UNKNOWN POV.I glanced at her as she paced back and forth, her fingers knotting into her hair in frustration. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on.I had seen her like this before—when things didn't go according to plan. Her fury was like a storm, unpredictable and dangerous, but it wasn't my problem to contain it. She needed to calm down and listen."It's all useless! Can't you see?" Shikta yelled into my ears, and her constant nagging grates on my skin each time. I wonder how I'd have to deal with her by the time we finally win and take over the pack as planned."What do you mean, Shikta?" I asked, heaving a frustrated sigh."Koro says it's an infertility potion. The Alpha has been taking this for so long now. What if he is already permanently infertile?" She whirled around, her eyes wide with desperation, her fingers now tugging hard at her dress as if it could somehow unravel her frustration. "How am I meant to proceed with our plan if I can't get pregnant by him?"
ALPHA PARTHE.My eyes snapped open. Sweat dripped from my forehead. I panted, my gaze darting around the familiar space of my chamber.I just had a nightmare. Not the usual one that always tormented me. This was different. It felt so real that I feared it was my reality.I saw seven battle horses surrounding the seven gates of my pack. There was chaos everywhere. And right in front of that chaos was one of my own, someone I trusted so much, betraying me and standing with the enemy. But I couldn't make out a face.This meant something... Although I am not a seer, I don't need anyone to tell me my enemies are brewing something against me... Could this be linked to the intruder I had seen in the woods the other night?I had a lot of enemies, no doubt, but I can't tell where or who this is coming from. But whatever or whoever it is, nothing takes me by surprise.I have to limit the number of allies I trust. The person who betrayed me in my dream was certainly an ally. It can never be anyo
ALPHA PARTHE.Her lips parted, trembling, as though she wanted to say something, but the pressure of my hand against her throat silenced her. Her chest heaved, and I could feel the frantic pulse beating beneath my fingers.I leaned closer, inhaling the scent of her, the sweet, intoxicating mix of lavender and something uniquely hers.She was so small. So fragile. I was loosing every shred of control I had come in here with.My thumb brushed over her pulse, feeling the erratic rhythm beneath her skin, the fear coursing through her, feeding the dark hunger in me. My gaze dropped lower, drinking in the sight of her bare skin, the way her body trembled under my touch.“You want someone else to see this?” I hissed, my voice a harsh whisper against her ear. “You want someone else to lay eyes on what is mine? Is that what you want, Luxuria?”Her body stiffened, her nails digging harder into my wrist, but she remained silent, her breaths coming in short, desperate gasps.The thought of anyone
LUXURIA.I wiped my palms against my dress, trying to calm the nervous tremor in my hands. I was on edge, heart racing with anticipation. It was time. Rorden should be waiting for me already by the stream.We had planned this for days, careful not to loose this opportunity we've finally gotten. Tonight was everything.I could feel it... I was so close to uncovering the mystery behind my predicament.I rehearsed the words in my mind, over and over. I would appeal to Sibille’s heart, explain how much I had suffered under this curse. Maybe she would listen, maybe she would understand and tell me where to find Amelia. I had to believe she would. There was no other option,Rorden had been the one keeping me sane with his potions. Although he had refused to tell me how he came about the recipe for his own potions, but... Who cares? As long as it served it's purpose.I reached for my black cloak, pulling it tightly around my shoulders, when I heard the soft creak of the door. The sound was f
LUXURIA.I looked pathetic. My legs trembled beneath me, and my body ached from the cruelty I had to endure from the Alpha for hours.My center burned, throbbing with an agony I couldn't fully describe. I could barely walk properly. It was almost dawn. It took that long for the Alpha to get his fill. When he was done, he left without saying another word to me.I walked as fast as my legs could carry me toward Rorden's chamber. I knew he would be angry to have waited without seeing me.Reaching his chamber, I didn't think to knock, driven by desperation. The door swung open as I shoved it with more force than I intended. My breath hitched at the sight that greeted me.Rorden, bare-chested, his muscular back glistening with sweat, was harshly thrusting into a young woman. Her cries of pain mixed with pleas for him to stop, but he ignored her, holding her by the hips, forcing her down onto his cock with an unmatched fury.His movements were harsh, his grip merciless, as though he were pu
