Killian’s POV
I stared at my mother and older brother as they angrily paced the room, having witnessed what happened out there with Elaine, my mute human mate. I have ruined the whole evening for them which isn’t what they had planned for me.My brother had the nerve to slap me twice because of what I did. As the younger brother to the Alpha King, I am supposed to listen to whatever he says just like I did my father. My mother always supports them because she is into this politics way more than I am as the Prince.She loves power, so does my brother and he has it now. I don’t like that he is showing that power on me though. He is my brother for fucks sake. Older than me with barely three years but he acts like he owns the world ever since he took over at the Alpha King.“Why would you bite a freaking human? That pathetic weak thing?” My mother yelled again, her face going red from so much anger.“Yeah, he wanted to humiliate us. No one from this kingdom has ever mated a human. They either run away and if they get caught, we kill them or reject them. You know the fucking rule, brother.” Logan roared.They continued on and on for another minute before my mother sat behind the desk to calm herself down. She gulped down the remains of whiskey Logan left then turned to me, her face all red from how much I humiliated them.I didn’t want to mark Elaine which was why I avoided her the whole night. I also didn’t care that Leah added love potion in my drink because I was going to end up with her either way, that will just make things easier for me. The love potion works like magic in this realm.But what I didn’t expect was Leah maltreating Elaine like that in front of everyone. My wolf didn’t like that. Human or not, she was his fucking mate whom he forced me to kiss just because he couldn’t resist her red lips. And then he got insatiable, he wanted more and more.After I heard the way she called me a monster in her head in the woods, I hardened my resolve to punish her more. She doesn’t stand a chance with a Prince. She is not only a weak human, she is a pathetic mute that cannot defend herself to save her life.I would have killed her at that time but she couldn’t say a thing. That sort of mate cannot be found in the royal family which is why my father chose Leah for me even before he died. He chose Logan’s mate for him too but luckily for him, she was his real mate.I couldn’t resist marking my mate. My father would never have agreed, even I wouldn’t agree to me taking Elaine as my mate and equal. There are so many reasons why it is all wrong. I had marked her though, I need to do something about it. “Go back out there and take back Leah. The poor girl couldn’t stand it and left. I have sent guards to bring her back and you are going to make her your mate in front of the crowd. The other pathetic girl should be punished for luring you.” My mother said, her eyes determined.“Yes, mother.” I gave a shallow bow then left the room boiling with determination too.I cannot let Elaine tarnish my image in this pack. Something my father has instilled in me since I was a young boy. A girl with intense, demonic dark desire like mine won’t let me lose control of my power over my people. Not happening.They are all going to think I am pussy whipped by my helpless human mate. I won't rule with my dick but logic, and the perfect answer for that is rejecting Elaine and taking Leah as my mate. She is the most powerful she-wolf as she is a descendant of an old royalty.The crowd was gathered talking in hush whispers but as soon as I entered, everyone quietened down. I saw Elaine blush from behind and I quickly looked away. Leah had her arms crossed angrily beside her not far away from where I stood.I nodded at the guards to bring Elaine to the front of the crowd, they did it not so gently like I ordered. She looks confused now. Good. I think the love potion worked in her favor instead of Leah since she served it to me.“I, Prince Killian Reagan of Grimwolf Kingdom, eject you, Elaine, as my mate and the Princess of Grimwolf Kingdom. And your punishment for using a love potion to lure me is to serve my soulmate however she deems fit.” I said in a steady powerful voice that rang in the room.I heard Elaine gasp, that huskiness in her voice reaching my ears. I tried to listen to what she was thinking or if she was trying to converse with me in her head. I could fucking hear her talking and I don’t like it. Right from the time I met her.I turned back to the crowd. “I am taking Leah Mahogany as my mate and the princess of this kingdom. Your rightful place is beside me, come.” I said to Leah who immediately brightened.I realize I said eject not reject. Fuck. I opened my mouth to rectify my mistake when a guard burst into the room looking panic stricken. The other guards around brought out their weapons ready to fight.“Your Highness, we found his Majesty and her Majesty dead in the study just now.” He said in one breath.“Dead?” I asked incredulously knowing I left them less than five minutes ago.“Yes and the maids around said the mute girl was the one responsible for their sudden demise.”My eyes whipped to Elaine and the guilt I saw in there told me everything I needed to know. Instead of wasting time with her, I rushed to the study to confirm the horrendous news.Elaine’s POV My feet felt like lead weights, anchoring me in place as the guard's words washed over me in a bewildering torrent. Disbelief is written all over my face because I could barely hear what he is actually saying. Accusations, wild and baseless, tumbled from his lips like poisoned daggers, each one stabbing at the fragile fabric of my reality. Why, in the name of all that is sane, would the maids point their fingers at me, implicating me in the heinous act of regicide? I haven't so much as glimpsed the faces of the majesties, let alone had any interaction with them. Who are they?As if a mere peasant will be allowed to meet the Alpha King and mother queen. I heard about how powerful they are. No maid is going to be allowed to see them, especially a maid like me that is serving punishment. So what is this guard saying? Why is he saying it like he rehearsed it?My existence within these walls is a mere penance, a sentence to be served for a handful of hours before I am perm
