayal. No one tried to pursue her or bring her back. That abandonment inflicted even more profound anguish than witnessing her mate’s infidelity. She had no one but herself. She was truly all alone.
#
“What a fool.” Fenris gritted his teeth as he watched Kaliyah race toward the forest at the back of the palace. White shone on his knuckles as he clenched at the railings of the balcony.
With a triumphant grin, Allison left him at the balcony while his beta, Derian joined him.
“Make sure to bring her back after she calms down,” Fenris said. “She’s poisoned.”
Derian nodded, then sighed as he watched the small figure running away. “Her secret guards are already following her closely, Your Majesty. But may I ask a question… as a friend and your beta?”
Fenris turned toward him, his gray eyes sharp. “Go ahead.”
“You’re showing her you don’t want her as your mate. But yet you still keep her close? She’s hurting so much already, Fenris.”
Groaning, Fenris clenched his jaw and squeezed Derian’s shoulder hard, almost as though he might break some bones. He leaned toward Derian’s ear and spoke with his voice deep and cold. “Because she’s still my Luna. She’s mine.”
He set him free and turned to leave. However, as he strode away, Derian said, “Fenris, that was unjust to her!” enraging the Alpha King even more.
Nonetheless, the king remained unyielding, clenching his teeth in his fury.
Kaliyah recalled a technique she had read in a book about employing a special type of grass called lover’s poison to throw off pursuers. So when she spotted some, she quickly rubbed it all over herself to mislead the guards. A few minutes later, the guards could no longer follow her scent. From there, she traveled for hours.
But as she ventured into the depths of the dark, lonely forest, she felt lost. Then tales of dreadful creatures lurking in the forest's depth surfaced in her mind. Additionally, because the forest marked the boundary between two kingdoms, she had to avoid treacherous snares capable of killing anyone.
Eventually, she grew wary, and her loss of strength made her realize she couldn’t even defeat a single enemy if one attacked her. Not to mention her countless wounds screamed in pain. However, she continued wandering, ignoring the pain, the fear, and the strange noises surrounding her.
But then her dress got caught up in some thorn weeds and ripped. The cold kissed the bare skin of her legs. She looked up but saw nothing other than the canopy of enormous, tall trees hiding the moon from her view.
Still, she spoke to its goddess. “Moon Goddess and Goddess of Mates, everyone claimed you were the force that unites mates. Yet, I don’t understand. Why would you make him my mate when he doesn’t want a weak Luna like me? You knew it, didn’t you? You knew it! Then why make him my mate and hurt me like this? Why are you so cruel?”
Kaliyah resumed walking, but struggled to maintain her balance as she traversed the damp and murky ground of the forest. Amidst the vast expanse of ancient trees, her sorrowful cries filled the air, echoing pain, torment, and profound sadness. The intensity of her anguish was such that even the lurking monsters in the shadows seemed to feel a twinge of sympathy. However, Kaliyah knew that her mate would never do the same, for he was bound not to love her.
“Your Highness! Please stop!” Beta Terry said to Alpha Ruan. “You’re entering Eldon Kingdom’s territory!” Terry grumbled in frustration as his alpha made yet another attempt to violate a rule, this time an attempt to cross into their rival kingdom’s territory. “Your Highness!” Terry shouted, though he felt his loyalty waver with the alpha’s reckless behavior. Yet he still obediently followed. “Your Highness! Your High—Ruan Dark!”
The black werewolf alpha halted, lending an ear to his beta’s scolding. They stood just one step away from the territory of the Eldon Kingdom. Alpha Ruan turned his head, surveying his beta, gamma, and the other men who had transformed into wolves. Exhausted, they all panted heavily, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and unease, unsure of what action he might take next. His unpredictable nature posed a constant threat, one that could cause the end of their lives at any moment. Yet, he was having fun in the situation.
“Terry,” Ruan spoke through their mind link, making no effort to conceal the dangerous mischievousness in his voice. “You’re my beta, so you’ll follow me wherever I go, yes?”
“What are you trying to do, Ruan?” Terry asked, with great trepidation and blatant concern.
A prolonged silence ensued as they stared at one another. Their companions grew increasingly anxious, anticipating the impending calamity their alpha would cause this time.
Terry and Ruan calculated each other’s minds as they gazed at one another. A few seconds later, an evil grin formed on Ruan’s lips, and his beta already knew his plans.
With that grin, Ruan turned and jumped without hesitation. Though disappointed, his men could only express their frustration through howls as he ventured across the border into the territory of the rival kingdom.
“Don’t wait for me,” he commanded, his voice holding the full authority of his position. “Proceed to the palace immediately. I shall return before the night concludes.”