ALPHA PARTHE.The hall was vast, with tall stone pillars stretching high. Lavish tapestries hung between the pillars, and the scent of rich spiced meats and wine filled the air. It was a grand ceremony, one the Ash Mountain pack had prepared for with meticulous care.I love such gatherings. It gives me the opportunity to read through every pretentious Alpha who might want to feign alliance with me for their own selfish reasons.The Ash Mountain pack had done well for themselves. They had grown in number and influence over the years. A few years back, I wouldn't have attended a ceremony hosted by them. But here I am today..."I uhm... I'd like to look for my friend, Niksha. I haven't seen her in a long time," the voice of my obsession pulled me out of my social thoughts.She was standing beside me in the crowded hall, a little bit nervous. She was a vision in deep crimson. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, flowing around her ankles in soft waves of fabric that gleamed in the t
LUXURIA.The cold night air clung to my skin as I paced the secluded veranda, waiting for Niksha to return. She promised to return soon. She only left to get something from her chamber.The growing weakness I felt was becoming a concern to me. At first, I thought it was the curse, but now it seemed there was more to it, and it bothered me.My wolf was becoming too weak, and sometimes, I could barely feel her.My mind kept drifting back to the hall, to Alpha Parthe, and the countless ways he would make me pay for slipping out of his sight. I wonder all that would be running through his mind if he didn't see me in the hall.But standing here, away from the prying eyes, away from Parthe, I felt a small flicker of freedom. Still, it wouldn't last. He would notice I was gone.Parthe's suffocating control was something I had to learn to endure. I was bound to him for life by fate.Just as my thoughts were starting to turn with worry, I saw a figure approaching, the soft sound of footsteps pu
LUXURIA.We had returned from the ceremony. Surprisingly, the Alpha never asked where I went and why I left him in the hall.His silence troubled me. But not as much as Rella's words. They haunted me. I came back feeling worse than ever - Rella's pregnancy, finally losing Kahel to her, her insinuations about the Alpha, and worst of it all, the fact that I hadn't been claimed by my mate just yet.It was a punch to my guts. Why was the Alpha keeping me if he didn't need me? I lived like a stranger in his pack.I scoffed. 'Selene, tell me why I shouldn't harbor feelings for another man?'Sometimes, I wished another man would just claim me so I could find the peace I truly desired. Another man like...No. Stop it, Luxuria.And as if the universe was against me, a knock sounded on my door. I was just about tucking myself to sleep.Could it be Zendaya? She hadn't served me food for some days, and I wondered why. Perhaps it could be Dashi.I froze when I pulled the door open and saw the figu
ALPHA PARTHE."How do you feel?" I asked my wolf, but he was too weak to reply.We had been bound to the beast for so long that, in many ways, we had become one. And now, with that darkness torn from us, the absence felt unsettling.I exhaled slowly, feeling the exhaustion settle into my bones. I felt uncharacteristically weak. My limbs were heavier than I had ever known them to be, my mind sluggish, but I couldn't linger in weakness. I had to see this through. Luxuria's ritual was meant to happen immediately.There was no time. Mine had taken up to half an hour.I raised my hand to stop the cheering crowd."Bring him," I said to Urik who stood beside me and he bowed slightly before walking toward the dungeon.I watched him go, a strange emotion settling in my chest.I'd been thinking of ways to thank him but none seemed enough to show how thankful I truly am to have him by my side.Apart from Luxuria, Urik was the one person I doubted a lot for years. I always picked Tervan's side ov
ALPHA PARTHE."Let's begin," Kalaril said before leading the way to the large chamber that had been prepared for the rituals.The chamber was a vast, dimly lit expanse with air so thick with the scent of burning herbs and potent ancient power.The witches stood in a circle, their dark robes pooling around them like ink seeping into the floor. They hummed low chants that resonated through the chamber, carrying a tide of old magic.Kalaril stood in the middle of the circle, and for the first time since I had known him, he looked entirely in his element—an AshBlood wizard in his full, terrifying glory.The crowd waited outside.They weren't meant to witness what was about to happen. This moment belonged to the witches, to Kalaril, to Luxuria, to Sibile—and to me.Sibile lay on the cold altar, barely breathing, her face waxy and drenched in sweat. The gaping wound on her neck had turned an ugly shade, the blood flowing sluggishly. Her body was losing its battle against time.Too much time
LUXURIA.I ran breathlessly into our chamber and couldn't hold back the torrent of emotions threatening to consume me.He was still the same selfish man I had known. The same ruthless creature who saw lives as mere tools for his own survival.Why should I trust all he had said to me earlier? He only thinks about himself and no one else.I clawed at my arms as if trying to hold myself together, but the anger, the grief, and the sheer disbelief were too much.How could he even consider this?Why would he even think of using the poor girl for this purpose?Sibile had lived her entire life running, fighting to survive, and carrying a burden she never asked for. And now, at the very end, she was to be nothing more than a sacrifice?A broken sob burned my throat, but I forced it down. My hands trembled as I wiped at the tears that streaked my cheeks, furious at myself for even shedding them.Then the door creaked open behind me.I stiffened, knowing exactly who it was before I even turned.
