Amelia’s POVI had been laughing with Cassidy and Lena, still talking about the fight and how Snow had been in perfect sync. Tempoary forgetting the whole Sabrina scene. When one of the palace servants appeared at the door. The atmosphere shifted instantly. The girl looked as if she was barely containing her nerves as she approached me with a low bow.“Princess Amelia,” she said softly. Looking at me nervously, “You’re required to attend a meeting with the council this morning. The Crown Prince requested your presence.”I blinked, feeling my stomach twist. Council meeting? My mind raced as I tried to recall if Lucas had mentioned anything about this. I hadn’t been prepared, not even slightly, but I couldn’t show that, not in front of Lena and Cassidy. I took a deep breath, forcing a calmness I didn’t feel.“Of course. Thank you for informing me,” I replied as evenly as I could manage.The servant nodded, bowing again before quickly slipping out of the room. The moment the door closed,
Amelia’s POVMy mind raced as I sat at the council table, listening to the debates, plans, and discussions swirling around me. This was my first official meeting as the Crown Princess, and the weight of the role pressed on me more than I’d expected. Strategies were being laid out, policies discussed, but all I could think about was how I could prove myself in this new world.Suddenly, my name was called. I felt Lucas nudge me, pulling me out of my racing thoughts. “Amelia?” His voice was low, but enough to get my attention.I blinked, startled, and glanced up, realizing all eyes were on me. Kurt Mentor, one of the council members, looked less than amused as he repeated his question.“Princess Amelia,” he said, a sharp edge to his voice, “do you agree with the proposal?”Caught off guard, I quickly nodded, my mouth working faster than my brain. “Yes… of course…. Ah what proposal am I agreeing to”A few council members chuckled, but Kurt’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t amused. “I suppose our
Queen Larissa's POVThe doors to my private chambers closed with a soft thud, and I allowed myself a moment to breathe, the air thick with the weight of my plans. Lucas still didn’t fully understand the necessity of my actions, but he would, in time. He had no choice.I glanced at the documents spread across my desk, the foundation of everything I had worked for. The alliance between the council, the royal family, and the packs was fragile, and I would not allow a girl like Amelia, someone with no true standing, to jeopardize it. She was a temporary obstacle, nothing more.A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. “Enter,” I called, knowing it would be Lucas.He stepped inside, his expression guarded, the tension in his posture evident. He was always like this around me—watchful, cautious. He understood the stakes better than most, even if he was reluctant to accept them.“Mother,” he greeted, his tone formal, but the cold distance was unmistakable.I motioned for him to sit, but he remai
Amelia’s POVThe next morning, I woke to an empty bed. Again. Lucas had already left, and though I told myself I didn’t mind, a small part of me couldn’t help but feel disappointed. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake the feeling.“He’s your husband,” I muttered to myself, “it’s only natural to want to see him.”But even as I said it, I knew that wasn’t entirely true. The blood bond we formed last night made it hard to ignore the growing connection between us. The sense of his presence lingered, even though he wasn’t physically there. I tried to convince myself that this was why I felt that slight pang when I woke up alone.“Right,” Snow snorted, clearly unimpressed by my attempt to rationalize. “Keep telling yourself that.”I sighed, knowing my wolf was right. The bond might have something to do with it, but there was more. Something I wasn’t quite ready to admit to myself yet. Before I could get too lost in my thoughts, Snow’s voice cut in again.“He’s
Sabrina's POVI sat at the back of the classroom, barely listening as Ms. Gentle’s voice droned on about etiquette. My gaze, sharp and cold, was fixed on her. Amelia. She sat near the front, her posture all proper and perfect, like she actually belonged. Like she was the true Crown Princess.The thought alone made me sick. Every time I looked at her, it felt like a slap in the face. How could Lucas, of all people, choose her? She’s a rejected mate—cast aside by her true mate. Someone that weak, that unwanted, had no place in the royal pack, let alone beside Lucas, the Crown Prince. It was beneath him. It was beneath me.I couldn’t believe my plan had failed. I’d suggested to Ms. Gentle that Amelia read a paragraph in French, fully expecting her to stumble, to make a fool of herself in front of everyone. I wanted to see the look on her face when she realized she wasn’t fit for this life, when everyone saw how unworthy she was. But no. Amelia had read it flawlessly. Effortlessly, even.