Elaine’s POV Killian's eyes blazed with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine as he stood beside Leah, his newly-minted mate. The air crackled with tension, heavy with the weight of unspoken accusations and bitter betrayal.My heart pounded in my chest as I watched him, helpless and mute, unable to defend myself against the onslaught of accusations hurled my way. Not that it would have change anything. Leah's voice cut through the charged atmosphere like a dagger, her words dripping with venom as she accused me of heinous crimes I had not committed. How she must be rejoicing in her head. “Killian, my love," she purred, her tone saccharine sweet yet laced with malice, "you must believe the guards. They saw Elaine with their own eyes, lurking in the shadows like the wicked human witch she is."I felt a surge of panic rise within me as I met Killian's steely gaze, silently pleading for him to see the truth behind Leah's lies. But his expression remained impassive, his feature
Elaine’s POV Tears streamed down my cheeks in silent protest, my voice lost amidst the clamor of their cruelty. With trembling hands, I raised my arms in a feeble attempt to shield myself from the barrage of ridicule raining down upon me, but it was futile."Please... stop," I pleaded, my words choked with emotion in my head, they won’t hear me. Only I could hear myself. But my silent cries fell on deaf ears, drowned out by the raucous laughter and taunts that surrounded me. Each tear that fell felt like a dagger to my heart, a painful reminder of my helplessness in the face of their relentless assault.But still, they showed no mercy, their laughter growing louder and more derisive with each passing moment. They revealed in my suffering, feeding off my pain like wolves to a wounded prey, their mocking voices echoing off the walls of the hall.I felt myself crumbling beneath the weight of their scorn, my spirit battered and bruised, but still defiant in the face of their cruelty. Th
Killian’s POVI cautiously entered my brother's study, a sense of dread washed over me at the sight that greeted my eyes. I had to blink twice. I might be known to be ruthless but seeing my family’s bodies on the floor did something to me. There, on the floor, lay both my mother and brother, their bodies contorted in agony, foam spilling from their mouths. The acrid smell of wolfsbane hung heavy in the air, its toxic presence unmistakable.Questions raced through my mind in a frantic whirlwind. How did this happen? How had they been poisoned? And why hadn't they detected the deadly herb in whatever they had consumed?My heart clenched with fear and disbelief as I knelt beside them, desperate to find any sign of life amidst the stillness that surrounded me. Something weird jerked in my heart at the sight of them like this. But as I reached out to touch them, a cold realization settled over me like a shroud. They were gone, their lives stolen from them by a silent killer that lurked i
Elaine’s POV The guards seized me roughly, their grip like iron shackles as they dragged me along the cold, stone corridor. I offered no resistance, my limbs feeling leaden and useless as they hoisted me like a mere sack of grain. With each step, the weight of my helplessness bore down on me like a suffocating blanket. I didn't bother to struggle or protest; what was the use? I was nothing more than a pawn in their game, a human amongst wolves, destined to be cast aside and forgotten.They ushered me into the dank depths of the dungeon, a chill swept through me, sending shivers down my spine. The air was thick with the stench of decay and despair, a tangible reminder of the darkness that lurked within these walls.I cast a fleeting glance around the dimly lit chamber, taking in the grim surroundings with a sense of resignation. There was no escape from this prison, no reprieve from the relentless torment that awaited me at every turn.In the eyes of these creatures, I was nothing mo
Elaine’s POV We reached our destination, a wave of dizziness washed over me, threatening to pull me into the depths of unconsciousness. Despite my efforts to remain alert, my vision blurred and my limbs grew heavy, the strain of the day's ordeals finally taking its toll.With a barely audible gasp, I felt myself slipping away, the world around me fading into darkness as my consciousness ebbed away. The last thing I heard before succumbing to oblivion was the murmur of voices, distant and muffled, as Killian spoke to the guards in hushed tones.Though the words eluded me, their somber tones echoed in the recesses of my mind, a haunting reminder of the precarious situation in which I found myself. Darkness enveloped me, I relinquished myself to its embrace, the promise of respite from the turmoil that plagued my waking hours offering a fleeting solace amidst the chaos. I want it all quiet even just for a little while. With a commanding tone, Killian instructed the guards to secure t
Killian’s POV With a heavy heart and a resolve born of newfound determination, I returned to the grand hall, where the weight of responsibility hung heavy in the air like a shroud of sorrow. As the only living royal remaining, I knew that the burden of justice now fell squarely upon my shoulders, and I would not shirk from its weight.Stepping into the center of the hall, I addressed the assembled throng with a voice that rang out clear and unwavering, despite the turmoil that churned within me. I have done this countless times but this feels very different. "People of the realm," I began, my words echoing off the stone walls with a solemn resonance. "It grieves me deeply to stand before you today, for we have suffered a great loss."A hushed silence fell over the crowd as I recounted the tragic events that had befallen our kingdom, the treachery and betrayal that had torn apart the fabric of our once-proud dynasty. But as I spoke, a steely resolve settled over me like a mantle of
Elaine’s POV Consciousness slowly seeps back into my weary mind, I found myself hovering in that hazy space between dreams and reality. The remnants of my slumber clung to me like cobwebs, tugging at the edges of my consciousness with a stubborn insistence.Blinking groggily, I struggled to shake off the last vestiges of sleep, my mind still shrouded in the fog of dreams. But even as I reached out to grasp hold of the fading threads of memory, one image remained stubbornly vivid, etched into the fabric of my mind like a brand.It was her—the goddess from my dream. The very embodiment of all that I despised and feared, her presence looming large in the recesses of my mind like a specter of darkness. The memory of our encounter sent a shiver down my spine, the echoes of her words ringing in my ears with a haunting clarity. That evil goddess they worship like she is their life. Well she is theirs. Anger surged within me, a fierce and primal fury that burned hot and bright in the depths