LUXURIA.I woke up feeling better than I felt when I regained consciousness yesterday.I had woken to warmth. A steady, familiar heat pressed against my back, the feel of a strong arm draped over my waist, holding me close. The scent of cinnamon and musk surrounded me—Parthe.For a moment, I simply breathed him in, relishing the security of his embrace. It felt surreal, almost fragile, as if one wrong move would shatter the moment like delicate glass. But this was real. He was real.A soft clatter had drawn my attention to the bedside table. A tray of steaming food awaited me, the rich aroma wafting through the air. My stomach twisted with the overwhelming realization of how much had changed within the last few hours.I was here. Safe.But not everyone had been so fortunate.My heart ached for Rorden, I must say... The good side of Rorden.He was my friend and confidant at one of the most crucial points in my life. And I couldn't take that for granted.A single tear slipped down my ch
LUXURIA.The world felt unsteady. My head was light, my body weightless, as though I were drifting between reality and something far less tangible.My eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the soft glow of the room. Everything around me was familiar—the scent of embers and musk, the dark tapestries, the heavy warmth of the space.Parthe's chamber.Our chamber.A tremor ran through my chest. I was home.And if the figure sitting in front of me was truly who I thought he was…My throat tightened, my vision blurring as I stared at him.My heart leaped, but not out of fear. I was finally safe. Away from Rorden. Because, if this was truly Parthe sitting in front of me, it meant one thing – He had saved me from Rorden.I couldn't remember anything about how I ended up in Parthe's pack or chamber, but I was grateful I did."Luxuria..." Parthe called in that voice I had been longing to hear for so long now.It seemed like a dream to me.A sob slipped past my lips. My chest ached with t
ALPHA PARTHE.I stood over her, afraid to breathe. Afraid to even move.Luxuria lay motionless on the bed, her body so still that for a terrifying moment, I thought I had already lost her. The weak rise and fall of her chest was the only thing tethering her to this world.It felt as though the air had been sucked from the room. As if the gods themselves were holding their breath, waiting for me to break.It seemed like the life she was holding onto would slip away if I even as much as shifted.Gods. How did I ever let myself be this blinded by the ones around me?The people I had called my confidants—the ones I had believed would never betray me—had been the very ones who tormented her. And I had let them.I had believed their lies over the truth that was in front of me.I had doubted her every single time.And now, she was caught in some silent battle between life and death while I could do nothing but watch.I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palm.Fuck.I didn't deserve L
ALPHA PARTHE.Rorden's body trembled around my claws, his life ebbing from him in slow, uneven breaths. His blood coated my hand, and it was slick and hot, its coppery scent filling my nostrils.His trembling fingers still clung to my wrist as if he wanted to hold on.His lips parted, with the blood pooling there, spilling over, trailing down his chin in dark rivulets."Parthe…" His voice was weak and fractured. His body convulsed against mine, the last vestiges of strength slipping from him. But his eyes… his eyes burned, filled with something I had never seen in him before. Something… broken.I clenched my jaw, willing myself to finish this and end it. But my fingers hesitated around the fragile organ still beating weakly in my palm."Say it," I rasped, my voice thick and my jaw locked. "Say you regret it."A faint, blood-tinged smile touched his lips. "I don't," he whispered. "I never… regretted… trying to take back… what should have been mine."I exhaled sharply, my grip tightenin
ALPHA PARTHE.I snarled and took a step forward, but he stepped back, pressing the sword even harder on her delicate throat."You fucking coward," I growled, a scoff escaping my lips."We both know I am not a coward, Parthe. I am more of a man than you'd ever be. Everything I have had to endure only made me stronger and carved me into the man I am now," he said.The girl made a choked noise, but Rorden didn't react.He wasn't really here.His mind—his soul—was somewhere else."Do you even know what it's like, Parthe? To survive on your own like a real man should?""To be the unwanted son?" His voice cracked. "To know that no matter what you do, no matter how hard you fight—your own father will never fucking look at you the way you want him to?"I clenched my fists, my claws biting into my palms. "Our father was..." I was saying when he cut me off."No." His smile was thin. "Your father. Not mine. Never mine."His grip on the girl tightened."You were the golden child, Parthe. The heir
ALPHA PARTHE.Rorden's men fell. Like dead flies, their bodies littered my land, soaking the earth with their blood.And there was nothing more satisfying than that.Rorden was bleeding from every wound I had given him.So was I.But mine were worse. Especially the cuts my mate had inflicted on me. I wasn't healing.I had lost too much blood. And the only remedy I had was deep inside my chamber. I couldn't leave the war zone to go get it.I had to hold on a little longer."You're losing, brother," I taunted, my voice rough with exhaustion.Rorden barely had time to react before my fist collided with his jaw.Bone cracked. His head snapped to the side.And still, the bastard grinned."Never learned to give up?" I asked, driving my fist into his face in yet another punch. The impact sent blood flying from his lips. But he only laughed before spitting a mouthful of red onto the ground."Today is the day you'd breathe your last, Rorden," I recited a spell under my breath. My fingers burne