...........Kyros...........I make the turn and enter the bustling city of Dreaxotia—King Dmitris’s kingdom—the wolf who stabbed himself in the back and became a hero. Whenever I said that Father would say people would say I was bitter because my grandfather was killed, but I’m not. My grandfather made a mistake and joined Dimitris in turning against his own and protecting the Lycan King, but at least he realized what he did was wrong. It is said that he was killed while trying to kill the Lycan King after he had sided with Dimitris to aid him. Father had his own theory about what happened. He didn’t believe that my grandfather had turned on the Lycan King after giving his word to be by his side. My grandfather was true to his word, according to my father, and he never went back on it. My father believed that Dimitris turned on my grandfather, killed him, then lied and said he turned on the Lycan king because he didn’t want to share the reward with my grandfather. My grandfather wa
...........Kyros ..........‘Mate’ My wolf growls, while my heart ceases for a moment, everything fading to the background as I stand there, transfixed, before it begins to race with the familiar intensity. We finally found her, and she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I take a step closer, my knees feeling like jelly as the fireworks illuminate her face, making her look like an angel sent from the heavens. She’s standing on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the festivities below. My breathing becomes shallow as I stand rooted in the spot, my body feeling things I can’t even put into words while gazing at my soulmate. She looks completely at ease, her grace and radiance turning me inside out, and just as I begin to ask myself why she isn’t affected since I can clearly feel she’s a wolf, she turns and looks at me, and my heart stops for the second time as our eyes lock. My wolf moves forward to make the bond, but hers doesn’t. There’s nothing in her eyes; it’s like she’s hu
.........Maia .........My eyes snap open, and I stare up at the high ceiling, unable to shake the image of his face. I can still feel his eyes peering into my soul, and I don’t even understand the logic of it. He was standing in the dark, but I could see him so clearly. When I looked around him, I couldn’t see clearly, but him I could see. I was brought up by wolves, and I’ve learned and understand their ways, so I know about mates and how magical it feels when you see each other for the first time, but still, it knocked the air out of my chest. It was like my senses were enhanced, like I had taken some of his wolf magic for myself. I could even hear his heart beating, and for the past many hours, I’ve been trying to forget and sleep, but I can’t. Stefania said he’s going to come see my father in the morning because he needs his permission since I’m a princess. I asked her if Father will permit him, and she said he will. She’s never lied to me, and I want to believe it, but my mi
..........Maia.........."What?" I whisper, looking at him as he continues shaking. Why would he be calling my mother’s name in his sleep? I told him I was adopted, but I didn’t tell him her name. "Kyros!" I call him again, and this time his eyes snap open. He sits up with a start, panting and wide-eyed, before looking around the room, looking confused and disoriented."It’s okay. It’s just a dream. It’s okay," I say softly, trying to hold him while he trembles, drenched in sweat, but he flinches when I try to touch him, looking at me like he’s never seen me before in his life. "It’s just a dream; you’re alright," I try to reassure him, but my bedside clock cuts me off, and when I turn around after turning it off, I find him off the bed and rushing towards his clothes. He puts them on while I get off the bed, holding the sheets tighter against my chest and walking up to him. But before I can say anything, he picks up his car keys and bolts out of the door, leaving me standing there
.........Evaki.........I sigh as I stand in front of my closet and look at all the clothes I could wear to Stefania’s party tonight. I’m not a very social person and have been dreading it for days, and even though I was given a choice, I know it’s not really a choice. Stefania would be disappointed if I didn’t attend, and it would give others the impression that we are divided, and I can’t have that. We must always show a united front, even if we are still trying to figure out how to unite. That is one of my responsibilities as the first queen. After several minutes of deliberation, I finally decide on a knee-length, green dress with a plunging neckline and strappy black heels that are comfortable.I catch a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror as I walk away, and I notice that my hair is still damp from the shower, so I quickly run a brush through it and pull it back into a loose ponytail. I don’t want to blow-dry it. I want to do a braided crown and leave the rest of the
.........Maia ........."I-I’m going back to the party," I stutter, my heart beating faster and faster, and there’s silence for a moment, his expression still in a frown before it slowly turns into a smile."Okay, but can I have a moment first? I have something to show you," he says, his eyes glancing at my bare feet, and I open my mouth to tell him I really have to go now, but he speaks again before I can. "I’ll ask Stefania not to proceed without you," he adds, and I scream no, turning his expression into a suspicious one, but I quickly add that the queen is there and I don’t want to seem disrespectful. I say it's okay; I have a moment, even though I’m screaming inside. He proceeds inside the room, and I head to the bed and sit down, wondering what this is about as his eyes start to make me feel weird, like they have been doing lately. He sits next to me, his gaze never leaving mine. "You know I care so much about you, right? You know I would never hurt you," he softly says, rea
..........Evaki ........."Oh, my God!" I gasp, clamping a hand over my mouth, and I follow Stefania, who’s now screaming to her feet before running towards the door, not even knowing what to do. It rips open just as I get to it, and the maid enters, her expression immediately turning into a frown when she takes in mine. But she also gasps, her eyes widening when she sees what's happening, and just then, Stefania collapses to the ground, causing me to run back to her. I take a pillow and place it under her head, my hands shaking as tears start coming out of my eyes, and the maid locks the door, saying no one must enter and see her like this. She is right, and I’m supposed to know that, but I’m so shocked and scared that my mind is not working. She checks her pulse while taking out her phone and calling the royal medical staff, and I take Stefania’s hand, who’s now unconscious, and hold it. I tell her she’s going to be okay, my tears falling on her face, and it’s not long before so
..........Evaki .........."Yes," I reply, getting to my feet, and he steps back. "If you could come with me, please," the man adds, gesturing down the passage, and I open my mouth to respond, but Paris’s voice cuts me off, and I turn my head to see him taking long strides toward me."She’s not going anywhere with you," he says, his expression grave, and I tell him it’s okay, but he cuts me off again, saying it’s not."What makes you think you can question my wife?" he asks, and the guy bows, stammering, and says it’s King Dimitris’s orders, but Paris tells him to leave. He scurries off while Paris pulls me into a hug. "I’m sorry," he says in the hug, and I pull back and tell him it’s okay. What happened here tonight is bad, and I know King Dimitris is just trying to get to the bottom of what happened to his daughter. She just lost his granddaughter, and it could have gone even worse. She could have lost her life, too. They deserve to know the answers. It’s not like they think I di