Even Terry, who was about to chase after him, had to stop before he jumped across the border. He, along with the others, watched helplessly as their alpha disappeared behind the shadows of hundreds of trees. Though it dismayed Terry that Alpha had broken another rule, he was sure he did it for a reason, a reason only his alpha knew.
“You know he does things differently,” Terry said as he glanced at Gray, the pack’s dark brown gamma werewolf who stood beside him, the only other wolf who possessed a deep understanding of their alpha. His ash eyes glimmered under the moonlight rays. “I’m sure he has a reason for going there,” Terry said.
Gray nodded in agreement, and they led the rest of the pack back to the palace as their alpha had commanded.
Ruan had caught a subtle, pleasant fragrance wafting through the air. Though faint, it was so addictive that his wolf growled inside him. Minutes after catching the scent, he reverted to his human form. Despite that, he found himself behaving like a dog, diligently sniffing out the origin of the fragrance, much to his displeasure.
The forest was dense and cold. However, his body was hotter than usual because of that scent. Though he couldn’t comprehend why, it evoked a peculiar sensation within him. The inexplicable feeling compelled him to trace its origin. Then he stopped, directing his gaze toward the ground, where a woman lay.
Asleep or lifeless?
Judging by her condition, it seemed probable she was approaching the end of her life. Her body, covered in untreated wounds and bruises, trembled in the cold. Despite that, though, her skin glowed underneath her transparent wet dress, and she had the most alluring face Ruan had ever seen.
He clenched his jaw as he bent, scooping her into his arms without effort. With her body close and their skin touching, her sweet, addictive scent was even better than before. He was certain it could steal anyone’s attention.
Ruan drew loose strands of hair back from her face and stared at her intently, carefully memorizing every feature. “I can’t believe I risk my life for this little girl.”
Then he grinned mischievously as he stared at her luscious lips. Overwhelmed by her scent, he leaned forward and inhaled. As he breathed her in, his grin grew wider. “Marked, yet still untouched. What an interesting girl.”
Sensing a group of werewolves rushing in their direction, his eyes shifted toward the dense forest to the east. “Don’t be naughty. I found her first. So she’s mine.”
With a tight grip on her, Ruan fled.
Shirtless, Ruan made his way back to the palace just before daybreak. As he approached the entrance, he noticed his pack waiting for him with disapproving expressions on their faces. However, their frowns weren’t directed at his recent actions. Instead, their sharp and cautious eyes were fixed on the woman in his arms.“How dare you stare at my woman?!” Ruan growled, causing the others to avert their gaze. On the other hand, Terry continued to stare, unfazed by Ruan’s outburst, while Gray appeared indifferent. “Your woman?” Terry asked incredulously, unable to believe what he had just heard. “Don’t deny it, Ruan.”Terry walked toward him, ensuring that their conversation remained confidential and out of earshot from anyone else. Looking down at the woman, Terry stared at the mark scar on the woman’s neck—an obvious sign of a mating imprint.“She’s already someone’s mate. You know you can’t have her no matter what.”At his words, Ruan’s eyes suddenly squinted as sharp as a blade, a
Kaliyah was succumbing to the intensity of those passionate and hot kisses. It felt as if a scorching flame had been ignited within her by this man, and now she found herself unable to resist its power. With each possessive kiss, she could feel herself surrendering to the overwhelming sensations, losing herself in the fiery embrace. She didn’t even realize she had wrapped her arms around his nape, pulling him closer.However, she somehow felt bitter, thinking he was already stopping when he suddenly pulled back from her lips. But then, her eyes widened, and a soft moan escaped her lips when he instead traveled down, planting adulterous kisses at the curve of her neck.As Ruan kissed the woman’s neck, he couldn’t help but notice her body tensing up. Sensuous whimpers escaped her lips, though she might have regretted them as soon as they left her mouth. The overwhelming sexiness of the moment only fueled Ruan’s growing excitement. “I never expected that stinky asshole could resist t
Kaliyahalmost instantly found the exit from that palace, and when she was out, the sunwas slowly rising above the trees ahead of her. Again, she was running awayfrom a palace, away from an Alpha. The only difference this time was that the Alphawanted to keep her, something she found odd. Why would an alpha want hisenemy’s mate, except if he had some hidden intentions? Was he planning to useher against Fenris? To blackmail him by using her?However,thinking she had no value to her mate made her bite her lower lip inbitterness. “It will be futile,” she muttered, continuing her walk. To hersurprise, she stumbled on the ground, bruising her knees with the small andsharp stones she landed on. But why was she feeling weak suddenly, as if allher strength was being drained? Also, it was getting harder to breathe as herchest tightened. Sheclutched her collar, looking back at Darkenshire’s Palace, which was stillvisible. Did that man do something to her? Kaliyahfirmly closed he
