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 POVThe ball continued with a lively energy that seemed to sweep through the grand hall, filling it with music, laughter, and the joyful presence of the pack members. Alpha Chester and I remained the center of attention, our fingers intertwined as we moved through the room. His hand was warm, firm, and reassuring in mine, and I clung to it, finding comfort in his unwavering support.As I gazed upon the elated faces of our pack members, my heart was filled with a bittersweet mix of emotions. The sense of happiness that surrounded me was undeniable, but a cloud of uncertainty still lingered in my mind.At first the excitement and cheer coming from the pack members made me feel happy. But as time went on, I steadily grew tired of forcing a smile on my face. Soon I started to remind myself that this was my life now, but a small nagging doubt still remained in my heart.I couldn't help but feel the weight of the rift between my sister and me. I had hoped that this new beginning as L

Nora's POV My footsteps pounded through the dim corridors, echoes of my racing heart and fearful thoughts. I didn't dare look back, fearing that whoever my assailant was might be in pursuit. The urgency of escaping his clutches was all that consumed my mind.I had to put that dark, eerie room as far away from me as possible.My best guess was that the mysterious assailant had been Alpha Jacob, but his voice had sounded different—raspy and almost reptilian, unlike the deep and seductive tones I remembered from the balcony incident. Could it have been a ruse, an attempt to unnerve me? Was it truly Alpha Jacob or just someone else?The noise of clinking cutlery and murmuring people grew louder and louder as I ran towards the Great Dining Hall. It seemed like a ready escape from the shadows that lurked behind me, ready ti swallow me up.I had to get there so I could find some solace in other people, so I could immerse myself in the excitement of others.After what seemed like an eternity

Nora's POV.The room fell eerily silent as I turned my gaze towards the lifeless figure on the floor. The once trembling maid now lay in a pool of her own blood. My heart raced, and I couldn't look away from the gruesome sight. Blood had splattered across the tiled floor and had now stained my golden dress.My beautiful, beautiful golden dress.The one thing that had made me feel finally comfortable about this new life.I would never wear it again.The happiness I had felt while wearing the dress was gone forever. Just like the excitement that had once permeated the air inside this very hall.The blood made the dress cling to my ankles, its warmth on my skin sending shivers down my spine. Avert my eyes though I might, the vivid image of the girl's lifeless body was forever etched into my memory.I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. I knew the maid's actions were inexcusable, but I never expected Alpha Chester to take such drastic measures. I had thought he might have her arre

Nora's POVI kept looking down at my wrist, seeing the evidence of the bruising. My mind flashed back to the struggle with the strange man in that dark room. The sight of his scary grip on me was playing over and over in my head in one sickening loop. I couldn't bring myself to utter the truth, to admit that a stranger had caused these marks.I remembered what Alpha Chester had done to that maid. What would he do when he found out who inflicted these wounds?Instead, I hesitated for a moment before muttering, "It doesn't matter."I tried to pull my wrist away from his hand, but Chester's grip on my wrist tightened slightly. His eyes bore into mine as he leaned in closer and growled. "Nora, tell me. Who the hell did this to you?"I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of fear and unease. His concern was unexpected, and I wasn't sure how to respond. Should I reveal the truth, or keep it hidden?I finally managed to wrest my hand from his grip, placing it protectively behind my back to avoid hi