Jason povJarl's silence hangs heavy in the air, a tangible sign of his anger he has blocked me from communicating with him. He's right to be upset; I've been harsh with Norella, but it was a necessary cruelty. I can't let her fall for me—not when I have nothing to offer, I have no love to give her. I should've been clear from the start: her role is to be Luna, nothing more. The pack needs her strength, her leadership with mine, and in time, an heir. But my heart remains entwined with Amber's memory, her absence a void that refuses to be filled.Skipping breakfast, my appetite a casualty of my guilt, I put on my training gear and head to the grounds. There, to my surprise, stands Norella. She's not cloistered away in sorrow as I expected; instead, she's suited up for training, looking more like a vision of cuteness than the warrior she's meant to embody."If you keep standing there, how am I going to get trained?" she calls out, her voice steady, betraying no hint of yesterday's pain.
norella povMy eyelids fluttered open, and I was greeted by a world out of focus, a jumble of colors and shapes. I felt lost, trying to piece together where I was. Jason's presence was the only thing that made sense in the blur.I narrowed my eyes, attempting to bring the room into clarity. Doctors in white coats were bustling around, their voices just a distant buzz. The sharp, clean smell in the air was a dead giveaway—I was in a hospital.Jason was deep in conversation with a doctor who had a bald head and a white beard. Their words were just a low hum in the background. I tried to listen, but it was like trying to understand a foreign language.Suddenly, a familiar voice inside my head broke through the noise. It was Mia, my inner wolf, speaking to me after a long silence. "Welcome back, Norella," she said, and it felt like a wall inside me had crumbled.I was flooded with emotions as I realized Mia was back. The fear and doubt that had been haunting me started to fade away. With
norella povThe room was a mess of confused looks. Eyes kept flicking back and forth from me to the doctor, who was just freed from my hold. King Jason broke the silence, "What's going on, Norella?" How could I spill it all? That voices were buzzing in my head and I had no clue where they were coming from? Admitting that would just prove Alpha Lowell right—that I'm off my rocker."He tried to give her medicine, but she got upset and grabbed his wrist, not letting go and wanting to hurt him," Doctor Gabriel said sounding like he didn't like me. Before he could talk more, Jason said firmly, "enough." Then he looked at me like he wanted me to explain."I don't know," I managed to say to Jason, trying to keep it together."Just take a break, get some rest," he said, patting my back like it was no big deal.The doctor was down on the floor, his eyes wide with fear. I was torn. If I let him go, who's to say he wouldn't come at me again? The tension had died down, and Jason was about to leav
Jason povThe tension in the room could cut through steel. Alpha Lowell's audacity was like a slap in the face, and Jarl was itching for a fight. "Let me at him," he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "I'd have his head on a platter if you weren't so soft."Pacing back and forth, I could feel the heat radiating off my skin, a physical manifestation of the rage boiling within. "Zip it, Jarl," I snapped, the words slicing through the thick air. "We can't let him get near Norella again. Not after last time."Jarl's anger simmered down to a calm, but his words still held weight. "I'll never let that happen," I vowed, the promise hanging heavy in the room.A sudden knock jolted us, and I barked, "Who the hell—?" But it was just Damon, slipping through the door with that knowing look in his eyes. "Sorry, man," I muttered, my anger deflating like a punctured balloon.Damon just nodded, patting my back in that annoying way he has. "Don't go after Lowell alone. It's too risky," he caution
Norella Pov Today's the big day—my eighteenth birthday and the ball. It's the day I've been waiting for, the day I finally break free from being treated like a maid, or worse, a slave. The dress on my lap might be simple, but it's beautiful, a blue that matches my eyes. Running my fingers over the fabric, I think about how long I've saved up for it. It's not fancy or expensive, but it's mine, and tonight, I won't be the 'worthless omega' everyone calls me.Madame Maggie's been my lifeline, slipping me money when she can. Without her, I couldn't have even dreamed of buying this dress, let alone the heels to go with it. "You should be getting ready now, Norella," she says, peeking in from the doorway. She's been there for a bit, I guess. I was lost in my thoughts. "I will," I tell her, heading to the bathroom. "I'm heading out now," she says, leaving the room.Madame Maggie's more than just the head maid here; she's been like a mom to me since I lost mine. She's the only one who doesn'
Norella Pov I was all set to dash towards her when I heard Luna desi familiar voice, "What's going on?" she asked. I quickly pulled myself together as she glided gracefully toward us, repeating, "Seriously, what's happening here?" By then, I was already trembling uncontrollably, unsure why fear gripped me so tightly. Myra then filled Luna desi in on the situation. "There's a fancy dress in my room for you. I didn't know your dad had already gotten you one. Hurry, go change before the ball kicks off." Luna desi said, and Myra happily trotted off, while Luna desi followed her, barely acknowledging my presence.Then, out of the blue, Luna turned to me. "Why are you standing there like a lost pup?" she snapped. I managed to stutter, "My dress..." but before I could finish, she cut me off, saying, "I don't have time for your petty concerns. Besides, it suits you, so you're wearing it to the ball.""I can't," I protested. What did I expect, a new dress? Definitely not. I had to figure some
Norella Pov Three days have passed since the rejection, yet the ache lingers, unyielding and ever-present. Ama, my wolf, is wounded deeply, her silence a testament to the pain we share. I let the tears fall, a silent river, as I scrub the dishes, my thoughts as fragmented as my dreams of escape.Was this my fate? To be mateless, to endure this torment indefinitely? The goddess's whims seemed cruel, unjust. But I refuse to crumble, to let my spirit shatter like delicate glass. I must leave, find solace away from this place that has always been a prison.Madame Maggie's voice cuts through my reverie, "The alpha wants to see you." Her words, likely a message from the alpha himself, send a shiver down my spine. He didn't reach out to me directly, convinced I've lost all connection to our kind.With a heavy heart, I abandon the soapy water and make my way to the alpha's office. Fear gnaws at me with each step. He'll question me about my wolf, no doubt. It's the only reason he ever summons
Norella Pov I blinked open my eyes, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like a mere second had passed. But the familiar surroundings told a different tale. How could it be? The walls of Madame Maggie's room closed in around me, a stark reminder that I was back in the pack. No, no, this couldn't be happening. How was I supposed to make sense of this?. Panic surged through me as I leapt from the bed. I was dead, wasn't I? Yet here I was, trapped in this infernal place, and I knew the torment awaiting me would be far worse than any hell I'd imagined. A swift end, that's what I yearned for—to be freed from this cruel world with the quickness of a falling guillotine.Frantically, I rifled through the drawers, searching for anything that could grant me escape. I'd rather embrace death than continue in this pack, especially when my connection to my wolf is so weak. The room yielded nothing, fueling my desperation.I needed to act before anyone would come in. Weakness gripped me, dizziness c