In herdream, Kaliyah watched a couple amidst a sea of yellow flowers. They stood withtheir backs to her, gazing at the sunset above the forest trees. Their constantglances at each other created an intense attraction, making them long to touchor kiss one another.Thescene shifted, but the same couple remained, now in a snowy field. The womanwas riding on the back of a black werewolf, holding onto his nape’s fur andlaughing, thoroughly enjoying herself.Theromantic scenes piqued Kaliyah’s curiosity, urging her to see their faces.However, all she could perceive were blurred features.Suddenly,a voice startled her, asking, “Aren’t we a lovely couple?” Kaliyah jumped toher feet, turning to face the source of the voice. However, a blinding lightobscured the man’s face. Before she could comprehend, he pulled her close byher waist, and their foreheads touched.Pantingand with her heart racing, Kaliyah struggled to see the man’s face, but itremained elusive until...Hereyes sna
A wineglass lay shattered on the floor of Eldon Kingdom’s palace.“Whatdo you mean you lost her?!” Fenris’s voice roared, silent yet raging likethunder.Eventhe elders dared not utter a word or break the silence in the meeting hall.They sat unmoving, holding their breath.Fenrisstood up, waving his hand at the kingdom’s elders, who immediately rose andrushed to leave. They didn’t want to risk their lives by facing their Alpha’sfury. While Fenris had never displayed intense anger in front of his people,rumors spread that his fury was uncontrollable. Even his late alpha father hadbeen scared to approach him when he was just a child and got angry. No onedared to provoke him face-to-face except for another alpha from a differentkingdom.Onceeveryone had left, leaving only his beta with him, Fenris sat back in hischair. He regained his cold and indifferent expression, though his eyes stillrevealed his anger.“Evan,I remember ordering you to keep an eye on her. Tell me, how
“Is shereally beautiful?” asked a woman in a worn-out combat garment and bush greencape.Theother she-wolves, who were gathering in gossip, were jolted that somebodycaught them red-handed. However, seeing it was Samantha, all of them hurriedtowards her.Alleyes were hopeful and curious. “Lady Samantha! Everyone knows you’re close withour Alpha. Tell us, did you see the woman he brought to his palace?” one ofthem asked, making the woman raise her brow.“What?!He brought a woman to his palace?!” Samantha exclaimed, surprised. Everyonestepped back, not expecting that she knew nothing about it. Some had their lipsparted, and some looked away.“Don’ttry to hide from me anymore. Tell me about it,” Samantha commanded, andeveryone turned to her. They were already dying of curiosity after hearing thenews of the beautiful woman carried by the Alpha in his arms toward his palace.And besides Samantha, no one was better at gathering news for them.“Samantha,you really don’t know ab
AsKaliyah turned around, she found Terry gazing at the door to the north, theonly direction without an east or west door, leading to the right and leftparts of the palace.GivenTerry’s fixed stare, she assumed the woman named Samantha had gone through thatdoor. She seemed to disappear so swiftly that Kaliyah couldn’t catch sight ofher.As sheobserved Terry, she detected both admiration and a hint of sadness in his eyes.She questioned him, “You’re pitying her...”Terryshifted his attention to her and responded, “No, I’m pitying myself.”“Butwhy?” Kaliyah inquired.Sighing,Terry stared at the rose before him, a symbol of forbidden love. “Because she’ssomeone I cannot have.”Kaliyahdidn’t reply verbally, as she could empathize with his situation. She, too, wasentangled with someone who didn’t want her. Unconsciously, she gazed at Terry,lost in her thoughts.“Youdon’t need to pity or worry about me, Lady Acalia. Worry about yourselfinstead. We each have our burdens to bea
Kaliyahhad been feeling uneasy since yesterday because Ruan hadn’t called her.However, it wasn’t just his lack of communication that bothered her; even inhis absence, she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone’s eyes were fixed onher.Thesensation was identical to the feeling Ruan gave her whenever his dark eyeswere fixed on her. It sent shivers down her spine while igniting a fiery heat.And inexplicably, her heart raced.Shegazed at the night sky and noticed the pink moon rising against the clearbackdrop. Its brilliance illuminated the palace grounds, making everythingvisible without the lamps.Then,her eyes caught sight of a familiar figure. Standing at the main door wasSamantha. At first, Samantha walked, but then she started running. Amid herstride, she transformed into her sleek black wolf form and sprinted into thewoods.Kaliyah’slips parted in amazement.“She’sso beautiful... probably the most beautiful Luna I’ve ever seen,” Kaliyahmurmured. However, her aston