Amelia’s POVI left the etiquette class feeling… lighter. It wasn’t the class itself, though Ms. Gentle seemed surprisingly kind and understanding, nor was it Sabrina’s failed attempt to humiliate me. What had eased the tension in my chest was something more subtle—a small victory, one that I didn’t realize I needed until I felt the weight lift.The way Sabrina’s face had twitched when I flawlessly read the French paragraph was something I couldn’t help but replay in my mind, savoring the look of shock she tried to hide. She wanted me to fail, to stumble over words that had long since been second nature to me. I wasn’t just a rejected mate thrown into a royal role—I had my strengths, my abilities. And they were more than enough to carry me through this.That felt good, Snow murmured in my head, her satisfaction radiating through our bond. You should’ve seen her face. Priceless.I smiled to myself, the thought soothing the undercurrent of unease that had followed me into the class. “Yo
Lucas’s POV I hadn’t meant to leave Amelia alone again, but the council meetings were relentless. Every day, another strategy to discuss, another alliance to consider. Time was slipping away, and the more I got pulled into the realm of politics, the less time I had for her. A nagging sense of regret followed me through the halls, and Titan wasn’t shy about letting me feel it.“You’re wasting time,” Titan growled in my head, pacing. “This is when we could be with her, showing her who we are. Instead, you’re stuck here, letting her slip further away”.I winced at the truth in his words. I knew Titan was right. I could feel the distance forming between us, even though we’d recently bonded through blood. That connection should’ve made things easier, but it seemed all I’d done was complicate things.“She’s starting to notice,” Titan added, his voice harsh. “She deserves more than being neglected while you play prince.”“I know,” I muttered aloud as I walked the corridor to the council roo
Amelia’s POVI couldn’t shake Kurt’s words from my mind. Every look he gave me, every barb he threw, they weren’t just about challenging my role as Crown Princess. It was more than that. His words felt like a reminder that I wasn’t truly a part of this world. It didn’t matter how many councils I attended or how many royal duties I fulfilled—there would always be people like him who saw me as an outsider.The bite in his voice echoed in my head: This is why some of us are skeptical about her being the right fit.I tried to push the thought away, but it clung to me like a heavy cloak. As much as I hated to admit it, he wasn’t entirely wrong. I wasn’t born into this life. I wasn’t raised to be a princess. And yet, here I was, walking a path that could be snatched away from me at any moment. Lucas and I had entered into this marriage for convenience, not love, and even though we had bonded through blood, that didn’t mean anything would last forever.Queen Larissa’s words haunted me too. S
Amelia’s POVThe morning sunlight crept into the room, slanting across the bed and warming my face. My eyes blinked open, groggy and heavy from a night of tossing and turning. Sleep had evaded me, leaving me restless and on edge. I could blame it on Maxwell, on the rogue, or on the mysterious text messages. But the truth was, the real reason was sitting across the room, perfectly at ease, as if he hadn’t completely disrupted my peace last night.Lucas.He stayed.The knowledge was like a live wire in my chest, sparking every time I glanced at him. I turned my head slightly, watching him out of the corner of my eye as he leaned back in the chair by the window, flipping through some document. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, exposing the hard planes of his chest. His dark hair was messy, like he’d just rolled out of bed, but his face looked… annoyingly rested.Meanwhile, I was anything but.“You look well-rested,” I muttered, unable to hide the edge in my voice.He glanced up, one bro
Amelia’s POVThe sound of the door creaking open made my heart skip a beat. I sat up straighter on the edge of the bed, my pulse quickening as the air in the room seemed to shift. Lucas.He stepped inside, closing the door behind him without a word, his tall, commanding frame filling the space. For a moment, I just stared at him, unsure of what to say or even feel. He hadn’t been in this room for days—not since the tension between us had stretched so thin that even sharing a space seemed impossible.Why now?I quickly looked away, forcing myself to focus on the patterns on the bedspread. But the silence in the room was thick, and I could feel his eyes on me. I hated how much my stomach fluttered just knowing he was here.“What brought you here?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended. I couldn’t help it. His sudden appearance threw me off balance, and I didn’t like the way it made me feel.Lucas leaned against the doorframe, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk of his. “Why
Amelia’s POVThe faint crackle of the fireplace filled the silence in my chamber as I sat cross-legged on my bed, staring at my phone. My fingers hovered over the screen, rereading the text for what felt like the hundredth time.“I know what you’re looking for. I can help.”The same unknown number that had warned me about Kurt’s schemes. That message had been right; I couldn’t deny it. But who was this person? Why were they helping me, and what did they stand to gain?I gnawed on my lower lip, my thoughts a tangled mess of suspicion and curiosity. Could I trust them? Snow’s voice stirred in my mind, calm yet cautious.Amelia, you can’t trust someone just because they’ve been right once. This could be a trap.“I know,” I murmured aloud, though the words felt hollow. Despite her warning, I couldn’t shake the need to know more. If they’d been right about Kurt, they could be right again.Finally, I typed out the words that had been burning in my mind. “Who are you?”I pressed send and wai
