Nora's POVI watched him with a mix of disbelief and outrage. Alpha Chester's behavior had always bewildered me, but today it reached new heights of absurdity.It was as though he always wanted to be around me, breathe the same air with me. He never wanted me to leave his sight for once, never wanted me to have a life outside his own sphere if influence. When I was around him, I was immediately reminded of the rift between myself and my family. And yet—somehow, he also made me forget about them.How could I believe the words of Lily when he acted this way? How could I believe that he loved me? I didn't know much, but I knew one didn't treat a loved one the way he treated me."I've lost my appetite," I declared suddenly, not wanting to eat a morsel more under his watchful eyes.Alpha Chester's eyes darted upwards to meet mine. He merely chuckled, a teasing smile curling on his lips. "Oh, you've lost your appetite, have you? Well, Peach, don't you worry. I can buy you a new one."His wo
Nora's POVSilence hung heavily in the room as I stared at the ornately written invitation scroll. My hands were trembling as I stared at the scroll in my hands, the writing and the family seal of Alpha Chester staring up at me. I felt trapped, suffocated by the expectations that came with my new role as Luna.Jonas seemed to sense my hesitation. He coughed loudly, then prompted me gently, "Luna, what do you think about the invitation?"His words snapped me out of my thoughts, my head jerked upwards. Frustration and anger coursed through me as I stared at his expectant face. What did he expect me to say? That I was thrilled about trying on dresses for a ball I never wanted, in a life I never asked for?I couldn't contain my anger any longer. With an exasperated sigh, I snapped at Jonas, "What do you expect me to say, Jonas?" My voice was laced with frustration as I flung the scroll toward him, not caring if it hit him or not.Jonas caught the scroll deftly, his expression remaining ne
NORA' S POV Dreams had a way of distorting, of blurring the lines between the conscious and the subconscious.And mine was no different.I slipped into my dream like a chameleon changing its hue, going into a realm where reality bent and twisted at the whims of my subconscious mind. It was a familiar place, somewhere my memories mingled with my imagination, and the past bled into the present.In this dream, I stood at the threshold of a grand hall, a vast space adorned with sparkling chandeliers, opulent tapestries and beautifully dressed people. I recognised this place even through my dream.It was the Great Hall, situated in this very pack house.I stood right in the middle of the Great Hall, surrounded by a hundred guests. Alpha Chester was nowhere to be found, and it made meAn unexpected gust of wind from above made me look up. The roof had magically disappeared, revealing the cloudy sky and the moon that hung like a pale lantern in between the clouds.The moon above cast an eer
Nora's POVThe hooded figure stopped, then turned.And as he locked eyes with Alpha Chester, a startled yelp slipped from his lips.Alpha Chester moved swiftly with all the power of an Alpha Wolf. He seemed to blend with the slanting moonlight streaming from the window, so that one minute he was standing by the window, and the next he was directly behind the hooded man.Predictably, the intruder tried to run. He turned sbd deftly sidestepped Alpha Chester, making his way towards the open window. But in no time, Alpha Chester had him by the scruff of his neck and was pressing hin against the wall, claws at his neck"Move an inch, and risk losing your throat to my claws." The Alpha growled.The tension in the room was palpable as Alpha Chester held the hooded intruder firmly by the neck, his growled threat sending a shiver down my spine. He kept the man against the wall, his eyes locked on the intruder's with a fierce intensity that dared him to make a move.I, too, remained pressed aga
Chester's POV.The intruder howled with pain.I took several steps backwards as he cried out, then spat out a mouthful of blood. He lurched forward like a man under the influence of something stronger, then retched a few times.My knuckles smarted from the force of the blow I had delivered to the intruder's jaw. I knew that it had been an eruption of pent-up anger, a desperate attempt to break the man's resolve and extract the answers I so desperately sought. But I hoped this knockout would finally loosen his lips and get him to start talking.The hooded man's howl of pain had pierced the oppressive silence of the dungeon, and for a fleeting moment, I hoped that it would finally force him into submission.But as I staggered back, the satisfaction of that momentary victory gave way to a bitter reality. The intruder kept retching for long, agonising minutes. Then he took a loud and rattling breath and raised his head. His eyes met mine, and a chill went down my spine.The man spat out a
Alina's POVHours had crawled by, and I was slowly losing it.The hours seemed long and hard, their passage marked by the torturous ticking of the clock on the wall. I could hear the incessant ticking, almost as though it was a dangerous time bomb about to go out.Tick tock, Alina. Your time is up.I sat by the window, staring out at the garden below, my mind on the one thing I desperately craved – news of the mission's success. The sun was slowly setting already, painting the sky an ochre-red hue.Slowly I pried my eyes away from the window and stared into the drawing room. What had changed? My father was no longer in his seat by the corner; he'd retired for his midday nap and hadn't woken since. My mother was sipping yet another little cup of tea and staring at the needlework on her laps like it was a living, breathing thing.And I—I was still sitting in the same spot, my behind aching with the pressure of sitting still in the same place.My anticipation gnawed at me, making every m
Alpha Chester's POV"You betrayed the trust of a member of the Council, Alpha!" Elder Lyall raised his voice. "You promised to take my daughter's hand in marriage, and then you turned back to tell me you were picking her instead!" He pointed in Nora's direction.The sheer refusal to directly address Nora put my heart in an angry frenzy, but I tried to hold back my rage.Instead I raised my voice slightly, making sure that everyone in the room heard every single one of my words. "Elder Lyall, you and I both know that our union was forged for the sake of our pack, and it was nothing more than a calculated move on your side to strengthen your family's standing. You wanted your daughter to marry an Alpha so your family can get the respect and adulation you so desperately crave for, is that not so?"Elder Lyall opened his mouth to speak, but I shut him up by continuing. "You did not care about the feelings of Alina, nor did you care about Nora. You never liked me, Elder Lyall. I saw throug
NORA'S POV...I took a deep breath, my fingers interlocked with Lily's as I walked out. It felt as though with every step I took, my heart beat even faster.As we approached the grand staircase, I saw a well-dressed guard patiently waiting for me, and my heart began to race. The anticipation of the ball weighed heavily on me, and a sense of unease gnawed at my insides.The guard bowed respectfully the moment we got to where he stood. "Luna," he murmured. "The Alpha instructed me to lead you to the banquet hall, where the ball will take place."I replied with a nervous "Okay," and slipped my hand into the waiting crook of his elbow. Then I allowed him to guide me down the stairs. His firm, comforting presence was oddly reassuring.The path to the banquet hall felt like a journey to an unknown destination. Doubts crept into my mind, threatening to overpower the excitement I had felt before. What if they don't accept me? What if I'm not what they expected in a Luna?How could I live the