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
Norella Pov King Jason's voice cut through the tension, "What's so urgent?"Alpha Lowell's reply was laced with a feigned concern that didn't sit right with me. "It's about Norella. I know she might have said some things, but I want you to be aware of her condition, Your Majesty.""Somethings like what?" King Jason's tone was sharp, demanding.I strained to hear more, my heart pounding against my chest. What was Lowell plotting now? The urge to burst out and reveal everything to King Jason was overwhelming, but fear rooted me to the spot. Would he cast me aside, leaving me to the mercy of this pack?Their voices became distant murmurs, my imperfect hearing betraying me. Then, Lowell's voice pierced through, clear and cold. "It's not possible; she can't be your mate. She has mental issues ever since her parents died. She's so aggressive we have to feed her wolfsbane so she wouldn't be harmful. Think about it, she could even kill the pups she will bear."His lies stung like venom. How
norella pov He opened the passenger door with a chivalrous flourish, yet his brow was furrowed in a frown. As I settled into the seat, Alpha Lowell emerged, his voice laced with caution. “Think about what you’re about to do, Your Majesty,” he implored King Jason. But Jason might as well have been alone for all the attention he paid, sliding into the driver’s seat, igniting the engine, and accelerating away with a determination that rendered the world outside a blur The drive was a silent movie, with me playing the mute damsel in distress. Words failed me, lodged in my throat by the intensity of his gaze—so stern, so unyielding. It was a look that spoke of storms and battles, of a man who had seen too much yet dared to hope. His belief in me was a novel sensation, a fragile gift no one had ever bestowed upon me before. My gaze was drawn to the trees whipping past, their forms melding into a green streak as we sped on. The urge to plead with him to ease his pace was there, but fear he
norella PovBlinking awake, I was swaddled in the crisp linens of a hospital bed, the room a canvas of clinical white. King Jason was there, standing guard like a statue with a furrowed brow. A nurse zipped around, her presence as brief as a summer breeze, her eyes bouncing from me to Jason and back again."Thank the stars, you're back with us," Jason's voice cut through the haze, each syllable heavy with worry. My throat was scratchy, my voice a faint echo of itself, "What happened to me?". "You gave us quite the scare," he said, "But you're tougher than you look. You're gonna bounce back from this." As the nurse slipped away, Jason closed the distance between us, perching on the edge of the bed, his hand enveloping mine—It felt like we'd been here before, a replay in a place where echoes bounced off the walls.. "How long have you been fed wolfsbane?" he asked, his voice a low rumble of seriousness.Confusion reigned as I grappled with his question. Who had let that secret slip? "Th