Lucas’s POVThe office felt emptier after Amelia stormed out, her parting glare burning in my memory. I stared at the closed door for a long moment, her scent still faintly lingering in the room—a mix of wildflowers and a hint of something uniquely her. It only made the knot in my chest tighten.I sank back into my chair, letting out a frustrated breath. Titan stirred restlessly in my mind, his discontent mirroring my own.You should’ve handled that better, he grumbled.“I did what I had to,” I replied aloud, though my voice lacked conviction.She’s your mate. Your Luna. You could’ve at least listened longer instead of shutting her down like that.I rubbed my temples, trying to block out Titan’s pointed remarks. He wasn’t wrong, but I couldn’t afford to give Amelia the freedom she wanted. Not when her safety was on the line.“She doesn’t understand,” I muttered. “This isn’t about control. It’s about protecting her.”And how’s that working out? Titan shot back. Because right now, she t
Amelia's POVI slammed the door of my chamber behind me, my breaths coming out fast and uneven as I leaned against the solid wood. My heart was racing, the echoes of my argument with Lucas still fresh in my mind. His sharp tone, his unyielding protectiveness—it was suffocating.I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers trembling. Why did he always have to act like I was incapable of taking care of myself? I wasn’t some fragile porcelain doll he needed to shield. I paced the room, my emotions tangled in frustration, anger, and something I couldn’t quite name.“He doesn’t trust me,” I muttered, my voice breaking the silence. “Or maybe he just doesn’t see me as anything more than his responsibility. A duty tied to the stupid contract that binds us together.”Snow stirred in the back of my mind, her presence steady and calm as usual. But this time, she wasn’t silent.“Amelia, maybe he has a point,” she said, her tone gentle yet firm. “Lucas isn’t just trying to control you. He’s trying to
Amelia’s POVThe silence in Lucas’s office stretched thin as we sat across from each other, the weight of the rogue’s death lingering between us like a shadow neither of us could shake. My thoughts churned, frantic, as I replayed everything from the dungeon in my mind.Poison. Deliberate, calculated, and merciless. Whoever was behind this wanted to send a message. And that message was clear: they wanted me dead.I tapped my fingers restlessly on the armrest of the chair, each rhythmic beat feeding the tension in the air. Lucas stood near his desk, arms crossed, his shoulders tight with restraint. He hadn’t said much since we left the dungeons, but the storm brewing behind his eyes told me everything I needed to know.He was angry. Not just at the rogue’s death, but at me.“Amelia,” he said finally, breaking the silence. His voice was low, measured—too measured. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”I stiffened, meeting his gaze head-on. “Someone just orchestrated an attack on me
Amelia’s POVThe infirmary was too quiet, despite the low murmur of voices around me. The antiseptic smell stung my nose, and every tiny noise seemed amplified in the stillness. I sat on the edge of the bed, my side aching as the pack doctor examined the wound that rogue had inflicted. Snow was already working to heal me, but I could still feel the throbbing pain radiating from my ribs.I hated this. Hated being the one sitting injured while everyone else stood around, watching me like I was fragile.Lucas was closest, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His gaze hadn’t left me since we entered the room, and his expression was unreadable. I didn’t need to guess what was running through his mind; I could feel his tension like a second pulse.The others—Lena, Cassidy, and Ivy—stood near the doorway. Ivy’s lips were pressed into a thin line, while Lena shifted uncomfortably. Cassidy kept glancing my way, her worry evident. They were trying to hide it, but guilt radiated off t
Lucas's POVThe forest was alive with the sound of wolves, their howls echoing through the trees as the hunting festival reached its peak. Yet, amidst the triumphant cries, my chest tightened with a feeling I couldn’t ignore.Something’s wrong, Titan growled in my mind, pacing restlessly.I scanned the clearing, watching as wolves darted between the trees, their movements fluid and focused. Ivy’s reddish-brown coat caught my eye as she paused near Cassidy’s sleek brown form. Lena wasn’t far behind them, her agile frame weaving through the underbrush. But one figure wa s missing—Snow.I stopped cold, my breath hitching.Where is she? Titan demanded, his voice sharp. Amelia wouldn’t leave the group.The weight of his words settled heavily on my chest. Snow had been with the others when the hunt began, staying close to Ivy and Cassidy. She wasn’t reckless. She wouldn’t have wandered off alone.I shifted back into my human form and approached the girls, urgency tightening my throat. “Where
Amelia’s POVThe palace courtyard buzzed with excitement as the hunting festival began in earnest. Wolves of all sizes and colors moved about, some already in their wolf forms, their sleek fur catching the sunlight. The air carried a heady mix of anticipation and primal energy.I lingered near the edge of the gathering, my nerves tugging at me. Snow was unusually quiet, her presence simmering just beneath the surface of my mind.You’ll be fine, Ivy’s voice broke into my thoughts through the mind link, her tone cheerful. She was beside me, her grin as bright as the sun overhead, her auburn hair glinting in the light.You sound awfully confident, I replied, forcing a smile as I glanced at her wolf form.That’s because I am, she shot back with a playful tone. It’s just a hunt, Amelia, not a battlefield.Snow’s voice cut through my thoughts like a knife. Nothing about this is friendly. Stay alert.I frowned but kept my thoughts to myself.Lucas stepped into view, and the noise in the cour